Best of 2016: rucksacks

Which backpacks were our reviewers' favourites? Which rucksacks came out on top? Find out here...

Whether it's a huge gear swallowing sack to carry all the kit you need for multi-day camping adventures, or a light-and-fast pack that'll take just the minimum requirements for a fair-weather smash and grab of your favourite peak, throughout 2016 the best rucksacks, backpacks and bergens have been reviewed in Trail magazine.

Below you'll find are the brands and models that came out top, with detailed and informative critiques of what makes them worth your dosh. Let us guide you on your journey to rucksack nirvana with our rundown of the best backpacks of 2016...

Featured
Price £120, Price: £100 - £199, Brand: Osprey, Purpose: Expedition (40 litres +), Type: Mens, Best of 2016
Osprey Exos 48 (2016)
Price £120, Price: £100 - £199, Brand: Osprey, Purpose: Expedition (40 litres +), Type: Mens, Best of 2016

40-50 litre rucksacks review
The Osprey Exos 48 is a great hillwalking sack for those wanting a combination of low weight and comfort. It won Trail’s ‘Best in Test’ accolade. 4.6/5

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Price £120, Price: £100 - £199, Brand: Osprey, Purpose: Expedition (40 litres +), Type: Mens, Best of 2016
Price: £100 - £199, Brand: VauDe, Purpose: Expedition (40 litres +), Type: Mens, Price £100, Best of 2016
Vaude Brenta 40 (2016)
Price: £100 - £199, Brand: VauDe, Purpose: Expedition (40 litres +), Type: Mens, Price £100, Best of 2016

40-50 litre rucksacks review
The Vaude Brenta 40 is a great, general hillsack that delivers all the general features required very well. Packs with higher price tags only offer small, additional benefits. It won Trail’s ‘Best Value’ award. 4.6/5

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Price: £100 - £199, Brand: VauDe, Purpose: Expedition (40 litres +), Type: Mens, Price £100, Best of 2016
Price £100, Brand: Osprey, Tempest, Purpose: Expedition (40 litres +), Type: Mens, Type: Womens, Best of 2016
Osprey Tempest 40 (2016)
Price £100, Brand: Osprey, Tempest, Purpose: Expedition (40 litres +), Type: Mens, Type: Womens, Best of 2016

Women's 40-50 litre rucksack review
The Osprey Tempest 40 is a well-featured, lightweight pack, with enough space and features for year-round hillwalking. Remarkably, it won both Trail’s ‘Best Value’ and ‘Best in Test’ accolades. 4.8/5

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Price £100, Brand: Osprey, Tempest, Purpose: Expedition (40 litres +), Type: Mens, Type: Womens, Best of 2016
Price: £0 - £99, Purpose: Daysack (up to 39 litres), Brand: Osprey, Best of 2016, Price £80
Osprey Talon 22 (2016)
Price: £0 - £99, Purpose: Daysack (up to 39 litres), Brand: Osprey, Best of 2016, Price £80

20-30 litre rucksacks review
At 750g the Osprey Talon 22/Tempest 20 is a great rucksack if you like zipped opening designs, but other packs offer alternative benefits that may suit your needs better. It wins Trail’s ‘approved’ accolade. 4.2/5

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Price: £0 - £99, Purpose: Daysack (up to 39 litres), Brand: Osprey, Best of 2016, Price £80
Price: £0 - £99, Purpose: Daysack (up to 39 litres), Best of 2016, Price £70
Deuter AC Lite 26 (2016)
Price: £0 - £99, Purpose: Daysack (up to 39 litres), Best of 2016, Price £70

20-30 litre rucksacks review
A buckle-lid design with great airflow across the back makes the Deuter AC Lite 26/AC Lite 22 great for most hillwalkers, although it is a little heavier than some. It wins Trail’s ‘approved’ accolade. 4.2/5

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Price: £0 - £99, Purpose: Daysack (up to 39 litres), Best of 2016, Price £70
Price: £0 - £99, Purpose: Daysack (up to 39 litres), Best of 2016, Price £25
Quechua Forclaz 30 Air (2016)
Price: £0 - £99, Purpose: Daysack (up to 39 litres), Best of 2016, Price £25

20-30 litre rucksacks review
The Quechua Forclaz 30 Air is a very practical hillgoer’s rucksack that is outstanding for the price; but if you pay more you do get even better performance and weight advantages. It wins Trail’s ‘approved’ accolade. 4.2/5

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Price: £0 - £99, Purpose: Daysack (up to 39 litres), Best of 2016, Price £25
Price £190, Price: £100 - £199, Brand: Osprey, Purpose: Expedition (40 litres +), Type: Mens, Type: Womens, Best of 2016
Osprey Atmos AG 65 (2016)
Price £190, Price: £100 - £199, Brand: Osprey, Purpose: Expedition (40 litres +), Type: Mens, Type: Womens, Best of 2016

55-65 litre rucksacks review
A superb backpacking rucksack if you want maximum comfort and performance when walking long distance paths with big loads. It won Trail’s ‘Approved’ accolade. 4.8/5

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Price £190, Price: £100 - £199, Brand: Osprey, Purpose: Expedition (40 litres +), Type: Mens, Type: Womens, Best of 2016
Price £150, Price: £100 - £199, Brand: Lowe Alpine, Purpose: Expedition (40 litres +), Type: Mens, Type: Womens, Best of 2016
Lowe Alpine Manaslu 55-65 (2016)
Price £150, Price: £100 - £199, Brand: Lowe Alpine, Purpose: Expedition (40 litres +), Type: Mens, Type: Womens, Best of 2016

55-65 litre rucksacks review
If you cannot pay more than £150 this is ideal as it is a great all-rounder that will admirably meet the needs of many. It won Trail’s ‘Approved’ accolade. 4.4/5

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Price £150, Price: £100 - £199, Brand: Lowe Alpine, Purpose: Expedition (40 litres +), Type: Mens, Type: Womens, Best of 2016
Price £85, Price: £0 - £99, Brand: Vango, Purpose: Expedition (40 litres +), Type: Mens, Type: Womens, Best of 2016
Vango Sherpa 60+10 (2016)
Price £85, Price: £0 - £99, Brand: Vango, Purpose: Expedition (40 litres +), Type: Mens, Type: Womens, Best of 2016

55-65 litre rucksacks review
Good fit, comfort and performance to suit most general backpacking needs, but pay more and you’ll get improvements in all areas. It won Trail’s ‘Approved’ accolade. 4.2/5

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Price £85, Price: £0 - £99, Brand: Vango, Purpose: Expedition (40 litres +), Type: Mens, Type: Womens, Best of 2016
Price £80, Price: £0 - £99, Brand: VauDe, Purpose: Daysack (up to 39 litres), Type: Mens, Type: Womens, Best of 2016, Brenta 30
Vaude Brenta 30 (2016)
Price £80, Price: £0 - £99, Brand: VauDe, Purpose: Daysack (up to 39 litres), Type: Mens, Type: Womens, Best of 2016, Brenta 30

Men's 30-35 litre rucksacks review
The Brenta/Maremma is an excellent all-round day sack that will fit many hillwalkers, with a great set of practical features. It won Trail’s ‘Best in Test' accolade. 4.8/5

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Price £80, Price: £0 - £99, Brand: VauDe, Purpose: Daysack (up to 39 litres), Type: Mens, Type: Womens, Best of 2016, Brenta 30
Price £75, Price: £0 - £99, Brand: Lowe Alpine, Purpose: Daysack (up to 39 litres), Type: Mens, Best of 2016
Lowe Alpine Airzone Trail 35 (2016)
Price £75, Price: £0 - £99, Brand: Lowe Alpine, Purpose: Daysack (up to 39 litres), Type: Mens, Best of 2016

Men's 30-35 litre rucksacks review
A superb all-round hillwalking sack that is hard to fault, but lighter sacks with tiny design tweaks may suit even better if you pay more. It won Trail’s ‘Best Value’ award. 4.8/5

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Price £75, Price: £0 - £99, Brand: Lowe Alpine, Purpose: Daysack (up to 39 litres), Type: Mens, Best of 2016
Price £95, Price: £0 - £99, Brand: Lowe Alpine, Purpose: Daysack (up to 39 litres), Type: Womens, Best of 2016
Lowe Alpine Airzone Trek ND35 (2016)
Price £95, Price: £0 - £99, Brand: Lowe Alpine, Purpose: Daysack (up to 39 litres), Type: Womens, Best of 2016

Women's 30-35 litre rucksacks review
A robust product that fits securely and does it all without unnecessary frills or faff. It won Trail’s ‘Best in Test’ accolade. 4.4/5

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Price £95, Price: £0 - £99, Brand: Lowe Alpine, Purpose: Daysack (up to 39 litres), Type: Womens, Best of 2016
Price £85, Price: £0 - £99, Brand: Montane, Purpose: Daysack (up to 39 litres), Type: Womens, Best of 2016
Montane Yarara 32 (2016)
Price £85, Price: £0 - £99, Brand: Montane, Purpose: Daysack (up to 39 litres), Type: Womens, Best of 2016

Women's 30-35 litre rucksacks review
Lightweight and robust with nifty features that some will love but others might find overly fussy. It won Trail’s ‘Best Value’ award. 4.2/5

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Price £85, Price: £0 - £99, Brand: Montane, Purpose: Daysack (up to 39 litres), Type: Womens, Best of 2016