News flash: Men and women are built differently. So why shouldn't their backpacks be designed differently? Of course they should. That's why the Deuter ACT Lite 45+10 SL made our "Best Of" cut. With curved shoulder straps, an abbreviated torso and a contoured hip belt, the ACT complements and works with the female form. With 3350 cubic inches of space, it's a spacious backpack, too. A reworked head molding and an adjustable lip pocket strap provide freedom of head movement. That will come in handy whe... FULL REVIEW

On the trail, we all hope for fair skies and weather, but of course, there's no telling when the rain will fall. And rain combined with a leaky backpack adds up to misery fast. The Arc'Teryx Naos 55 is billed as the world's first completely waterproof backpack. That's some serious peace of mind when you're on the trail and storm clouds are billowing overhead. Its waterproof attributes and overall toughness are due in large measure to the fact that the pack is constructed from only two pieces of intric... FULL REVIEW

If long backpacking trips are your thing, then this "Best Of" selection may be the ideal pack for you. The Solitude Backpack is a serious piece of gear, made to carry big loads on lengthy journeys. Among the outdoor crowd, Mountain Hardwear has an outstanding reputation for making top-notch equipment that you can depend on, which basically means gear you don’t need to think about. The Solitude's harness and waist belt lock into place, forming a structural suspension for ease of carrying and added co... FULL REVIEW