Packs for shorter or weekend camping trips
The main advantage of buying a weekend pack is its lighter weight, and prices are usually lower, too. Note that ultralight backpackers often use a weekend pack even for long trips, and in warm weather even "medium-weight packers" will find around 3,000 cubic inches enough space for several days. It all depends on the gear and food you take. The main drawback is that weekend packs tend not to have a separate sleeping bag compartment.
For weekend trips, field testers at Backpacker Magazine give top ranking to the Mountainsmith Treklight Eclipse 55 (*Est. $200), which weighs 56 ounces. That's two pounds less than the bigger, more expensive Gregory Baltoro 70 (*Est. $270) . Editors say the Mountainsmith Eclipse 55 is durable - even bushwhacking through heavy brush. Memory-foam padding, airflow across the back and a pivoting hip belt make this backpack very comfortable. Capacity is 3,417 cubic inches - not that much smaller than the 4,000 cubic inches now recommended even for long three-season trips.
The year before, Backpacker Magazine gave top ranking to the Gregory Z55 (*Est. $200) as the best weekend backpack. National Geographic Adventure magazine also picks the Gregory Z55 as its best backpack, though it's not clear how many other packs were tested there. The Gregory Z55 weighs 53 ounces, but its 3,350-cubic-inch capacity is also slightly smaller than that of the newer Mountainsmith Eclipse 55. Owners reviewing the Gregory Z55 at REI.com give it high marks for comfort - at least for loads under 35 pounds -- but wish it had a more pockets and a separate sleeping bag compartment.
Based on owner reviews at REI.com, the Osprey Atmos 50 (*Est. $200) is the top weekend backpack and an Outside Magazine 2005 Gear of the Year award winner. It's lighter at 49 ounces, but its 3,000-cubic-inch capacity means that its capacity-to-weight ratio is the same as that of the Mountainsmith Eclipse 55. Owners say it's comfortable, but give it mixed reviews for loading ease.
As a budget weekend backpack, Outside Magazine's 2007 Gear Guide picks The North Face Terra 40 (`*Est. $120) , saying it's heavy but well designed and durable. Tests there find it comfortable even for 40-pound loads. At 62 ounces it's a lot heavier than the more expensive weekend backpacks discussed above, but holds even less with a capacity of just 2,450 cubic inches. You can get a much lighter backpack with similar capacity and price: see below.
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