Camping is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy nature. If you’re planning your next camping trip for 2023, make sure you have the right gear! One of the most essential items you’ll need is a camping bag. Not all bags are created equal, so it’s important to do your research before purchasing one. In this blog post, we will discuss the 5 best camping bags for your next adventure.
Whether you’re a seasoned or first-time camper, you need to make sure you have the right gear. And one of the most essential accessories you can bring along is a camping bag.
The best camping bags ensure that you have just the right amount of space to carry all the things you need on your trip without being burdened with too much weight.
But since camping bags vary greatly in design and other features, it can be hard to figure out what kind of bag best fits your needs.
To help you narrow down your search, we’ve done our research based on the most important features — weight, fit, capacity, construction — to bring you our list of the
Top 10 best camping bags in the market today.
The North Face is a very well-known brand for cold-weather gear, the North Face’s Banchee hiking pack focuses on ease and comfort. With its 65L maximum capacity, you can have plenty of room for your items such as clothes, food, and camping gear. The back panel is also adjustable even if you are on the move.
Key Features:
- Made with Lightweight IronLite™ material
- With T6 aluminium frame for sturdiness
- The Dyno Lite System™ for adjustable load lifters
- FlashDry™ back panel for quick drying
- 8+ pockets & hydration sleeve
Verdict: North Face is an incredibly popular brand, known for its high-quality and durable outdoor gear and apparel. Their Banchee 65L hiking pack is lightweight despite its size and storage options that offer weather protection, making it suitable for any camping and hiking activities that can be worn in different weather conditions.
If you’re looking for a lightweight compact day pack, Caribee trek 32L is an all-around adventure backpack with lots of features like its multi-compartment design and a padded harness system. This specific pack was designed for weekend adventures and even weekday commutes.
Key Features:
- Front pocket organiser panel
- Multi-compartment design
- Action Back Extreme padded harness system
- QR compression system
Verdict: Too many unnecessary things you put on your pack is never a good idea, it will make it heavy and make your camping experience less enjoyable. This compact backpack is a great and recommended choice for a day trip or a light hike.
This 55L Hiking Pack of North Face is the best backpack either for school, camp, or hiking trips as it has a huge storage capacity and comes with hydration sleeves for your water reservoir. It has a support frame to keep the stability and a floating lid for your tents or sleeping bags.
Key Features:
- Youth-specific design
- Made of Nylon Boot Polyester material
- 55L storage capacity
Verdict: North Face’s Youth hiking pack is designed best for younger users who are going to have their first camping experience as it is very comfortable to use and has all the features a beginner needs such as a support frame, a hydration sleeve, hip belt, storage, and a rain cover. However, this backpack is a expected a bit pricey compared to others.
The Mountain Designs Escape Hike day pack is a lightweight pack with a 30L storage capacity that will be best for your shorter hikes or walks. This pack has an innovative design that includes a separate zippered section for easy reach to valuable items.
Key Features:
- Made of Ripstop and DWR nylon material
- Base is made of 600D Polyester with PU coating
- YKK zippers for non-hassle access
- Loops and attachment features are available
Verdict: The Mountain Design Escape hike pack is the bang for the buck. It has all the supportive features a day pack can have for a 30L capacity. If you’re looking for a small lightweight pack for your quick escape, we definitely recommend this from Mountain Designs.
The Sea to Summit River Dry Bag is a great bag for extreme water activities to keep your valuables safe and dry. It can be easily rolled and has buckles to secure it while on the go. Though this durable bag is water-resistant, it is not recommended for water submersion.
Key Features:
- Made of 420D ripstop nylon with TPU-laminated coating
- Water-repellant
- Double-stitched and tape-sealed seams
- White interior for ease of use
Verdict: Sea to Summit 65L Big River Dry Bag is a drybag specifically designed for kayaking, canoeing, and boat activities but can still be suitable for camping because of its waterproof feature and big capacity. However, it doesn’t have a harness system which makes it difficult to carry for long periods of time.
Black Wolf is one of the few Australian brands that produce high-quality outdoor gear at affordable prices — and their Tempo 30L Daypack is no exception. This camping bag is packed with state-of-the-art features including a primary compartment that is supported by an alloy frame all the way down to the hip belt. It also comes with compression straps that easily fold it into a compact size — so you can move freely in our out of the campsite.
Key Features:
- Compression straps
- Hydration compatible up to 3L
- Alloy frame in the primary compartment
- Slidable sternum straps
- Built-in rain cover
- Mesh water bottle pockets
- Internal organizer
- Padded waist strap
- Removable key clip
- #10 zipper
- Padded shoulder strap
Pros
- Lightweight
- Good back ventilation
- Good build quality
Cons
- Main compartment could use more padding
- Weight distribution pulls backward
Verdict: This camping bag is jammed with features that suit any outdoor adventure, from day trips to overnight camping. This high-end backpack is extra comfortable to wear with an air-light harness equipped with vented foam shoulder straps and a padded waist belt.
Suitable for extended mountaineering and camping tours, the TETON SPORTS Fox 5200 Backpack is known for its large capacity — it is currently one of the largest available camping bags from this brand, with a cubic volume equivalent to 85 liters. Despite its size, this bag also focuses on comfort, featuring a contoured shoulder and lumbar pads.
Key features:
- Padded waist straps with wide locking hip straps
- Sturdy 600D ripstop and Oxford Canvas Shell
- Front compression straps for added security
- Large side zippered pockets
- Side and lower gear loops for long item storage
- Aluminum stays for adjustment
- Hydration ready to 3 liters
- Lifetime warranty
Price: $150
Pros
- Large capacity compartments
- Adjustable harness
- Integrated rain cover
Cons
- Lacks belt pockets
- Zippers lack durability
Verdict: To say that this huge pack is a practical buy is understating it. Its big capacity, comfortable design, and other key features make it perfect for any backpacking expedition, regardless of the terrain and weather.
If you’re looking for a compact and lightweight camping bag, then the Osprey Talon 22 Hiking Backpack is your best bet. With only a 22-liter capacity, this camping bag is small enough to carry around without much effort — the perfect companion while day hiking or overnight camping.
Key features:
- Dual-zipped panel access
- Internal zippered mesh pocket
- LidLock bike helmet attachment
- Lower side compression straps
- External hydration reservoir sleeve
- Tuck-away ax attachment with bungee tie-off
- Large stretch mesh front panel pocket
- Blinker light attachment
Price: $135
Pros
- Compact size and lightweight
- Fully adjustable
- Multi-sport ready with lots of attachments
Cons
- Recommended for day trips only
- Not suitable for heavy loads
Verdict: Despite its small size and minimalist design, the Osprey Talon 22 Hiking Backpack offers exceptional ventilation with an updated AirScape back panel design so air passes through without any hindrance. It’s also extremely comfortable with a BioStretch harness and hip belt that manages to keep heavy loads stable and well-distributed across your torso.
Waterproof and made of sustainable materials, the FE ACTIVE Dry Camping Bag is the best option for the eco-friendly camper. This camping bag is packed with features that keep you dry during your trip, being made with PVC tarpaulin material that is reinforced with radio frequency welded seams and nylon webbing straps — guaranteed to withstand all kinds of harsh weather.
Key features:
- Environmentally safe PVC
- 5mm eco-friendly vinyl tarpaulin
- High frequency welded stitching
- Roll-top waterproof design
- Dual mesh side pockets
- Corded front design
Price: $188
Pros
- Fully waterproof
- Made of eco-friendly materials
- Easy to carry
Cons
- Recommended for day trips only
- Not suitable for heavy loads
Verdict: Because of its waterproof features, the FE ACTIVE Dry Camping Bag is well suited not only for camping but also for hauling essential gear for watersports like kayaking or fishing. Its PVC material and hardcore build is heavy-duty and easy to clean.
Comfort is at the top tier when it comes to the OUTRAK Ravine Trekking Pack. This standard-sized camping bag is constructed from ripstop polyester fabric that is not only durable but also breathable and light for those long hikes around the campsite. It also features padded shoulder straps that give you enough support and balance even if you’re carrying heavy loads.
Key features:
- Ripstop 600D polyester
- 40 liters capacity
- Side elastic pockets
- Padded shoulder straps and waistband
- Bottom zippered pocket
- Elastic rope system and webbing loops in the front
- Inside compartment for a water bladder
Price: $129.99
Pros
- Straps and waistband are padded
- Easily accessible compartments
Cons
- Lack of external attachments
Verdict: The OUTRAK Ravine Trekking Pack focuses mainly on comfort and convenience. It has a padded waistband and back paneling to keep you supported and an elastic rope system and webbing loops to carry any larger equipment. It also includes a rain cover in case of unpredictable weather.
The Best Camping Bags: Buying Guide
The best camping bags should provide the perfect balance between capacity and weight, which is a crucial element especially if you plan to camp out for more than a night.
Here are some other important factors to consider:
1. Organization
The ideal bag should have multiple compartments where you can separately arrange supplies that become necessary for different stages of your camping trip — like flashlights for nighttime and guidebooks which are needed during the day. It also provides a place to store your nonessential camping gear when not in use, freeing the rest of your campsite from clutter.
2. Security
The best camping bags should be enforced with lockable double zippers on each compartment. It’s a good tip to remember that camping can be a treacherous activity at times, especially when you’re doing it in harsher weather. So your bag should leave no chance for items to get lost or fall off easily.
3. Durability
Camping bags are typically made of nylon which comes in different deniers – the higher the denier, the more durable and resistant to abrasion. But a higher denier also means a heavier fabric, so make sure to choose a bag that combines it with a different fabric blend and is reinforced with interwoven threads for better durability.
4. Fit
Finding the right fit for your camping bag can be a tricky task, but an important tip to remember is that your bag has to match your torso length. This is crucial because it has to sit comfortably on your back with the hip belt tight enough to fit your waist or hips circumference.
