Extra Large Hiking Backpacks for Men

If you need a load-hauling pack for a variety of activities, you will want to check this selection of extra large hiking backpacks, all products from the best-known brands in this industry.

I put the lowest limit to 85 liters volume, so these are among the largest packs that are available on the market. For heavy loads, you feed a perfect fit and this is why all of them have at least some harness adjustability. They offer various features for organization, access, etc.

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My list of large hiking backpacks for men

I have decided to order the packs by their volume from smaller to larger. The volume is usually described in cubic inches or in liters, so you have both systems of units here.

 

Most of the packs here represent the whole series and in these cases, I have chosen the largest in the series. Just to know that you can choose smaller packs if these are too big. Note also that most of them are built in a variety of sub-sizes.

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1. Gregory Baltoro 85 Backpack

This is a pack from their best-known Gregory Baltoro and Deva series. It has been on the market for many years and it has been modified in the past and awarded multiple times. So this is their latest version and it is awarded again, as usual.

This Baltoro 85 is the largest in the series that includes also Baltoro 65 and Baltoro 75, and also several packs in their Baltoro Pro series. Note that it is built in three sub-sizes, and this holds for all the packs mentioned above. So you have 9 Baltoro packs in total plus the Pro packs.

The new version is with what they call the Matrix Ventilated Backpanel, which is a ventilated structural foam wrapped in a very breathable mesh. This design enhances moisture management through a much better airflow while at the same time keeping the pack very close to your back. So this is a pack for very heavy loads.

This pack has 10 pockets in total, and its also comes with a rain cover included. There is a QuickStow feature on the left shoulder harness for sunglasses. In the main compartment, there is a removable hydration sleeve that doubles as the daypack.

The M size of this pack weighs 5.16 lb (2.34 kg) and its volume is 85 liters. So the volume/weight ratio is around 32 liters/kg. The pack measures 23 x 69 x 43 cm.

You have what they call the Quickswap feature. This means that the hip belt and the harness can be replaced. You have 5 sizes for the hip belt and 3 sizes for the harness, and this means 15 different combinations to find your perfect fit.

The fabric is a durable 210D Honeycomb Cryptorip HD nylon & 210D High Tenacity nylon. The base is a 630D HD nylon with EVA foam. The frame is a 7001 hollow aluminum and an HDPE.

What I like:

• Many pockets.
• Load-hauling design.
• Rain cover.
• Very reliable.

What I dislike:

• Limited torso adjustment.

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2. Teton Sports Grand 5500 Pack

The name of this Teton Sports Grand 5500 Pack gives its volume in cubic inches, and this is 90 liters. So you now realize why it is here in the list. This is a unisex pack, they do not build gender-specific packs. Clearly, this is a huge pack and the weight is substantial, it weighs 5.2 lb (2.36 kg). The volume/weight ratio is 38 l/kg, and this makes it a lightweight pack in a relative sense.

The pack is most likely the best they have ever built, and this is a pack from their black series. It includes some incredible features and its popularity is enormous. Only on Amazon, the number of reports is already in 4-figures. You will want to know that this is also a very affordable pack.

You have 4 access points, and this is already something extraordinary. This includes a classic lid and collar, plus front access, side access, and access through its bottom compartment. You have a divider between the main compartment and the bottom compartment that is a real divider with a zipper.

They use a very durable 420D fabric and it has a 1000 mm waterproof rating. Not many packs will offer something like this. The torso length is adjustable. The suspension is supported by two aluminum stays. The padding on the hip belt and on the lumbar area is massive. A bonus poncho is included instead of the usual rain cover, and its waterproof rating is 2000 mm.

The pack offers 7 pockets and an incredible collection of attachment elements, some quite unique like its two holsters to carry your gear from outside. The large front pocket visible in the picture above is detachable and it doubles as a daypack. The pack’s dimensions are 34 x 15 x 17 inches (86 x 38 x 43 cm). This pack is also in my list of best backpacking backpacks for men.

What I like:

• The daypack.
• Poncho.
• Waterproof design.
• Great attachment options.
• Price.

What I dislike:

• Practically nothing.

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3. Osprey Aether Plus 100 Pack for Men

This Aether Plus 100 is the second-largest pack of Osprey currently on the market, and it is the largest in their Aether & Ariel Plus series launched for the season 2021.

They have abandoned their famous anti-gravity (AG) design and now you have here what they call Airscape back panel. The pack has a fully adjustable harness, and this includes adjustability of everything (the torso length, the shoulder harness padding, and the hip belt padding). The two latter they call the Fit-on-the-Fly system.

You also have a massive lumbar padding so the pack is designed for the heaviest possible loads. They build it in two sub-sizes so this just adds to its overall adjustability mentioned above. The frame is a 4 mm LightWire aluminum and it is combined with their Airscape injection-molded die-cut foam frame sheet. The maximum recommended carry weight is 70 lb (32 kg).

It offers three access points, and you also have a rain cover included. There is an incredibly functional DayLid Daypack as a true bonus with this pack. This means that the lid transforms into a fully featured day pack. When you use the main pack without the lid, it has an integrated FlapJacket to cover it.

There are 9 pockets in total, and the pack also comes with a full set of straps and attachment elements. They include the StraightJacket compression, and also Osprey’s famous Stow-on-the-Go attachment system for trekking poles. Here are some numbers:

• Volume:
  – L/XL: 6102 in³ (100 l)
  – S/M: 5980 in³ (98 l).
• Weight:
  – L/XL: 6 lb 11 oz (3 kg).
  – S/M: 6 lb 6 oz (2.9 kg).
• Dimensions:
  – L/XL: 34 x 17 x 16 in (86 x 43 x 41 cm).
  – S/M: 32 x 17 x 16 in (81 x 43 x 41 cm).
• Fits torso length:
  – L/XL: 19.5 – 23 in (50 – 58 cm).
  – S/M: 17 – 20.5 in (43 – 52 cm).

What I like:

• Fully adjustable suspension.
• DayLid daypack.
• Rain cover.
• Numerous pockets.
• Load-hauling capability.

What I dislike:

• Heavy.

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4. Kelty Coyote 105 Pack

This pack is one of the best-known packs of Kelty, from a series that has been around for years, but this is the latest version. As mentioned, this is a series that includes also the Coyote 65 and Coyote 85 packs, just to know if you feel that this Coyote 105 is too large for you. You might want to know that they also have women-specific packs from this series available as well.

The weight of this pack is 5 lb 8 oz (2.5 kg), so its volume/weight ratio is impressive 42 liters/kg. I would describe it as an ultralight pack. It offers three access points, from the top, from the side through a J-shaped zippered opening, and through the bottom compartment.

The suspension is based on a lightweight perimeter frame plus a stabilizing vertical aluminum stay. The back panel includes what they call the AMP-Flow system, so this is a moderately ventilated pack.

The torso length is adjustable in the range of 15 – 20 inches (38 – 51 cm). You have an easy-to-use hook and loop connection (Velcro) so you can reposition and reattach it easily, they call it the FIT-Pro system.

The harness is with great padding, but this brand is well-known for such features. The front hip belt straps are V-shaped dual construction for an excellent hugging of the hip bones.

Now see this: the pack has 12 pockets in total, and I doubt you will find a pack on the market that can match this. You also have all attachment points and compression straps available. The pack’s dimensions are 38 x 22 x 14 inches (97 x 56 x 36 cm).

What I like:

• Three access points.
• The weight.
• Many pockets.
• Price.
• Padding.

What I dislike:

• No rain cover.

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5. Osprey Xenith 105 Pack

This pack is the largest that Osprey has on the market, and it is the largest in their Xenith & Xena series. I would describe it as the second-best pack of this brand, after the Aether Plus pack presented in the list here.

They build this particular pack in three sub-sizes M, L, and XL, and this should not be mixed with several other Xenith packs that are all with similar sub-sizes. So the series include many packs.

Here are some numbers:

• Volume:
  – M: 6407 in³ (105 l).
  – L: 6652 in³ (109 l).
  – XL: 6896 in³ (113 l).
• Weight:
  – M: 5 lb 8 oz (2.5 kg).
  – L: 5 lb 12 oz (2.6 kg).
  – XL: 5 lb 15 oz (2.7 kg).
• Torso fit:
  – M: 18 – 20.5 in (46 – 52 cm).
  – L: 20 – 22.5 in (51 – 57 cm).
  – XL: 22+ in (56+ cm).

The pack includes many great features, so here are some of them. You have an adjustable torso size and a heat-moldable harness. So this would be the best possible adjustability of the padding that molds due to the body heat and adjusts perfectly to your body shape. They call this design the BioForm.

You also have their famous DayLid daypack, and the FlapJacket for lidless use. The pack offers 4 access points, and you also have no less than 9 pockets.

What I like:

• Excellent suspension.
• Great comfort.
• Daypack included.
• Huge load hauling capacity.
• AllMighty warranty.
• Quality materials and workmanship.

What I dislike:

• Heavy.
• No rain cover.

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Final thoughts & how to choose

So this was my selection of extra large hiking backpacks. After seeing them all, perhaps you realize that you will be doing great with any of them. They are all quality products with some great features. But there are differences, and if you are not certain which one to choose please see these a few tips.

Volume/weight ratio

These are huge packs and therefore they are heavy in the absolute sense. Though the weight is not necessarily a bad feature, it may imply that the pack has more features, more padding, a more durable fabric, etc. But in any case, it may be useful to check the volume and weight ratio to realize how they compare.

Adjustability options

All packs have some adjustability and this normal to expect in packs for heavy loads. But some offer more in this regard. So if you are buying a pack that will be used by a few family members or by your partner, it is good to focus a bit more on the adjustability and see what a pack offers.

Price

These are quality packs and some of them are exceptionally expensive, I would say with all the good reasons. But there are brands like Teton Sports and Kelty that usually offer products that are more affordable, but not on the account of quality. This is good to know if you are on a budget.

Editor’s Choice pack

The pack presented below is my choice pack simply because of the combination of features that it offers. But observe also that it is not so light.

Please see more about this whole Aether & Ariel Plus series in the video:

You might want also to check my list of best backpacking backpacks for men. See also my selection of plus size backpacks for overweight people. Thank you for reading. Please use the comment box below in the case of comments or questions. Have a nice day.