The Kelty Glendale 65 is the best backpacking backpack here for most beginners. Kelty’s Fit-Plus suspension lets you adjust both the torso (15 to 21 inches) and the waist belt (30 to 56 inches), and Kelty lists an optimal carry weight of 30 to 60 pounds. A first kit is often heavier and bulkier than it will be later, and that combination of adjustable fit and a wide load range leaves room for it.
The other picks cover different bodies and kits. The TETON Explorer 65L fits longer torsos and comes with a rain cover. The Granite Gear Crown3 60 and Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 weigh about half as much empty, but each maker rates them for 35 pounds, so they suit beginners who already have a lighter sleeping kit and shelter.
Backpacking backpacks for beginners compared
| Pack | Capacity | Empty weight (maker) | Torso fit (maker) | Load guidance (maker) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelty Glendale 65 | 65 L | 4.75 lb | Adjustable, 15-21 in | 30-60 lb optimal carry |
| TETON Explorer 65L | 65 L | 5 lb | Adjustable, 19-23 in | Not published |
| Granite Gear Crown3 60 | 60 L | 2.3-2.5 lb by size, without lid | Fixed sizes: 15-18, 18-21, 21-24 in | 35 lb with frame sheet |
| Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 | 60 L | 33.4-36.2 oz by size, with included belt | Sizes: 16-18, 18-20, 20-22 in | 35 lb max; 30 lb for comfort |
All figures are the makers’ published specifications; nothing was tested for this article. The makers state load limits differently, so the last column is not a like-for-like rating.
How to choose a backpacking backpack as a beginner
Measure your torso before anything else
Torso length, not height, decides which pack fits. Gossamer Gear’s sizing guide says to start at the C7 vertebra, the first bump you feel at the base of your neck when you bend it, and measure down to the point on your spine midway between the tops of your hip bones (the iliac crest). Gossamer Gear suggests sizing down for more shoulder wrap and a higher hip belt, or up for a lower hip belt, if you fall between sizes.
Then compare the number with the published ranges. The Kelty and TETON packs have adjustable torsos, which helps if you are unsure of your measurement or will share the pack. Granite Gear says the Crown3 60 has a fixed, non-adjustable torso length offered in three sizes, and the Mariposa also comes in three sizes, so with those two you choose the size once.
Check the hip-belt range too
The hip belt carries much of the load, so its range matters as much as the torso. TETON lists a 28- to 70-inch waist belt range for the Explorer 65L, Kelty lists 30 to 56 inches, and Granite Gear lists 26 to 42 inches for the Crown3’s Re-Fit belt (24 to 40 inches on the Women’s Fit). Gossamer Gear sizes Mariposa belts by hip measurement, from 26 to 61.5 inches across its five belts. It suggests a curved belt if your waist-to-hip ratio is 0.85 or lower and a straight belt if it is higher.
Match the pack to your total load, not its liters
Liters tell you how much fits, not how much a pack is built to carry. Kelty gives the Glendale 65 an optimal carry weight of 30 to 60 pounds. Granite Gear rates the Crown3 60 at 25 pounds without its frame sheet, 35 pounds with it and 43 pounds with an optional aluminum stay sold separately. Gossamer Gear lists a 35-pound maximum for the Mariposa 60 and 30 pounds for comfort. TETON does not publish a load rating for the Explorer.
Weigh your packed gear, food and water before you choose. A beginner kit with a heavier tent and sleeping bag points toward the Kelty or TETON; a light kit that stays under 30 to 35 pounds opens up the two lighter packs, which save roughly 2 to 3 pounds of empty weight.
Decide which extras you want included
TETON includes an integrated rain cover; Granite Gear lists no rain cover with the Crown3 60. Kelty, TETON and Granite Gear all list hydration-reservoir compatibility, and Gossamer Gear lists a hydration tube router on the Mariposa. Kelty and TETON both list a sleeping-bag compartment. Either way, keep your sleeping bag and dry clothes in waterproof bags inside the pack.
1. Kelty Glendale 65: best backpacking backpack for most beginners
Kelty calls the Glendale its most inclusive pack yet. Its Fit-Plus suspension adjusts both the torso and the waist belt, and its 30- to 60-pound optimal carry weight is the widest load range published on this list. An advanced perimeter frame with an aluminum anti-barreling stay at the shoulder blades handles stability and heavy loads, according to Kelty, and the pack has load lifters and hip-belt stabilizers.
The 65-liter pack weighs 4.75 pounds and measures 32 by 14 by 12 inches. Kelty lists nine exterior pockets, including two zippered hip-belt pockets and stretch pockets on the shoulder straps, plus a J-zip into the main compartment and zippered access to the sleeping-bag compartment. The fabrics are 300D Velocity and 600D polyester oxford with a PFAS-free DWR finish. Kelty describes the Glendale 65 as a pack for 2 to 3 days in the backcountry.
Buy it if you are building your first kit, are not sure of your torso size, or expect to carry more than 35 pounds.
Skip it if your torso is longer than 21 inches; the TETON and the Long Crown3 go higher.
2. TETON Explorer 65L: best for longer torsos, rain cover included
TETON describes the Explorer as an affordable backpacking pack for full-size torsos. It adjusts from 19 to 23 inches of torso length, reaching longer than the Kelty’s range, and its waist belt runs from 28 to 70 inches on the 65L. TETON lists an internal, full-size aluminum frame, lumbar foam padding and multipoint adjustments.
The 65L weighs 5 pounds and measures 32 by 18 by 12 inches in use. TETON includes an integrated rain cover, a sleeping-bag compartment, quick-access exterior pockets and a water bladder compartment (the bladder is not included). The body is 600D polyester diamond ripstop with a water-repellent exterior, and TETON backs it with a lifetime warranty. TETON suggests a 3- to 5-day trip length and also sells the Explorer in 75- and 85-liter sizes.
Our TETON Explorer 65L analysis works through what the 5-pound empty weight means for a full load.
Buy it if your torso is 19 to 23 inches long and you want a rain cover and a sleeping-bag compartment without buying extras.
Skip it if low empty weight matters; at 5 pounds it is the heaviest pick here, and TETON does not publish a load rating.
3. Granite Gear Crown3 60: best adaptable lightweight pack
Granite Gear says the Crown3 60 weighs 2.4 pounds in the Regular torso without its lid, and that removing the frame sheet for ultralight loads brings it to 2 pounds. The lid weighs 0.18 pounds and converts into a chest pack or, with the hip belt removed, a lumbar pack. That lets one pack start conventional and get lighter as your other gear does.
The load rating changes with the setup, from 25 pounds without the polyethylene frame sheet to 43 pounds with the optional aluminum stay. The torso is fixed, in Short (15 to 18 inches), Regular (18 to 21 inches) and Long (21 to 24 inches) sizes, with an adjustable Re-Fit hip belt for 26- to 42-inch waists; a Women’s Fit version comes in Short and Regular with a 24- to 40-inch belt. The main compartment has a roll top, and Granite Gear lists a hydration port and sleeve, two hip-belt pockets and a stretch mesh front pocket.
Buy it if your kit is fairly light now, or will be soon, and you want a pack that can shed its lid and frame sheet as it gets lighter.
Skip it if you live in California or New York; Granite Gear says it is temporarily unable to ship this pack there while it moves to PFAS-compliant product. Skip it too if your packed weight runs above 35 pounds without the optional stay.
4. Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60: best lightweight pack for bear-canister routes
Gossamer Gear says the Mariposa is sized for big trips, bear canisters and serious mileage, and its FAQ says all models of bear canister fit vertically in the pack, with smaller designs fitting horizontally in the main compartment. Of the 60 liters, Gossamer Gear puts 36 in the main body up to the extension collar seam and 24 across seven exterior pockets, measured on a Medium.
The pack weighs 33.4 ounces (946 grams) in a Small with its S/M Curved belt, up to 36.2 ounces (1,025 grams) in a Large with the included Medium Straight belt. Gossamer Gear lists a 35-pound maximum carry and 30 pounds for comfort. Its PVT Frame+Belt pairs a closed-shape aluminum frame with a pivoting hip belt, and the pack has an S-curve harness, load lifters, a large external stretch-mesh pocket and a hydration tube router. Torso sizes are Small (16 to 18 inches), Medium (18 to 20 inches) and Large (20 to 22 inches). The fabric is 100D and 210D recycled Robic nylon, and Gossamer Gear says it is PFAS-free.
Buy it if your route requires a bear canister and your full load stays near 30 pounds.
Skip it if your torso is over 22 inches, or your starter kit pushes past 35 pounds.
Planning the rest of the pack
Size the food container before the pack if your route requires one; the bear canister picks compare capacity, weight and diameter. For water on the trail, the backpacking water filter picks compare squeeze, straw, pump and bottle options.
Sources
- Kelty Glendale 65
- TETON Explorer Backpack
- Granite Gear Crown3 60
- Granite Gear Crown3 60 Women’s Fit
- Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60, sizing guide and FAQ
Specifications were checked October 9, 2026. This is researched buyer analysis without hands-on testing; load guidance is each maker’s own. Confirm the size, torso range and color on the seller’s page before ordering.
FAQ
What size backpack do I need for a first backpacking trip?
All four picks hold 60 to 65 liters. Kelty calls the Glendale 65 a pack for 2 to 3 days in the backcountry and TETON suggests 3 to 5 days for the Explorer 65L, but the load you carry matters more than the liters, so check the total weight against each maker’s load guidance.
How do I measure my torso length for a backpack?
Gossamer Gear’s guide says to measure from the C7 vertebra, the first bump you feel at the base of your neck when you bend it, down to the point on your spine midway between the tops of your hip bones (the iliac crest). Compare that number with each pack’s published torso range.
Is a heavier pack a bad choice for a beginner?
Not on its own. The heavier packs here are adjustable and, in Kelty’s case, rated for a 30- to 60-pound optimal carry. The lighter Crown3 60 and Mariposa 60 save about 2 to 3 pounds of empty weight, but their makers rate them for 35 pounds. Choose by fit and the weight of your full kit.