LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Whether you want to explore the 13,400 miles of Michigan wilderness trails, or any number of the big cities in the state, a good backpack is an important part of trail preparation.  

According to a Forbes rating, the Osprey Exos 58 was voted the Best Hiking Backpack Overall.  

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“It’s minimalist by design, and the 58-liter version is perfect for a weekend-long trip, while the 38-liter model is ideal for day hikes with friends,” the report said. “The bag itself, which comes in two similar sizes, can carry loads of up to 40 pounds, but the light alloy frame and suspension system helps lift the weight off your shoulders, plus mesh panels on the straps, hip belt and back encourage airflow to keep you cool during warm weather outings.” 

The award winning Colorado based company began in 1974 focusing mostly on backpacking packs ranging from day hiking packs ranging up to the 110 liter Osprey Argon which likely would hold anything needed to tackle a long term backpacking trip.  

Though recently the company provides a Packfinder page which would help any of its present or future customers choose the ideal pack for their particular needs. 

The Osprey Exos and Eja were rated the Most Comfortable Backpack by the Adventure Alan Staff. 

“A big part of what makes backpacks comfortable is how they carry, how they ventilate, and how cushy they are. Most users find that the Exos and Eja’s frame does an excellent job of transferring weight to the hips, that the mesh materials are soft and don’t chafe, and that the airflow back panel actually reduces sweat. Meanwhile, it’s also large, lightweight, and durable. A winning combo,” according to staff. 

The Trek, formally Appalachian Trails, is an online site dedicated to shining a spotlight on current hikers’ journeys.  We have had more than a hundred current thru-hikers sharing their journeys according to the site. 

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Trek assembled a 2022 list of best thru-hiking backpacks based on Trek writers, their gear testing team, the 2019 Appalachian Trail thru-hiker survey, and an extensive comparison of price, weight, features, durability, and intended use according to the site. 

Of the 13 categories that packs could be placed in, only Osprey and Gossamer Gear had two packs that were voted top of their category.  The Osprey Exos was voted Appalachian Trail (AT) Thru-Hikers’ Favorite Pack and the Osprey Aura/Atmos was voted Best Fully-Featured Backpack.