Contour 35

Took this on a 4-day section hike and barely noticed it on my shoulders. The frameless design forces you to actually dial in your kit, but once you do it carries way better than the weight suggests.

I was skeptical about going frameless, but the stripped-down simplicity of this pack means there's genuinely nothing to snag, break, or weigh me down. It forces me to keep my kit streamlined, and I've noticed I'm covering ground with less fuss than with my old bulky framed pack.

The lack of a frame actually makes it disappear on my back—I forgot I was carrying it on a 14-mile day. Cinched down tight against my streamlined gear, it rode steady without any bounce or sag.