Nowadays, climbing is equivalent to bringing a lot of gear, especially if you are embarking on a multi-day trip to challenge some remote and unknown rock wall. You need to keep a lot of equipment near to you at any moment, and for that, you need one of the best climbing backpacks that you can find. A regular backpack won’t work for hiking; you need something that’s built for the job.
Scroll down and take a glance at the best climbing backpacks that you can buy in 2021.
The Osprey Mutant surprisingly cuts a lonely figure in the category of top-notch alpine packs that will not break the bank. Some “dialed-in” features also make the Mutant perfect for high-mountain high jinks, including a durable haul loop, compact design, adjustable compression braces, and the top closure “FlapJacket” that makes lidless use when necessary.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Ejectable Hood/lid
Cons
- Little heavy
In Stock at Osprey and Amazon from $170
If traveling light and easy is your thing, the 18-liter Petzl Bug deserves its place on the top of your list of purchases. As with all of Petzl’s items, this pack is incredibly well made and a little bit of wonder of practicality. This bag at the front is made up of a handful of external features that could add a few precious liters of storage to the pinch, including a large outer pocket, a duo of compression straps that can be doubled as gear loops, and a full-length, MOLLE-style daisy chain at the back of the pack.
Pros
- Ergonomic design
- Tough haul loop
Cons
- Small capacity
In Stock at Amazon from $69
3. Mountain Hardwear Scrambler 25L
Mountain Hardwear Scrambler 25 Backpack 3 is not the cheapest out there but improves the most affordable alpine packs in terms of comfort and overall performance. It’s light, hydration-compatible, rugged as old leather. It features all the alpinist might ask for outer gear loops, ice-ax loops, two wide side pockets, a large hood pocket, a genuinely stunning suspension system, and plenty of shoulders and hip belt padding.
Pros
- Light (1.7 lbs)
- Waterproof
Cons
- Not stretchy
In Stock at Backcountry from $139
4. Patagonia Ascensionist 30L Pack
If you want to keep things super-light on your alpine adventures, the Patagonia Ascensionist 30 Pack might be your bag. This pack weighs less than two pounds—a remarkable feat with its hard-wearing, abrasion-resistant, and tear-resistant Cordura nylon materials and remarkably impressive comfort.
This pack’s top-of-the-line nature means that it’s not the best choice if you want the moonlight to be a crag pack, but for multi-pitch and alpine trails, its minimalist design and its charming lack of pounding make it very hard to beat.
Pros
- Incredibly light (1 lb 7.6 oz)
- Detachable hip belt
Cons
- No side pockets
In Stock at REI and Patagonia from $149
The Black Ice packs are compact roller tops that are minimalist and meet modern climbers and mountaineers’ demands. Combined with smart design and clean development solutions, extensively field-tested features give a pack for quick and lightweight use on the mountain and expedition. The lean and compact form guarantees direct transmission of load and is 100 percent waterproof.
Pros
- Ample storage
- TPU film laminated
Cons
- Not many organizational pockets
In Stock at Moosejaw from $142
Arc’teryx combined the top-load follower pack’s unbeatable nature with a robust medium-capacity bag to create the ultralight Alpha FL. This pack is a fantasy for mountain climbers: it is streamlined, well-behaved, waterproof, and extremely resistant to abrasion. The Alpha FL’s collar expands into a 45-liter load on the approach and is then compressed to a remarkable 33-liter shape, which goes up like a corpus extension. The material is fitted with the breeze – including handles – and clogging points, bungee attachments to the outside of the bag.
Pros
- Water resistance
- Lightweight
Cons
- Thin material
In Stock at Amazon from $259
7. Hyperlite Dyneema 2400 Ice Pack
Dyneema is one of the most robust fabrics globally in terms of strength-to-weight ratio, withstands moisture to a remarkable degree, and is super lightweight. The Dyneema (40L) 2400 Ice Pack is made with the most robust fully-woven fabric and has added essential gear safety necessary for success in the most challenging environments in the world.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Durable
Cons
- Expensive
In Stock at Hyperlite Mountain Gear from $379
8. Black Diamond Creek 50 Pack
If you’re an all-but-the-kitchen-sink kind of packer when it comes to reaching the crags, then the Black Diamond Creek 50 might well be the pack you’re hunting for. However, this pack not only has a big 50-liter capacity, but it also does just about everything you need to store the gear effectively.
Pros
- Capacity of 50-liters
- Water-resistant
Cons
- Expensive
In Stock at Backcountry and Amazon from $209
The Trango Crag is a pack that streamlines life at the crag’s foot by providing two opening choices, in this case at the top and the side. While this pack lacks the Neon Gear’s organizational awesomeness due to its freestanding size, it will gain many admirers as it is a spacious 48-liter capacity, robust design, built-in rope tarp, external pockets, durable suspension system, and haul-bag style.
Pros
- Haul bag style
- Freestanding design
Cons
- No internal storage options
In Stock at REI and Amazon from $119
Another high-quality backpack built to carry your supplies to the crag is Mammut’s Neon Gear 45. The Neon Gear’s aluminum provides some of the best support here for long approaches or hefty loads. All of this adds a highly competent crag pack from a reputable brand and boot at a very reasonable price.
Pros
- Affordable
- Enough spacing
Cons
- No rain cover
In Stock at Backcountry and Amazon from $149
The pack that will finally prove to be “The One” for your rock adventures will focus, of course, on what you’re going to get up to. However, if you end up with any of those on the above list, we are sure that you will have a trusting, loyal, ready-go-rock climbing partner that will serve you well for many years to come!
Grab your new pack online today.
Jeremy Alderman is an outdoor enthusiast in Scottsdale, Arizona. He writes on all things camping, hiking, outdoor sports, and travel. His weekends are often filled exploring the desert with his wife Madison and their 3-year-old German Shepherd rescue, Grace. His favorite spot in all of North America is the Oregon Coast.
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