Suiting the pack to the purpose

The days of the one-size-fits-all rucksack are long gone. When you head into the woods today, you probably will be carrying a pack specifically designed for your outdoor endeavor, whether it be speed-hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains, technical climbing in Canyonlands National Park in Utah or old-fashioned long-haul trekking on the John Muir Trail. Here are four standout cargo carriers to get your stuff from here to there.

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Built for ‘speed hiking’

Golite Speed Pack: Minimalist backpack for fast-paced “speed hiking” and adventure racing.

Likes: Extremely light (just under 2 pounds). Big enough (3,600 cubic inches) to carry basic needs for multiday trips. Smart touches: Integrated 3-liter water bladder drinking system, zippered waist-belt pockets for quick access to energy bars and lip balm without breaking stride, five external mesh pockets for quick drying of wet gear, a neoprene helmet holder for climbers or cyclists, a “daisy chain” (line of fabric loops) for lashing of bulky gear.

Dislikes: Not built for comfort. Basically, it’s a sack with straps: shapeless, formless. Sweaty on your back.

Price: $139. (888) 546-5483; www.golite.com.

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Security in tight places

Osprey Aether 75: A mid-size pack with internal frame for multiday outings.

Likes: Osprey’s clamshell-style back panels compress loads easily and keep contents secure, even in “technical” conditions: off-balance scrambling and climbing up steep, rough trails. I found it ideal for squeezing through narrow slot canyons in Utah. Fairly lightweight (4 pounds, 11 ounces) for its size (4,500 cubic inches). Front and side mesh pockets hold gear.

Dislikes: None.

Price: $239. (970) 564-5900; www.ospreypacks.com.

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Going the distance

Kelty 50th Anniversary Pack: Massive external-frame backpack for long multiday trips.

Likes: Very light (6 pounds, 11 ounces) for its huge (6,000 cubic inches) size. External frame packs (in which the bag is hung on a visible aluminum frame) can’t be beat for supporting heavy loads with comfort and ventilation. Made of durable, rip-proof Spectra fiber. Quick access to sleeping bag via bottom hatch without disturbing other contents. Easy-to-reach mesh side pocket for water bottle. Three immense exterior pockets, two ice ax loops, a mesh pouch for wet items and three daisy chains. Large easy-access lid for valuables and map.

Dislikes: Not designed to work with a hydration-bladder. External-frame packs are losing favor because they are not as maneuverable as internal-frame packs on narrow, rough trails.

Price: $240. (800) 423-2320; www.Kelty.com.

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Accent on comfort

Switchback: Uniquely designed backpack has a plastic cargo box.

Likes: Very comfortable. The patented design centers the pack’s weight on a circular “gravity pad” at the sacrum, the bony area beneath the small of the back. It touches you only at the shoulders, shoulder blades and sacrum, leaving your back well-ventilated and your hips free to pivot more naturally than with a traditional pack. The smallish cargo box seems bigger than its size (3,750 cubic inches), has numerous lash-loops, is fully waterproof and supposedly can float -- a benefit on outings involving river crossings.

Dislikes: Expensive. Takes one hour of assembly -- easy, but irritating. (New versions will not require assembly, says the company). The V shape of the cargo box’s back-facing side has a tendency to bulge when packed too tightly.

Not easy to rig up a hydration system. Available only via the company’s Internet site.

Price: $399. (866) 747-4567; www.switchbackpacks.com.

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-- Roy M. Wallack