Columbia Titanium Trail Elite 22L Daypack

Versatility

We hauled it on 27 dayhikes across seven countries and it always did what we needed. “It’s small and unobtrusive enough to use for travel,” says one tester, “but has the capacity, suspension and organization chops of a robust daypack.” It’s low profile enough for long bike rides and has plenty of space for dawn-to-dark dayhikes.

Comfort

“The load clung to my back like a koala, and 20 pounds felt more like 10,” says a tester who hiked 12 miles at nearly 10,000 feet in Colombia’s Chingaza National Park. An aluminum perimeter wire and trampoline-style suspension provide better-than-average stability and load transfer for a daypack.

Organization

“I love the full-length, zippered front pocket for separating wet gear from the main packbag,” reports another tester after a handful of hikes on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula. A U-shaped zipper peels back the front panel for easy loading. Ding: Stretchy attachment cords kept trekking poles and ice axes flypaper secure, but dangle when not in use.