Our 21 testers schlepped 35 duffels, backpacks, and suitcases across countries and concourses. These were the most ...

A rucksack, however, has a very distinct design. They are kind of like a rugged style backpack. The name “rucksack” comes from the German word “der rucken”, which means “the back”.

For starters, hiking backpacks tend to be made of durable, water-repellent nylon that’s woven in a ripstop pattern (meaning that if your rucksack snags on a boulder, the tear isn’t likely to ...