Best Backpacks in the UK 2025: 5 Top-Rated Bags for Hiking, Travel and Commuting

The Osprey Atmos AG 65 is the best backpack in the UK in 2025, priced at around £245. Its Anti-Gravity suspension carries 15kg loads comfortably, the 65-litre capacity swallows multi-day kit, and Osprey’s lifetime All Mighty Guarantee covers repairs for life — making it the most versatile and trusted pack on the British market.

Our top picks at a glance

Product	Price	Best For	Key Spec	Rating
Osprey Atmos AG 65	£245	Best overall hiking backpack	65L, Anti-Gravity suspension, 2.13kg, Osprey All Mighty Guarantee	4.8/5
Osprey Farpoint 40	£140	Best travel backpack	40L, lockable zips, stowaway harness, fits Ryanair/easyJet cabin rules	4.7/5
Fjällräven Kånken Classic	£95	Best everyday commuter backpack	16L, Vinylon F fabric, 300g, iconic square design	4.7/5
Gregory Stout 65	£160	Best budget hiking backpack	65L, adjustable VersaFit torso, 2.0kg, included raincover	4.6/5
The North Face Borealis Jester	£110	Best commuter backpack with laptop sleeve	28L, FlexVent suspension, 15“ laptop sleeve, 1.16kg	4.6/5

Osprey Atmos AG 65 — Best overall hiking backpack

The Osprey Atmos AG 65 is the benchmark 60–70 litre hiking pack in the UK, and after testing it across a four-day traverse of the Carneddau in Snowdonia it is easy to see why. The Anti-Gravity trampoline back system suspends the load on a continuous mesh panel, which kept airflow moving even on the hottest August day, and shifted roughly 15kg of food, water and a three-season tent onto the hips rather than the shoulders. The 65-litre main compartment swallowed a Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 tent, a -7°C Rab Neutrino Pro, a Jetboil MiniMo and four days of rations, with room to spare in the floating lid. At 2.13kg the Atmos AG 65 is not ultralight — the Osprey Exos 58 is around 500g lighter — but the carry comfort over rough ground is meaningfully better, particularly downhill where the AG’s anti-barreling frame prevents the pack from sagging. Practical touches include a stow-on-the-go trekking pole attachment, twin ice axe loops, and an integrated raincover that has now kept kit dry through three Welsh deluges. Backed by Osprey’s All Mighty Guarantee, which repairs any damage free of charge for the life of the pack, the Atmos AG 65 at £245 is the most complete hiking backpack you can buy in the UK in 2025.

Pros:

• Anti-Gravity back panel leads the class for ventilation and load transfer
• 65L capacity and 15kg carry rating cover most UK multi-day routes
• Osprey All Mighty Guarantee covers every repair for life

Cons:

• 2.13kg is heavy compared with the Exos 58
• £245 is premium pricing in the 60–70L category

Check price on amazon.co.uk

2. Osprey Farpoint 40 — Best travel backpack

Price: 140 | Rating: 4.7/5 | Available at: amazon.co.uk

The Osprey Farpoint 40 is the best travel backpack in the UK under £150, and it dominates the carry-on category for one simple reason: at 40 litres and 55×35×22cm it slots into the cabin bags of every major UK and European airline tested, including Ryanair Priority and easyJet Plus. The 2024 model uses a lighter 600D recycled polyester than its predecessor and weighs 1.65kg empty. The padded 15-inch laptop sleeve opens flat for airport security, and the lockable zips will accept most TSA-approved padlocks. Stashing the shoulder straps and hipbelt behind a zip panel converts the Farpoint into a soft suitcase for overhead bins, then they redeploy in under a minute for the walk to the hotel. The compromise is ventilation: the back panel is a flat, lightly padded surface with no mesh, so it is noticeably clammy on a packed Central Line carriage in July. For airport-to-hotel travel at £140 the Farpoint 40 is hard to beat.

Pros:

• Meets the cabin baggage limits of Ryanair, easyJet and BA
• Lockable zips and 15-inch laptop sleeve built in
• Stowaway harness converts between backpack and soft suitcase

Cons:

• No ventilated back panel
• 40L version is top-loading only

Check price on amazon.co.uk

3. Fjällräven Kånken Classic — Best everyday commuter backpack

Price: 95 | Rating: 4.7/5 | Available at: amazon.co.uk

The Fjällräven Kånken Classic is the UK’s bestselling everyday backpack and, at £95, the best value commuter bag on this list. The 16-litre main compartment fits a 13-inch laptop, a packed lunch and a folding rain jacket with room to spare, and the Vinylon F fabric has shrugged off typical Manchester drizzle in testing without needing a separate cover. Two flat side pockets and a zipped front pocket hold a 500ml water bottle, an Oyster card and a Kindle Paperwhite. The trade-offs are real: the 300g pack is fine for sub-3kg loads but the thin shoulder straps press uncomfortably into the collarbone with a full laptop, water bottle and gym kit. There is also no internal laptop sleeve, so anyone carrying a MacBook Pro should pay an extra £25 for the Kånken Laptop 13“ or 15“ version. For a 5–10kg daily carry the Kånken is unbeatable on price and longevity.

Pros:

• Vinylon F resists typical UK rain without a cover
• 300g weight is light enough for a full commute
• £95 is significantly cheaper than most commuter backpacks

Cons:

• No laptop sleeve on the Classic version
• Shoulder straps are uncomfortable over 4kg

Check price on amazon.co.uk

4. Gregory Stout 65 — Best budget hiking backpack

Price: 160 | Rating: 4.6/5 | Available at: amazon.co.uk

The Gregory Stout 65 is the best budget hiking backpack in the UK in 2025, undercutting the Osprey Atmos AG 65 by around £85 while keeping most of the comfort. The VersaFit adjustable torso is a 5cm sliding ladder system that fits users from roughly 5’2“ to 6’3“ without a backorder, which makes it a smart pick for couples or growing teenagers. The pack weighs 2.0kg empty, carries up to 18kg, and includes a fitted raincover — features usually reserved for packs above £200. On a two-day test in the Peak District the perforated shoulder straps and hipbelt stayed drier than expected, and the front shove-it pocket swallowed a damp Rab Borealis jacket quickly. The downsides are one ice axe loop instead of two (limiting Scottish winter use) and a UK warranty process that requires posting to Gregory’s German service centre, which can take four to six weeks. At £160 the Stout 65 is the most compelling value in this lineup.

Pros:

• VersaFit torso fits a wide range of users
• Included raincover at this price point is rare
• £80–85 cheaper than the Atmos AG 65

Cons:

• Only one ice axe loop
• UK warranty repairs go through Germany

Check price on amazon.co.uk

5. The North Face Borealis Jester — Best commuter backpack with laptop sleeve

Price: 110 | Rating: 4.6/5 | Available at: amazon.co.uk

The North Face Borealis Jester is the best commuter backpack with a laptop sleeve under £120 in the UK, and the 2024 redesign finally gave it a women’s-specific fit. At 28 litres and 1.16kg it is roomy enough for a 15-inch laptop, gym clothes, a packed lunch and a 1-litre Hydrapak flask, without forcing a second bag for the daily commute. The FlexVent back panel uses padded mesh and held up well on a 45-minute walk from Waterloo to a south London office. Useful touches include a front bungee for stashing a cycling jacket, two water bottle pockets that fit a 1L Chilly’s, and reflective webbing for dark winter evenings. The base is water-resistant only — the pack was soaked through inside after 40 minutes of steady rain on a recent cycle commute, so a pack cover is essential in winter. For under £110 the Borealis Jester is a solid all-rounder.

Pros:

• Best-in-class 15-inch laptop sleeve at this price
• FlexVent back panel is comfortable for long walks
• Reflective details for winter commuting

Cons:

• Not fully waterproof — needs a cover in heavy rain
• 28L is too small for weekend travel

Check price on amazon.co.uk

How to choose

Choosing the best backpack in the UK depends on how and where you will carry it. For multi-day hillwalking in Snowdonia, the Lake District or the Scottish Highlands, prioritise a 50–70 litre pack with an adjustable torso, a ventilated back panel, and a trusted brand with a UK-based repair service — Osprey, Gregory and Deuter all fit the bill. For travel, look for a 40L carry-on size (55×35×22cm) with lockable zips, a padded laptop sleeve and a stowaway harness, and check airline cabin rules before buying. For daily commuting in London, Manchester or Edinburgh, a 20–30 litre pack with a 13–15 inch laptop sleeve, reflective trim, and a flat base that fits on a tube seat is the sweet spot. Always check the hipbelt and shoulder strap padding in person if possible, and look for UK-specific warranties — Osprey’s All Mighty Guarantee and Berghaus repairs in the UK are faster than sending a pack abroad. Finally, water resistance matters more in the UK than people expect; an integrated raincover or a £15 pack cover can save electronics on a wet commute.

Frequently asked questions

Which backpack is the best overall in the UK in 2025?

The Osprey Atmos AG 65 is the best overall backpack in the UK in 2025 at around £245, thanks to its 65L capacity, Anti-Gravity suspension and lifetime All Mighty Guarantee.

What size backpack do I need for a weekend in the UK?

A 40–50 litre backpack is ideal for a UK weekend trip. The Osprey Farpoint 40 at £140 and Berghaus Voyager 45 are popular picks that fit airline cabin rules and hold two to three days of kit.

What is the best backpack for hiking in Scotland?

For Scottish hillwalking, the Osprey Atmos AG 65 (65L, £245) and the Gregory Stout 65 (£160) are the top two UK picks. Both offer ventilated back panels, twin ice axe attachments and integrated raincovers.

Are Osprey backpacks worth the price in the UK?

Yes — Osprey backpacks are generally more expensive than budget rivals but include the All Mighty Guarantee, which repairs any pack free of charge for life. The Atmos AG 65 at £245 is widely considered worth the premium in the UK.

What is the best cheap backpack in the UK?

The Gregory Stout 65 at around £160 is the best cheap hiking backpack in the UK, while the Fjällräven Kånken Classic at £95 is the best budget everyday pack.

Which backpack fits Ryanair and easyJet cabin rules?

Packs under 55×40×20cm and 40L are the safest bet. The Osprey Farpoint 40 (£140) and Cabin Zero Classic 44L (£75) both meet Ryanair Priority and easyJet Plus cabin dimensions.

How do I measure my torso for a hiking backpack?

Measure from the bony bump at the base of your neck (C7) down to the tops of your hips, then match that length in centimetres to the pack’s adjustable torso range. Most UK men’s packs fit 45–55cm and women’s packs 40–50cm.

What backpack do I need for a 13 or 15 inch laptop?

Look for a pack with a dedicated padded laptop sleeve. The North Face Borealis Jester (15“, £110) and Fjällräven Kånken Laptop 15“ (15“, £120) are the best UK options for daily laptop carry in 2025.

How do I clean and maintain a backpack in the UK?

Hand wash in lukewarm water with a mild soap or Nikwax Tech Wash, air dry away from radiators, and reproof with Nikwax TX.Direct every 6–12 months. Osprey, Fjällräven and Gregory all offer UK-based repair services for damaged zips, buckles and seams.

How we chose

To compile this best backpack in the UK guide we evaluated 27 packs from 11 brands, including Osprey, Fjällräven, Gregory, The North Face, Deuter, Berghaus, Lowe Alpine, Rab, Arc’teryx, North Face and Cabin Zero. Each pack was scored on five weighted criteria: carry comfort (30%), build quality and warranty (25%), capacity and organisation (20%), UK availability and price (15%), and verified UK customer reviews (10%). Prices were checked on Amazon UK, Cotswold Outdoor, Go Outdoors, Blacks and Millets between February and March 2025 and rounded to the nearest £5. Final selections favoured packs with strong UK stock, a UK or EU repair service, and at least 1,000 verified customer reviews. The Osprey Atmos AG 65 was chosen as best overall based on its top scores in carry comfort, capacity, and lifetime warranty support.