The best backpacks in the UK for work, travel and wild adventure - tested

Pack leader: writer Pete sizes up the contenders near the Ribblehead viaduct. Pack leader: writer Pete sizes up the contenders near the Ribblehead viaduct. Guardian journalism is independent. We earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more .

Whether you want a smart-but-stylish commuter rucksack or a hike-friendly pack, our writer lugged 16 over hundreds of miles to find the best bags for your buck

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Pete Wise Fri 4 Sep 2026 10.00 EDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google C hart your course through a fun, active or productive day, and you’ll often find cause to carry things. Backpacks are arguably the best people-powered way to do it, used by pretty much everyone from Napoleonic soldiers and Ötzi the Iceman to ultra-marathoner Courtney Dauwalter, as well as innumerable workers, students and travellers.