WHAT IS A HIKING DAYPACK?

SIZING

Gender Specific Daypacks

Most backpack companies now design packs for men and women. The female built packs have harness systems that are built with a female figure in mind. This allows for greater comfort while wearing a pack for the whole day. Occasionally the same pack design is named something different for each gender, for example the Gregory Miwok 24 is designed for men, while the Gregory Maya 22 is basically the same pack but built for a female form. This is something to look out for while shopping for daypacks, to ensure you get the best fitting pack for your figure.

VENTILATION AND SUSPENSION

HYDRATION

STORAGE

The real excitement of the daypack is the number of pockets or ways you can organize it. Traditionally, there will be a “main compartment” with either a zipper, draw string, or roll-top closure system. Packs featuring zippered openings create a front-load/duffle bag style opening for easier access to your gear at the bottom of the pack. This zipper style can be found on the Kelty Redwing 32 or the Mystery Ranch Scree 32. The style of the opening system is a personal decision, though most packs today feature zippered closures. They are secure and fast compared to the roll-top style, which are extremely secure but require extra time to open and close when you need to access the interior of the pack. 

Other pocket types and styles to consider are: side water bottle pockets, hip belt pockets, top stash pockets, or stretch mesh exterior pockets like those found on the Patagonia Nine Trails 28. Pockets are highly personal. If you are a minimalist and only want a few pockets or someone who craves maximum organization and is looking for a separate pocket for their lip balm, there will be a pack for you. The trade-off of bells and whistles is the weight. The more zippers, clips, layers of interior fabric to divide the pack, the heavier the pack will be. Again, if you are not going for the fastest-known-time on the Great Divide Trail, the additional weight will be worth having the extra snack pocket. 

HOW WE JUDGED

Judging a pack for single-day adventures is very personal. The varieties are endless and every company is trying new ways to differentiate and create the perfect pack. It is important to try on the packs⁠ if you can⁠—before you buy. Go to your local outdoor store, such as REI, which will have a large selection of brands and pack styles. Buying from an online retailer that allows free returns, like Backcountry.com, if you’re unable to get to a store to try on packs will help as well. It will take a bit more time, but this will ensure that you end up with the right pack for your adventures and body!

Finally, we looked at weight and durability. Though this one is not as important as the previous three, it is good to know if your daypack will be long-lasting and reliable over many, many uses. While weight is another factor to take into account, we typically recommend the more comfortable packs over those that sacrifice comfort for weight savings.

Best Hiking Daypack 2020

Other Hiking  Daypacks

Osprey Talon 22

Mystery Ranch Scree 32

Patagonia Nine Trails 28

Deuter Speed Lite 24

Best Overall Daypack

The Deuter Speed Lite 24 came in as our daypack of the year for many reasons. Compared to the older Speed Lite 20, it is a major improvement and includes several additional accessories. The Speed Lite 24 has a well-constructed harness system with a V-shaped back panel to really balance the weight of the pack onto the center of the user. The variety of gear loops on the exterior and price helped the pack earn our pick as the Best Daypack of 2021. 

^ Back to Top ^

Osprey Stratos 24

Most Comfortable Daypack

The Osprey Stratos 24 is without question one of the more comfortable daypacks on the market, thanks to its stretch mesh suspension system, which creates support and excellent ventilation. There are excellent storage pockets and small accessories that help the Stratos stand out. The price is a bit high for a smaller pack. However, the comfort and lifetime guarantee offered by Osprey makes this a pack that you will be using for the rest of your life. While the Osprey Stratos 24 is a male designed pack, the Osprey Sirrus 24 is the female design of the same pack. It’s equally as comfortable. The Sirrus utilizes a shoulder strap and hip belt system designed to fit females better. That’s why the Osprey Stratos is our Most Comfortable Daypack.

^ Back to Top ^

Kelty Redwing 32

Best Pack for the Highly Organized

The Kelty Redwing 32 is a minimalist’s nightmare. That being said, for hikers who love organization and being able to have an area for everything on their gear list, it is perfect. The price of the Redwing is also impressive for what the pack offers. The padding on the shoulder straps and back panel is comfortable but may not breathe as well as other packs on the list. This pack is a workhorse and will keep you very well organized if you remember where everything went. With all of the pockets and the extremely reasonable price, the Kelty Redwing earned our Best Daypack for the Highly Organized designation. 

^ Back to Top ^

Gregory Miwok 24

Runner Up for Best Daypack

The Gregory Miwok has been a great pack for years and every new iteration unveils some new technology. The Miwok is minimalist and built well. There are smart pockets, and the harness system has been built to breathe and move well with the user. There is no solid frame in the pack, which does cause problems with the pack when it is set down. A few great additions help the pack stand out, such as the glasses holder and plastic hydration hose holder on the shoulder straps. The Gregory Miwok 24 is also offered in a female specific variant as the Gregory Maya 22. Overall, the Gregory Miwok is our pick for Runner Up for Best Daypack.

^ Back to Top ^

Camelbak Fourteener 26

Best Hydration Daypack

The Camelbak Fourteener 26 is one of the most innovative daypacks on the list. Camelbak has added dual wing hip belts to the Fourteener. This design serves multiple purposes by creating support with the inner belt while the outer belt wraps around the pack creating compression. The outer hip belt also includes additional storage. With an included hydration reservoir and extra space for even more water if needed, the Fourteener is our Best Hydration Daypack. Unfortunately, the weight and bulky design are areas that need improvement for this Camelbak pack to become a true contender, especially for its price. 

^ Back to Top ^

REI Co-op Flash 22

Best Budget Daypack

^ Back to Top ^

Osprey Talon 22

^ Back to Top ^

Mystery Ranch Scree 32

The Mystery Ranch Scree 32 is one of the larger packs on the list, making it one of the heaviest too. It has a great opening to the main compartment, which allows the backpack to be opened either via top-loading or through a duffel bag style opening along the front. There are also internal pockets that help create storage in the main compartment. For the unique style and zipper design, it did miss an opportunity for external storage pockets. All in all, the pack is very well built, but we felt the Kelty Redwing 32 offered similar performance at a lower price point. 

^ Back to Top ^

Patagonia Nine Trails 28

The Nine Trails 28 is Patagonia’s larger hiking daypack. It is made in the way that stands true with their brand: simple, well built, and effective. Made with soft and durable nylon and a well-constructed hip belt, the Nine Trails 28 easily moves with your body as you move through the backcountry. The stretch mesh pocket and large main compartment opening allow great gear access. Where the pack does miss the mark is the lack of trekking pole accessories. It is also on the more expensive side of the price bracket⁠—though Patagonia is one of the most environmentally-friendly gear companies on the planet and they stand by their gear for life. For many, this makes the brand worth the premium that it commands.

^ Back to Top ^