The Best Backpacks for Work and Play

Specific water sources are indicated on Ozark Trail online and printed maps. Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. Try out unlimited access with 7 days of Outside+ for free.

ozark trail backpack

The Vertx Gamut employs a print-proof scabbard that is perfect for protecting electronics, and for giving you a location to carry a handgun that is all but undetectable. That’s just as usual in the backcountry as it is on main street. The Gamut 2.0 is a great choice for those who carry, but even if you don’t the rigid scabbard offers a level of protection for ozark trail backpack your other items that no soft pack can offer. Perhaps the most versatile pack on the list, the Colma from Marmot will be just as at home on a 10-mile hike as it will getting your laptop to work on the train. Marmot is one of the premier names in pack design, so you don’t have to worry about the little things not being right, they’ve already worked that out.

The voluminous 30L capacity is handy for long days at the office or in the backcountry. Also handy is the AirScape suspension that offers more comfort and ventilation than other suspension systems. The rucksack design means you don’t have a bunch of small pockets to remember and organize, you just load up and go.

If you have a boat and bring kids or friends on the water, you know that once you leave the dock the requests for drinks start rolling in fast and furious. Sure, you can load a cooler out each morning packed with fresh ice, but it is just so much easier to cut down all that work with a cooler than can keep ice for days on end. Our sister site Alloutdoor.com recently reviewed a hiking backpack sold by Ozark Trail that had an overall stellar performance and it triggered a question among our staff. Is Walmart’s Ozark Trail brand a true sleeper, putting out products that deserve much more attention among outdoorsmen? With that question being floated, we decided to travel down the path of discovery and start to take a closer look at Ozark Trail and some of their products.

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. Enjoy views of the Ozark landscape as you gain 500 feet of elevation up 2.5 miles to the top of Stegall Mountain. Camp out at the top overnight, catching a glimpse of a full sky of stars if it’s clear.

Since the trip was three years in the making, the anticipation was doubly intense. We recently took a camping trip to the mountains and I needed a lightweight pack to hold my toiletries (soap, shampoo/conditioner), fresh clothing change and my crocs/hiking boots and my towel. Temperatures can swing from chilly mornings to sweltering afternoons. Consider bringing several sets of clothing so you have options for hiking and spending time at camp. Wear layers to be comfortable in any weather, and pack rain gear to stay dry. Obviously, you need to be able to carry the things you need every day.