30L Hiking Backpacks

30 litres: what's it for?

Thirty litres is the volume that gives you the most for the least: a long day's walking, a committing outing with safety kit, or a night in a mountain hut where you're leaving the tent and bulky sleeping bag behind. Enough capacity for a warm layer, a full picnic and your walking poles, without tipping over into the bigger sizes. It's often the best first rucksack, for men and women alike.

Is the capacity enough?

For a day out or a light weekend, yes: 30L comfortably covers the essentials. As soon as you add a tent, sleeping bag and cooking kit for self-sufficiency, it's best to step up to a 40L capacity or even a 50L. On the other hand, for a simple walk, a 20L size is plenty. To weigh up the pros and cons, take a look at our full range of hiking rucksacks.

Comfort and weight

At 30L, comfort comes down to a hip belt that takes the strain off your shoulders, padded shoulder straps and a ventilated back panel. A lightweight design keeps the overall weight sensible; pole holders and side pockets make it easy to reach your gear. Properly adjusted to your back length, a 30L rucksack soon feels like second nature. A back ventilation system, with a taut mesh structure, helps limit sweating; a waterproof rain cover protects the contents in wet weather, and compression straps keep everything stable. Well designed and practical, a 30-litre rucksack stays manageable even when fully loaded.

You might also like: our dog hiking rucksacks.