A camping backpack is a vital piece of gear to have if you plan to go camping, but at the same time, it can be one of the more expensive pieces of gear that you buy for camping. It can really pay off, then, to a find cheap camping backpacks. Sales are the obvious way to find a good deal, but when sales don’t get the job done, it helps to know a little bit about backpacks. If you know what to look for, you can find the cheap camping backpacks that wont break after the first camping trip.
Cheap Camping Backpacks
What to look for when you want cheap camping backpacks.- Features – Before you go shopping, identify what features you need from a backpack, and what features you don’t. Things like sleeping bag compartments and removable lids that convert in to day packs are nice to have, but hardly necessary. If you don’t need these features, don’t pay for them, by finding a backpack that lacks them.
- Weight – You might think that a cheaper backpack would be lighter, but actually, a lower weight often requires superior fabric and construction techniques, and so you might end up having to get a heavier backpack. Your legs and back wont thank you, but your wallet will.
Best Cheap Camping Backpacks
Some of the best camping backpacks with a low price tag.- GoLite Jam Backpack - The Jam is small, lightweight and ideal for a weekend backpacker, or a lightweight backpacker without much gear to carry. It doesn't have any real frame, so you wont to be carrying any more than 25 to 30 pounds, but with just 50 liters of capacity for the large, you're not going to be able to fit a huge amount of gear in anyway. And at just 31 ounces, or 879 grams for the large, the Jam certainly wont be adding much weight to your overall load.
- The North Face Terra 65 - A cheap and basic multi day backpack that is low in price because it's simple, not because it's poorly made. It has a decent suspension system, a frame and a few external pockets for storing smaller essentials in easy to reach areas. It also has a sleeping bag compartment and a few well placed suspension straps. You get 65 liters of storage capacity, which is enough for most people. The main criticism you can make of this backpack is that at 5 pounds 1 ounce, or 2.34 kilograms for the large it's rather heavy. So if you're concerned about weight this might not be the backpack for you, but you really cant argue with the low price.
- ULA Equipment Circuit - ULA Equipment is a smaller, lightweight backpacking manufacturer that many people probably haven't heard of, but they make some excellent products, such as the Circuit. It has a total of 68 liters of storage to work with, making it a nice and roomy backpack for most purposes. And at just 36 ounces, or 1.02 kilograms it's just slightly heavier than the much smaller GoLite Jam above. It has a very basic aluminum frame, plus a number of features like a bladder sleeve, hip belt pockets and external webbing and water bottle pockets that backpackers will definitely appreciate. It's the most expensive backpack on the list, but also has the best weight to capacity ratio, so a good choice for those looking to save a few ounces.
