Great for a weekend backpacking trip with a couple friends sharing gear, Sierra Designs reentry into backpacks is pretty spot on. A single aluminum stay runs down the center of the pack mimicking a human spine and allows the pack to twist with your body; the hip belt articulates for added comfort, too. The 50 Liter Revival 50 and women’s Jubilee 50 are top entry packs with additional access through the front pocket. Ventilation against my back was better than many other packs I’ve used as it only contacted me at the shoulders and hips. For a touch of novelty, SD added a bottle opener on the shoulder strap—though beer isn’t necessarily the most weigh efficient camping beverage. One nuisance for people accustomed to larger packs: it doesn’t have a separate sleeping bag compartment, which means you’ll have to unpack everything when you get to camp.

www.sierradesigns.com; $200