10 Best Hiking Daypacks Rated and Reviewed 2023

If you are a hiker, you may already know the importance of having a daypack when you hit the trails for a hiking trip. Not only for hiking but for any outdoor trip or a bike ride, you need to have a proper quality daypack.

When you buy the right daypack for your hiking or other outdoor trips, you won’t have to worry about purchasing another daypack for several years. There are quality daypacks for hiking and other activities available in the market. 

Best Overall Hiking Daypack

(TotalHiker’s #1 Choice)

• Highly durable
• High quality fabric
• Versatile
• Breathable mesh

Best Hiking Daypacks- 10 Daypacks Reviewed

When hiking you may have to store different types of materials and gears within your daypack. A good daypack will accommodate all the essential hiking gear comfortably.

There are countless models that offer easy access to water and storage space for all the items you need to carry.

The normal stuff that is kept inside your hiking daypack is water, food, first aid kit, headlamp, and few other commonly used hiking accessories.

However, the models available in the market when you shop for a daypack online can confuse you as you can find a plethora of options. And some made a mistake in choosing the wrong products as they don’t know the differences between daypack and backpack.

That’s the reason we decided to create this buying guide on the best hiking daypacks. Using this guide you will be able to select the best daypack without any confusion.

Osprey Packs Talon 22 Men’s Hiking Backpack

It is the best hiking daypack for men, which is perfect for all adventures. It delivers extraordinary comfort to you. Its hip belt, padded shoulder straps, and ventilated back panels are what keep you comfortable. It has a lot of compartments in which you can store things, making it easier for you to bring your supplies.

It is one of the more comfortable daypacks that we’ve tested. It is guaranteed to give more convenience compared to the other models.

It comes with a helmet attachment, so you don’t have to store your helmet inside the bag. It includes a Stow-On-The-Go trekking pole attachment system, lid lock helmet attachment, ice-tool attachment, and, LED light attachment, and is very straightforward to use.

Its flexible and curved back panel is attached with Airscape design which helps to keep your back cool. This Airscape back panel is made of mesh-covered foam which promotes breathability. The main part of this daypack is a double zipper that keeps all your equipment and supplies secured inside.

This product can carry almost 15 pounds of weight. The weight of this product is 624g, which is quite a bit heavier, part of It because of its hydration pack. It is available in different eye-catching colors, allowing you to choose your preference.

This daypack isn’t made out of water-resistant materials, so it is not perfect for rainy climates.

Deuter Speed Lite 20 Athletic Daypack

The capacity of this daypack is 20 litters that are more than enough amount of stuff you can put into it. The impressive strap part of this daypack is used to store hiking poles. It also has four gear attachment, which is used to store helmet, ropes, etc. It has a more spacious main compartment so you can store everything you need.

It has a unique ‘V’ shape design which helps to spread its weight equally.  It helps you to move quickly without applying a considerable amount of effort in carrying your pack. It is compatible with any hydration packs, and you can also remove the Delrin thermoplastic frame in the back panel of this backpack. So it is very simple to fold like a ball and can store in your large bag.

It has one unique feature. You can easily fold this backpack by removing the Delrin thermoplastic frame. It is one of the best foldable hiking daypacks.

It is made of 210 D nylon and 70D nylon which increases the life of the daypack and ensures the durability of the daypack. Its mesh side pockets deliver enough space to store a water bottle, or a flask securely. Allowing you to store your water bottle safely during hikes.

The front stretch pocket of this backpack is can also be used to store the things which you require most. It is the perfect place to store snack items, maps, etc. It has one zippered pocket on top of the backpack and a water bladder pocket inside.

The breathable mesh padding of this daypack gives average ventilation.  It is not the perfect choice for who sweats a lot.

Osprey Packs Stratos 36 Men’s Hiking Backpack

This daypack comes with a pre-curved hip belt, ventilated back panel, and a customizable shoulder strap. You can easily adjust this strap to your convenience. You can easily carry up to 30 pounds of weight by using this daypack. It includes a sleeping bag part, a rain cover, and a hydration cover.

The notable feature of this day back is airspeed design. It is a curved design that holds the pack aside from your back. So you don’t have to worry about the sweating problem as It is highly breathable.

It is one of the most breathable day packs, that is available on today’s market. Its shoulder straps are also breathable. It is an ideal choice for those who sweat a lot during a hike.

If you are planning to go hiking with a lot of things, you can choose these Osprey Packs Stratos daypacks. Its 36 l capacity is enough to take more things. It comes with 7 outside pockets, which are perfect to store smartphones, small size GPS, and some little things. So you don’t have to sacrifice to take anything on your hiking.

CamelBak Fourteener 24 Hydration Pack

The fourteener 24L includes a two-tier hip belt, which perfectly fits when compared to the other models. It gives a secure and comfortable hug to you. The notable feature of this daypack is the lumbar pad. It creates a deep air into your back and helps to dry your sweat quickly. It is attached with the flexible panel so you can easily adjust the snug of it on your back and hips.

It comes with a hydration system. It has a small water bottle pocket on one side and two mesh pockets on another side. It has a spacious compartment, so you can stuff many things while you’re going hiking. Its crux bladder gives 20 percent of water per sip. This bladder is attached with an ergonomic handle and has a wide opening for cleaning and refilling the water.

It has two horizontal padded sections, which offers great ventilation to your back.  So you don’t have to worry about sweating problems.

It includes two clam-shell pockets to store the hydration reservoir, clothing, and other things. It holds a 100 oz CamelBak Crux Reservoir, which is used to prevent unexpected leaks. It also has one fleece pocket lined pocket. It is located on the top of the backpack, which is an ideal choice to keep your sunglasses. These pockets are very secure and easy to use one-handed.

It has only one side hip belt. Another side is empty it is the major drawback of this daypack.

Osprey Packs Tempest 20 Women’s Hiking Backpack

It holds up to 20 l amount of weights. It made of durable ripstop nylon fabric which gives the perfect ventilation to your back so you can feel comfortable while you’re going hiking. It has two side pockets that are stretch mesh and harness slash pockets. Its lumbar hip belt holds your hip securely and gives a comfortable ride. It also includes the Airscape panel which is a perfect breathable fit.

These backpacks are available in 3 sizes that are, small/medium, small and extra small. The small and extra small size backpack holds 18 l amount of weight whereas the small/ medium-sized backpack carries 20 l amount of weight.

Are you planning for a small period of hiking? Then the Osprey Tempest 20 daypack is definitely the one for you.

It offers a variety of colors such as mystic magenta, black, Irish blue, and Lucent green, so you don’t have to sacrifice your color preference. The price of this backpack is not inexpensive, but it is value for your money.

The Tempest 20 having many compartments to stuff your things. You can also use it for short hiking, commute, mountain trip, etc. This backpack is very light, and can easily be carried out anywhere when compared to the other models.

The Osprey Tempest 20 Backpack has one major drawback. It does not include the hydration bladder. You should buy it separately. Other than that, it is one of the best models on our list.

CamelBak M.U.L.E. Hydration Pack, 100oz

The crux reservoir provides 20 percent of water per sip. It comes with an ergonomic handle so you can easily refill the water. It is extremely lightweight but can hold up to 3 liters of water. It also has air channels in the back panel that keeps you cool, helmet hooks that help to carry your helmet, and many compartments for store tools, keys, etc.

The notable feature of this Camelbak M.U.L.E Backpack is a magnetic tube trap.  It helps to protect your drinking tube secure and available when you want it.

The back is padded with segmented channels which deliver perfect airflow and keep your back cool.

It has one zipper pocket which is located on the top of the backpack. It is the perfect place to store your mobile phone, glasses, etc. These pockets don’t have lining or padding.

it is attached with a waist belt which gives you great comfort and support. You can adjust both sides of the belt at your convenience. It provides high comfort for the user when compared to the other models. It also has a large storage capacity and exterior pouch.

It doesn’t have any mesh pockets for extra water bottles, but this backpack doesn’t require them. It gives enough space to stuff more things.

Osprey Packs Daylite Plus Daypack

The capacity of this Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack is 20 liters. It is the ideal amount of space for a day hike.  It has more spare space to store various items that you may need on the trip. It also allows you to easily stuff your snacks, water, keys, mobile phones, etc. Its adjustable hip belt and chest straps ensure the security of the pack. It comes with spacer mesh shoulder straps, which gives more comfort to your back.

It has a multi-function interior sleeve that is used to store a reservoir or tablet. It has many small compartments to stuff small gears.   

It is highly durable, gives more comfort, and is capable of storing many of your items. It comes with a number of pockets, the zippered mesh pocket used to put small size gears like keys. Then the open stash pocket for you to store your jacket. You may keep the items that you frequently use in the small front zip pocket. The two side mesh pockets are the perfect choice to store your water bottle.

The mesh-covered back panel of this backpack has slotted foam which offers extraordinary ventilation and breathability. It keeps your back cool, so you don’t have to worry about sweat while you are going hiking.

The shoulder straps are adjustable, but it quite uncomfortable to wear.

Osprey Packs Stratos 34 Men’s Hiking Backpack

It comes in two sizes that are small/medium and medium/ large. It is available in four different colors that are orange, green, black graphite, and blue. The sternum strap of this backpack is also customizable, so you can adjust the settings as you see fit. And it is also equipped with an emergency whistle.

It has an airspeed system on the back of the pack. The hip belt of this pack is well padded with foam and mesh.  It has small zippered pockets to store small items such as keys, and any other small items which are located on the top of the pack. Another zippered pocket located on the backside of the pack which is attached with a key clip and one stretch pocket for water bottle storage.

It integrated with a rain cover, so you could put it around your backpack while the rain comes.

In the upper part, it has an ice ax attachment loop. You can use it to store the trekking poles. It has a bottom compartment attached with a loop zipper on its lower part. It includes one divider within the main and bottom compartments.  You can also remove the divider and make it one big compartment if you desire so.

Osprey Packs Stratos 34 men’s hiking backpack comes with only one attachment loop. This is the major drawback of this daypack. Other model backpacks are having more than two attachment loops. 

Kelty Redwing 32 Backpack

The Kelty Redwing 32 backpack has a number of pockets that help to store everything you need. It includes the large U shape zipper in the main compartment. You can easily access, and place water bottles, or other essential things in the small compartments. Its rigid back panel provides excellent care, and its mesh on the back gives perfect ventilation. making it an ideal choice for hiking, traveling, and jamming.

It is made from the 420D polyester and 150D Tasser coal high-quality water-resistant material. It protects your gear from the water, so you don’t have to worry about your things if you are stuck in heavy rain. It is small but works well.

The back panel of this daypack attached with an HDPE support system which is lightweight and gives a better amount of comfort to your back. 

It has small pockets on both sides, which are used to fit a backpacking pillow or outdoor jacket. It also has stretch mesh pockets on both sides. You can use it for storing the water bottles. And the side pocket of this daypack allows you to store the trekking poles.

In front of the daypack, it has a zippered pocket that can be divided into a group of smaller pockets. These smaller pockets can be used to stuff pens, a phone, keys, and any other smaller items. The notable feature of this daypack is a grab handle. It attached with two smaller daisy-chained attachment points which are located on the front of the pack. The handle is used to take the pack easily, and the attachment points work well to strap anything.

It doesn’t have bottom storage compartments, but it’s not a big deal. For that, it has many compartments on its front.

Deuter Trail Pro 30 Backpack

It has a separate bottom compartment with a zippered divider and the compression straps used to hold your gears. Its air contact Trail Pro system offers excellent ventilation to your back. The breathable padding made from the open cell hollow chamber foam and a stretchy elastic spring iron frame helps to dry your sweat quickly.

The’S’ shaped shoulder hardness automatically adjusts the edges as per the user convenience. The pull forward hip belt can comfortably surround your hip. This hip belt has a dual-zippered pocket.

The exterior loop of this pack allows you to attach ice tools, trekking poles, and any other tools.

It has one notable feature that is the buckled lid.  It allows top access to the pack and has a large zippered opening in front of the pack, which provides the facility to put hands on gears or equipment without opening the lid.  It also attached with trekking pole loops, carabiner loops on the shoulder straps, and a rain cover.

The Deuter Trail Pro 30 Backpack doesn’t have many pockets to stuff small things such as key, chocolates, earphone, etc.

Hiking Daypacks: Which is Right for You?

Hiking daypacks have a variety of functional differences and perfect for outdoor activities that involved carrying more than the pockets will hold.

When it comes to packing the hiking daypacks it is essential to pack the heaviest items of kit at the very bottom, which is not only needed to help avoid damaging or squashing other items but also helps to stabilize the load.

What do you want from a hiking daypack?

A daypack should always be easy to shut so avoid overloading.

• Load-stabilizing compression straps are a must-have feature for the long hike and help to distribute weight equally for better comfort and balance.
• Ventilated panels in the rear of the pack help to minimize sweat build-up by improving the circulation of cool air.
• Multiple compartments and sides for ease in organizing the hiking supplies. Side or top pockets are great for giving quick access to regularly used items. Plus, extra straps or storage spaces are needed to hold large items like trekking poles.

Top loader vs. Panel loader

Hiking daypacks are designed with a choice of openings: top loader and panel loader.

Paneled daypacks are appreciated for ease in opening and packing with a zip opening. Top loaders are styled with a duffle-like drawstring opening and more difficult to gain access to supplies, but gives more all-round space for the fact it is possible to extend the height.

The wide opening of the panel-loading packs means it is easy to find hiking supplies without difficulty. Plus, this daypack is the easier of the two to properly organize the load.

A positive of the top loader is the slightly lighter design and ability to stretch and overpack the bag when needed.

Plus, the top loader has a better design and profile for stabilizing the load and comes with side compression straps.

But, this hiking daypack isn’t so efficient when it comes to sorting the load and locating equipment that might be at the bottom.

Get the right size daypacks

A preferred size for the hiking daypacks is in the region of 1850 cubic inches or 30 liters. This is certain to give enough space to easily accept the must-have items of equipment to stay safe on the trails.

Daypack size differs with the planned use. A simple pack for the trail-running can be acceptable at 600 cubic inches or 10 liters.

But, if an adult is hauling extra for young members of the party it helps to have more storage space and a capacity of at least 40 liters.

Match the daypack to the activity

• A hiking daypack is likely to provide the following features:
• Space to accept enough hiking supplies for the entire duration of the hike – this might vary, but in general a 30 liter pack is more than adequate for most day-hikes.
• An ability to easily slide in a hydration pack or bladder to make it easy to stay hydrated on the trails.
• Side pockets for ease in storing the regular used items
• Multiple compartments for ease in organizing the loose items of gear

Things to Consider before you going to buy a new daypack for hiking

We’ve seen the top best hiking daypack, which is available in today’s market. Here we’ve given some tips to buy a new hiking daypack. You should consider these things before going to purchase.

Capacity

The first thing to consider before you go purchasing a new hiking daypack is capacity. Basically, most of the daypack capacity starts from 10 to 30 L. We refer 20 to 30 L capacity daypacks for you. If it offers enough space to store your gear, then it is the perfect choice for a long hike.

If you are planning to a day hike, you can choose the 10 L daypack. 11 to 20 L daypacks are perfect suits for long day hiking. And 36 to 50 L daypacks are used to stuff many things like food, dress, water, snacks, etc. You can choose any daypacks depending on your preference.

Frames

Daypacks come with two frames that are the internal frame or a lightweight frame. It is made of plastic or metal which gives extra support to the pack. These frames make the pack heavier. So you can stuff heavy load into the pack. Most of the daypack has an internal frame. If you want a lightweight and compact pack, then the frameless packs are the best choice. But it doesn’t support a heavy load.

Ventilation

Nowadays, most of the daypacks have ventilation on the back panel. These mesh or foam back panels deliver the perfect amount of ventilation. The air passes between your back and the pack itself, which helps to protect your gear from sweat. So you don’t have to worry about the sweating problem. Some of the daypacks have a poor ventilation system, so it is necessary to choose it perfectly.

Comfort and Weight

Comfort is an essential thing while we are considering the hiking daypack. If you are going for a long day hike, then you should carry a lot of things. If the bag is uncomfortable, you can’t enjoy the full feel of the hike.

If you are ready to go hiking, then weight is an essential factor. For a day hike, your packing load is significantly lighter when compared to the long day hiking. So you can choose the daypack in 5 lb amount of weight.

Hip belt and Strap

The hip belt helps carry the weight of the daypack from the shoulder to hip. It also helps increase the life of the daypack, while the straps help keep the pack in place. Its located on the shoulder which joins from the top to the frame. It is customizable, so you can adjust the strap for your convenience.

There are two types of straps used in daypacks, the Load Lifter Straps and Sternum Strap. Most of the large sizes daypacks have load lifter straps that help to prevent the top part of the pack from stretching away from your body.

Pockets

Another essential feature is the pocket. Modern daypacks have space to store hydration reservoirs. It is a hydration bladder that is used to fill water. It doesn’t add any extra weight to your body. All the daypack has a side pocket to store the water bottle. The daypack has one large main compartment and zippered pockets. On the outside, there are some small stashing pockets which easy to access. And the two zippered pockets are located on the hip belt. It is used to store small things such as keys, snacks, etc.

Hydration compatible

Water bottles and hydration bladders are essential things while you’re going hiking. Most of the daypacks are attached with hydration port and reservoir pockets to store the water bottle. So you can check a daypack if its hydration is compatible or not. If you are not using a hydration bladder, then the water bottle pockets are necessary. Some of the daypack models don’t have any water bottle pocket. You can check it also.

Waterproof

It is also an essential factor. Some of the daypacks come with rain cover. This cover doesn’t give full protection to the pack. So you should choose a waterproof daypack. It will protect your gear through heavy rain.

Reliability and Stability

One factor that should be considered is the lifespan of a daypack. So the durability also an essential thing while taking a daypack.  Most of the branded daypacks have polyurethane coating, which is highly durable and waterproof. Many daypacks come with aluminum x-back frames, which give you a more comfortable hiking experience.

You need to keep in mind these things before purchasing your daypacks. You got the daypack with the above features it will be last for a long day.These things to keep in your mind before you go to purchase. You got the daypack with the above features it will be last for a long day.

Final Verdict

There are a lot of brands available in today’s market. Each one is different in its way. Some of the daypacks are waterproof; some models come with rain cover. Few models have a lot of pockets to store your gears. And other models offer a large compartment to stuff dress, jacket, etc.

You should choose the daypacks depending on your lifestyle and what your hiking plans are. If you are going on a day hike, then you may choose small-size daypacks. Osprey Packs Tempest 20 Women’s Hiking Backpack is an ideal choice for a day hike or overnight hiking. Otherwise, you can also choose the CamelBak Fourteener 24 Hydration Pack for a long day hike. It has a large storage compartment.

Hope so this article was helpful to choose the right hiking daypacks.As per our review, you can pick one without any confusion.

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU PURCHASE ANY PRODUCTS IN THIS POST, WE MAY RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION. WE PROMOTE ONLY THE PRODUCTS WHICH WE TEST AND RECOMMEND. READ OUR AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER HERE.