Top 5 Hiking Backpacks for Women with Durable Material for Extended Trips in Canada, 2026

• “The Osprey Aura 65 is one of the most adjustable backpacks we've ever tested. The Aura fits many body types, offers premium comfort features, and offers classic organizational systems.”

• “With their unique, super comfortable harness and suspension, comfort with 45 pounds or more, and numerous backpacker-friendly features, the Osprey men’s Atmos AG 65 and women’s Aura AG 65 rank among the very best packs out there today for moderate to big loads.”

• “The Atmos AG 65L (male version) and Aura AG 65L (female version) by Osprey are THE BEST all-around backpacks.”

• “With weight in the pack, the load is carried cleanly through the hips, taking pressure off the shoulders. On longer days, especially when the pack is properly full, that balance makes a real difference. It feels stable and predictable, even when the trail gets uneven.”

• “Price: $370Weight: 4 lbs. 7.0 oz. (women's small)Fabric: Nylon (100D x 630D)Capacities: 50, 65LWhat we like: Excellent ventilation and support, great organization, and highly durable.What we don’t: Hipbelt can cause discomfort and no zippered access to the main...”

• “Backpanel airflow: It keeps ventilation going between the pack and your back. On warmer days, there is far less sweat buildup than in packs without this mesh design.”

• “The pack is with the Osprey’s famous Stow-on-the-Go attachment system for trekking poles. This is something you really need when you are on the move, to take a photo or to drink and eat, so you can store the poles without stopping and have your hands free.”

• “Osprey gives a lifetime guarantee to every one of their packs and although I haven’t had a chance to test it out just yet, from features like the tough, reinforced zippers and incredibly padded shoulder straps, it doesn’t seem like much on the pack is going to come loose or...”

Loved15

• +

  The unique Anti-Gravity (AG) suspension system is the star of this pack. A seamless stretch-mesh back panel wraps onto the hip belt.

  — GearLab
• +

  The well-placed pockets on the Aura AG offer easy access to your gear on the trail, and the compartments separate trail gear from camp gear so you can set up camp without unloading the entire pack.

  — GearLab
• +

  No matter who you are, the Aura AG's impressive adjustability makes it a great option for pretty much everybody. The suspension system has a sliding adjustment for torso length, and it only takes a few seconds to adjust the shoulder straps.

  — GearLab
• +

  The suspended mesh Anti-Gravity backpanel provides class-leading ventilation and great lower-back support.

  — Switchback Travel
• +

  Ample pockets and organization for on-trail convenience without having to access the main compartment.

  — Switchback Travel
• +

  Quality is superb, and the Aura is made with very durable fabrics while keeping weight in check.

  — Switchback Travel
• +

  They also have an easily adjustable harness with perforated foam shoulder straps and a Fit-on-the-Fly hipbelt that can be adjusted (with a range of five inches/15cm) to dial in a customized fit.

  — The Big Outside
• +

  The Atmos and Aura sport a couple of features I think should be standard on all packs made primarily for backpacking: hipbelt pockets (each big enough for three energy bars) and a stow-on-the-go attachment for trekking poles on the left shoulder strap.

  — The Big Outside
• +

  Side compression straps snug down partial loads and let you carry items on the outside. External sleeping pad straps are removable. The sleeping bag compartment panel can be dropped out of the way but not removed.

  — The Big Outside
• +

  Osprey’s innovative Anti-Gravity suspension in the Atmos AG and women’s Aura AG feels more like putting on a jacket than a backpack.

  — The Big Outside
• +

  It never shifted or threw me off balance, even when scrambling and clambering through thousands of vertical feet of tree roots, blowdowns, and very steep, muddy, and rain-slicked trail on the Dusky Track, or skiing downhill through heavy, mashed-potato snow.

  — The Big Outside
• +

  All Day Comfort. The full-metal frame, expansive side compression strap system, and well-integrated suspension distribute weight effectively. No falling off the cliff because one side was too heavy (unless you do it on purpose, but we don't judge).

  — Oregon Discovery
• +

  Practical Compartments. Hella lots of pockets, water bottle holders, and a sleeping bag compartment (Marie Kondo would be envious of you).

  — Oregon Discovery
• +

  Good Ventilation. Imagine a light breeze around your back and shoulders instead of being sticky and wet. No more getting to the camp looking like you just ran the marathon.

  — Oregon Discovery
• +

  Durability. Made with durable materials: 210D nylon on the main portion of the pack and 500D on the bottom. Rain cover (included), turns the backpack into the duck's back – water slides off effortlessly. Without rain cover, it is still resistant to the rain.

  — Oregon Discovery

Criticised3

• −

  The hip belt design is another unique aspect of the Aura AG. Unlike many packs where the hip belt moves independently of the rest of the bag, the Aura's hip belt fits into the back panel in a single, integrated design, limiting its outward motion.

  — GearLab
• −

  Because of the suspended-mesh backpanel, you shouldn’t overload the Aura beyond its recommended weight (50 pounds).

  — Switchback Travel
• −

  The hipbelt feels rigid and lacks padding at the top and bottom, resulting in discomfort for me and another member of my group (who was wearing the Atmos AG).

  — Switchback Travel

• “If you are looking for a rugged, super-hauling lady-beast of a backpack, we definitely recommend the Deva. It offers good ventilation for a thick and loaded pack, making it suitable for myriad climate types.”

• “The DEVA 60 delivers and is an excellent choice for those who embark on similar adventures. I’ll even admit that I only used Osprey packs before this purchase and now I’ve been converted to a die-hard Gregory fan.”

• “The Gregory Deva 60 (Women) represents a compelling option in its category. For those considering a purchase, we recommend checking the full specifications page and, where possible, auditioning in person before committing.”

• “While it’s more than twice the weight of top ultralight packs, of course, the Baltoro, at four pounds, 14 ounces/2.2kg (for the medium Baltoro), and Deva weigh virtually the same as the Mystery Ranch Sphinx 60 and Osprey men’s Aether 65 and women’s Ariel 65 and just three...”

• “Just a little smaller and lighter than the famous Gregory Baltoro 65 pack, the Deva pack is the ideal women’s hiking backpack for active ladies that need comfort and support while carrying a heavy load on their back.”

• “The Gregory Deva 60 isn’t cheap, but it’s packed with features designed to make your backpacking adventures more comfortable and enjoyable. The fancy suspension system with moving parts and breathable materials sounds like a dream, especially for long hikes with heavy packs.”

• “There’s a lot to be said for fitting everything you need into one pack, whether hiking, camping, or disappearing into the wilderness. Whichever option you choose, Gregory’s Deva 60 should fit the bill.”

• “I’ve been testing the Gregory Deva 60 on a few longer hikes, and it’s been a really reliable and comfortable pack overall—especially for multi-day trips. The fit is what stood out most to me. I really appreciate the...Read More”

• “It does not matter what type of terrain you plan to be hiking on; from the highest mountains to the flattest city streets. The Gregory Deva 60 will be able to accommodate all your hiking needs. This brand is an excellent choice for women because it was designed with them in mind.”

Loved13

• +

  Those critical components explain how the Deva and Baltoro carry loads of 50 pounds/22.7kg comfortably, which is Gregory’s rating for the Baltoro 65 and Deva 60, what my testers estimated, and consistent with my personal experience with a few generations of the Baltoro.

  — The Big Outside
• +

  Classic fully featured, top-loaders built for hauling heavy loads into the backcountry, the Baltoro and Deva series packs have an internal alloy perimeter wire frame with a fiberglass cross stay plus an HDPE (high-density polyethylene) framesheet that give the packs abundant...

  — The Big Outside
• +

  Made with recycled fabrics—with a carbon footprint reduced by 31 percent, 25 percent less energy use, 23 percent less water pollution, and one-third less plastic than the previous generation of these packs, and a PFC-free DWR (durable, water-resistant treatment) on the pack...

  — The Big Outside
• +

  Durability alone validates the price (and weight), with a combination of 210-denier and 420-denier, high-density nylon in the pack body, 40 to 45 percent of it recycled, and a dual-layer bottom panel of 630-denier, high-density nylon.

  — The Big Outside
• +

  Gregory kept many useful features that have long populated the Deva and Baltoro series. That includes the supreme organization created by nine external pockets:

  — The Big Outside
• +

  That dynamic nature to the suspension eliminates much of the side-to-side rocking a pack can do as you hike—and the cumulative body fatigue that can result. Hipbelt and shoulder straps are made with cushioned mesh that ventilates well, too.

  — The Big Outside
• +

  Testers reported that Gregory’s new, foamless FreeFloat suspension system with 3D mesh delivered excellent air flow across their backs.

  — The Big Outside
• +

  Testers also loved Gregory’s signature, supportive lumbar pad, which has a non-slip surface to prevent lower-back blisters—another feature that becomes more important in a pack built for big loads.

  — The Big Outside
• +

  The voluminous main compartment, with a wide mouth, has abundant capacity for long, gear-intensive trips and carrying extra food and gear for companions (like young kids); it easily fits a bear canister laid in horizontally (often not possible with smaller packs).

  — The Big Outside
• +

  Have no fear with the Deva 60, as Gregory packs have been around since the 1970s. Gregory is not only innovative but could perhaps be leading the field when it comes to key design features that make their packs feel almost as if they are an extension of your own body (how a...

  — The Broke Backpacker
• +

  ✓ Premium build quality

  — SpecDB
• +

  ✓ Excellent performance for the price

  — SpecDB
• +

  ✓ Strong brand reputation and support

  — SpecDB

Criticised6

• −

  All of the comfortable padding, zippers, straps, and special features add a lot of extra weight. All told the Deva weighs nearly 5 pounds when empty, and it feels like it when you pick it up by its handle.

  — GearLab
• −

  The Deva is unusual because it doesn’t have symmetric side pockets. While there is a side mesh pocket on the left side of the pack, it’s not large enough to store a water bottle and is best used to capture the bottom of long skinny objects, like tent poles, glacier wands, or...

  — SectionHiker.com
• −

  All three men’s and women’s sizes also sport 22 inches (about 56cm) of fit range in all three adjustable hipbelt sizes—which spotlights one complaint I’ve long had about these packs: The belts are much too long for many users.

  — The Big Outside
• −

  The suspension-harness features a well-padded, pre-curved, dynamic hipbelt with flex panels that allow the belt to rotate side to side as you walk, and dual-density shoulder straps that auto-rotate individually at the top of each.

  — The Big Outside
• −

  ✗ Limited availability in some regions

  — SpecDB
• −

  ✗ Audition recommended before purchase

  — SpecDB

Buyer voices12

• “I’m so happy to hear it, Kelly! I love my Gregory Deva too 🙂 Happy trails!”

  — Hiking Lady

• “I bought my Gregory Deva 60 backpack after I saw the rave reviews from Backpacker Magazine, and I decided that I should check it out for myself.”

  — Hiking Lady

• “Excellent question. Yes, after all of these years I still love my Gregory Deva and it has held up really well. Having the water reservoir inside does take up storage space, but not too much.”

  — Hiking Lady

• “Hi There. Thanks for all of the awesome info posted here. I have a question about the NEW deva pack. Is it worth the extra $100+ ? And I would love your thoughts on the 60 vs. the 70 liter?”

  — Hiking Lady

• “I recently got this pack, but I had one problem. I couldn’t figure out how to strap my sleeping pad to the bottom like you have. The straps seem to be there for compression only and don’t really have any length to them. Is there something that I am missing?”

  — Hiking Lady

• “Just got back from backpacking a month through Peru and took this pack backpacking and then another Gregory 22L for daily excursions. Both were wonderful and comfortable and handled massive amounts of abuse.”

  — Hiking Lady

• “Hi! I’m wondering how the straps/hip belt fold up/away to travel on an airplane and such? Thanks!”

  — Hiking Lady

• “I Love my Gregory Diva 60! I thought long and hard about it (pricey) but after 6 days in the canyon and hearing others complain about their packs....I was so happy I invested in the Best!! It is very comfortable and packs great! I went to REI. The guys were very helpful.”

  — Hiking Lady

• “I jam small items of clothing in around the sleeping bag and the bear can to fill up the rest of the packbag. When the packbag is thus filled, the one dinky external mesh pocket is almost useless because the packbag has expanded into its measly space.”

  Reviewed by kmsquared +61 June 28, 2007— trailspace.com

• “I am looking to finally replace it (I don't think it will ever wear out!) with a less burly bag, because I don't need the capability to carry such a heavy load, and I am willing to sacrifice the convenience of less pockets and fewer access points (top, bottom, and through...”

  Reviewed by Pixie January 28, 2008— trailspace.com

• “I’ll write about Louise someday (she’s a super-secure anti-theft bag from Pacsafe that keeps my electronics safe) but today I want to tell you about my main squeeze, Thelma. Thelma is a 60L workhorse from Gregory that can handle everything I own and still be comfortable to carry.”

  Lauren Haas— Indie Travel Guru

• “Awaiting FlairAre the updates to the new Gregory Deva/Baltoro packs worth it? (self.CampingGear)”

  plant_lady76— reddit