How big a pack you need

Pack size is set by everything else in your kit, so it is the last thing to buy, not the first. A lightweight kit with a small tent and a quilt fits comfortably in 40 to 50 litres for a weekend and 55 to 65 for a week. A traditional kit with a freestanding tent, a synthetic bag and a chair wants 60 to 75. If you find yourself shopping for an 85 litre pack for summer trips, the problem is usually the other gear, not the pack.

Frames

Under about 20 pounds total, a frameless or minimally framed pack carries fine and saves a pound or more. Over that, an internal frame makes the difference between a pleasant day and a sore one, and no amount of foam padding replaces it. Most packs in the pack deals are framed. Ultralight makers such as ULA, Hyperlite and Zpacks sell both, and their sale listings are rare enough that we flag them when they happen.

The thing to check first

Torso length. Packs come in sizes the way jackets do, and a pack that is the wrong length will hurt regardless of how good it is. Clearance packs are often on sale because one size is left. Before you click through on a 50% off pack, know your torso measurement and read the size on the listing, because the wrong length goes back in the mail and the discount goes with it.

Why you see one card per pack

Several retailers often carry the same pack. We show one card, with the cheapest current price on it, and list the other stores on the deal page. Sometimes the cheapest store is not the one with your size, and that is what the compare block is for.