10 Best Hiking Backpacks Under 100 Dollars

Looking for the best hiking backpacks under $100 USD? You don’t need to spend a fortune to equip yourself with reliable hiking and travel gear. 

There’s never been a better time to explore the outdoors and breath in nature’s sweet air. One of the lesser exciting and perhaps more time consuming elements of planning the next trek can be ensuring you’ve got the right gear. 

Whether you’re planning short day hikes, overnight camping trips, climbing excursions, cycling outings, or something in between, we’ve put together a wide range of some of our favorite choices. Keeping budget in mind, we wanted to search for the best hiking backpack under $100.

This list is particularly great for those seeking that ever elusive combination of comfortable, long-lasting, and affordable. If you fall into that category you’ll want to peep this post!

If you’re ready to set out on your next hike but don’t want to spend an entire paycheck on a shiny new pack, we’ve got you (packs are listed in order of price, low to high).

10 Best Hiking Backpacks Under $100

Please note – Some of our selections contain affiliate links. These allow us to earn a small percentage every time you make a booking. Using our links enables us to provide all the information found on this site free of charge.

4Monster Hiking Daypack

• Price: $15.99 – $22.99
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Material: Nylon

This pack is lightweight yet roomie. It holds up to 16 liters and is ideal for day trips and travel. It is water resistant and made of durable cordura fabric, which makes it super strong and long lasting.

The 4Monster Hiking Daypack has breathable mesh, adjustable shoulder straps. Believe it or not this pack also folds up small, almost pocket sized. Perfect for packing into your suitcase or car. You’ll have an extra bag without taking up a lot of space.

BEST FOR: The 4Monster is perfect for those seeking a super affordable, lightweight daypack. It’s not only versatile and water proof but also durable. You really can’t go wrong given their lifetime warranty, exchange, and returns.

MOUNTAINTOP 40L Hiking Backpack

• Price: $39.99-$42.99
• Weight: 2.05 lbs.
• Material: Polyester

Practical and durable meets comfortable and stylish with this multi-use pack. It’s great for both short and long treks.

The MOUNTAINTOP 40L Hiking Backpack includes an adjustable hip belt and an adjustable sternum strap. It also has a breathable molded foam back panel and s-shape shoulder straps. Plus, it’s ideal for taking the weight of the pack off your body.

There are even multiple compartments in this pack, and it has wide and high side slots for carrying bottles. It also meets carry-on size requirements for most airlines. This one solidly ranks high for best hiking backpack under $100!

BEST FOR: With 20 color options to choose from, the MOUNTAINTOP is great for those seeking custom style and functionality. This pack is also well suited for on the shorter side.

Osprey Daylite 20L Plus Daypack

• Price: $42.90 – $64.95
• Weight: 1 lb.
• Material: Nylon

This backpack is among the most functional, versatile, durable, and simple of our pack choices.

The Osprey Daylite features a large panel loading compartment for storing gear. It has a smaller front pocket and dual stretch mesh side pockets. Plus, an inside multi-function sleeve and an interior padded sleeve.

The ventilated back panel and mesh harness with a webbing hip belt ensures a comfortable and secure fit to your body. This pack is also designed to attach to a number of Osprey’s larger packs and travel bags.

BEST FOR: If you’re looking for something less bulky but just as practical as the larger packs, consider this one. It’s one of the more comfortable packs out there today and comes in ten different colors!

NEVO RHINO 50L/60L/80L Internal Frame Backpack

• Price: $55.99 – $98.99
• Weight: 2.5 lbs.
• Material: Nylon

Known for having one of the best internal frames, the NEVO RHINO backpack has truly great features for the price.

This pack is roomie yet lightweight. So, you’ll be able to fit all your essential gear and then some! It’s compatible with hydration packs and built to last.

We chose it to be among the best hiking backpacks under $100 because of the high quality craftsmanship, materials, and luxury-factor. It even comes with a waterproof rain cover, and its ergonomically designed semi-circle hollow ensures comfort around your neck and head, no matter your height or body type.

BEST FOR: Those seeking extended outdoor adventures, hiking and camping trips, long form trekking, cycling, and backpacking will love this one. Built for comfort with its many weight bearing straps, ample room for gear, and hydration pack compatibility.

Berghaus Freeflow 35L Rucksack

• Price: $66.96
• Weight: 2.9 lbs.
• Material: Polyester

This hiking backpack is designed specifically to keep you cool and comfortable.

The Berghaus Freeflow Rucksack has a curved, ventilated back panel. So, it’s great for reducing the build-up of heat and sweat. It maximizes airflow and allows for minimal contact between the pack and your back.

This lightweight pack also comes with adjustable chest and waist straps. Plus, has multiple storage compartments, and is less bulky than similar packs.

BEST FOR: For those who tend to sweat a bit more than others when they hike, this pack has got your back! Its back panel ventilation system has become well known for keeping ones back from getting sweaty while on the go.

VAUDE Wizard 24+4 Backpack

• Price: $67.52
• Weight: 2.2 lbs.
• Material: Polyamide

Next in our list of the best hiking backpacks under $100 is the VAUDE Wizard.

This hiking backpack is made from sustainably sourced materials, and it uses a resource-saving production method. Making this pack is an all-around win.

The mid-sized model is airy and comfortable. Plus, it features an Easy-Adjust mesh back to help regulate the tension of the Aeroflex suspensions back panel.

The VAUDE Wizard has a divided organizer front compartment, and moisture permeable adjustable shoulder straps and expandable sides (for an extra 4 liters of volume).

BEST FOR: This pack qualifies for the Green Shape Label. This includes fair trade working conditions. Making it great for the eco-minded outdoor adventurer!

The North Face 30L Recon Backpack – Our Top Pick for Hiking Backpacks Under $100

• Price: $69.25
• Weight: 2.07 lbs.
• Material: Nylon & Polyester

With the North Face Recon Backpack’s enhanced compartments and pockets, the FlexVent suspension system is great for long-wear comfort. It is ultra-durable and has reflectivity features.

This backpack includes two mesh water bottle pockets, and a padded and spacious main compartment. There are even custom injection-molded shoulder straps, and a padded mesh back panel and ventilation support. There is also a padded tablet sleeve. Plus, it has zip pockets and a removable, adjustable waist belt and a sternum strap.

In fact, this is the exact backpack Randi has traveled and hiked with since 2014. Needless to say, she loves it!

BEST FOR: The North Face Recon Backpack is great for longer treks and a lot of storage. It is among the most durable of our best hiking backpack under $100. It is available in twenty-one colors.

TETON 55L Sports Scout 3400 Internal Frame Backpack

• Price: $74.99 – $81.93
• Weight: 4.5 lbs.
• Material: Nylon & Polyester

The TETON Sports Scout 3400 comes with a built-in lightweight frame. It has a sturdy ripstop Oxford Canvas shell and padded waist straps.

This pack features wide locking hip straps too. The multi-position torso adjustment capabilities make it super customizable to your body type. Adding in the contoured and adjustable padded shoulder straps for ultimate comfort.

There are also weather-guard zippers! This backpack even has front compression straps (to secure a pad, tent, or sleeping bag). Plus, the handy side and lower gear loops, as well as a separate sleeping bag compartment make it incredibly function. It even has a lifetime warranty! WOW!

BEST FOR: For those seeking something a bit more substantial yet still affordable, this one is among the best hiking backpacks under $100. Great for remote trails and wilderness hiking!

Mammut Lithia Speed 15 L

• Price: $76.97 – $98.44
• Weight: 1.2 lbs.
• Material: Polyamide

For the climbers in the group, the lightweight Mammut Lithia Speed 15L hiking backpack is ideal. It comes with great back ventilation and a trekking pole carrier.

The breathable EVA shoulder padding makes it comfy for longer excursions. Plus, its CONTACT Basefit suspension system ensures a more accurate back fit with little pack movement. There’s a forward-pull adjustable hip belt and zip up key pocket. It even has a cool added features including a zipper pocket on the belt and cell phone shoulder strap pocket.

The 210D Nylon Triple Ripstop makes this a durable one. Plus the breathable, quick-drying materials make it nice for all weather conditions.

BEST FOR: If you’ve got a bit more wiggle room in your budget, this pack may be the best bang for your buck. It comes in five colors.

Osprey Talon 22L Hiking Backpack

• Price: $89.95
• Weight: 1.12 lbs.
• Material: Nylon

Simple yet versatile, the Osprey Talon is comfortable and lightweight.

This pack has a lot of features for the price. It comes with a LidLock helmet and trekking pole attachments, an external hydration sleeve, and side stretch mesh pockets. There are lower InsideOut compression straps too. Plus, an ice-tool loop with bungee tie-offs! It’s got dual zippered panel access to the main compartment, and a BioStretch harness with continuous wrap hip belt for balance.

This pack was also designed with an updated AirSpace back panel that uses less material and glue in order to make it more breathable on those long, hot day hikes.

BEST FOR: The Osprey Talon is great for hiking around the woods, mountains, or even around town. We named this one among the best hiking backpacks under $100 because it’s got a lot of the bells and whistles you might otherwise find with a pack that costs twice as much.

We hope that you find this list of the best hiking backpacks under $100 helpful. Let us know which one(s) you end up trying. Be sure to tag us in your posts on Facebook or Instagram —showing off your new backpack. We’d love to see it in action!

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