Best Ultralight Hiking Backpacks of 2026

Arlen Smith Avatar
Arlen Smith
Last Updated: Feb 2, 2026

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Ultralight hiking backpacks are designed for those who want to minimize the weight they carry on their adventures. These backpacks are made with lightweight materials, such as Dyneema and Cuben Fiber, which make them durable and strong despite their featherweight design. They come in various sizes and capacities, ranging from small daypacks to larger backpacks suitable for multi-day trips. The minimalist design of ultralight hiking backpacks allows for greater mobility, making them ideal for long-distance hikers and backpackers. With their lightweight and durable construction, ultralight hiking backpacks are a must-have for any outdoor enthusiast looking to travel light and fast.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

WATERFLY Lightweight Packable Hiking Backpack Cover #TOP 1
WATERFLY Lightweight Packable Hiking Backpack
ftb score rating icon 9.8
WATERFLY Lightweight Packable Backpack Cover #TOP 2
WATERFLY Lightweight Packable Backpack
ftb score rating icon 9.7
BECOJADDE 15L Ultralight Hiking Backpack Cover #TOP 3
BECOJADDE 15L Ultralight Hiking Backpack
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Ultralight Hiking Backpacks

WATERFLY Lightweight Packable Hiking Backpack

ONJ11
Blue
Medium
WATERFLY Lightweight Packable Hiking Backpack Cover
WATERFLY Lightweight Packable Hiking Backpack: 30L Foldable Travel Daypack Ultralight Camping Day Pack for Woman Man

The WATERFLY Lightweight Packable Hiking Backpack is a durable and practical backpack for hiking and other outdoor activities. It can be easily folded into a small pocket, made with high-quality tear and water-resistant nylon, and has a large capacity and multi-compartment features that keeps everything in order. Additionally, it has a wet pocket design, breathable shoulder straps, and a cable hole and internal pocket for convenience. It is packable and multipurpose, making it the perfect companion for casual hiking, day trips, camping, traveling, and more.

What We Like
Durable and practical for hiking and other outdoor activities
Lightweight and easily foldable for storage
Large capacity and multi-compartment features for organization

WATERFLY Lightweight Packable Backpack

ONJ01-08-US
A-teal Blue
WATERFLY Lightweight Packable Backpack Cover
WATERFLY Small Lightweight Packable Backpack: 20l Ultra Light Foldable Travel Hiking Camping Daypack Day Pack for Man Woman

The WATERFLY Packable Backpack is a versatile and convenient travel accessory. Weighing only 290g/10.2oz, this lightweight backpack is easy to carry and fold. With a 20L capacity, it provides ample space for all your essentials, making it suitable for various occasions such as travel, hiking, and camping. The backpack is made of recycled nylon, ensuring durability, and features a polyester lining and durable SBS zipper. Its compact design measures 432914 CM/16.911.45.5 IN when unfolded and 2216 CM/8.76.3 IN when folded. Stay organized on your adventures with this WATERFLY Packable Backpack.

What We Like
Lightweight and compact design
Durable material and construction
Multiple useful pockets
Comfortable for long wear
Easy to fold for storage

BECOJADDE 15L Ultralight Hiking Backpack

Black
BECOJADDE 15L Ultralight Hiking Backpack Cover
BECOJADDE 15L Small Hiking Backpack for Men Women Foldable Packable Back Pack Ultralight Hiking Daypack for Travel Camping Outdoor, Black

The BECOJADDE Ultralight Backpack is designed for comfort and convenience during your outdoor activities. Its unique strap design includes a zippered phone pocket and a drawstring pocket, allowing you to keep essentials close at hand while enjoying breathable support. The adjustable chest belt ensures a secure fit, and it even serves as a survival whistle for emergencies. Made from durable nylon, this pack is both tear-resistant and easy to fold into a compact size, making it perfect for travel. With multiple compartments, you can stay organized and quickly access everything you need on your adventures.

What We Like
Innovative strap design
Adjustable chest belt
Durable and foldable
Organized multi-pocket layout

Naturehike 65L Internal Frame Hiking Backpack

NH19BP095
65l/Black
65l/Black
Naturehike 65L Internal Frame Hiking Backpack Cover
Naturehike 65L Internal Frame Hiking Backpack for Outdoor Camping Travel Backpacking, Ultralight Backpack for Adults

The Naturehike 65L Hiking Backpack offers a large 60-liter capacity with an additional 5 liters, making it perfect for long hikes or extended camping trips. Its ergonomic design includes padded shoulder straps and a breathable mesh back pad, ensuring you stay comfortable even on long treks. You can securely carry extra gear like trekking poles and sleeping bags using the compression straps, while a separate shoe pocket keeps your footwear organized and separate. Made from durable 420D nylon, this backpack can hold up to 15kg and offers water-repellent protection, helping keep your belongings safe in light rain.

What We Like
Large 65L capacity
Ergonomic padded design
Compression straps for gear
Shoe storage pocket
Durable water-repellent fabric

ZOMAKE Packable Backpack 25L

TM00100
Navy Blue
Small
ZOMAKE Packable Backpack 25L Cover
ZOMAKE Ultra Lightweight Packable Backpack 25L - Foldable Hiking Backpacks Water Resistant Small Folding Daypack for Travel(Navy Blue)

ZOMAKE 25L Backpack is a versatile and practical choice for travelers. With a well-organized structure, it can hold your lunch, files, passports, and travel essentials efficiently. Weighing only 0.64 LB, it unfolds to a convenient size of 16.1×10.6×7.9 inches, perfect for plane trips. The water-resistant nylon material ensures your items stay dry, while the reinforced stitching and smooth two-way zipper enhance durability. The ergonomic design reduces shoulder pressure, and adjustable straps cater to different users for a comfortable and stable fit.

What We Like
Lightweight and compact
Spacious with multiple compartments
Durable construction
Comfortable shoulder straps
Easy to pack and store
#TOP 6

VOBUYING 15L Foldable Ultralight Hiking Backpack

VOBUYING
Black
Medium
VOBUYING 15L Foldable Ultralight Hiking Backpack Cover
VOBUYING 15L Small Hiking Backpack Foldable Ultralight Trekking Camping Outdoors Backpack for Women Men (black)

The VOBUYING Ultralight Hiking Backpack is a great choice if you want a lightweight and easy-to-carry bag. Weighing less than a pound, it folds into a small pouch, making it perfect for travel or quick trips. Its water-resistant polyester fabric keeps your belongings safe from rain, so you don’t have to worry about sudden weather changes. With 10 different pockets, you can neatly organize all your essentials like your phone, keys, and wallet. Plus, the 15L main compartment is roomy enough to hold a 13-inch laptop, clothes, or gear, making it versatile for both outdoor adventures and everyday use.

What We Like
Lightweight and foldable
Water-resistant fabric
Multiple organized pockets
Spacious 15L compartment

Seektop 20L Foldable Waterproof Hiking Backpack

HZ02
Black
Seektop 20L Foldable Waterproof Hiking Backpack Cover
Seektop 20L Foldable Waterproof Hiking Backpack, Ultralight Small Lightweight Daypack Packable Backpack for Men Woman

The Seektop Foldable Hiking Backpack is designed to keep your belongings safe and dry with its high-density waterproof nylon fabric and water-resistant zippers, protecting you from rain and wear. Its lightweight, foldable design lets you easily pack and store it when not in use, making it perfect for travel and daily use. The backpack also offers comfort with padded, breathable shoulder straps and back support, helping reduce sweat and fatigue on your hikes. Plus, the adjustable chest strap adds stability, ensuring a secure fit during your outdoor adventures or daily commutes.

What We Like
Waterproof and durable material
Lightweight and foldable design
Breathable padded straps
Adjustable chest strap
Multiple zippered compartments

ZOMAKE Ultra Lightweight Hiking Backpack 20L

SDJ-SG-TM0018
Navy Blue
Small
ZOMAKE Ultra Lightweight Hiking Backpack 20L Cover
ZOMAKE Ultra Lightweight Hiking Backpack 20L, Packable Small Backpacks Water Resistant Daypack for Women Men(Navy Blue)

ZOMAKE Ultra Lightweight Hiking Backpack 20L is an ideal portable backpack for travel, hiking, and vacation. It is made of high-quality nylon material that is water-resistant and tear-resistant. The backpack is ultra-lightweight, weighing only 0.5 pounds and has a 20L capacity. It is foldable, and when not in use, it can be folded into a compact pocket. The backpack is designed with a reasonable pocket distribution, including a main bag, front bag, and two side bags, making it easy to organize items. The backpack has a double-layered wear-resistant process, and the zipper is made of two-way SBS metal and high-quality resin materials for a smooth experience. The backpack is designed to reduce shoulder pressure and has an anti-light strip for safety during night walks.

What We Like
Lightweight and compact
Ample storage space
Comfortable shoulder straps
Durable build quality
Easy to clean

Bseash 60L Hiking Backpack

0397
Army Green
Bseash 60L Hiking Backpack Cover
Bseash 60L Hiking Camping Backpack with Rain Cover, Waterproof Large Capacity Outdoor Sport Travel Daypack Climbing Touring (Army Green)

This Bseash Hiking Backpack is perfect for traveling enthusiasts with its comfortable ergonomic padded shoulder straps and back support. The breathable mesh shoulder straps with sponge padding help relieve stress from your shoulders, while the widened and thickened S-type shoulder straps and high elastic breathable back support provide the best ventilation and ease of burden. With a large capacity and multiple compartments, this backpack has a special main pocket closing drawstring design to prevent items from falling out. It also has a shoes-separated storing pouch, two side pockets, and an interior pouch for a water bladder. The backpack is made of high-quality, water-resistant, and tear-resistant material, and it comes with an extra rain cover to keep everything dry. Lastly, it includes eight adjustable straps for tying up your pack or hanging sleeping bags, mats, hammocks, tripods, and other gear, making it convenient for hiking, climbing, and camping enthusiasts.

What We Like
Water-resistant
Large capacity
Comfortable shoulder straps
#TOP 10

EgoNova 12L Ultralight Packable Daypack

EgoNova
HB2025US00
Dark Green
EgoNova 12L Ultralight Packable Daypack Cover
EgoNova 12L Ultralight & Thin Packable Daypack, Small Foldable Hiking Backpack Travel Bag, Water Resistant Day Pack for Men Women

The EgoNova Ultralight Daypack is designed to be a lightweight and compact travel companion, weighing just 0.39 lbs and folding into a small size that easily fits in your luggage. Its durable polyester fabric and reinforced stitching provide strong resistance to tears and light rain, keeping your belongings safe during outdoor use. The 12-liter main compartment offers enough space for your daily essentials, while convenient pockets on the straps let you quickly access your phone or water bottle. Plus, its foldable design makes it simple to store under airplane seats or pack away for spontaneous trips, making your travel experience much easier and more flexible.

What We Like
Ultralight and compact
Durable, water-resistant fabric
Spacious 12L compartment
Convenient strap pockets
Easy to fold and store
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are ultralight backpacks worth it?

So, is ultralight backpacking worth it? Ultralight backpacking is definitely worth it. You will only be carrying the items you need without overburdening yourself. When you have a lighter backpack on your shoulders, you will be more comfortable and can travel over challenging terrain more easily.

2. What is the lightest backpack on the market?

Zpacks Arc Blast Zpacks offers one of the lightest backpacks in its size range, and they've also managed to make this pack tough as nails. Constructed with ultra-durable, lightweight Dyneema, the combination of these features makes the Arc Blast one of the best ultralight backpacks for strenuous objectives.

Editor's Notes

During our ultralight hiking backpack research, we found 24 ultralight hiking backpack products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 129,930 customer reviews through our big data system to write the ultralight hiking backpacks list. We found that most customers choose ultralight hiking backpacks with an average price of $29.17.

The ultralight hiking backpacks are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of ultralight hiking backpacks, including WATERFLY, BECOJADDE, Naturehike, ZOMAKE, VOBUYING. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 736 consumers with an average rating of 4.9.

Written by
Arlen Smith Avatar

Arlen Smith is a writer and a surfer who lives in Los Angeles, he runs a popular blog that focuses on surfing skills and popular surf spots around the world. He enjoys the sun, the beach and the feeling of surfing. His expertise ranges from categories such as climbing, swimming, boating and outdoor sports.