Hiking Backpack is the first gear that you’ve got to buy when you’re going for a hike. There are a lot of options to choose from. It can be quite hard to choose the appropriate one.
There are some backpacks that are available for a lot of money and there are those at a reasonable price. Here, we’ve actually selected the best budget-friendly backpacks that you can buy. All of these backpacks are under 100 dollars and they will serve you in the long run.
Best Hiking Backpack Under $100
The hiking backpacks are available for a wide price range. For under 100 dollars, the backpacks that are available are explained below.
[amazon link=”B00KX0B5ME” title =”HIKPRO 20L Backpack”]
The HIKPRO 20L, as the name suggests, is a 20L capacity backpack that comes at an affordable price. It is a durable backpack with a nylon material and lightweight build.
The backpack also has zippered compartments to keep everything organized. The backpack is also very roomy. It is perfect for day trips, hikes and even school.
The backpack is comfortable, durable and it is multipurpose. The drawbacks being no warranty and the fact that it can’t be used on long trips.
[amazon box=”B00KX0B5ME”]
The Best Features
- 7.5 pounds of weight and a dimension of 18*12*5.5 Inch
- Wide breathable shoulder straps
- Comes with a Metal Zipper
Pros & Cons
✔ Comfortable straps
✔ Durable design
✔ Good organization
✗ Doesn’t come with a warranty
✗ Not recommended for long hikes
[amazon link=”B078W43BTR” title =”Venture Pal “]
The venture pal backpack comes with multiple colour choices if the design is your first priority. It has a build of resistant material and consists metal zippers. Breathable straps are adjustable and it comes with multiple compartments to keep every item on your hike organized.
The Venture Pal backpack does have a lot of room and the best part is that it is super lightweight. That weight though is responsible for it’s not so good build. Added to that, it doesn’t have a warranty.
You can see where our doubts lie. Other than that, the backpack is solid and you can definitely purchase it.
[amazon box=”B078W43BTR”]
The Best Features
- Bar Tacks at Stress points
- Foldable inner pocket
- Lightweight and Roomy (35 Litre capacity)
Pros & Cons
✔ Durable
✔ Comfortable
✔ Compact
✗ No Warranty
✗ Questionable build
[amazon link=”B000F34ZKS” title =”TETON Sports Scout 3400″]
The Teton Sports Scout 430 is known to be the top-selling backpack on Amazon and there are plenty of reasons why. It is a quick trip pack that is easy to use and allows a lot of customization option.
The quality is top notch with 5-star reviews. If you have any queries then TETON’s customer service will help you out 24/7. This is something that attracts people to this backpack.
The Teton sports scout 430 is a bit heavier than other backpacks on the list. But it does give you a lot of room and it is perfect for long hiking trips. In addition, the backpack is also very comfortable.
All these features surely make the backpack a must-have item in your list. Did I forget? It is also very affordable. So, go out there and grab yourself one.
[amazon box=”B000F34ZKS”]
The Best Features
- 55 Litres Capacity and Weighs 2 kgs
- Has great customer service
- Durable lumbar pads and moulded channels
Pros & Cons
✔ Delivers comfort like nothing else
✔ Customer service is very handy
✔ Durable
✗ No warranty
✗ On the heavier side
[amazon link=”B019Z9U1T6″ title =”OutdoorMaster Hiking Backpack”]
The OutdoorMaster is a waterproof hiking backpack with a capacity of 50 Litres. The backpack comes with a laptop compartment and a rain cover. It is a multipurpose backpack packed with a lot of features.
The pricing is also great. All in all, this backpack is a sweet deal.
Waterproof rain covers are always welcomed and if you can carry your laptop on a hike, that’s just a selling point all to itself. Added to these facts, the backpack also has a durable design and comfortable shoulder straps.
These features make the backpack an instant hit. The only downside here is that it has no warranty and there are no design choices. It is also not meant for long hikes.
[amazon box=”B019Z9U1T6″]
The Best Features
- Great for hiking, travel and camping
- Plenty of pockets, external attachment points and space to hold all your belongings
- Waterproof rain cover included
Pros & Cons
✔ Durable and Comfortable
✔ Spacey and Lightweight
✗ No warranty
✗ Not meant for long hikes
[amazon link=”B074P2NS9T” title =”MOUNTAINTOP 40 Liter Backpack”]
The Mountaintop 40 litre backpack is best for mountaineering. The backpack can also be used for hiking and it comes with a lot of features. The pricing is also affordable.
In addition, the backpack meets the size requirements in airlines too, meaning it can be used as a travel backpack.
The backpack is too heavy to take it out on a day’s hike but if you are hiking for a longer period, it will serve you nicely. The backpack not only has a great build and comfort, but it also comes with a warranty. The only downside here is that the backpack is pretty heavy.
[amazon box=”B074P2NS9T”]
The Best Features
- Adjustable Hip belt
- 6 types of straps and all are adjustable
- There is a computer compartment for laptops
- Bladder compartment for storing any fluid
Pros & Cons
✔ Comes with a 90 days warranty
✔ Durable and Comfortable
✗ Considerably Heavy
✗ Not good for one-day hikes
[amazon link=”B073V37PMB” title =”Mubasel Gear Insulated Hydration Backpack”]
As you can probably guess with the name, the Mubasel Gear is a backpack dedicated to hydration. It has a 2-litre food grade hydration bladder and multiple compartments.
The backpack can store your items such as keys, phones and camping gear. The hydration pack also never leaks. The padded straps and lightweight design provide a much-needed comfort as well.
Hydration bladder? Check. Compartments? Check. Some sort of warranty? Check. Ease of use? Meh. That’s how we feel about this backpack.
It isn’t meant for hiking per se but it is multipurpose so, we don’t see a problem with buying it but there are a lot of other options out there. It is in no way a bad backpack though. For instance, this backpack can be used to carry water and your personal items on a short trip.
[amazon box=”B073V37PMB”]
The Best Features
- Hydration Bladder
- 3 storage compartments
- No leakage
- Thermal insulation
Pros & Cons
✔ Great design
✔ Hydration bladder
✔ Free bladder replacement
✗ Can be a bit confusing
✗ Not really meant for hiking
[amazon link=”B074BNMVTD” title =”NEEKFOX Lightweight Packable Travel Hiking Backpack “]
The build quality here is amazing! NEEKFOX 35L backpack has a nylon fabric build that can last you a long time. As with all other backpacks in the list, it comes with multiple compartments and a compact build.
One thing that is groundbreaking is that the backpack doesn’t even have a weight of one pound. The backpack is also multipurpose and it can even hold a 13-inch laptop.
We tried to find a con and frankly, we couldn’t. I mean, yes, it doesn’t have a warranty but look at the bright side, the build is pretty nice and who needs a warranty when they give you such great material.
The backpack is also imported, the weight is very minimum which escalates the comfort factor.
[amazon box=”B074BNMVTD”]
The Best Features
- Water and Puncture Resistant
- Nylon fibre built
- Easy to use and store, foldable
- Surprisingly Lightweight (0.91 pounds)
- Comes with a carrying pouch to hold the folded backpack
Pros & Cons
✔ Durable and Comfortable
✔ Lifetime satisfaction guarantee
✔ Friendly customer service
✗ No warranty
[amazon link=”B06Y5KV2SY” title =”AmazonBasics Internal Frame Hiking Backpack”]
This backpack has an internal frame design with a total of 75L capacity. The backpack’s built is decent enough and it is meant for camping as well as hiking. The compartments are well built and the fit is also very comfortable. It is available at a reasonably cheap price.
Despite ticking all the boxes, the AmazonBasics hiking backpack lacks one crucial thing and that is the fact that it is not meant for a long hiking trip. In addition to this, the backpack is also from a brand that is not trusted by the hikers so, it becomes rather difficult to recommend such a product.
If we just look at what it has then, we’d say it’s probably the best product on the list. On face value, this backpack definitely delivers. Can’t say the same about its actual performance, however.
[amazon box=”B06Y5KV2SY”]
The Best Features
- Multi-directional Straps with separate sleeping bag compartment
- Water repellent exterior coating i.e, water resistant
- Comes with a lot of choices for colour
- Polyester build, measure 26 inches in size (length)
Pros & Cons
✔ A limited one year warranty
✔ Cool design choices and Durable
✔ Adjustable straps for comfort
✗ Not meant for hiking a long time
✗ Not a trusted brand
[amazon link=”B06W55JCCX” title =”Osprey Packs Daylite Daypack”]
The Osprey Daylite Daypack is a cool looking backpack meant to last you a day of the hike. It comes with a sleek design and the overall feel of the backpack is also very sporty and premium. There many features of the daypack that makes it one of the best purchases out there.
The manufacturer themselves have marketed the product as a “Daypack” so, it will obviously not last you on a long trip. On the contrary, the daypack does its job with flair. Expect it to last for about 3 months or so if you use it constantly.
The build isn’t something to be proud of. There are a lot of handy features here though, a removable hip belt is always welcomed. The side mesh pockets are something that I personally am a big fan of and a large panel is a really sweet deal.
The cons are also pretty hefty here, having no warranty is probably the biggest deal breaker. It is also not meant for longer hikes and the build quality is too flimsy.
[amazon box=”B06W55JCCX”]
The Best Features
- It has a Large panel as the main compartment
- The backpack can be attached to other Osprey Packs with ease
- The presence of Side mesh pockets adds another storage option
- The interior sleeve can also be used for a hydration bladder
- Removable hip belt
Pros & Cons
✔ Good design and comfortable
✔ Lightweight
✗ Not a good build
✗ No Warranty
✗ Not meant for long hikes
[amazon link=”B07TKH6GBZ” title =”Mountaintop 28L/40L Backpack”]
The Mountaintop Backpack is a unisex backpack that comes at either a 28L or a 40L capacity. You can choose the capacity according to your needs. The backpack has a good organization and is water resistant.
It comes with a warranty and the adjustable straps provide comfort to your shoulders.
The Mountaintop backpack is a great choice. It comes with a warranty that makes up for its only one flaw, the build quality. In addition, there are other countless features such as a front pocket and water resistance.
It also comes with a laptop compartment and a front loop for jackets and lightweight items. In conclusion, the backpack is pretty nice for what it is.
[amazon box=”B07TKH6GBZ”]
The Best Features
- The front pocket is very spacious and has multiple slots for tools, cards and smartphones as well.
- The backpack has a water-resistant coating meaning it doesn’t allow water to penetrate.
- -Comes with a laptop compartment
- Has a front loop for jackets and lightweight items
Pros & Cons
✔ 90 days limited warranty
✔ Comfortable
✔ Variable Capacities
✗ Not a great build
[amazon link=”B07CHFQ323″ title =”RUPUMPACK Insulated Hydration Backpack Pack”]
The Rumpumpack Hydration backpack is a large capacity daypack that comes with a dedicate hydration bladder of 2.5L. The backpack boasts great design and is comfortable and durable. It is available at a wide range of colours.
The RUPUMPACK Insulated backpack is one of the best backpacks on this list which has multiple design choices. It comes with a Moneyback Guarantee and is best suited for camping and hiking.
The backpack’s only drawback is that it has no warranty. But given the build quality, we can give that a pass. Another slight con is that the backpack is a bit on the pricier end of the spectrum. If you’re on a tight budget, then we’d recommend you to look elsewhere.
[amazon box=”B07CHFQ323″]
The Best Features
- Open Compartment design to store your items and clipped shoulder strap
- Included bladder of 2.5L
- The hydration layer is insulated
- Best suited for camping and hiking
Pros & Cons
✔ 100% Moneyback guarantee
✔ Durable build
✔ Multiple design choices
✗ No Warranty
[amazon link=”B017LE2JNI” title =”G4Free 50L Outdoor Backpack “]
The G4Free 50L Outdoor Backpack is made from a water-resistant nylon material and has string zippers. It comes with a capacity of 50L. There are a lot of pockets here and the backpack is multipurpose.
It is also very versatile and has no deformation. The ventilation of the backpack is also very good.
The G4Free 50L backpack is a 50L backpack with a fairly large dimension. It is an ideal backpack for all your camping and hiking needs. The only downside here is that the backpack doesn’t feature any warranty schemes and the build quality is fragile.
This can be a deal breaker for some. The backpack, however, is a great deal overall. The inclusion of a hydration bladder compartment gets this backpack a much-needed boost. It can serve your purpose if you want to go on a short hike or even travel somewhere.
The backpack is a great item to have for all your hiking needs.
[amazon box=”B017LE2JNI”]
The Best Features
- Special Zipper Pockets
- Hydration bladder compartment
- Capacity: 50L
- Dimension: 13.7 x 9 x 22.8 inches.
Pros & Cons
✔ It has a comfortable strap
✔ Rain Cover Included
✔ Great Design
✗ No Warranty
✗ Fragile Build
[amazon link=”B072KDFV7G” title =”NORTHCOYOTE Insulated Backpack Cooler Backpack”]
The North Coyote is a unique hiking backpack on this list. It has a very old school design that looks kind of cool. The backpack is mainly meant for mountaineering and it is called a “cooler bag” because it keeps your food fresh. The backpack also comes with 2 packs of ice free.
The North Coyote Hiking backpack is a great deal for people. It’s got an old-school design that has a polyester build which is okay. I mean, you can’t expect much at this price point but still. The ice pack has only a little insulation but that is still a good thing.
One huge downside is that the backpack isn’t meant for hill hiking, it is a specific backpack that will perform best while mountaineering. So, if you’re someone who is going for a hike on the Himalayas then, we’d recommend this backpack heavily.
The price is affordable as well, that is the main cherry of this backpack.
[amazon box=”B072KDFV7G”]
The Best Features
- It comes with a collapsible cooler and large storage compartment, it is mainly meant for mountain hiking
- The backpack is fairly large with enough space to store all your items, it has 5 medium durable pockets
- The backpack can be used for multiple purposes and is made from a durable 600D polyester material.
- It also comes with a 90 days Moneyback guarantee
Pros & Cons
✔ Lightweight
✔ Water Resistant
✗ No insulation
✗ Not suitable for hill hiking
✗ Okay Build
[amazon link=”B01MDTEQVE” title =”Gonex Updated 35L Hiking Backpack”]
The Gonex Updated 35L is a water repellent backpack that comes with comfortable straps with a laptop compartment. It also has a great build and adjustable frames. The backpack is also well priced and it can tackle all your needs with ease.
The Gonex Updated 35L hiking backpack is a comfortable backpack and has a laptop compartment built in. The backpack also comes equipped with a padded pouch and a great strap mechanism.
The laptop compartment can easily store your average 15-inch laptop with ease and has padding to protect your electronics from water and dust. In conclusion, the backpack is a solid choice for anyone wanting to add an all-purpose backpack to their list of hiking gear.
[amazon box=”B01MDTEQVE”]
The Best Features
- The backpack has a dimension of 20.8 x 12.6 x 9.4 inches (53 x 32 x 24 cm). It comes at a 35L capacity
- The backpack is water repellent and not water resistant
- It has a polyester fabrics build
- The backpack has an aluminium frame bar that can be adjusted to fit your back’s shape, this adds a much-needed comfort to your backpack experience.
- The laptop compartment is a padded internal pouch with straps
- There is a money back guarantee for 30 days
Pros & Cons
✔ Comfortable
✔ Laptop Compartment included
✗ Not Durable
[amazon link=”B07D51M6QV” title =”Totalpac – Hiking Daypack”]
The Totalpac lightweight backpack is a great choice for a backpack. It is ultra lightweight and very compact. There is a foldable mechanism so the backpack can be stored in a relatively small space. The backpack’s organization is also very well done and it’s pretty durable.
If you’re not into how a backpack looks then, this is the best backpack for you. All the performance and usability aspect is covered with flair. There is no question that you’re going to get a tremendous experience with this backpack.
The only drawback being the design overhaul that it so desperately needs. Other than that, the backpack delivers.
[amazon box=”B07D51M6QV”]
The Best Features
- Deluxe polyester build, high-quality stitching
- Foldable can be zipped into its inner pocket with ease.
- Basic design reduces unnecessary weight
- It has a capacity of 35L and 11 pockets, It also comes with a USB Cable that can be attached to your power bank and you can charge your phone through it.
Pros & Cons
✔ Lightweight
✔ Great Build
✔ Unlimited Money bank guarantee
✗ Not much colour choices
✗ The design is pretty subpar
What is a hiking backpack?
Hiking backpacks are basically the backpacks with all the necessary features that can help a hiker. Normal backpacks aren’t helpful when you go out hiking. You need hiking backpacks if you want to have a good hiking experience.
Why hiking backpacks are so important?
You may want to carry a lot of item for your hiking trip. Your camping gears, water, other accessories, all of this add considerable weight. To carry this weight, the backpack needs to be strong. However, strength is not the only thing needed.
You also need to take the comfort factor into consideration. The backpack you use should be comfortable enough. It should have a comfortable strap and made up of material that keeps you fresh. Sweat can be really annoying when you’re on a long hiking trip.
Minimizing it can really help you. Hiking backpacks also have a very cool aesthetic and they help you in your hiking trip so you can probably say that these backpacks won’t let you down.
Let us now see some of the best hiking backpacks that you can buy for under 100 dollars.
What makes hiking Backpacks different?
Backpacks are of different types. Even in the regular backpacks section, you can find a lot of variation. Since there are so many backpacks, each of them has their own sets of features. These features of each type of backpacks and their differences are explained below.
Regular Backpacks
These are the backpacks that are normally used in everyday life. These include:
Rucksacks: Rucksacks have a flap to cover the main compartment. There are a lot of ways to carry out designs and the main compartment can either have a drawstring closure or a magnetic snap. These backpacks also have the mechanism to remain completely open.
The flap is attached to the backpack’s body with a magnet. They are generally smaller in size and have a capacity of around 15-30 litres.
Laptop Backpacks: These backpacks have a sleeve for your laptop. There are different kinds of laptop backpack for different laptop sizes. As the size of the laptop can either fit 11, 13, 15 or even 17 inches laptops.
As far as capacity goes, laptop backpacks have 20 to 50-litre capacity, this depends on the manufacturer.
Duffle Backpacks: Also known as Duffel Bags, these backpacks have a shoulder strap that provides you with the freedom to carry them like backpacks. These backpacks are very better if you’re a frequent gym goer and have to carry larger capacity items such as gym clothes, shoes, protein shakes and water.
These backpacks can have the capacity of 30 to 120 liters. Therefore, a duffle backpack can be used for a variety of tasks.
There are also other kinds of Regular backpacks like Anti Theft Backpack to save you from theft and fashionable backpacks made for women.
The gym backpacks that women use is called drawstring backpack. As you can see, regular backpacks are used in cases where you need to do some basic stuff like carry something to and from your destination/ current location.
Hiking Backpacks
Hiking backpacks are for people who are frequent hikers and trekkers. These backpacks have many attachment points and are helpful when you go on adventures.
They’re different than regular backpacks because they contain a lot of spaced in the compartments and can be used to carry days of hiking equipment with ease. Some of these backpacks have a lot of additional features like back panels that let in air and keep you fresh.
The Hiking Backpacks include:
Small Backpacks: Small Hiking backpacks usually have the capacity of around 30 to 4 litres and they’re good for people who want to go on short, one-day hikes. They’re also called “Day Packs.”
Large Backpacks: There are many people who’re frequent, hardcore hikers. They hike for a longer time and aren’t afraid of taking on some difficult hiking trails. With a difficult hiking trail, many items need to be packed so the capacity should be increased.
So, a large backpack will probably have a capacity of around 40 to 85 litres. There are mainly 2 kinds of large backpacks:
- Frame backpacks have a supporting frame. They allow you to stand upright even if the backpack doesn’t have anything. The frames of a large backpack usually have an aluminium build since Aluminium is one of the most lightweight material.
- Frameless backpacks don’t have any type of frame but they’re very lightweight. Most frameless backpacks have a weight of fewer than 1.5 pounds. Small loads can be carried easily with these but heavier loads are problematic.
Buying Guide
The trick to choose the right hiking backpack is simple. It’s just matching the supply with the demand. The purpose of your hike should match the backpack’s features. Once you find the correct match, you can make your purchase.
Purpose
A backpack can be used for certain purposes. As far as the purpose goes, there can be 4 types of hiking and the corresponding types of backpacks:
- One day: A daypack will cover it
- Weekend(2-3 Days): A backpack with the Capacity of around 25 to 55 litres is recommended.
- More than 3 days: Recommended Capacity is around 50 to 80 litres
- 5+ Days: At least 70 litres capacity backpack is required
Features
We talked about the frame of the backpack earlier. The same principle applies here. You can get either a framed or a frameless backpack.
In framed backpacks, we have:
- Internal Frame: Helps you to transfer the load to the hip
- External Frame: Good for carrying irregular items
Air Flow
Backpacks are heavy with all your items. In such a condition, sweat is normal. Sweat management is done by the ventilation present in the backpack. These chimneys are built in the back panels of the backpack. Get a backpack which good ventilation.
Pockets
While shopping for a backpack, manually count the number of pockets it has. There should be plenty of elastic, belt, shovel, front and back pockets that can hold miscellaneous items. More pockets equal more ease.
On the contrary, you might also tend to forget what you’ve kept where if there are more pockets. So, we’d say find a balance here.
Compartment and Padding
There should be many compartments in your backpack. Separate compartments for separate items is even better. Along with the pockets, the compartment is another thing to consider while using a backpack.
Padding can help you feel comfortable. When there is ample padding on shoulder straps and the inside of the backpack, you can feel comfortable in your long journey.
Other features
There are many extra features that you’d want to look into. These features are:
- Attachment Points: The attachment points are crucial when you want to hike on a snowy place or mountaineering
- Hydration Reservoir: A hydration reservoir is a bladder which can be used to sip water. The reservoir is built outside the backpack and a hose is let outside from where you can sip water. These reservoirs are helpful when you don’t want to frequently open a water bottle.
- Raincover: Under stormy conditions, a rain cover can be crucial. Most backpacks don’t have them. A rain cover will probably safeguard most electronics. There are only a few backpacks that come with a waterproof built.
Fit
Another thing to consider while buying a backpack is the fit. The fit is commonly measured in two ways:
- Length of the backpack
- Size of the waist ( for the waist belt)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Are hydration bladders compulsory?
Ans. No, The bladders aren’t something that is a must. Some backpacks come with it, some don’t.
Q. Are daypacks good for hiking?
Ans. If you want to hike for a few hours then, yes. Otherwise, NO!
Q. Can Regular Backpacks be used as hiking backpacks? The Opposite?
Ans. Regular Backpacks don’t really have the strength to accommodate all the items needed on a hike. So, they can’t really be used as hiking backpacks. Some Hiking Backpacks, however, are multipurpose so, they can be used as a regular backpack.
Q. Nylon Fibre or Polyester?
Ans. Nylon Fibre normally lasts longer than polyester.
Q. Can a short backpack fit a person of a medium built?
Ans. The straightforward answer would be No. But, it depends. If the torso length can fit then, yes, it isn’t impossible to fit.
Q. Are hunting backpacks similar to hiking backpacks?
Ans. Hunting backpacks usually have dedicated slots for weapons, hiking backpacks don’t. So, we’d say they are not similar.
Q. Are backpacks under 100 dollars good?
Ans. Yes, all of the backpacks on this list are good enough for your everyday use. The only difference is that some backpacks are specific for a certain task while others are multipurpose
Conclusion: What Is the Best Hiking Backpack Under $100?
In conclusion, a hiking backpack is very necessary for hikers. After the hiking gear, the backpack is the main item that a hiker should buy. There are a lot of hiking backpacks on the market. We collected 15 of the best backpacks on a price range of under a hundred dollars.
These backpacks will serve you best. There are a few things you should consider while buying a backpack like features, comfort, fit, purpose and of course budget. Also, you can’t use a regular backpack for hiking but you can use some hiking backpacks as the regular ones.