The North Face Trail Lite 50

The Terra 65 is The North Face's mainstay budget backpacking pack, a simple adjustable hauler that shows up everywhere from REI floors to college outdoor programs. The women's version is sold as the Terra 55/65 women's fit.

The Aircontact Lite is the trimmed-down version of the Core: same VariQuick torso range and the same general shape, but an open-cell foam back instead of the aluminium Y-frame, and a 140D ripstop face fabric in place of 500D. That drops 720 g against the Core 50+10 and about $60, at the cost of 5 kg of load rating (a 15 kg ceiling against the Core's 20 kg).

The Kestrel LT is new for spring 2026 and simplifies Osprey's long-running Kestrel: an AirScape ridged-foam backpanel over a perimeter wire frame, a sliding harness yoke with five inches of torso adjustment, and an included raincover. It sheds 240-320 g against the standard Kestrel and costs considerably less, giving up about three litres of capacity to do it.

Only a women's fit is offered for the Perimeter 35: 35 L, 3 lb, an adjustable torso across 18-21 in and the same 40 lb rating as the larger Perimeter 50. Its lid flap removes and it carries a hydration sleeve.

The women's-fit Aircontact Lite, with the SL back range of 35-56 cm and women's-specific strap and hip fin geometry. It is the lightest framed trekking pack Deuter offers in a women's fit outside the Aircontact Ultra, and at $230 it is priced well under most women's packs of the same volume.

The Rook 65 is Osprey's budget-line backpacking pack, delivering a suspended-mesh AirSpeed back panel, adjustable torso, and included raincover for barely half the price of an Atmos. The women's equivalent is the Renn 65.