Arc’teryx has been making technical, function-first packs for mountain travel since the 1990s. Each design is put through its paces by professional athletes and our own design team in the steep climbs and technical descents of British Columbia’s Coast Mountains. Arc’teryx women’s packs are rigorously tested to ensure that they perform in every moment of critical need, whether you’re taking on a thru-hike, enjoying a day hike, heading out on a weekend backpacking trip, spending a day ski touring, or climbing at the crag.

Every technical pack — day packs, multi-day packs, avalanche airbags, travel bags, and haul bags — should prioritize what’s essential without sacrificing comfort. With specialized features like customized fit systems and harnesses, weatherproof treatments and finishes, external tool loops and carry solutions, durable fabrics with outstanding tensile strength, and storage designs customized for different use cases, Arc’teryx packs are designed to move through the harshest conditions and still get all your gear home with you.

There are dozens of packs and everyday carry designs categorized by activity, environment, season, and objective. But one principle applies to all: The best packs are the ones that are easy to use.

How to choose the right women’s pack size

For larger daypacks that are 30-35 litres, find out your size by measuring from your C7 vertebrae (the knob on the back of your neck) to your iliac crest, the highest point of your hip bones. That measurement is your back length, so you can choose the right size in larger packs.

What size of women’s pack is best for half-day, full-day, and multi-day use?

Everyone moves through the mountains differently, so choosing the size of pack that works for you is highly dependent on how you pack, how quickly you travel, how much weight you prefer to carry, and the conditions of the terrain you’ll be in. For most day hikes, a pack between 15-30 litres does the trick, with enough capacity for water, food, basic emergency gear, and an extra layer. Packs that are between 30-40 litres can be the right fit for longer objectives for moving fast and light with ultralight sleep systems, basic food supply, and minimalist gear. While, for others, that’s the perfect size for a daypack with all the layers and extra summit snacks you could need. For most multi-day objectives that require extra food, layers, cooking and sleep systems, a pack with a capacity between 40-70 litres is ideal.