Top 5 Hiking Backpacks for Women: Multiple Compartments (30-50 Liters) in Canada 2026

• “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

• “The Gregory Jade 38 is all about keeping you comfortable on the trail. Its secret weapon? The FreeFloat suspension system. Imagine a breathable mesh back panel that keeps your back cool and dry. Now add a comfy hip belt that moves naturally with your body as you hike.”

• “4 – This bag offers a great combination of features.There are both top and front loading options for travel, a comfortable hip belt with pockets, two side pockets, two lid pockets, a stuffable front pocket similar to that on the Osprey packs, a pocket for a hydration bladder...”

• “This is a gender specific series for women; they build a separate series for men under the name Zulu packs. It implies a 3D comfort cradle hip belt with a 3D construction for hotspot free, body-hugging comfort, and a women’s specific die-cut shoulder harness.”

• “Some view this as a dedicated space for stashing essentials like a first-aid kit, flashlight, or map. As it offers external access, this can be incredibly handy, particularly when you need quick access to these items in emergency situations or simply when setting up camp in...”

Criticised1

• −

  However, the biggest downside in the design is that it gets narrow towards the bottom, To give your lower back some airflow, the bag reduced the capacity on the lower part of the bag so it slims towards the bottom. This means that the bulk of your items will be on the upper half.

  — Half Digital Nomad

Buyer voices1

• “The main compartment held the gear I used for an over niter — Big Agnes Fly Creek 2 tent, Nemo sleeping pad, cooking kit and stove, bags of extra clothes, first aid pack, bag of selected emergency gear, food, emergency bivy, rain pants and jacket, Montbell UL Tech jacket,...”

  Reviewed by smartydog904 +69 December 29, 2011— trailspace.com