Rank #2 in Best Hiking Backpacks 2026: 10 Ranked, and Only Two Match Their Litres
Maelstrom 40L Hiking Backpack with Rain Cover
Price and rating as shown on Amazon when we collected them. Both change.
This is the Maelstrom 40L Hiking Backpack, second in our guide to hiking backpacks and the pricier of the two 40-litre packs in it at £37.99. The listing carries a 4.5 rating from 3,422 ratings, and in the ratings histogram shown on the page 75 of the first 100 are five stars.
The point of the guide is that a litre figure on a rucksack listing is a label, not a measurement. On this pack the label turns up twice — "40L" in the name and "40 Liters" in the storage volume field — and there is nothing to multiply out, because the listing's own bullets and spec fields give no length, width or height. That cuts both ways: we cannot show the 40 litres is wrong, and Maelstrom has not shown it is right. Where listings elsewhere in this guide do print dimensions, the sum has come out as low as 20.1 litres against a 70L name. Nothing on this page comes from our own testing; it is all read off the Amazon listing.
How those 3,422 ratings break down
An average hides its own shape. This is the spread behind the 4.5 stars.
Specification
Exactly as published on the Amazon listing, field for field.
| Price | £37.99 |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5 out of 5, from 3,422 ratings |
| Storage volume (as listed) | 40 Liters |
| External dimensions | Not given anywhere in the listing |
| Pockets (as listed) | 7 |
| Compartments (as listed) | 8 |
| Main material | Nylon, 210D rip-stop |
| Five-star ratings | 75 of the 100 in the histogram |
What buyers actually say
Quoted from customer reviews on Amazon
Verified purchase“Just received the bag and so far looks good, shoulder straps are very comfortable on the shoulders, loads of storage and surprisingly the bag is very light. I'm going to be using this for snowdon and it has all the storage compartment needed and more.● looks good.● good storage.● light weight● quality.● comfortable.● worth every penny.● zips are not to big.”
Verified purchase“Great backpack with loads of storage and its very comfortable. I just wish it had a bit more structure but I'm sure it will work perfectly when it's fully loaded.Can't fault it for the price.”
What it is up against
The rivals it was ranked against in Best Hiking Backpacks 2026: 10 Ranked, and Only Two Match Their Litres.
Questions people ask
How much does the Maelstrom 40L Hiking Backpack hold?
The name says 40L and the storage volume field says 40 Liters. Those are the only two capacity figures in the listing.
Does the listing give the pack's measurements?
No. The bullets and spec fields cover material, pockets, compartments and water resistance, but no length, width or height is printed, so the 40-litre figure cannot be checked by arithmetic.
How many pockets does the Maelstrom pack have?
The listing does not agree with itself. The spec fields say 7 pockets and 7 zippered compartments, while the bullet text names 1 top pocket, 3 front zipper pockets and 2 waist zipper pockets, then starts a list of two more before being cut off.
Is the Maelstrom 40L backpack waterproof?
The listing describes the 210D rip-stop nylon as water resistant, tear resistant and anti-scratch, and says a rain cover with a silver reflective logo is included.
What do buyers' ratings show?
4.5 out of 5 from 3,422 ratings, with 75 of the first 100 ratings in the histogram at five stars and 14 at four stars.
How much is it?
£37.99 as listed, which is more than the other 40-litre pack in this guide.
Comments
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