Top 6 Hiking Backpacks for Women: Essential Walking Aids in Canada 2026

• “There's a lot to love about this daypack that packs a punch. The Osprey Tempest 20 is comfortable to wear and has some great, easy-to-use features. It's on the smaller end of packs, but we think its design ingenuity makes up for that.”

• “Osprey’s Talon and Tempest hit a sweet spot for features, comfort, organization, and low weight that ranks them among the most versatile, multi-sport daypacks on the market today—at a competitive price for this level of quality.”

• “Best Hiking Pack Under $100”

• “The Osprey Tempest 20 women’s hiking backpack is an incredible hiking backpack that our readers adore. This backpack is functional, versatile, and adventure-ready. I also used it on a two-week camping and hiking trip through Utah’s national parks!”

• “The Osprey Tempest 20 has captured the attention of outdoor enthusiasts seeking a durable pack with features designed for versatility. This hiking backpack is a testament to Osprey’s commitment to crafting top-notch gear for adventurers.”

• “What felt like days of research, I finally came across the Osprey Hiking Packs. At first, I was unsure whether they’d be suitable for everyday use (I use my rucksack for literally anything) but upon reading their reviews, I found many women who were praising them for...”

• “The shoulder straps are attached to the back of the pack with velcro. To adjust the torso length, you “unstick” them to raise (lengthen) or lower (shorten) the torso length. Once “restuck”, they’ll be locked in place and won’t budge, no matter how much you pack in the backpack.”

• “Lots of pockets to keep your gear organized”

• “It’s lightweight, has a supportive internal frame, offers multiple external attachment options, and can hold up to 3 liters of water in an external bladder sleeve.”

Loved14

• +

  The Tempest is packed with many features that are all surprisingly easy to use. The main compartment zipper has the ability to zip quite far down the sides, making it easy to pack full and find what you need without pulling everything out.

  — GearLab
• +

  This pack earned a great score for construction quality. We didn't experience any issues with this pack during our field testing and couldn't find any durability complaints in online user reviews.

  — GearLab
• +

  It also features two hip belt pockets and a great commuter feature: the helmet LidLock. This is our favorite feature on this pack, as it's a quick and easy way to secure a bike helmet without having it bang all over the place.

  — GearLab
• +

  An external sleeve for the hydration bladder—slotted between the framesheet and main compartment—adds the convenience of not having to empty the pack to refill water.

  — The Big Outside
• +

  Updated for 2021, the men’s Talon and women’s Tempest suspension is constructed around a flexible, lightweight, plastic framesheet.

  — The Big Outside
• +

  The Air — Scape back panel and perforated foam padding in the hipbelt and shoulder straps create excellent ventilation, which kept my back cool in the smothering heat and humidity of Costa Rica.

  — The Big Outside
• +

  A small, stretch-mesh pocket on the left shoulder strap holds a couple gel packets, and there are attachments on the front for a bike helmet and a light and an emergency whistle in the sternum strap.

  — The Big Outside
• +

  Good external attachment points

  — Expert World Travel
• +

  Comes with Osprey’s lifetime warranty

  — Expert World Travel
• +

  Versatile for daily use and hiking

  — Expert World Travel
• +

  Super adjustable for a comfy fit

  — Expert World Travel
• +

  Lightweight compared to competitors

  — Mountain IQ
• +

  More comfortable for shorter people than the Talon 22

  — Mountain IQ
• +

  Hipbelt has two pockets (perfectly sized to carry a smartphone, a small camera or a GPS device)

  — Mountain IQ

Criticised5

• −

  The last main downside to this pack is its capacity. This isn't the pack for you if you plan to go on winter adventures where you might bring a ton of extra layers and food. That said, our testers think that 20L is still a very solid size daypack for the needs of most day hikers.

  — GearLab
• −

  One feature we wish was better is the front expandable pocket. It's narrow compared to other daypacks, and we prefer a little extra room to jam a whole puffy and snacks in there if we want.

  — GearLab
• −

  Won’t fit every woman or smaller person well

  — Mountain IQ
• −

  20L is a bit small for some full day activities

  — Mountain IQ
• −

  Not the most breathable design

  — Mountain IQ

Buyer voices1

• “I found the hip belt comfortable. The belt is wide, lightly padded, and covered with a single piece of mesh. Attached to the backpack and mesh on the back of your pack, the belt wraps around your hips and holds the pack firmly in place with the oversized buckle on the front...”

  averagehiker— Average Hiker

• “The Osprey Aura AG 50 Backpack has built an incredibly strong fanbase and a well-deserved reputation as one of the best women’s trekking backpacks on the market today.”

• “The Osprey Aura AG and Atmos is a complex design that hugs your body like a Jason Rocker-Recliner with all the extra bells and whistles.”

• “I have been using Osprey’s Ariel 65 heavy-duty backpack for the past couple years for most of my long backpacking trips and travels. This backpack is a beast, but sometimes it’s just too bulky and heavy. The Aura 50 gives me the flexibility to go lighter.”

• “Unparalleled comfort thanks to unique suspension and ventilation system”

Loved9

• +

  The biggest annoyance on Atmos AG 50 has been fixed! The trampoline-style back-mesh used to squeak, but the latest design has eliminated that, making it a silent companion on the trails.

  — Backpacker's Mentality
• +

  The Ant-Gravity technology on the Osprey Aura AG 50 backpack is the real differentiator from other backpacks. Whilst on paper the weight is not the lowest, the way the hipbelt and mesh anti-gravity system transfers the load from your shoulders to your hips means carrying...

  — Backpacker's Mentality
• +

  The Anti — GravityTM backpanel provides effective weight distribution onto the hipbelt. This helps save putting weight on the shoulders and upper back area. Plus, the straps and Fit-on-the-Fly hipbelt allow for quick adjustments on the trail when swapping between layers or terrains.

  — Backpacker's Mentality
• +

  This means you barely feel the pack’s load over multiple days of trekking, and it eases the burden when doing ascents. The curved design of hip straps secures your waist like a hug, and the cushioned shoulder straps create amazing on-trail comfort.

  — Backpacker's Mentality
• +

  The AG System and Airspeed mesh harness and backpanel offer impressive airflow. This is helped by the main body sitting away from the back, allowing air to travel through via the suspended mesh panel.

  — Backpacker's Mentality
• +

  The Osprey Aura AG 50 has a great variety of pockets in smart locations to help best divide up your gear. As listed above, the number of different attachments and pockets makes organisation much easier.

  — Backpacker's Mentality
• +

  Osprey use recycled and high-durability materials to ensure the Aura Backpacks last on treks and backpacking trips.

  — Backpacker's Mentality
• +

  With an adjustable harness and hipbelt, the Osprey Aura AG 50 accommodates a range of torso and waist sizes—immersively tailored for women’s anatomy. The compression straps help keep the pack weight central and evenly distributed.

  — Backpacker's Mentality
• +

  Something I really loved about the side pockets is that they’re perfectly designed for accessibility to drink bottles (I used a 1L), through the addition of a clever forward facing opening, with a thumb loop.

  — Lotsafreshair

Criticised5

• −

  On the spec sheet, the Osprey Aura AG 50 is not a lightweight backpack. The LT version and Osprey Kyte 48 undercut it on weight. However, the heavier Anti-gravity system allows you to carry heavier loads than without it.

  — Backpacker's Mentality
• −

  There were some not-so-successful redesigns in the newest Aura & Atom designs, in my opinion. The non-removable floating lid and relocating the rain cover to the bottom are not as effective.

  — Backpacker's Mentality
• −

  One slight change is for the Fit-on-the-Fly Hipbelt; the ends of the straps don’t have an obvious place to be stored.

  — Backpacker's Mentality
• −

  There’s lots of ‘bits’ on this pack that places it about as far away as possible from a simple, bucket backpack with one job to do. It wouldn’t suit someone looking for a paired-back, lightweight minimalist design or for off-track bushwalking.

  — Lotsafreshair
• −

  It’s not for someone who does a lot of off-track bushwalking through scrub due to the amount of bits that could snag and abrasion on the stretchy pocket fabric on the outside. [Not everyone wants beetroot or pineapple on their burger.]

  — Lotsafreshair

Buyer voices5

• “This fits well, rides on my hips just like it should, and can carry all of my things for a weeklong hike.”

  Reviewed by Rachel Sippel +4 June 29, 2016— trailspace.com

• “There are tons of straps on this pack, which required some familiarization, but ultimately it just makes this pack so comfortable. You're able to really secure your load from every angle. I feel it holds 50L easily, plus the top portion is removable if you want to lighten it up.”

  Reviewed by Dayna Cline +13 June 28, 2018— trailspace.com

• “I've had always had back problems since giving birth, but with this pack's suspension my back is in heaven. The shoulder straps are very cushioning. I took this backpack on an overnight trip, hiking about eight miles to a campsite and it worked like a champ.”

  Reviewed by Cristina Delval +4 June 21, 2017— trailspace.com

• “Does anyone know the differences between the old and new version of the osprey Aura AG 50. I found one online that (I’m assuming) is an older model and it’s over $100 cheaper than the one at REI.”

  — reddit

• “Thoughts on the Osprey Aura AG 50? (self.OutdoorsGear)”

  kat_mc4— reddit