8 best backpacks that are ideal for hikes, work and the gym

Our pet hate is zips which don’t open wide enough, but the zips on this bag’s main compartment extend much further than most, which makes for effortless access. The manufacturers have been generous when it comes to the areas of breathable mesh on the bag’s straps and rear, too. The pockets on the side were more than deep enough to hold our water bottles snugly, and the internal laptop sleeve was extremely well padded, as was the fleece-lined pocket at the top, which was perfect for storing sunglasses, phones and other delicate items. The material – 150D ripstop with PU coating – was also incredibly tough.

There are various situations which call for a slightly smarter backpack, and this is where Briggs & Riley comes in. Its essential backpack is a simple but chic bag with plenty of useful added extras (including an ID tag on which we could write our name, and a slip-through back panel which meant we could slide it over the handle of our wheeled suitcase), it’s a backpack which has an abundance of space.

The interior has two large laptop-sized pockets which have plenty of padding so we were happy to place our netbook in the bag without its case. There are classy touches too, including a high-shine lightweight micro weave nylon (which we found surprisingly easy to spot clean) and a leather handle and fob.

This is the latest version of Burton’s legendary day hiker backpack, a day pack which has been designed according to the brand’s ethos that “school and work are just stops on the way to the mountain.” In other words, although it’s designed to be skier and snowboarder-friendly, it’s very much been designed as a day pack – and a great one, at that.

Our favourite things about the latest version of the backpack includes the bluesign approved 420D nylon oxford fabric, the abundance of pockets (including front accessory pockets, a dual side mesh water bottle space and an internal zippered mesh pocket with key clip). It also has an ultra-ergonomic design, courtesy of ergonomic shoulder straps, an adjustable sternum strap and a moulded back panel with deep airflow channels.

Eastpak has done a few things a little differently here. To start with, instead of just two elasticated mesh pockets on the side, there’s one on the side and a supersized one on the front, although we actually preferred this approach. The larger pocket gripped our water bottle just as well, and was big enough to store some snacks in, too. The interior’s relatively simple, with a large central compartment and laptop sleeve, although there were several smaller pockets for items such as wallets. An internal dangle clip was perfect for keeping our keys secure and bonus points were awarded for the extra-long zip pulls, which were easy to get to grips with.

This is a simple but incredibly well designed backpack which is also easily accessible, thanks to a three-quarters zip and the option to access the contents through the side, as well as the top. One feature we wish we saw more of is this bag’s internal mesh pocket, which we found incredibly useful for items which needed to be kept secure but which we still needed easy access to. Two internal pockets (one of which is a laptop sleeve) made staying organised a breeze, and we appreciated the supersized front pocket, which is ideal for documents such as boarding passes.

We admittedly get a little nervous when it comes to roll-top backpacks, a fear sparked partly by the time the contents of our roll-top bag ended up scattered across the floor of a tour bus. But Picture’s roll-top backpack had us at hello, thanks largely to the addition of an ultra-secure Velcro closure. We loved how there are endless options when it came to what we put where when using this bag, which has plenty of internal pockets and three large ones on the front. Plus, generous patches of breathable mesh on the exterior did a great job of keeping the air flowing.

First things first. Don’t place too much stock in the “small” tag – this is actually a seriously roomy rucksack. Despite the name, it won’t just appeal to athletes either – although the extra-large bottle holders will undoubtedly be a hit with those for whom hydration is a priority.

It’s another backpack which blends easy access with great protection – all of the exterior pockets have two-way openings covered by storm flaps for extra protection in wet weather, for example. Its 25l size makes it one of the larger daypacks, although the compression straps did a great job of reducing its bulk when it wasn’t filled to capacity, and the extra-wide shoulder straps noticeably lightened the load, minimising any risk of shoulder strain.

This is one of the few backpacks which is great for air travel, too – largely because of the extra handles which make squeezing it into (and dragging it out of) cramped overhead luggage bins a breeze. It’s incredibly well padded but still surprisingly light, and its large main compartment had plenty of room for all the essentials, including our laptop, which slipped easily into one of two sleeve-style pockets (ones which, ingeniously, were accessible from the front of the bag, too). And, as travellers prone to paranoia, we loved the concealed card pocket integrated into the straps.