Best Active Backpack Finalists:
Fourth Annual Carry Awards

When the going gets tough, these packs don’t quit. Built for demanding use, our Best Active Backpack Finalists are designed to be durable, versatile and comfortable. From outdoor adventuring, to weekend getaways and the daily commute, these reliable haulers don’t care how far the journey is, just as long as you’re on one.

Log your vote at the bottom of the page!

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GORUCK Bullet Ruck

It’s almost cheating when GORUCK release a new size. They take a winning formula, shrink it, and then legions will fall in love immediately. But with the Bullet, it also hit a keen price point, and found a size for shorter trips and some hydration. Oh, and if you want it in very bright pink, there’s now that too.

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Triple Aught Design FAST Pack EDC 2.0

The Fast Pack EDC brings all the TAD elements that have won them devout fans, and then adds more pocketing and more features for your everyday needs. The updated version boasts improved suspension, greater cushioning for enhanced user comfort, new anchor points and a top attachment system to customize carry setups, plus a full clamshell opening for easy access. With capacity for a short trip away, and numerous extensions and attachments, you’ll be able to carry almost anything you need to.

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Outlier Ultrahigh

Here’s a pack that will surprise you. There are only minimal features, the suspension is pretty basic, and the price ain’t cheap. But somehow the Ultrahigh totally wins your heart for its pure and minimalist approach to carry. This update improves some of the small issues we had with the previous version, which gives us more reasons to cart it around the globe with us.

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Filson x Burton Backpack 17L

We’ve hauled our Burton AK 17L pack through all sorts of snow adventures, so when we get a chance to see it in Tin Cloth with a wool-lined pocket and AustriAlpin buckles, of course we’re going to get excited. This Filson collab is remarkably affordable, typically out of stock, and totally desirable.

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The North Face Snomad 34

While most of the news in snow packs is around airbags and their various inflation techniques, there’s still a role for classic backcountry packs without balloons. The Snomad shakes up the traditional look and format, opting for a cleaner front with great pocket placements and a huge back-panel opening. The pack allows for vertical or horizontal snowboard carry and A-frame or diagonal ski carry.

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Salomon Agile 20 AW

Salomon are part of the Amer brand stable with Arc’teryx, and it shows. Both brands innovate on several fronts, continuously, in awesome ways. While best known for their ultra-distance running packs, Salomon are starting to bring some of their innovations closer to normal mortals. The Agile 20 AW is very light, well featured, and very comfortable no matter how wild you’re getting.

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Mixed Works Falcon

Mixed Works are like the Mission Workshop of Poland, sharing a masculine aesthetic, similar materials, bike DNA, versatile formats and even their initials. But then they go their own way, shaping carry pieces like the Falcon which has presence, utility and configurability. This is a great-looking pack.

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Hyperlite Mountain Gear Dyneema 2400 Ice Pack

Both Hyperlite and Dyneema have recently undergone brand overhauls, and we’re loving the direction of both. The Dyneema version of their 2400 Ice Pack brings them together in an unapologetically focused ice climbing pack. Crazy light, super tough and highly resistant to water, this is one of the most serious packs out there.

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Velomacchi Speedway Roll-Top Backpack

We’re super impressed with how far Velomacchi have pushed this pack over the last year or so. They’ve basically taken the active harness, and pushed it further. Increased articulation and movement now give one of the most dynamic rib-hugging systems on the market. Oh, and did you see the pack? A serious amount of design time has gone into this thing. A huge achievement.

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f-stop Ajna

If you want to take great shots on big adventures, you need to worry both about your camera gear, as well as your adventure gear. f-stop help you carry both, in affordable, comfortable and configurable bags that help you get radical. The Ajna is the successor to the Loka, a pack that has already won serious fans. Updated fabric, access and harness all help make this even better.

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Vote now!

(closes April 2nd)