If you’re here, it’s because you’re looking for the best backpack for your hike.
We’ve decided! Browse our guide, and find out what the best 40-liter backpack for hiking is.
Then, let’s get started! 😁
Discover the best 40L hiking backpacks
To begin with, tell us: which body shape suits you best?
⭐ Quick Tip:
- If you’re a woman, and you’re over 5’9″, men’s bags will fit you perfectly.
- If you’re a man, and under 5’10”, women’s bags will fit you better.
⭐ Why choose a 40-liter bag?
- To hike in autonomy for several days
- To hike lightly, and in autonomy, during an itinerant hike (long hike, pilgrimage)
- For a trip
For more hiking backpacks, see our comparison : best hiking backpacks
What are the best 40 liter backpacks for hiking?
The best 40-liter hiking backpacks for women
- 38 liters
- Good back ventilation
- Hip stabilizer
- 🧡Heavy load carrying
- 38 liters
- Lightweight bag
- Space to store the sleeping bag
- 🧡 Adjustable back
- 45 liters
- Perfect quality
- Fixing straps
- 🧡 Ultra-lightweight bag: 830 g
The Osprey Levity 45 hiking backpack
Why choose it ? It is the reference bag for light hiking! Why choose this bag? This 45 L bag weighs 830 g! Hard to find better. In addition, the bag has straps to hang your bivouac gear.
✅Very light bag ✅45 liters ✅Independable quality ✅Secure straps
What are the important things to know?
- The Osprey bag is ultralight!
- This panel is both very light, but offers optimal ventilation for the walker. (AirSpeed™ ventilated trampoline mesh back panel)
- Pockets: elastic fabric front pocket, side pockets
- Fixing straps: 2 flexible front chains, rope knot attachment point,
- There is a key ring inside
- There is a space dedicated to the water bag
- Weight: 830g
- Volume: 45 liters
- Back length: 68 cm
The extra thing 🧡: The bag offers a very good weight/volume ratio. Light, it is also stable and robust.
🛍️ Where to buy it?
The Gregory Jade 38 hiking backpack
Why choose it ? Choose this 38-liter bag for your hikes of more than a week. Lightweight, it comes with an adjustable back.
✅ Adjustable back ✅38 liters ✅ Down pocket ✅Lightweight
What are the important things to know?
- Pockets: 2 stretch mesh side pockets, front pocket, top zip pocket
- Side compression straps to compact the bag as much as possible.
- At the bottom of the bag, there is a compartment dedicated to the sleeping bag.
- Included: rain cover
- The length of the back: between 40.6cm and 50.8cm.
- This size is suitable for people between 1.60 m and 1.78 m tall.
- Capacity: 38L
- Backpack weight: 1.30 kg
🛍️ Where to buy it?
The DEUTER FUTURA PRO 38SL hiking backpack
Why choose it? If you are looking for an ultra-comfortable backpack, the Deuter Futuro Pro is the one for you! The Deuter backpack is suitable for carrying heavy loads (10 kilos). In addition, the bag is also equipped with a hip stabilizer.
✅ Ease of carrying heavy loads ✅38 liters ✅ Good moisture ventilation ✅Hip stabilizer.
What are the important things to know?
- Ergonomic, comfortable and ventilated carrying system.
- Forward hip stabilizers
- Straps: helmet loops, pole straps
- Pockets: special “valuables” pocket, 3 outer pockets
- Space to store the water bag
- Rain hood included
- Capacity: 38L
- Weight: 1600g
🛍️ Where to buy it?
Learn more about the Deuter Futura backpack
The OSPREY EJA 38 hiking backpack
Why choose it? It is a very light bag with a generous volume of 38 liters. The Eja bag offers a very good stability, a step adjustment system, and an uneven robustness! With this bag you are ready for great adventures!
✅Optimized carrying ✅38 liters ✅ Very comfortable ✅ Good ventilation
What are the important things to know?
- Dedicated area for storing the water bladder
- Pocket: Stretch mesh front stash pocket, 2 stretch mesh side pockets, 2 belt pockets
- Fastening straps: Removable straps (carpet, tent, duvet), 2 ice ax loops with elastic cord, pole holders
- Weight: 1.2kg
- Capacity: 38L
🛍️ Where to buy it?
The best 40-liter hiking backpacks for men
- 40 liters
- Optimized storage
- Adjustable back length
- 🧡 Light bag (1.3 kg)
- 40 liters
- Wide waist belt
- Optimized storage
- 🧡 Lightweight back panel
- 44 liters
- Plenty of storage
- Very comfortable bag
- 🧡 Impeccable quality
The OSPREY EXOS 38 hiking backpack
Why choose it? The Exos bag is a compact bag, ideal to take only the essential with you. Perfect for a weekend trek, or a week-long trip! You’ll have enough space to organize, store and secure your gear. Ergonomic, lightweight and functional, the bag offers good back ventilation and carrying comfort.
✅ Compact bag ✅ 38 liters ✅ Comfortable ✅ Good ventilation
What are the important things to know?
- Plenty of attachment points for securing camping gear (tent, mat, wet clothes, etc.)
- Interior pocket to store the hydration system (water bladder, water bottles)
- Pocket: Expandable Stash Pocket, 2 Expandable Side Pockets, 2 Zippered Belt Pockets To Hold
- Sternum strap with whistle
- Fastening straps: 2 ice ax loops with elastic cord, trekking pole holder
2 removable side compression straps - Weight: 1236g
- Volume: 38 liters
🛍️ Where to buy it?
Discover our comparison of the best Osprey backpacks
The Gregory Zulu 40 hiking backpack
Why choose it ? If you’re hiking for a long weekend (3/4 days), this bag is perfect. With its 40 liters volume, you also benefit from straps and pockets to organize your gear. Ergonomic and comfortable, the Gregory bag has everything to please you.
✅ Fairly light bag (1.3 kg) ✅ 40 liters ✅ Optimized storage ✅ Back adjustment
What are the important things to know :
- Back length is adjustable.
- Pockets: 2 stretch side pockets, stretch front pocket, top zip pocket,
- Dedicated sleeping bag storage area.
- Straps: pole holder, ice ax holder
- Rain cover included
- Capacity: 40L
- Backpack weight: 1340 grams
🛍️ Where to buy it?
The Ortovox Traverse 40 hiking backpack
Why choose it ? This 40-liter bag has many pockets to store and organize your hiking gear. Another plus is that the back panel is both lightweight, comfortable and flexible.
✅ Optimized storage ✅ 40 liters ✅ Lightweight and comfortable back panel ✅ Large waist belt
What are the important things to know?
- Wide waist belt to ensure good load distribution
- Breathability: The back panel, with its flexible and light structure, does not impact the load carried.
- Stick holders
- Compression straps to compact the bag as much as possible
- Pockets: map storage, bottom pocket, front pocket, side pockets
- Area for storing a water bag
- Complete and versatile bag
- Capacity: 40 L
- Weight: 1370gWide waist belt to ensure good load distribution
- Breathability: The back panel, with its flexible and light structure, does not impact the load carried.
- Stick holders
- Compression straps to compact the bag as much as possible
- Pockets: map storage, bottom pocket, front pocket, side pockets
- Area for storing a water bag
- Complete and versatile bag
- Capacity: 40 L
- Weight: 1370g
🛍️ Where to buy it?
The OSPREY STRATOS 44 hiking backpack
Why choose it? This backpack is a favorite among hikers. With its breathable and lightweight back panel, you walk with a cool back, even in hot weather. The bag has optimized pockets, storage and openings to make your life easier while hiking.
✅ Impeccable quality ✅ 44 liters ✅ Numerous storages ✅ Very comfortable bag
What are the important things to know?
- Waterproof cover with DWR coating
- Pocket: front zip pocket, 2 hipbelt pockets, stretch water bottle pockets
- Large opening to access the main compartment
- Good ventilation in the back to evacuate perspiration
- Space to store the water bag
- Fixing straps: trekking pole holder, ice ax loop, ice ax loop
- 2 adjustable side compression straps
- Attachment loops for attaching tent, mat or sleeping bag
- Openings optimized for easy and quick access to the contents of the backpack
- Bag volume: 44 L
- Weight: 1650g
🛍️ Where to buy it?
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