Warm weather has arrived and with it, plenty of activities to choose from. Your potential for adventure is limited only by your imagination - and perhaps the gear you need to get from A to B. In order to ensure that no outdoor activity goes unpursued for lack of equipment, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite new spring backpacks, each one fine-tuned to maximize your fun this season.
The Mile Crusher
When you’re charging through mile after mile of hiking trail, exactly zero percent of your energy should go towards fidgeting with your pack. In fact, you should hardly even know it’s there. Osprey is working hard toward that goal with its
Stratos/Sirrus series. Updated for 2017, the Stratos/Sirrus now features adjustable torso lengths to dial in your fit and brings back AirSpeed Suspension, a ventilated mesh backpanel dedicated to keeping back sweat at bay. Additional technical features are plentiful but we’re especially fond of the seamless hipbelt, trekking pole attachment, and a nifty integrated raincover for when Mother Nature acts up without warning.
Available sizes include:
Stratos 24,
Stratos 36,
Sirrus 24,
Sirrus 36
The Thirst Quencher
We love sneaking in a few laps at our favorite local mountain bike trails whenever we have an hour or two to spare, but there’s nothing that satisfies quite like getting in a full day’s worth of riding. When you’re thirsty for miles upon miles of unexplored singletrack, the
Camelbak M.U.L.E will allow you to load up on everything you need for the day, without weighing you down. Updated for 2017, the M.U.L.E. features the new Crux reservoir, designed to deliver more water per sip than ever before. Pick your trail and drink up.
The Weekday Warrior
Crushing isn’t only for the weekend. For those who work just as hard as they play, the
Mountain Hardwear DryCommuter is here to help you get from meeting to meeting no matter what your mode of transportation might be. Toss your computer into the top-loading front laptop compartment and rest assured it will emerge in-tact thanks to durable padding and OutDry waterproofing technology.
Available sizes include:Â
DryCommuter 22,
DryCommuter 32
The All-Weather Explorer
Rain shmain. If we let a little wet weather keep us from getting outside, well, we’d be pretty unhappy campers. That’s why we’re big fans of Mountain Hardwear’s line of OutDry packs, particularly this waterproofing ninja, the
Ozonic. The three-layer membrane is so watertight your gear will stay dry during even the most drizzly slogs. What’s more, Mountain Hardwear’s Hardwave suspension provides 3-inches of torso adjustment with interchangeable shoulder straps and hipbelt, meaning the Ozonic will fit like a glove.
The Snack Stasher
Spurts of sunshine have us craving Type 1 summer fun; easy-breezy simple days spent diving into secret swimming holes and lounging lakeside in hammocks. For these kinds of days you need a bag like the
Burton Big Buddy. With 12-pack cold storage and spacious top compartments for snacks and gear, your only worry will be deciding which cold brew to crack open with the Big Buddy’s integrated bottle opener. Think of it as your summertime sidekick, up for anything and guaranteed to help keep the good times rolling.
