If you’ve spent any amount of time on the slopes or trails the past few seasons, chances are you’ve seen someone sporting an Osprey pack. There is good reason for Osprey’s growing popularity amongst us outdoors folks: function, style and innovation are built into every bag they sell. New to the lineup for 2011 is the superlight Hornet series: three packs made for those of you looking to go lightweight without sacrificing performance. Osprey sent us the Hornet 32 for testing, and the pack has done more this summer than a lot of weekend warriors out there. The Osprey Hornet 32 weighs in at 1.25 pounds- superlight indeed. This top loading pack features one large main compartment, two mesh side pockets with compression straps and a front stretch mesh pocket. The floating lid has a zippered storage area and a zippered mesh pocket on the underside. The pack also features gel pockets on the shoulder straps and two hip belt pockets that will fit anything from energy bars to point and shoot cameras.

Osprey used 70D Triple Ripstop Nylon material to construct the bag, and while it is lightweight, it is also burly enough to stand up to a normal backcountry beating. I took this Osprey backpack everywhere: canyoneering excursions in the desert, peak bagging in the mountains and as my every day bag for work and road trips. In the desert the performance was great. The external hydration compartment allowed me to slip my bladder (Osprey’s Hydraform Reservoir) into a compartment that is separate from the rest of the gear. This also adds some structure to the sack, though it is built with a closed cell foam back pad. The venting in the back panel kept me cool even when hiking slickrock trails in 90 degree heat. When bridging and stemming in slot canyons the pack was barely noticeable, despite having a full day worth of gear stowed in it. During mountain summit season, the Hornet delivered again, comfortably carrying everything I needed for a long day on the trail. It seemed no matter how much (or little) I crammed into the Hornet the fit and feel were always right in the sweet spot.

When it comes to capacity, this bag shines. I doubted the Hornet’s claims of being a superlight backpacking bag, so I loaded it up. Check out the list: a bladder, sleeping pad and bag, small food sack (breakfast and snacks), dehydrated dinner, cooking cup, stove, fuel, rain jacket, first aid kit, survival bag (matches, compass, headlamp, knife, and water tablets), water purifier, pack towel and journal all fit into the bag with room to spare. All this gear fit into the main compartment and zippered pockets, meaning I still had all the exterior tie-off points available for extra gear. husqvarna 570 backpack blowerAdd a tarp to all that and you definitely have an ultralight backpacking kit. fafi backpackAll of that in a bag that weighs less than two pounds.pewdiepie backpack amazon

My biggest complaint with the Hornet is the side compression pockets. They barely fit a standard 1 liter Nalgene bottle, and the inside out compression system didn’t work as advertised. During a summit descent in the Wasatch I arrived at the bottom to find that my camera had fallen out. An expensive lesson to learn. I resigned the side pockets to carrying small and cheap items like sunscreen and energy bars after that. Also, any superlight bag will need to be treated with care- after a slot canyon hike I noticed some tears where the pack had come in contact with sandstone walls, but that surface can shred just about any material on earth.swissgear synergy 16 laptop backpack If it’s a superlight day hiking bag you want, then the Hornet 32 is a good bet. shindaiwa backpack sprayers for sale

Big enough to fit serious loads and comfortable no matter what you carry in it, this sack is what you would expect from a company that is fast becoming the rage in the outdoors. The series also includes the Hornet 24 (a more traditional day bag without the top lid) and the Hornet 46 (perfect for superlight overnights or day hikes that demand tons of gear), so no matter what your pursuits, Osprey has your back in style.Many many small details make this a win win for the user, it would require few more sentences, this is quick glance at what makes this backpack special. clc backpack warrantyLet me begin with, by saying that I'm a Deuter backpack devotee...on with the Deuter Pace 36 in the Deuter product line the Pace 36. For its capacity and volume, it must be their lightest, just under 2lbs. The design and details on this backpack are well thought out with fine detaining, so much so that they can be very easily overlooked.

All the winter bag I will ever need for day hiking in the snow. Rugged, has everything I need and more! This is my first ever winter pack and I love it! I bought it specifically to strap my snowshoes on. This pack can also carry skis and a snowboard as well. My snowshoes strap to the pack easily with no hassle. The pack is waterproof as well. It holds extra gear and food. It has multiple entry areas and zippers. It has a front zipper area for emergency snow avalanche shovel pocket. This is a great… Sometimes they get it right. More Pros Nylon side pocket ( not cheap ) Universal buckles (easy to replace or expand ) Wide belt Loops for climbing gear inside pockets for a avalanche probe and bladder   I bought this new in 2003 and have used it for everything from: Back country camping - expanded to 60lt and outside harness system handles a foamy and tent very well. Fly fishing - added buckles to my float tube and clipped it to the pack, fly rod rests in the side pocket Ski touring - 3 different…

A great evolution on the airbag concept with terrific selection of features. So I got to take this pack out for a spin the other day on a Ski Mountaineering objective. It was a pretty short day and we didn't get into any terrain that we felt was particularly risky, so I never felt the need for its key feature. The pack is accurate to the rest of the BD M/L sizing. It's surprising comfortable, and breathable for a winter pack. I certainly found it rather enjoyable to wear. The bag is burly, and feels… This is a great bag. It doesn't look that big, but you can fit a ton of gear in it! Love the helmet strap and probe sleeves. I took up splitboarding this year and my wife, knowing that I desperately needed I new bag to hold all my gear, got me this bag for Christmas.  I have been very impressed with this bag. It has plenty of room for all of my gear and everything is easily accessible. I really enjoy the stowaway helmet sling so that I don't have to wear my helmet during ascent.

I also like the… It is a sturdy and roomy 65-liter pack for the winter traveler or hunter with plenty of extras including pockets and tie downs. I like to travel in the winter woods mostly unseen and this German made WinterTarn Rucksack military pack helps me do that. It is an official military pack and is made with quality. It has five external pockets and two main inside which can be separated by a drawstring cover. The main compartment also has a drawstring to close it all up from the outside. The Pace 36 is a weight-shaving daypack with a very light frame and wide mesh hip belt. I applaud Deuter for figuring out how to make a bag this light that is also quite comfortable. The pockets and features are things people can actually use; I would take this along as a winter day/summit bag. The Pace 36 can carry a surprising amount of weight comfortably, but it would not be my choice for consistently carrying more than 30 pounds on a regular basis. The simplicity that helps make this so easy…

The Mountain Hardwear Snowtastic 28 pack is a good idea that just wasn't executed very well. Some of the flaws can be fixed with very little time and money, others leave me scratching my head and asking "why did they choose to do it that way?" As far as carrying capacity, I'd say it's great for day trips, but accessing your stuff isn't the easiest. I bought the MH Snowtastic 28 because I want to get a little more adventurous in my snowshoeing this year, and my Camelbak pack doesn't hold much more… Bomber construction, with decent features, but lacks in carry comfort. I have long been a fan of Mystery Ranch products, and the earlier incarnation of Dana Design when they were still made in the U.S. It's difficult to find a brand more dedicated to amazing quality and innovation in a fairly stagnant industry. The three-zip design makes for easy access to contents within, but takes a bit more effort to open and close than a traditional panel or top loader. Classic 500 D Cordura means durability…