7 Premium Extra Large Hiking Backpacks Reviewed [2021]

Are you on the hunt for some extra large hiking backpacks?

Do you want to have a complete list of only the best long-hauling packs out there, tested, compared, and reviewed?

We got you covered.

This article contains the information you need to make the right choice for you, without feeling overwhelmed or confused. We spent 14 hours compiling this list, carefully examining and short-listing supreme backpacks that fit the following criteria:

• Volume – all packs have a volume bigger than 75 L
• Comfort – since comfort is crucial when carrying heavy loads, we included backpacks with superior suspension and ventilation
• Durability – larger volume means taking more gear, and for that you need strong fabrics and faultless stitching on your backpack
• Storage organization – our list features pocket-rich packs suitable for strategic packing so you can compartmentalize your essentials in the most efficient way possible

To create this guide, we meticulously researched the overstuffed market. We read tons of user reviews. We compared features and specifications to list the most important pros and cons of each backpack.

We tested some of the packs ourselves. We also consulted fellow backpacking experts who actively use the packs and asked for their honest feedback.

Furthermore, the article includes a buying guide containing tips and useful information that will help you make the best choice for you.

Let’s jump right in.

Our Top Choices Based On Expert Opinion

Best Extra Large Hiking Backpacks: Quick Overview

A top loading pack, that’s hydration-ready, the Xenith is also available in 105 L and in 75 L.

This specific model comes in three sizes – medium (88 L), large (92 L), and extra-large (96 L). The weight of the backpack is pretty good for its size – 5 lbs. 8 oz. or 2.49 kg.

Two things make the Xenith stand out from other packs:

• The ability to customize the fit based on your body thanks to interchangeable Osprey components
• The top-notch suspension and ventilation system

Osprey allows you to combine and change different elements of the backpack until you achieve an ultimate fit. For example, you can pair a large hip belt with a medium shoulder harness. You can do that in any local REI store.

Of course, and in most of the cases, you can tailor the fit by just wearing the pack until it adjusts to your body. You have plenty of options to do that on the harness and on the belts.

And if you’ve ever had an Osprey backpack, then you know they pay critical attention to the suspension system. I have two Osprey packs – the Stratos 24 and its bigger brother – the Stratos 50, and I’m amazed with the suspension.

The Xenith features the Airscape™ technology. It features the heavily foamed, mesh-covered back panel with lumbar support that provides unparalleled breathability and heat evaporation. The ergonomic shoulder straps contain soft foam material that’s thick enough to alleviate pressure coming from extensive carry of heavy loads.

The advanced BioForm hip belt is thickly padded and pivoting, following your body movements on the trail. Sure enough, it’s fully adjustable and you can tighten it up on the go with a simple pull of the dual straps around your waist.

Some other premium features that make strong impression include the well-organized removable top lid that’s also a detachable daypack. The little pack is perfect for short summit hikes or camp exploration. It has its own shoulder straps, multiple pockets, and even a hydration sleeve.

The Xenith also has a bottom sleeping bag compartment with a divider and the ability to store your trekking poles at hand and access them without slowing down. That’s the Stow-on-the-Go™ attachment system. Very convenient.

When it comes to storage, Xenith also delivers. The pack has 9 exterior pockets and plenty of gear loops to attach gear externally, such as your tent, for example. The water bottle side pockets are deep as are the hip belt zippered pockets that accommodate large smartphones.

The materials are super tough too and the pack is backed up by Osprey’s famous Almighty Guarantee.

Offering fantastic comfort, plenty of options to customize the fit, and excellent storage organization, Osprey Xenith should definitely be one of your top choices for a long-hauling, multi-season backpack. And if you're a winter hiker, you can easily fit in your backpacking shovel. And even your summer hammock.

Perfect for thru-hikers and backpackers on long expeditions, this is the updated version of the award-winning Baltoro model.

The nifty enhancements include:

• an improved ventilation on the back panel that keeps you dry for longer
• reinforced bottom (where you experience a lot of wear and tear)
• two large zippered pockets on the front for more practical space organization
• quick-drying shoulder harness and hip belt for more comfort
• changed position of the rain cover which now stores under the top lid for an easy access

Conveniently, the backpack comes in three sizes – small (92 L), medium (95 L), and large (98 L). What’s really nice is that it has the ability to fit a large range of torsos thanks to the adjustable torso length.

Gregory used very tough materials for this pack to ensure that it will stay in excellent shape after many years of rugged use. The fabrics are 210D honeycomb CryptoRip and HD/210D tear-resistant nylon.

What we particularly like about the Baltoro is that it has three access points to the inside. Besides the top lid, you can also access the contents via the sleeping bag compartment at the bottom. If needed, you can use the compartment for other gear and tie your bag to your backpack.

And if you lay the pack down, you can use the U-shaped front zipper that opens the pack like a piece of luggage so you don’t have to dump out everything else to have access to some specific items.

Looking at the suspension system, after the first wear, you’ll immediately notice that it’s a premium one. The Response A3™ (Auto Angle Adjustment) technology is insanely comfortable because the shoulder harness and the beefy hip belt have rotating panels that move along with your body when you walk.

On top of that, there’s an ergonomic, EVA-foamed pad that stays behind the lumbar area at the back panel that provides extra support and cushioning. That’s especially useful on long excursions when you carry big loads.

The load transfer that the suspension and the aluminum frame provide is impressive. The load is distributed to your hips instead of only concentrating on your back and shoulders.

The breathability of the back panel is very well thought out too, and quite efficient. It features a porous EVA foam padding and a silicone reinforcement on the lumbar area to prevent the pack from slipping.

The pack is hydration compatible and accommodates a 3 L reservoir sold separately. The hydration sleeve acts as a convenient day pack that has its own shoulder harness and pockets. Very useful when you hike away from camp for the day. You’ll find plenty of pockets on this backpack. The exterior ones are 9 and include a quick-access tuck-away water bottle holster.

You will have no worries stowing your backpacking pants with knee patches, jacket, and everything else you normally take on a hike.

Weighing 6 lbs. 7.5 oz or 2.93 kg, this is not the lightest of packs but rest assured that it provides excellent comfort and the storage organization needed to make your trip go as planned.

The Fox continues to be Teton Sports’ bestselling model thanks to its amazing price/quality ratio. We have very good impressions with the brand and that’s visible from our review of the Teton Sports Scout 3400 pack or our review of the Oasis 1100 hydration backpack. 

Perfect for weekend-long hiking trips, the Fox is thoughtfully designed to hold your gear comfortably without breaking the bank.

Its weight is 5.5 lbs. or 2.49 kg., so if you’re an ultralight hiker, probably you’ll find it a bit heavy for your needs. Yet the pack is quite robust, made of 600D rip stop polyester and the bottom is reinforced with a 1000D water-resistant canvas. Users reported that the pack doesn’t show signs of wear after years of tough use.

The suspension doesn’t have a fancy name, and it’s more basic. It still does the job really well, though. You can position the adjustable torso length easily to fit any size, no matter if it’s you or your spouse.

The back panel is foam padded and channeled to ensure heat evaporation. It works pretty well too. The hip belt is very well padded and supports and stabilizes the load when you walk. Unfortunately, though, there are no pockets on it. You can easily unbuckle and remove the top lid if you don’t need it, or you can use it as a fanny pack for short hikes near camp.

What’s convenient is the placement of the rain cover. It’s right below the top lid, in a zippered pocket, which makes it easy to access without having to kneel down if it would have been positioned at a bottom compartment.

At the bottom of the pack, you will find a surprisingly large sleeping bag compartment. It will accommodate even the bulkiest of sleeping bags (in a compression sack), so you won’t have issues if you like to hike during the winter season when you have to bring a winter bag.

The Fox has a good number of pockets, including two spacious pockets on both sides with water-resistant zippers, and pockets on the top lid, prefect for stowing dry bags.

You can effortlessly attach and stabilize bulky gear on the exterior of the pack because it has many compression straps. You can attach your tent or sleeping mat using the top or bottom straps as well.

There’s a hydration sleeve too, and you can purchase and use up to a 3 L reservoir. The Fox comes with a limited Lifetime warranty and a celebrated customer service located in the USA.

Ideal for week long expeditions and beyond, the updated for 2020 Coyote is a dependable pack that hikers love because it’s relatively cheap and lightweight for its size. The pack is also available in 60 L, 65 L, 80 L, and 85 L. Feel free to read our full Kelty Coyote 80 review.

What’s nice for the 105 L model is that it offers a three-point access to the main compartment – from the top, from a bottom zippered compartment dedicated for a sleeping bag that has a divider, and from a J-shaped zipper on the front. The last one is perfect if you want to have quick access to items located in the middle.

An especially handy feature is the Fit Pro system that allows you to adjust the torso length on the back of the pack. That’s very helpful when you change layers or give the pack to someone.

The hex mesh covered back panel provides good ventilation thanks to the Amp Flow technology. Your back relay doesn’t get sweaty, even in demanding conditions. The suspension features a reinforced padding on the lumbar area for maximum comfort and stability.

Furthermore, there are load lifters on the shoulder harness and hip belt stabilizer. When tightening those up, you’ll achieve a comfy and more stable fit that truly makes a difference when you carry heavy loads for long time.

In addition to the advanced perimeter frame, there’s an aluminum stay for frame support. That further stabilizes the load preventing it from shifting when you walk. With Kelty Coyote, you can comfortably carry up to 70 lbs. of equipment.

The ample storage is thoughtfully organized. There are 12 pockets in total. Surprisingly, the top lid isn’t removable, and it doesn’t convert to a day pack. Still, it has some nice pockets on the inside and on the outside, though. You can fit there, various items including your winter sportswear.

Without going into much details about the pockets I’ll say that the hip belts pouches are just great. They fit a large size smartphone, a GPS unit, or snack. The main compartment is large and contains a spacious sleeve where you can store an up to 3 L water bladder. There’s a hole for the hose too.

On the front there are two overlapping zippered pockets where you can store t-shirts and a map. On both sides, you’ll find the wing zippered pockets that Kelty are known about. They are large and will fit various-sized water bottles including a Nalgene.

Those pockets are pass-through, meaning that you can slide in long objects such as a fly rod, for instance.There are plenty of dual loops, daisy chains, and straps to attach gear externally. Especially handy are the gear loops at the bottom where you can store your trekking poles.

Last but not least, the pack weighs only 5 lbs. 8 oz. or 2.49 kg, which makes it an ultralight backpack for its size that even can find a spot in your lightweight gear list.

One minor complaint is that the pack doesn’t come with a rain fly.

Some packs on our list such as, for example, #2 Gregory Baltoro Pro 95 L, even allow you to access the main opening from the top lid, via a U-shaped zipper in the middle, and from a bottom sleeping bag compartment.

In that way you have three places from which you can reach to specific gear without endlessly digging into your contents and making a mess. Needless to say, that’s super convenient.

Note that to be able to access the main interior via the sleeping bag compartment at the bottom, the sleeve should have a divider. In most cases, it’s there, and it’s zippered.

Durability

If you’re looking for an extra large hiking backpack, chances are that you’re planning to carry heavy loads, probably on long trips. In that case, I bet you’ll agree that overlooking the type and strength of the materials would be a terrible blunder.

Imagine your pack, ripping off in the middle of nowhere or a shoulder strap tearing apart when you walk uphill. Horrible, right? Ending with your backpack damaged only after two or three trips is not pleasant either.

A piece of advice I’d like to give you is to avoid shabby, unknown brands that have little to no reviews. Generally speaking, the durability and overall quality of their products is lackluster.

Renowned brands such as Osprey or Mystery Ranch use super strong Cordura and Duralite polyester to reinforce the sturdiness of the fabrics. All their packs have an extra layer of tear-resistant coating on areas where that makes sense, such as the bottom and shell, for instance.

Also, aim for a backpack whose manufacturer offers a warranty. Again, often you won’t find that with cheaper brands. As you probably know, Osprey are known for their legendary All Mighty Lifetime Guarantee.

Detachable Structure

When you have a long-hauling pack with a big volume, often you’d want to wear it on shorter trips. On such, you don’t need all the bulk.

The good news is that there are packs with a detachable structure. They allow you to remove the hip belt or the top lid. In that way, you strip off some weight, thus obtaining a lighter pack.

Most of the packs on our list are with a removable top lid. Moreover, it often transforms into a day pack or a sling pack that you can use to explore the nearby area without the need to carry a heavy pack for only a bottle of water and an extra layer of clothing.