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Spend this, not more: The honest spend band here is $24.98 to $239.95 across the eight picks. Granite Gear lists sale prices on its own store for seven of them — Sawbill 20 at $24.98, Scurry at $49.98, Virga 2 at $74.98, Virga3 26 at $89.98, Virga3 55 at $99.98, Perimeter 35 at $114.98 and Blaze 60 at $149.97 — and a single price of $239.95 for the Crown3 40 ECO.
Quick answer:
- Granite Gear Sawbill 20: Granite Gear’s own store lists the Sawbill 20 at $24.98, reduced from a $49.95 regular price. The maker’s specification table publishes a 20 litre volume, a 15 lb load capacity, a 0.38 lbs / 0.17 kg carry weight and a regular 18-21 in torso fit in 100D nylon.
- Granite Gear Scurry: Granite Gear’s own store lists the Scurry at $49.98, reduced from a $99.95 regular price. The maker publishes a 24 litre volume, a 20 lb load capacity, a 1.1 lbs / 0.51 kg carry weight and approximate dimensions of 18 by 13 by 7 in in Robic high-tenacity nylon.
- Granite Gear Virga 2: Granite Gear’s own store lists the Virga 2 at $74.98, reduced from a $149.95 regular price. The maker publishes three volumes of 50, 54 and 58 litres with carry weights of 1 lb 2 oz, 1 lb 3 oz and 1 lb 4 oz, in Cordura 100D and 210D nylon.
- Granite Gear Virga3 26 Unisex: Granite Gear’s own store lists the Virga3 26 at $89.98, reduced from a $179.95 regular price. The maker publishes a 26 litre volume, a 25 lb load capacity, a 1.26 lbs / 0.57 kg carry weight and dimensions of about 21 by 13 by 8 in, with a fully adjustable torso height and width.
- Granite Gear Virga3 55 Unisex: Granite Gear’s own store lists the Virga3 55 at $99.98, reduced from a $199.94 regular price. The maker publishes a 55 litre volume, a 3350 cubic inch figure, a 1.68 lbs carry weight and a frameless suspension with an adjustable torso, in Robic high-tenacity nylon with a Barrier DWR finish.
How much should you spend? The maker’s own pages price the bracket inside $24.98-$239.95; every figure here is from the maker’s own store, and each pick quotes the current price rather than the struck-through regular price.
First: Answer These 3 Questions
- What is the price range for a hiking backpack? Granite Gear’s own store prices the eight bodies here from $24.98 to $239.95, with seven of the eight on a reduced price.
- Which hiking backpack here is the lightest? The Sawbill 20 at $24.98, published at a 0.38 lbs / 0.17 kg carry weight.
- What size hiking backpack do I need for a day hike? The maker publishes 20 and 24 litres for its two smallest bodies here, with published carry weights of 0.38 lbs and 1.1 lbs.
- Which hiking backpack here carries the most weight? The Blaze 60 at $149.97, where the maker states it can comfortably carry up to 50 lbs.
- Do any of these backpacks use recycled fabric? The Crown3 40 ECO at $239.95 lists Regen Robic recycled high-tenacity nylon at 100D and 210D with a Barrier DWR finish.
5 Checks Before You Buy
| Check | Target | Plain English |
|---|---|---|
| Stated volume | Litres or cubic inches | Every body publishes a litre figure on the maker’s page. |
| Carry weight | Published lbs or kg | Weights run from 0.38 lbs on the Sawbill 20 to 3 lbs on the Perimeter 35. |
| Load rating | Published lb figure | Ratios run from 15 lb on the Sawbill 20 to 50 lb on the Blaze 60. |
| Suspension and frame | Framed or frameless | The maker states frameless on the Virga bodies and names a frame on the Perimeter and Crown3. |
| Torso fit | Range in inches and whether adjustable | The maker publishes a torso range and an adjustable flag per body. |
| Fabric | Denier and brand | Bodies list 100D and 210D Robic or Cordura nylon. |
8 Picks (By Volume & Carry Weight)
Granite Gear Sawbill 20 – The Twenty-Litre Class Pick
Price: $24.98 on the maker’s official store, in stock.
Why: Granite Gear’s own store lists the Sawbill 20 at $24.98, reduced from a $49.95 regular price. The maker’s specification table publishes a 20 litre volume, a 15 lb load capacity, a 0.38 lbs / 0.17 kg carry weight and a regular 18-21 in torso fit in 100D nylon.
Honest take: The maker’s own store lists $24.98 against a $49.95 regular price, with Add to Cart shown. Downside: At a published 15 lb load capacity and a fixed 18-21 in torso fit, it is a day-haul body rather than a multi-day pack.
Granite Gear Scurry – The Twenty-Four-Litre Class Pick
Price: $49.98 on the maker’s official store, in stock.
Why: Granite Gear’s own store lists the Scurry at $49.98, reduced from a $99.95 regular price. The maker publishes a 24 litre volume, a 20 lb load capacity, a 1.1 lbs / 0.51 kg carry weight and approximate dimensions of 18 by 13 by 7 in in Robic high-tenacity nylon.
Honest take: The maker’s own store lists $49.98 against a $99.95 regular price, with Add to Cart shown. Downside: Its published 1.1 lbs is nearly three times the Sawbill 20’s 0.38 lbs for only 4 more litres of volume.
Granite Gear Virga 2 – The Fifty-Litre Class Pick
Price: $74.98 on the maker’s official store, in stock.
Why: Granite Gear’s own store lists the Virga 2 at $74.98, reduced from a $149.95 regular price. The maker publishes three volumes of 50, 54 and 58 litres with carry weights of 1 lb 2 oz, 1 lb 3 oz and 1 lb 4 oz, in Cordura 100D and 210D nylon.
Honest take: The maker’s own store lists $74.98 against a $149.95 regular price, with Add to Cart shown. Downside: The maker’s page states torso lengths are not adjustable on the pack body and that the shoulder straps are fixed, so fit comes from choosing a size rather than dialing it in.
Granite Gear Virga3 26 Unisex – The Adjustable-Torso Class Pick
Price: $89.98 on the maker’s official store, in stock.
Why: Granite Gear’s own store lists the Virga3 26 at $89.98, reduced from a $179.95 regular price. The maker publishes a 26 litre volume, a 25 lb load capacity, a 1.26 lbs / 0.57 kg carry weight and dimensions of about 21 by 13 by 8 in, with a fully adjustable torso height and width.
Honest take: The maker’s own store lists $89.98 against a $179.95 regular price, with Add to Cart shown. Downside: Its published torso fit is the regular 18-21 in range, so a longer or shorter torso needs a different size in the same series.
Granite Gear Virga3 55 Unisex – The Fifty-Five-Litre Class Pick
Price: $99.98 on the maker’s official store, in stock.
Why: Granite Gear’s own store lists the Virga3 55 at $99.98, reduced from a $199.94 regular price. The maker publishes a 55 litre volume, a 3350 cubic inch figure, a 1.68 lbs carry weight and a frameless suspension with an adjustable torso, in Robic high-tenacity nylon with a Barrier DWR finish.
Honest take: The maker’s own store lists $99.98 against a $199.94 regular price, with Add to Cart shown. Downside: The frameless suspension the maker states means there is no frame to spread a heavy load, and the pack relies on the hip belt for weight transfer.
Granite Gear Perimeter 35 Women’s Fit – The Framed Class Pick
Price: $114.98 on the maker’s official store, in stock.
Why: Granite Gear’s own store lists the Perimeter 35 Women’s Fit at $114.98, reduced from a $229.95 regular price. The maker publishes a 35 litre volume, a 40 lb load rating, a 1.36 kg / 3 lbs carry weight and a Perimeter suspension built on a spring steel rod outline with a polyethylene sheet core.
Honest take: The maker’s own store lists $114.98 against a $229.95 regular price, with Add to Cart shown. Downside: At a published 3 lbs it is the heaviest body in this list, and the maker’s page fits the standard Re-Fit belt to a 24-40 in waist with the wider belt ordered separately.
Granite Gear Blaze 60 Unisex – The Sixty-Litre Class Pick
Price: $149.97 on the maker’s official store, in stock.
Why: Granite Gear’s own store lists the Blaze 60 at $149.97, reduced from a $299.94 regular price. The maker publishes a 60 litre volume, a carry weight of 2.9 to 3.1 lbs without the lid, a lid weight of 0.18 lbs and a stated ability to carry up to 50 lbs.
Honest take: The maker’s own store lists $149.97 against a $299.94 regular price, with Add to Cart shown. Downside: The published carry weight rises with torso size, and the maker’s page lists the 50 lb figure as a comfort ceiling rather than a rating at every size.
Granite Gear Crown3 40 ECO Unisex – The Recycled-Fabric Class Pick
Price: $239.95 on the maker’s official store, in stock.
Why: Granite Gear’s own store lists the Crown3 40 ECO at $239.95 as a single price with no reduced figure attached. The maker publishes a 40 litre volume, a 1.04 kg / 2.3 lbs carry weight without the lid and a Vapor Current Mark 3 frame the maker describes as comprised of scrap plastic.
Honest take: The maker’s own store lists $239.95 with Add to Cart shown, and it is the only pick here priced at the regular figure. Downside: The maker’s specification table marks the torso as not adjustable and the load rating as 25 lbs without the frame, so it is the least flexible body in this list.
One-Line Decision Table
| Your situation | Pick this |
|---|---|
| A short day hike with a lunch and a layer | The Twenty-Litre Class Sawbill 20 at $24.98 |
| A multi-day trip carrying a tent and food | The Fifty-Five-Litre Class Virga3 55 at $99.98 |
| A heavy load that needs a frame | The Framed Class Perimeter 35 at $114.98 |
| A large load for a long trip | The Sixty-Litre Class Blaze 60 at $149.97 |
Running Costs: What You Pay After You Buy
The purchase price is only part of the story. Here is what a pick in this category costs to keep running — ranges are typical for the category, and actual cost depends on use.
| Item | What it is | How often | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| The backpack itself | One-time | At purchase | $24.98-$239.95 on the maker’s own store |
| Rain cover | Depends on body | Only if not included | The maker marks rain cover included as no on the Crown3 40 ECO and does not state it on the other pages |
| Replacement hip belt | Maker service channel | Only if the belt fails | The maker’s page lists a large Re-Fit belt option for the Perimeter 35 and Blaze 60 but publishes no belt price |
| Hydration reservoir | Separate purchase | Optional | The maker lists a hydration port and sleeve on the Blaze 60 and Crown3 40 ECO; no reservoir price is published |
| Subscription or app | None | Never | No maker on these pages prices a plan or an app for a backpack |
Skip It If… (When Buying Nothing Is the Right Call)
This is the section most buying guides leave out. If any of these describe you, the honest advice is to keep your money.
- You need a torso adjustment you can dial in on the trail. The maker’s table marks the torso as not adjustable on the Virga 2 and the Crown3 40 ECO.
- You want a published carry weight under one pound with more than 25 litres. The only body under 1 lb is the 20 litre Sawbill 20.
- You want a maker price that has not been discounted. Seven of these eight bodies are listed at a reduced price, and only the Crown3 40 ECO carries a single figure.
- You want a frame that spreads a load above 50 lb. The highest load figure published here is the Blaze 60’s 50 lb.
- You want a fully frameless body with an adjustable torso and a hip belt. The maker lists the Virga3 55 that way, but at a 1.68 lbs carry weight it is not a small pack.
FAQ
How much does a hiking backpack cost Granite Gear’s own store prices the eight bodies here from $24.98 to $239.95.
What is the lightest hiking backpack in this list The Sawbill 20 at $24.98, published at a 0.38 lbs / 0.17 kg carry weight for a 20 litre body.
What size hiking backpack is right for a day hike The maker publishes 20 and 24 litres for its two smallest bodies here, against 50 to 60 litres for the multi-day bodies.
Which hiking backpack here has a frame The Perimeter 35 at $114.98 uses a Perimeter suspension built on a spring steel rod outline, and the Crown3 40 ECO at $239.95 uses a Vapor Current Mark 3 frame the maker describes as comprised of scrap plastic.
Are these backpacks on sale Seven of the eight carry a reduced price on the maker’s store, such as the Sawbill 20 at $24.98 against a $49.95 regular price. The Crown3 40 ECO is listed at a single $239.95.
Do these backpacks fit different torso lengths The maker publishes a torso range per body and states whether the torso is adjustable. The Sawbill 20 and Virga3 26 list a regular 18-21 in fit, while the Virga 2 is offered in short, regular and long torso sizes.
Sources & Data
Prices in this guide are the figures each maker publishes on its own pages, all checked and reachable on the publish date.
- Granite Gear Sawbill 20 — $24.98 reduced from $49.95, quoted from the maker’s own store (HTTP 200).
- Granite Gear Scurry — $49.98 reduced from $99.95, quoted from the maker’s own store (HTTP 200).
- Granite Gear Virga 2 — $74.98 reduced from $149.95, quoted from the maker’s own store (HTTP 200).
- Granite Gear Virga3 26 Unisex — $89.98 reduced from $179.95, quoted from the maker’s own store (HTTP 200).
- Granite Gear Virga3 55 Unisex — $99.98 reduced from $199.94, quoted from the maker’s own store (HTTP 200).
- Granite Gear Perimeter 35 — $114.98 reduced from $229.95, quoted from the maker’s own store (HTTP 200).
- Granite Gear Blaze 60 Unisex — $149.97 reduced from $299.94, quoted from the maker’s own store (HTTP 200).
- Granite Gear Crown3 40 ECO Unisex — $239.95 quoted from the maker’s own store (HTTP 200).
Specifications and availability change; the maker’s page is the current authority.
Real Pitfalls to Avoid
- Quoting a reduced price as the regular price. Seven of these eight bodies carry a struck-through regular figure roughly double the current price.
- Reading a load rating as a comfort rating. The Blaze 60’s 50 lb figure is the maker’s stated comfort ceiling, while the Crown3 40 ECO is marked 25 lb without the frame.
- Assuming adjustable means one torso fits everyone. The maker publishes a specific range per body, such as 18-21 in for the Sawbill 20 and 15-24 in across the Virga 2’s three sizes.
- Comparing weights across sizes without checking which size. The Blaze 60 publishes 2.9, 3.0 and 3.1 lbs for its three torso sizes.
- Expecting a hip belt in every size. The Perimeter 35 and Blaze 60 fit a standard Re-Fit belt to a given waist range, with the wider belt listed as an option rather than standard.
- Treating one brand’s range as the market range. These eight bodies all come from Granite Gear, so the price spread reflects that maker’s sale ladder and not the wider market.
Going deeper: A pack’s published volume and carry weight are the only figures worth comparing across makers, and that is the rule applied here. Our backpacking sleeping bag guide ranks by published temperature rating and packed weight under the same method, and our camping chair guide applies it to another piece of camp kit. For the rest of the campsite, our camping table guide reads maker spec sheets the same way. The ranking method behind every category on this site is written up in how we rank products.
Update note: refreshed quarterly. Prices checked Sep 2026 – verify at checkout. Rankings based on published manufacturer specifications (stated volume, published carry weight, load rating, suspension and torso fit, fabric denier) and maker sale prices on official pages, not paid placement.
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