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Our trailblazing professionals have purchased and tested over 70 of the best daypacks in the past decade, presenting 13 of this year's finest models in our most recent comparative analysis. We're here to help you find the best pack for your needs, with a comprehensive size-up of each option based on the metrics of comfort, versatility, ease of use, weight-to-volume ratio, and construction quality. Our testers have collectively trekked hundreds of miles across urban jungles and rugged mountains with these daypacks to ensure no stone is left unturned. Keep reading to find your next daypack, whether shopping for an all-arounder bag or an option for work commutes.
Editor's Note: We updated our daypack review on November 14, 2024, to include new models to our lineup, retest old models to gain new insights and comparisons, and update our testing methods to be even more insightful.
Contoured plastic sheet with a removeable rod, foam outer with ventilation
Perforated CLPE foam
Vented, foam pad
Mesh over vented foam
BD.dry vapor barrier back panel
Suspended mesh panel
Hydration Compatibility
Internal sleeve that can be used for hydration, but no pathway for the hose
Internal sleeve that can be used for hydration, but no pathway for the hose
Interal hydration sleeve, holds up to 3L
Independent hydration sleeve with its own zippered compartment
Internal hydration sleeve
Internally accessed sleeve, holds up to 3L, bladder not included
2 soft flask pockets, flasks not included
Internal hydration sleeve
Hip Belt
None
None
Broad, padded, with pockets
3/4" webbing
3/4" webbing, removeable
3/4" webbing, removable
None
Broad, padded, seamless
Number of Pockets
5
5
6
5
4
6
9
10
Description of Pockets
1 main zippered, 1 internal mesh zippered, 1 exterior side zippered, 2 mesh side pockets
1 main zippered, 2 external zippered, 2 mesh side pocketed
1 zippered outside pocket, 1 main zippered, 1 small inside pocket, 2 mesh side pockets, 1 hip belt pocket
2 main zippered, 1 external zippered, 2 mesh side pockets
1 main zippered, 1 top accessed exterior zippered, 1 exterior unzippered, 2 mesh side pockets
2 stretchy mesh side, 1 interior padded laptop sleeve, 1 back zippered with internal mesh dividers and key clip, 1 back expandable waterbottle, 1 back zippered.
1 main zippered, 1 zip and 2 stretch pockets on the shoulder straps; 2 side stash pockets; 2 soft flask pockets (flasks not included); 1 internal zip pocket with key clip
1 main zippered, 2 elastic top mesh side, 2 waist belt zippered, 1 back zipper and velcro closure, 2 top zippered, 1 bottom zippered, 1 bottom zippered for rain cover
Externally accessed sleeve, holds up to 3L, bladder not included
The Osprey Talon 22 is an excellent, all-arounder daypack that can handle a variety of activities and pack weights. Osprey has long been a leader in the backpack world, and the Talon furthers this reputation with a suspension that offers support without sacrificing mobility. Our gear experts loved the adjustability of this pack, with the ability to adjust the torso size to get the fit just right. The padded hip belt is comfy, allowed us to carry more weight, and didn't even restrain our hiking or scrambling. The features of the Talon 22 are also bountiful, with a helmet attachment and several additional points to connect an ice axe, trekking pole, or anything else you can fit on a 22-liter pack.
The Talon 22 has a poor weight-to-volume ratio, making it less ideal if weight is a priority. Fortunately, this pack boasts excellent durability and many daypack users won't be counting ounces, but if you are seeking something lighter, the REI Co-op Flash 22 is worthy of your consideration. Depending on your water bottle size, the exterior side pockets of the Talon 22 may be too small, causing you to either put your bottles inside, purchase new bottles, or utilize a water bladder. While most backpacks use an interior water bladder compartment, this option uses an exterior slot, which was less preferred by our testers due to protectivity concerns in rugged terrain. Additionally, the load lifter straps, when cinched down, cause some squeezing of the bladder. Besides these few nit-picky details, the Osprey Talon 22 is well worth your hard-earned cash if you're seeking a highly capable option for one-day adventures.
The REI Co-op Flash 22 is a lightweight daypack that offers mobility at a budget-minded price point. While most pack designs have to sacrifice comfort to be mobile, this option offers freedom of movement and carries very well, as long as the loads are lighter. The thoughtfully designed features were useful and simple to utilize, from the exterior attachment loops to the minimalist brain. Our testers have owned some version of a Flash daypack for over a decade, and this latest update convinced us that this line from REI will be an industry mainstay for budget, lightweight daypacks.
The Flash 22 isn't the most durable, with a thin nylon construction that's quick to abraid, especially in mountainous environments. If you're seeking a more durable option on the lighter side, take a look at the Gregory Nano 18, which is made with more robust fabrics. The Flash also doesn't handle heavier loads well, with only a foam pad offering back support. If you're seeking a pack that leans even further into minimalism, take a look at the Black Diamond Distance 15, which offers incredible mobility at a very low weight. At the end of the day, the REI Flash 22 is an exceptional budget pack for outings where weight and mobility are the biggest priorities.
The REI Trail 25 can be seamlessly worn from the office to the mountain trail, thanks to its spacious dimensions and effective features. Throughout testing, we could easily fit our hiking gear or office electronics into the main compartment of the Trail 25, with additional pockets offering excellent organization regardless of the day's needs. While we'd still recommend you use a laptop case inside this bag, it does include a rain cover if you encounter precipitation. REI also generously reinforced the nylon materials of this model, boasting roadworthy durability. The built-in plastic board suspension and well-padded back also gifted excellent comfort.
The REI Trail 25 doesn't offer a great weight-to-volume ratio, weighing 30.9 ounces yet only offering approximately 25 liters of space. Fortunately, we found the weight to be a minor consideration for the day trips this pack is best for. While the generous back padding was comfortable, it came at the cost of reduced breathability, particularly on warm days. The removable yet thin hip straps also make this pack less ideal for heavier loads, but options like the Decathlon Quechua MH100 offer excellent support and improved weight-carrying capabilities. If you're looking for another commuter bag, the Osprey Daylite Plus is worth looking into, with a designated and padded laptop sleeve. Despite a few setbacks, the REI Trail 25 is an excellent daypack if you're seeking an option that's equally at home on a commute or day hike.
Internal sleeve that can be used for hydration, but no pathway for the hose
The Venture Pal 35L is a featherweight daypack that's one of the least expensive options available today. With approximately 35 liters of volume, this pack fits layers and many hiking or traveling items without breaking a sweat, making it ideal for a trail or plane ride. The Venture Pal also folds into its own pocket, offering unique packability when it isn't needed. We also appreciated the colors offered, allowing you to decide whether you want your pack to stand out or blend in.
The Venture Pal 35L doesn't have a hip belt or back suspension, making it less ideal for heavier loads. Fortunately, many shoppers intending to use their daypacks for bulky items like clothes are less likely to max out the carrying capacity. The Venture Pal doesn't offer much in terms of durability, so if that's a priority, we'd recommend options like the Osprey Talon 22, though it's not nearly as lightweight. At the end of the day, the penny-priced Venture Pal is worthy of consideration if you're on a strict budget and aren't anticipating heavy loads.
Internal hydration sleeve, hook and loop attachment point
Within the world of daypacks, the REI Co-op Traverse 32 sets a high bar in functionality and weight carrying capacity. In testing, we loved the suspension and generous cushion in the hips, shoulders, and back, causing us to give this pack top marks in comfort. The features onboard the Traverse 32 were also incredibly useful, from the exterior attachment straps to the quick-access brain. Whether carrying just the ten essentials on a brief outing or a full winter mountaineering gear set, the outcome is a comfortable, stable carry. If you're looking for an option that can handle the shortest and longest day trips, no matter the weight, keep this daypack on your finals list.
The REI Traverse 32 wasn't the most mobile of packs during testing, which wasn't surprising when considering its robust frame construction. For approaching climbs, hiking, or backpacking, this pack's rigidity wasn't an issue, but if one is planning to scramble or climb with their backpack, consider the lighter REI siblings of the Traverse. These include the midsized REI Co-op Trail 25 or the lighter REI Co-Op Flash 22, which offer decent mobility but can't handle heavier loads. Also, the sternum strap of the Traverse 32 fell off during testing, which is a common complaint among REI packs. While we didn't experience this with other REI packs during this update, it's worth grabbing a backup strap at the store. Lastly, this isn't the lightest pack out there, so if weight is a priority, we'd steer you elsewhere. Besides a few considerations, this is an excellent pack if you're seeking a versatile, heartily built daypack for many types of outings.
The Traverse 32 offers many useable features and additional storage space.
Credit: Zach Lovell
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We pushed every pack to perform for several months in many different environments.
Credit: Zach Lovell
How We Test Daypacks
After extensive market research, we bought the top options available today. We spent several weeks with each daypack in a variety of environments, from concrete sprawls in the city to rugged mountain ranges. We pushed each model as hard as we could on hikes, climbs, work commutes, fishing trips, and backpacking adventures to unearth the best and worst attributes of each pack. We also performed more objective testing with hose and weighted drag tests to size up weather resistance and durability. To learn more about our testing process, check out our in-depth testing article.
Each daypack was scored across five rating metrics:
Comfort (25% of total score weighting)
Versatility (25% weighting)
Ease of Use (25% weighting)
Weight (15% weighting)
Durability (10% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
IFMGA Mountain Guide Zach Lovell and outdoors guide Jacob Clark lead our team of daypack testers. Zach has been using daypacks for over two decades from North America to Europe to Asia and considers this type of bag an essential part of any outdoor kit. An ex-chemist turned outdoor guide, Jacob devotes most of his free time to the Los Padres Nation Forest behind Santa Barbara or more extensive exploits in the Eastern and Western Sierra. As a passionate trail runner and fast packer, he understands how traversing varied terrain in changing conditions demands a well-planned approach to gear. He often modifies packs to fit the precise needs of a specific adventure.
Dan Scott is a Ph.D. scientist who studies how rivers shape landscapes. He spends much of his time exploring and contemplating these landscapes worldwide, using his recreational abilities to navigate rivers, canyons, cliffs, and wildernesses through the use of ropes, kayaks, skis, and his own two feet. Transporting rock samples, carrying survey equipment, and enjoying the mountains, Dan employs and tests daypacks year-round in every imaginable situation.
Trevor Everts, hailing originally from the Northeast U.S., has spent many days among the region's stunning mountains and lakes. As a U.S. Marine, he has traveled globally and has logged many adventures in various climates and terrains.
The new wider hip belt on the REI Flash 22 conforms well around the hips, holding the pack close to your body.
Credit: Jacob Clark
How to Choose The Best Daypack
To help narrow down your next daypack, we answer some common questions below. This is a summation of our complete daypack buying advice article.
What Activities Do You Participate In?
First, it's a good idea to identify your typical activities and what kind of bag, or bags, you really need. Some daypacks are great for specific activities such as hiking, running, or commuting, while others provide more versatility across the board. The backpack's design priorities will influence the weight, shape, and compartment layout. If you plan on using your daypack for hiking to the local climbing crag, it's worth looking at bags meant to support weight loads and offer adequate suspension. But if you just need a simple, lightweight bag for commuting to work or the gym, a frameless bag with only the essential components will fit the bill. We always recommend investigating the bag and travel luggage quiver that you already own to determine the gaps in your gear.
It's crucial to size up your intended uses of your daypack, whether for work commutes or climbs.
Credit: Zach Lovell
What Capacity Works Best?
Capacity is typically dictated by the activity and the gear needs of that activity. However, it can be challenging to determine the exact volume you'll need for every kind of day, so we suggest erring on the side of going slightly larger rather than smaller if you're less sure about the daypack size you need. Packs under the 20-liter range are ideal for lightweight adventures with minimal gear, and while they're commonly used for shorter length days, some choose an option in this size range for larger outings when they're prioritizing low weight and high mobility. Options in the 20-25 liter range are excellent for multiple activities and various lengths of day, allowing one to use the same pack for a hiking adventure or traveling. Daypacks 30 liters or larger are likely best for activities involving more gear, heavier loads, and/or bigger days. These daypacks commonly offer more back support for those anticipated loads, though the pack itself often weighs more than its smaller volume siblings.
The dimensions of a bag will frequently impact how large a pack actually feels. We investigated the capacity of every option tested.
Credit: Zach Lovell
What to Look For in a Comfortable Pack
Finding a comfortable, properly fitting backpack will facilitate carrying, help avoid strain and aches, and ideally, result in less complaining. Key characteristics of a comfortable backpack should include a well-fitting frame or pack size, adjustability, back support for heavier loads, and breathability. When shopping for a pack, feel the padding, analyze the ventilation system on the back, and look for straps that adjust vertically and horizontally, ideally in multiple spots. Taking the time to account for features that make up a well-fitting pack can go a long way in finding your ideal backpack.
Some shoppers will need a pack that can handle more weight. This typically is found in designs that offer more robust support.
Credit: Zach Lovell
How Important Are Features?
Packs with useful features such as hydration reservoirs, bottle pouches, and tool loops can be especially handy on the trail or road. For those who own a water bladder, it can be especially important to find a compatible backpack, while folks who prefer water bottles will want to find a bag with the proper bottle pocket. Prioritizing your needs and pocket preferences will help steer you in the right direction toward choosing the most compatible backpack for your next day out. For shoppers seeking simplicity, one may view added features as a negative, it all just comes down to your needs.
Simple but overlooked features such as big enough water bottle pockets are worth considering.
Credit: Jeff Mogavero
Analysis and Test Results
We wore these packs for every conceivable activity during our months-long testing process. Our team of gear experts created tests and scoring criteria to push the products to their limits and make this comparison as objective as possible. This in-depth article explains how we assessed the models in each metric, emphasizing the top performers to help identify the right pack for each user.
What's the Best Value?
While we evaluate these packs based solely on their performance, we don't disregard the importance of price. Higher prices usually result in more specialized features, such as front-side pole carriers or exceptionally high-quality builds. Generally, you can still acquire a fantastic, functional pack at an affordable price. There's enough competition in this category that most well-known brands have their own value-oriented offerings. For smaller packs at the lower end of the price spectrum, it's difficult to surpass the performance of the REI Co-op Flash 22 or the Decathlon Quechua MH100. These models are also versatile enough to be useful for various activities, eliminating the need to own multiple specialized packs. They are among the least expensive yet scored higher than many of the packs we examined. The Osprey Talon 22 significantly outperformed many of these packs and is considerably more affordable than some other alternatives. Regardless of your budget, you should be able to maximize your daypack investment.
There are many excellent options at any price point.
Credit: Jacob Clark
Comfort
A pack's comfort depends on adjustability, load-carrying capability, and ventilation. Our favorites, the Osprey Talon 22 and REI Co-op Traverse 32, are among the only packs with fully cushioned hip belts, load lifters, and ventilation, all contributing to increased comfort. The Gregory Citro 24 H2O also had a padded hip belt.
Regarding adjustability, the Osprey Talon 22 and the Osprey Stratos 34 are the easiest and most adjustable options among the packs tested. You can effortlessly un-velcro the back panel, move it up or down to adjust the shoulder straps' position, and reattach it, allowing them to fit most individuals. Packs like the REI Co-op Traverse 32 come in various sizes, which is great if you fit one of those sizes but can be a significant issue if you don't. Therefore, it is crucial to measure your torso accurately before purchasing.
The Osprey Talon 22 had an effective and easy-to-use system for adjusting the pack's size.
Credit: Zach Lovell
The REI Trail 25 is a more modest option from REI that offers excellent comfort thanks to a well-padded back and a flexible support system. The ultralight REI Co-op Flash 22 is minimalist but carries moderate loads stably due to its thoughtfully padded shoulder straps.
Well-padded shoulder straps and back make the REI Trail 25 a comfortable option in the mid-size range of a daypack.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Breathability is a crucial aspect of comfort. We appreciate packs that allow airflow across our backs to let sweat evaporate and keep us comfortable in hot and cold environments. The Osprey Stratos 34 offers one of the most sophisticated back panels we've ever seen, keeping our backs inches away from the pack itself, allowing for excellent ventilation. While the Stratos has poor mobility, Osprey proved one can have both support and breathability. After comparing dozens of options over the years, we can confidently say suspended mesh panels lead to significantly less sweatiness at the end of the day.
The adjustable back of the Osprey Stratos 34 offers some of the best breathability we've seen in a daypack.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Simpler lightweight options such as the Deuter Speed Lite 21, Gregory Nano 18, and the Cotopaxi Batac 16L were excellent in this metric relative to mobility, allowing our testers to easily rock climb in these packs with limited movement restriction.
Versatility
Versatility is sometimes a crucial component of a daypack, particularly for shoppers who are looking to use their bag for multiple activities and varying lengths of day. While the Osprey Talon 22 came out on top in this metric, thanks to its all-arounder performance in various settings, the Gregory Citro 24 H2O came in second place.
A day hiking-specific pack tends to be more versatile than a snow-sports or climbing-specific backpack. It can often be used for travel, summiting mountains, or carrying your laptop to your favorite coffee shop. Many of these models don't have a laptop sleeve, besides the Osprey Daylite Plus, but we still enjoyed using them for commuting to work, especially the REI Co-Op Trail 25. The Decathlon Quechua MH100 also stood out as an excellent hybrid commuter-hiker option. If your focus is on traveling for work, consider checking out the best laptop backpacks we tested – though it is important to note that many packs found in that review are less likely to do well on hikes.
Options like the Trail 25 were equally at home in a bike basket commuting or on our backs for a hike.
Credit: Zach Lovell
The Osprey Talon 22 performed very well for a myriad of activities, including hiking, traveling, commuting, peak bagging, and mountain biking. The REI Co-Op Flash 22 is simple, but the main open compartment can accommodate many different items. This pack works well for urban applications, such as a daily gym bag, while also serving as an excellent daytrip bag to have with you on overnight trips for summit bids and day outings away from camp.
In general, packs with rigid frames, such as the Osprey Stratos 34 and REI Traverse 32, don't offer as much mobility, making them less ideal for scrambling. However, these options could be used for a larger variety of days, whether going for a quick hike or an all-day backcountry fishing trip. These packs could even be used for a 1-2 night backpacking trip if packing light.
The REI Traverse 32 is versatile for a variety of uses, with plenty of options to organize, tie-down, and stow your gear.
Credit: Lindsey Sweeney
Ease of Use
Several packs in our lineup tied for first place in this metric, which makes us tip our hats to multiple manufacturers who have streamlined their designs and made their bags user-friendly. Unlike some metrics, packs of all shapes and sizes scored highly in this category since we scored each option based on how intuitive each pack was (or wasn't) to use. We also investigated each option's features, seeing how easy it was to employ each pack's bells and whistles.
Daypacks such as the Cotopaxi Batac 16L and the REI Co-Op Flash 22 focus on a simple, no frills design to offer excellent ease of use. Similarly, the REI Co-Op Trail 25 and the Osprey Daylite Plus focus on less flashy designs that are easy to pack and utilize for a day of activities.
The Decathlon Quechua MH100 offers a simple design with a wide opening that makes for easy packing.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Some designs scored highly in this metric for useful and effective features, such as the Osprey Talon 22 and REI Co-Op Traverse 32. Both options offer many pockets for organization, and exterior attachment points allow items like a helmet or trekking poles to be lashed to the outside.
The external helmet attachment, mesh pockets, and trekking pole holders make the Talon 22 a feature-rich day pack.
Credit: Zach Lovell
All packs we tested are hydration bladder compatible. Almost all tested packs had side water bottle pockets, although some are certainly better than others at securing a bottle and/or offering easy access. We also took note of options that included a rain cover, keeping your pack and its contents drier, such as the Osprey Stratos 34. This option offered many features, though the frame adjustment isn't as smooth as its smaller cousin, the Osprey Talon 22.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Options like the Deuter Speed Lite 21, Gregory Nano 18, and the Osprey Daylite Plus were all easy to use except for the external pack clips, which made access to the main pocket slightly more cumbersome.
Options like the Gregory Nano 18 were excellent packs, but the exterior bucks were a bit of a nuisance.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Weight-to-Volume Ratio
We looked at each pack's weight per liter and investigated the overall feel of each pack's volume. The clear winner in this metric was the Venture Pal 35L, being among the largest and lightest packs in the lineup, though it's not as durable as others.
The Venture Pal 35L also offers excellent packability, given that it can fold into its own pocket.
The Venture Pal 35L is an incredibly lightweight, yet voluminous pack.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Lightweight packs with higher volumes tend to be streamlined or made of advanced materials. In contrast, heavier-weight packs – regardless of size – tend to include more features. The REI Flash 22 comes in at 14 ounces and .64 oz/liter, and the Black Diamond Distance 15 comes in at 12.7 ounces and .85 oz/liter. Other options that did well in this metric included the Cotopaxi Batac 16L, with .73 oz/liter, and the Deuter Speed Lite 21, at .76 oz/liter. These packs trade some load-carrying capabilities to save some weight. But their functionality, lightweight design, and versatility are hard to beat if you're looking for a simple daypack.
The REI Flash 22 is a comfy, light, and fast pack ready for any adventure big or small.
Credit: Jacob Clark
The Osprey Daylite Plus, at 1.03 oz/liter, provided a solid carrying capacity for its weight by keeping features to a minimum.
Custom Comfort
One simple solution to override an uncomfortable backpack is to pack carefully. For example, you can fold a clothing layer into a shape covering key areas on the back. Another option takes a little more time but is worth it in the long run: cut out a section of foam pad to the dimensions of the back panel. The foam is very light and protective. It can also double as a seat pad when taking a break or hanging around camp.
The heaviest packs tested are those that feature heavy materials and sturdy constructions. The Osprey Stratos 34 (50.8 ounces, 34 liters) is relatively heavy for its volume. However, you get a robust suspension, ventilation, and some additional space for that added weight. More importantly, however, they include some nice added features. Surprisingly, the otherwise celebrated Osprey Talon 22 came in towards the bottom of the pack in this metric, weighing 30.7 ounces and a ratio of 1.40 oz/liter.
Construction Quality
Each product in this review demonstrated durability over weeks of use, but some will undoubtedly last longer than others. Outside of field testing, we pushed each pack with a hose test to examine water resistance and even drug each option across a trail, fully loaded. As one might expect, the heavier options offered some of the best construction quality, including the REI Co-Op Traverse 32 and the Osprey Stratos 34.
The ultralight options in our lineup, such as the REI Flash 22 and Venture Pal 35L, require more mindful use in more abrasive environments, given that they are more easily torn. One of the standout surprises in this metric was the durability of the lightweight Gregory Nano 18, which is made with a robust 210 denier nylon body and 420 denier bottom.
Lightweight packs like the REI Flash 22 didn't fare as well in our weighted drag testing, though many shoppers won't be putting this pack in particularly harsh environments if simply going for a day hike.
Credit: Zach Lovell
While we particularly liked the thicker fabrics used with the REI Co-op Traverse 32 and REI Co-Op Trail 25, a common durability issue from REI packs are their chest straps. In this case, the Trail 25 did well, but we lost one side of the chest strap on the Traverse.
The Trail 25's chest strap held up in testing, but the Traverse 32 did not.
Credit: Zach Lovell
When performing our weighted drag and hose tests, we put every pack on a level playing field by not using a rain cover to see how the pack itself would score. Sure, out of curiosity, we also investigated performance with rain covers, but we wanted to size up the merits of each pack. The same packs that stood out in durability for field testing performed similarly with these more objective tests, including the REI Co-Op Travers 32 and the Osprey Stratos. Some lighter options that were on the lighter side, such as the Decathlon Quechua MH100 or the Deuter Speed Lite 21 outperformed their weight. If you're using your daypack in wetter environments, any pack should be used with a rain cover, but especially if using the Cotopaxi Batac 16L or the Venture Pal 35L.
We sprayed every single pack for one minute with a garden hose at full blast. To ensure we formed a more accurate comparison, we didn't score packs using their included rain covers.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Conclusion
Whether you're seeking a do-it-all pack or a specialized option, rest easy knowing we've done the hard part…now all you have to do is make a selection from our well-vetted lineup. We've spent thousands of hours testing backpacks over the years, refining our testing process along the way to provide the best daypack review possible today. Whether performance or price is the priority, we've unearthed excellent options for your needs and budget, so be sure to check out each of our reviewed products to find your first, or next, daypack.
—
Zach Lovell, Jacob Clark, Dan Scott, and Jediah Porter
