What are the best Military Backpacks for Hiking? In this article, I will give an in-depth answer to that question. Whether you are an experienced hiker looking for some high-end gear or you are just a beginner who is looking for a budget-friendly military backpack, this article will have options for all of you!
In a hurry? My favorite all round military hiking backpack is the Condor Convoy!
List of the best military backpacks for hiking
1) Condor convoy outdoor pack:
22L | $
Let’s start with a very good overall military backpack for hiking. The Condor Convoy is both high-quality and affordable. On top of that, it’s also a pretty convenient backpack, with 4 compartments (main, front and 2 at the sides).
A very solid option for the beginner outdoors man. Or even more experienced hikers/outdoor fanatics who are on a budget.
Let’s take a look at some of it’s features:
- Manufactured by Condor
- This military backpack weighs 1300 grams and has a capacity of 22 liters.
- It has a padded back specially made for extra comfort and maximum airflow.
- Comes with padded sleeves for tablets or laptops
- Has 2 additional mesh pockets
- A compartment compatible for hydration with nylon loops with hanging hydration bladders and durable thermal insulation to keep the liquids cold for long
- Two heavy-duty compression straps possessing quick release buckles.
- Three carrying handles that are sturdy
- Glove friendly zipper pulls
- Four nylon loops at the bottom and drainage grommets on all compartments
For those of you who are looking for a smaller military backpack that is great for hiking, you should definitely consider buying this product. If you are not on a tight budget and are looking for a more high-end product, you should probably keep reading.
It’s great for hiking, but it’s also a good option for almost any outdoor activity.
For unsupported long distance hiking trips, I would probably recommend a larger modal. That said, this backpack is very good for day hikes.
The lowest price can usually be found on amazon, feel free to take a look: Condor convoy outdoor pack olive drab
2) 5.11 Tactical RUSH72 Military Backpack:
55L | $$$
The next option on the list is one of the best high-end military backpacks you can get. It’s good for hiking, but you can bring this on any type of outdoor adventure. The 5.11 Tactical Rush is super rugged and durable, made by a trustworthy brand!
It’s especially great for longer trips, where you need to store a lot of gear. If you don’t need this amount of space, you can also get a smaller version of this backpack.
- Manufactured by 5.11
- Dimension: 23″ x 13.5″ x 8.5″
- weighs 5.5 lbs
- capacity of 55 liters
- 16 individual compartments
- Large main storage area with hydration pocket
- Made from 1050 D Nylon for extra durability and water resistance
- Wrap around MOLLE with stick-stick web platform
- Internal multi slot admin compartment with zippered fleece-lined eye-wear pocket
- Features like loop name-tape, flag patches and glove friendly pull tabs
What makes this backpack so much better than the previous one? There are a couple of reasons. First, this backpack comes with a “modular, lightweight load-carrying equipment” system. It has a lot more capacity and it’s simply higher quality overall (1050 D Nylon).
All options on this list are solid products, but if you are going out there a lot and you often encounter rough terrain, it might be worth it to spend a bit more money. It would be very inconvenient to find yourself in the middle of a remote hiking trip with a broken backpack.
For the latest price, you can take a look at amazon: 5.11 Tactical RUSH72 Military Backpack
3) Crazy Ants Military Tactical Backpack for Hiking:
35L | $
The next hiking backpack on the list is another great budget pick. It can be used for day hikes but also for long-distance trails. It has a capacity of 35L but it comes with Molle, which makes it very easy to attach more gear (as you can see in the picture).
It’s not as durable and rugged as the high-end options on this list, but it’s still a very solid backpack that you can rely on. If you care about your budget and you want to be able to travel longer distances (= more backpack capacity). You should definitely consider this backpack.
- Manufactured by CRAZY ANTS
- Military tactical backpack with following dimensions 22″ x 12″ x 7.5″
- Has a capacity of 35 liters.
- Made from 900D material with nylon sewn to ensure more durability.
- It’s waterproof and appropriate for hard use.
- Has a back panel with mesh padding and waist and shoulder straps that can be stowed.
- Multiple handles to carry it in various ways
- Webbed with Molle to attach additional pouches or accessories.
- Thickened and separated computer protective interlayer
- 2 internal zipper compartment
- 1 bottle holder
This product is available on amazon: Crazy Ants Military Tactical Backpack for Hiking
4) CamelBak M.U.L.E. MilTac 100 oz 3 liter Hydration Backpack
3L | $$
The next one is a very lightweight military travel backpack manufactured by CamelBak. It’s mainly used for carrying water and some small equipment. Definitely not meant for using on an overnight hiking trip. That said, it’s a great rugged and durable option if you want to travel super light.
It’s small, lightweight and rugged. It’s not going to be the right choice for every adventure, but for it’s definitely the right option for some.
- Military hydration backpack with dimensions of 19″ x 10.5″ x 3″
- Has a capacity of 3 liters
- Air directors with air channels to ensure that your back remains cool
- Light and maneuverable
- Comes with an ergonomic handle that makes refilling the water easier.
- Your tube is secure and accessible because of the magnetic tube top
- Storage compartments with stretch overflow to stash any other equipment like a rain shell or an extra layer
- Visible in the low lights environment due to the reflective accents.
The lowest price can usually be found on amazon, feel free to take a look: Camelbak Ambush Mil Spec Antidote Hydration Backpack
5) Spec Ops T.H.E. Every Day Carry Pack
22.5 L | $$$
The Spec Ops Every Day Carry Pack is a very good high-end military day pack, excellent for hiking. It’s made from strong nylon (1000D), which makes it both rugged and durable.
Additionally, it’s just a well finished product.
- Manufactured by Specs-Ops, this military every day carry pack comes with a dimension of 18.375″ x 9.75″ x 9.25″ and has capacity of 1376 cubic inches.
- Made from the toughest 1000D Nylon for super durability
- MTX Shoulder Harness System with updated modular chest-strap to make the backpack comfortable, tough and breathable
- “BattleBuckles” (toughest hardware in the market) hardware used throughout the bag.
- Integrated load loops on pocket faces with dual compression straps
- High-Vizlining in the main compartment to make the viewing of contents fast and easy
- Hydration set-up
- Removable waist belts with endless adjustment
If you want quality and you won’t be hiking longer than day hikes, this is the one to get!
This product can be purchased on amazon: Spec Ops T.H.E. Every Day Carry Pack
Military backpack vs hiking backpack
Military backpacks are awesome for a number of activities outside military operations. One of them is hiking. That being said, there are also a number of downsides about hiking with a military backpack in comparison to a “real” hiking backpack.
Hiking backpacks tend to be more comfortable, more convenient and lighter than the military alternative. Which is why most hikers tend to prefer a real hiking backpack, especially for longer hiking trips.
On the other hand, military backpacks are generally more durable and rugged, they are made to last and to get the job done, and that’s exactly what they’ll do (the high-end backpacks will do an even better job at it than the budget options). If you are planning to hike a lot in difficult terrain where your backpack might get in touch with the environment a lot, a military backpack might be the better choice.
Additionally, a lot of military backpacks come with MOLLE which makes them pretty flexible when it comes to attaching gear externally.
At the end of the day, if your main activity is walking and your main concern is covering distance, a hiking backpack is the correct choice. If your activities will be rougher than just walking and your backpack might have a hard time -or you just prefer a military backpack and don’t really care about weight- a military backpack is the one to go with!
If you want to check out the best hiking backpacks instead, you should take a look a these articles instead:
Conclusion
Thinking about hiking with a military backpack? It definitely makes sense, there are a lot of benefits (as well as downsides).
In this article, I tried to come up with a list of the best military backpacks for hiking. I tried to provide options for both the experienced outdoors person and the beginner budget hiker.
I hope you were able to find a backpack that fits your needs. If not, maybe you should consider taking a look at regular hiking backpacks instead, or provide some feedback in the comments below.