In this column last month, I covered two major companies, Kelty and JanSport, who will introduce retro-style, external-frame backpacks in 2011. The article pitched external-frame packs as throwbacks — ...

Backpacks today look nothing like the metal and canvas contraptions of the 1970s. Removable internal supports made of plastic have replaced external frames, and ripstop nylon now reigns supreme. No ...

It's a relief when switching from bulkier packs thanks to a 20.5-inch frame height that stays squarely within your back. It's constructed with a combination of a polycarbonate sheet and aluminum stays ...

No one likes a sweaty back. But for ultralight hikers who prefer small, simple, frameless backpacks, a lack of airflow has always been one of the tradeoffs for a lighter baseweight. Unlike the ...

Hunting is a gear-intensive sport whether you’re sitting in a blind for ducks or hiking deep into the backcountry for elk. Packs are essential equipment for transporting and easily accessing all that ...