Ozark Trail’s backpacks are equipped with all of the technical features that you’ll need for your next hike. Most of the backpacks on this list have compartments for food or sleeping bags, water bottle pockets, attachment points for trekking poles, and rain covers. We narrowed it down to 15 popular choices to test in our New York City lab and in the real world. We picked items that had a wide range of price points and uses.
Our testers noted that this pack couldn’t be turned upside down if you use loose ice, which inevitably melts. Of course, the best way around this is to use ice packs. But don’t let the simple design fool you—the Pro has some suped-up tech and features, making this pack a great option, especially if going onto the water is in your outdoor plans. IceMule ozark trail outdoor equipment employs its double proprietary inner and outer fabric to boost durability. It also uses proprietary insulation to amp cold and ice-retention, making the Pro one of the best performers during our 24-hour ice test. A day after initially putting ice into the cooler pack, the internal temperature only raised about 7 degrees, and some solid ice remained.
Think about how you’ll use this cooler and look for models that cater to your pursuits. That’s the case for the REI Co-op Cool Trail Split Pack Cooler, which has ample plush cushioning and a well-placed sternum strap. Combine that with a very lightweight (2.5 pounds), and you’ve got the ideal trail cooler pack. We also really love that there are separate compartments and pockets to carry gear and items you don’t wish to get cold or place with your food and drinks. Whether you’re headed to the beach, a park, or the top of a mountain, a backpack cooler can make a cumbersome carry easier. Soft backpack coolers offer an ergonomic solution in a surprising array of forms.
Ozark Trail backpacks are designed ergonomically with the comfort of the wearer in mind. Most of the backpacks in this guide even have padded mesh backs, shoulder straps, and a waist belt. Compression straps and sternum straps help keep gear from shifting in place. Size is perfect for day trips, smaller individuals, and teens. Great for hiking in warm weather, thanks to the breathable construction, mesh straps, and hydration bladder hook up.
Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. Wetlands give way to ridgelines at the start of the Blair Creek section. The 26-mile route follows Blair Creek south as it carves down a valley through oak-hickory-pine forest before merging with the emerald waters of the Current River. Here the 30-mile Current River section picks up, following the river for two miles before veering south toward Stegall Mountain.
Material is durable and will stand up to heavy duty use. Nathan Allen is TripSavvy’s Outdoor Gear Editor and has personally used many coolers on this list for his outdoor adventures. Consider what you’ll primarily be using the cooler for and how much padding you’d like (and where you’d like that padding to be). If you’re taking a cooler on an extended hike, you probably want to look for lighter weight packs with hip and sternum straps and some extra padding.
Includes Trekking pole attachment points, compression straps and a sleeping bag compartment. Our testers did have issues with melted ice leaking through the zippers. As previously noted, avoiding loose ice and utilizing reusable ice packs is the way around that. The best ozark trail backpack all around is the 40-liter Hiking Backpack Eagle, which comes with a shoe compartment, attachment points for trekking poles, and a rain cover. If you’re an outdoor adventurer, you can’t go wrong with a backpack by this trusted brand. Trailspace’s community of gear reviewers has field-tested and rated the top daypacks.
Igloo’s Reactor backpack cooler performs nearly as well as coolers priced hundreds of dollars more than it. In terms of ice and cold-retention, after 24 hours, the Reactor had amounts of solid ice similar to the IceMule Boss and IceMule Pro. And where the IceMule Pro’s inner temperature increased by about 19 degrees, the Reactor’s internal temperature only raised less than 10 degrees 24 hours after we filled it with ice. Look for the extras that are right for you and your intended activity, whether it’s multiple storage spaces for cutlery, anti-mildew fabric, or an attached bottle opener. You’ll also find ones explicitly built for specific activities—like overnight hikes into the woods, picnics, beach and water days, and hunting.
On the small side, so it won’t work for hikers who need a spacious pack. We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. ozark trail canopy Choose free in-store pickup to avoid shipping costs when it’s available. Or shipping is free on orders over $35 (or sign up with Walmart+ to get free shipping on all orders, no minimum!).
At 35 liters, this pack is perfect for day trips or for hikers who don’t need to carry a lot of gear on the trails. Also a good choice for youngsters who are new to hiking, or who need a rugged pack for toting school items. RTIC’s Backpack Cooler had some of the best ice-retention among coolers in our lab test. After 24 hours, the RTIC still had about 50 percent solid ice, on par with Yeti’s Hopper BackFlip cooler. Also similar to the Hopper BackFlip, RTIC employs some serious premium insulation to help keep contents inside the cooler cold. Like the Yeti Hopper BackFlip, IceMule’s Boss is heavy-duty, rugged, and spendy.