5 Best Ozark Trail Backpacks June 2024

Bring enough water for your trip or a way to purify water to make it safe to drink. Many of the creeks and streams look crystal clear, but it’s still smart to make sure any impurities are removed with pumps or tablets before drinking the water. For temporary closures related to weather, stewardship activities and maintenance, as well as temporary trail closures, click here to visit our Park and Site Status Map. We are committed to finding, researching, and recommending the best products. We earn commissions from purchases you make using the retail links in our product reviews. The Pelican also features a different pull handle than the Yeti and Ozark coolers as well.

ozark trail backpack

A higher price tag should mean a higher quality product, right? No, that is not always the case and any outdoorsmen, gear junkie, or general abuser of products will tell you the same thing. Every so often a brand will fly under the radar producing products that are not only a great value but also great quality as well. Overall, it could have been roomier, but the weight savings were attractive to me with only one spar instead of two. Furthermore, I didn’t plan on being in the tent other than during the nights, so a roomier but heavier 1-person tent wasn’t desirable.

Carrying concealed can be a tricky situation with some forms of work attire, and the last thing you want to do is draw attention to yourself. Luckily, the same innovative design features that can be used to protect electronics, can also offer a great carrying solution for your EDC handgun. The laptop pocket fits devices up to 15” and has a side access, so you reach your computer easier in crowded or limited-access situations.

The park offers the opportunity to enjoy a variety of recreational activities on the lake or on shore. Traffic flow will be restricted to one lane on the bridge over Lee Creek, due to maintenance. Temporary traffic lights have been installed to regulate the flow of vehicles and RVs. The Ozark Trail cooler is made from polyethylene, which is the most common kind of plastic in use today.

The four or six tent pegs hold the structure down but are crucial for the tent to stand by itself. The Ozark does need those pegs in the ground to be self-standing so setting up on rocks would be infeasible (at least without applying some clever tenting skills). Backpacking Light community posts are moderated and here to foster helpful and positive discussions about lightweight backpacking. Please be mindful of our values and boundaries and review our Community Guidelines prior to posting. While this pack won’t work for everyone, it’s a practical size for day trips, light travelers, and kids.

Water sources such as rivers and streams may only be available seasonally. Ozark Trail maps are a great resource to help identify places where you can access water. Bring a dedicated bear canister or hang a bear bag for all food and other aromatic items that ozark trail backpack might attract a bear’s attention. Enjoy the solitude of an undeveloped cove hidden along the shorelines of one of Missouri’s largest lakes. Swim, fish, boat or simply take in the view from a shady campsite or picnic area overlooking the Lake of the Ozarks.

I’m using my North facing deck as the staging area which receives direct sunlight at almost all hours of the day. I also placed  a small weather system on the deck rail to help get a sense of how hot surface temperatures are in the area. On one of the hottest days, the remote sensor reported temperatures exceeding 107 Degrees Fahrenheit while the air temp was in the high 80’s. My own personal beverage drama every summer has really pushed me to do this review. To me, worrying about the temperature of the drinks I have on my boat is the absolute last thing I want to be thinking about when I am heading out on the water. The bottom line is that hiking is great for families, and the more you get young kids on the trail, the better.