Gregory Z65 Lightweight Backpack

Here is a lightweight, comfortable backpack with easy-to-load large capacity. Its 3700 cubic inches will carry up to 40 pounds. The Osprey Exos 58 backpack will haul your gear whether you're on a day hike or an Appalachian Trail thru-hike. I like its integrated 3-liter hydration sleeve and the removable top pocket. The aluminum frame suspension supports the load, while the mesh back panel provides plenty of ventilation for my sweaty back.

Like most ultra-light backpacks, the Exos 58 doesn't have an adjustable torso, but it comes in three sizes so you can get one to fit. It's a top-loading pack, and the top pocket floats to fit over the top no matter how much gear you stow inside. I like having the two zippered front pockets to keep a rain cover or jacket handy. And I hate being slowed down on the trail; Osprey's Stow-on-the-Go (tm) trekking pole attachment lets me stow and remove my hiking poles without having to take off the pack. This pack has more pockets and attachments than you might expect on an ultra-light pack.

The 3300 cubic inch Granite Gear Meridian Vapor backpack is an ultralight pack loaded with features hikers love. It has completed Appalachian Trail thru-hikes with flying colors and it shines on shorter hikes, too.

Instead of aluminum stays, the Meridian Vapor has a padded HDPE plastic frame sheet to provide shape and support to the pack thus keeping bag weight down. Along with the usual compression straps and lash points, this top-loading pack also has zippered front access to all your gear. The floating top pocket can be removed and used as a fanny pack -- handy for those days spent off trail and in town. Maybe my favorite feature is the stretch fabric used for the side pockets; it doesn't snag like mesh.

Everything fits inside this Granite Gear backpack, but be careful. It's so comfortable, you may be tempted to over-pack. As a lightweight backpack, it can handle up to 30 pounds.

Gone are the days of heavy canvas tents, military surplus packs, and eight-pound hiking boots. Modern technology has provided much lighter options for backpackers, and this leads to a more enjoyable outing. Nylon -- and silicon-coated nylon -- has replaced heavy canvas in shelter and backpacks. Synthetic materials have made possible smaller and lighter sleeping bags. And as loads have gotten lighter, hikers have found they no longer need the support of heavy boots and have turned instead to light trail shoes. They are able to hike more miles in a day with the same amount of effort.

Where it was once common for backpackers to carry loads of 80 or more pounds, today it is rare for a pack to weigh even 60 pounds. Most are around 45, and there is a movement toward ultra-light backpacking with loads of under 20 pounds. If this sounds appealing to you, be aware that such light-weight equipment does not always hold up to abuse the way the older canvas did. Also, going that light often requires being a minimalist in regards to gear and clothing, and is better suited to those with previous backpacking experience. Before you attempt ultra-light backpacking, please be sure you have the knowledge to keep yourself safe in the wilderness without a lot of the extras. And don't expect your ultra-light nylon gear to take abuse. Take care of your gear, and it will help take care of you.