What is a good size hiking backpack?

What is the best backpack for hiking and camping.?

• My boyfriend and I are hiking a section of the Appalachian Trail in May and we wanted to buy new durable backpacks for the trip. The backpacks we bought a few months ago were not very good. The strap on mine has already started to tare. My boyfriends backpack is not long shaped so it moves all over his back which isn't good. We want our new backpacks to last for a long time, fit well, be big enough to go on hikes and camping trips for any length of time from a few days to a few weeks. My boyfriend is 6'3 and weighs 200 pounds. I am 5'7 and weigh 150 pounds. I don't know if that information will help any but I have read online there are different backpacks for gender/height and size of the person. We are willing to spend up to 220 dollars on each back pack. But the most expensive doesn't necessarily mean it's the best :) Any information would be helpful! thank you !

• Answer:

  GoLite Terrono, $99. I have a GoLite outlet store for fitting and assessment of the compartments. For short trips, I bought the Terrono 70 L, but you could go 65 L for yourself and 90 L for your mate. My satisfaction is based on comfort, but as importantly, intelligent pocket design and compartment lay-out for my purposes. I pack essential clothing changes in the top pocket. My sleeping bag packs into the lower chamber. Middle compartment is my Columbia Mobex daypack with essential gear as well as my Big Agnes Fly Creek UL-1 or MSR Hubba Hubba on the side. Front pocket is food and JetBoil. Side pockets are water filter and water bottle, with a second bottle on my shoulder strap for easy access.