Choosing the Best Daypack For Travel can significantly enhance your travel experience. Whether you’re navigating bustling city streets, exploring historical sites, or embarking on scenic hikes, a reliable daypack keeps your essentials organized, accessible, and secure. I’ve personally tested numerous daypacks in search of the perfect one, considering factors like pocket design, comfort, versatility, and capacity. This guide shares my top picks, catering to various travel styles and activities, ensuring you find the ideal companion for your adventures.
Top Daypack Picks for Every Traveler
From overall champions to specialized packs for different travel scenarios, here are my recommended daypacks, each with unique strengths:
Best Daypack Overall: Patagonia Black Hole Pack 25L
Patagonia Black Hole Pack 25L in black, showcasing its durable design and multiple pockets.
Price: $129 from Patagonia.com
The Patagonia Black Hole Pack 25L stands out as the best overall daypack due to its exceptional durability and ample storage. I’m impressed by its rugged construction and the sheer amount it can hold. While I own the classic black version, Patagonia offers a wide array of attractive colors to suit your style.
This pack is thoughtfully designed with practical features: dual water bottle pockets, a discreet front stash pocket, a quick-access top pocket, and a spacious bucket-style main compartment that includes a padded sleeve for laptops or hydration reservoirs. A standout feature, especially for adventurous travelers, is the chest strap. It ensures the pack stays securely in place, crucial when scrambling over uneven terrain. Patagonia’s commitment to sustainability is also noteworthy; their newer Black Hole line utilizes 100% recycled polyester ripstop fabric. Although my older model predates this eco-conscious update, it’s a significant plus for environmentally aware consumers.
My experiences with the Black Hole Pack are diverse and extensive. It has served me well on day hikes, as a carry-on travel daypack, and even during the demanding four-day Inca Trail trek in Peru. Its generous capacity allowed me to carry a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, sleeping bag liner, inflatable pillow, puffy jacket, rain jacket, spare clothes, battery pack, toiletries, hydration bladder, and snacks – everything needed for extended treks. Whether for short excursions or longer adventures, the Patagonia Black Hole Pack excels in carrying substantial gear while remaining comfortable.
Beyond its practical features, Patagonia’s brand ethos resonates deeply with me. Their dedication to environmental responsibility, through recycled materials, traceable down, and organic cotton, is commendable. Furthermore, their “Ironclad Guarantee” provides peace of mind. Having utilized their exchange policy twice, I can attest to Patagonia’s commitment to product quality and customer satisfaction, a rare and valued trait in today’s market.
Hiker in a red jacket with a Patagonia Black Hole Pack, trekking through a forest with snow-capped mountains in the distance, illustrating its suitability for hiking in North Cascades.
Best Daypack for Backcountry Adventures: Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack
Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack in grey, folded into its compact self-storage pouch, emphasizing its packable and lightweight design.
Price: $35 from Osprey.com
For backcountry enthusiasts, the Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack is the best daypack for backcountry adventures. When backpacking, a packable daypack is indispensable for day trips from base camp. Lightweight and compact, it shouldn’t consume valuable pack space. The Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack perfectly fits this role. Weighing a mere 3.2 ounces, it incorporates essential features in an incredibly lightweight design. It includes a water bottle pocket, a top quick-stash pocket, and a roomy 18L main compartment. The mesh shoulder straps are a welcome addition, enhancing comfort during wear.
However, its ultralight nature implies a degree of fragility. Constructed from 40D ripstop nylon, the material is thin and somewhat delicate. While I haven’t experienced any damage, I exercise caution when placing it on rough surfaces. The pack’s packability is a major advantage – it stows neatly into its top pocket, achieving a tennis ball-like size for minimal storage footprint.
Osprey, like Patagonia, is renowned for its robust warranties and commitment to product quality. My personal experience with an Osprey 65L backpacking pack, which has endured numerous backcountry trips without issue, reinforces my confidence in the brand. The Ultralight Stuff Pack is an excellent choice for backcountry day hikes where lightweight and packability are paramount.
Best Daypack for Traveling Abroad: Tortuga Setout Packable Daypack
Tortuga Setout Packable Daypack in grey, shown packed into its own pocket, highlighting its packable feature and sleek, minimalist aesthetic suitable for international travel.
Price: $39 from Tortuga.com
The Tortuga Setout Packable Daypack is the best daypack for traveling abroad, blending practicality with a low-profile design ideal for international travel. Initially drawn to the Tortuga Setout 45L Backpack for international trips, I added this 19L daypack to my collection, appreciating its matching aesthetic and functionality. Its sleek, understated style is perfect for blending in and avoiding unwanted attention as a tourist. Crucially, it’s packable, folding into its own pocket for easy storage within larger luggage.
Weighing just 8.5 ounces, the Setout Packable Daypack is surprisingly feature-rich. It includes dual water bottle pockets, a front pocket, and a spacious main compartment. The mesh back panel and shoulder straps are standout features, providing exceptional comfort for a packable model – arguably the most comfortable I’ve used. The inclusion of a chest strap further enhances its wearability. The 30D ripstop nylon fabric is the only minor drawback, being slightly crinkly and audible, but this is a small compromise for its overall benefits.
For international travel, a packable daypack is indispensable. Leaving your main backpack at your accommodation and using a smaller daypack for daily explorations is far more convenient. The Tortuga Setout Packable Daypack is a superb choice, combining thoughtful features with a discreet appearance, making it ideal for navigating foreign locales.
Best Ultralight Daypack: Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Packable Daypack
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Packable Daypack in bright blue, displayed next to its tiny packed pouch, emphasizing its extremely lightweight and compact nature.
Price: $40 from Seatosummit.com
The Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Packable Daypack earns the title of best ultralight daypack on this list, prioritizing minimal weight and pack size above all else. Having owned this pack for some time, I eventually gifted it to a friend, appreciating its niche in the ultralight category. It packs down incredibly small, almost to the point of being easily misplaced. The Cordura fabric, while not the most durable or waterproof, is a necessary compromise to achieve its featherlight 2.5-ounce weight and diminutive packed dimensions.
The primary limitation of this daypack is its single 20L main compartment. The lack of pockets necessitates rummaging to find items, which can be inconvenient. The shoulder straps, devoid of mesh or padding to save weight, can be less comfortable and prone to slipping. During extensive use, including a two-month trip to New Zealand, a small hole developed at the bottom, testament to its delicate nature despite enduring significant adventures.
If your priority is the absolute lightest and most packable daypack available, the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Packable Daypack is unmatched. However, be mindful of its limited durability and basic single-compartment design.
Person in a blue jacket with a Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Packable Daypack, hiking on rocky terrain with Mount Taranaki in the background, showcasing its use during a climb in New Zealand.
Best Budget Daypack: Outlander Ultra Lightweight Packable Daypack
Price: $18 from Amazon.com
For budget-conscious travelers, the Outlander Ultra Lightweight Packable Daypack is the best budget daypack, offering excellent value without compromising essential features. Available in numerous colors and 20L or 33L sizes, I chose the 20L version for its lighter weight (7.3 ounces) and sufficient capacity. I find 33L to be excessively large for a daypack. The 20L Outlander provides practical organization with two water bottle pockets, three zippered pockets, and comfortable breathable mesh shoulder straps. Unfortunately, this daypack was stolen during a trip to Thailand – a testament to its appeal, perhaps! Thankfully, travel insurance mitigated the loss.
I initially purchased the Outlander seeking a packable daypack with better organization, drawn by its positive Amazon reviews and remarkably low price. It’s so affordable that you could purchase two for the price of a single Sea to Summit pack.
The Outlander is an exceptional option if you’re seeking a comfortable, packable daypack on a budget. Its only downside, in my experience, is its susceptibility to theft, but perhaps that’s a backhanded compliment to its desirability!
Person wearing an Outlander Ultra Lightweight Packable Daypack, standing amidst giant redwood trees, demonstrating its suitability for everyday travel and outdoor excursions.
Best Daypack for Everyday Travel: Fjallraven Classic Kanken Backpack
Fjallraven Classic Kanken Backpack in blue, shown in a lifestyle setting, emphasizing its stylish design and practicality for everyday use and urban travel.
Price: $80 from Fjallraven.com
The Fjallraven Classic Kanken Backpack is the best daypack for everyday travel, blending iconic style with robust functionality. I acquired my Kanken after the unfortunate theft of my Outlander in Thailand. Available in a vast spectrum of colors, choosing just one is a pleasant challenge. The top carry handles are a distinctive and practical feature, offering an alternative carrying method. Fjallraven’s signature Vinylon F fabric is naturally water-resistant, swelling when damp to protect contents from light rain. Its seemingly compact size belies its generous capacity, and the material is remarkably durable.
One of the Kanken’s most appreciated features is its suitcase-style opening, allowing for easy packing and access. I successfully used the 16L Kanken on the Ha Giang Loop, a four-day motorcycle adventure through northern Vietnam. It accommodated essential clothing, toiletries, a towel, battery pack, travel adapter, and more – a testament to its efficient use of space.
Since purchasing the Classic Kanken, I’ve also acquired the 15″ Laptop Kanken (18L), which includes a padded laptop sleeve and padded shoulder straps. I recommend considering this version for its enhanced features and laptop protection.
The Kanken is a timeless daypack, versatile enough for daily commutes, city explorations, and even light hikes due to its durability and capacity. It’s a reliable and stylish choice for everyday travel.
Traveler with a Fjallraven Classic Kanken Backpack, exploring a street in Hanoi, Vietnam, illustrating its suitability for urban exploration and everyday carry.
Rain Cover Considerations for Daypacks
When purchasing a daypack, seriously consider adding a rain cover. Protecting your belongings from sudden downpours is crucial. Zippered compartments, common in daypacks, are potential entry points for water. I’ve learned this firsthand and can attest to the inconvenience of water-damaged gear. For water-centric activities like kayaking, paddleboarding, or beach trips, a dedicated dry bag is preferable, offering submersible waterproofness and buoyancy.
Have you used any of these daypacks? What is your go-to daypack and why? Share your recommendations in the comments below!
