Patagonia Lightweight Black Hole 26L

Our take Simplify, simplify, simplify. If that’s your mantra, get this Patagonia daypack and use it for work, play, and everything in between. The clean, uncluttered exterior gives this pack a vibe that’s both urban-smart and backcountry-savvy. The ripstop nylon has a TPU laminate and DWR coating to keep out the wet—a welcome feature whether your toting a puffy or a laptop. It’s also remarkably abrasion-resistant (and noisy when crinkled). A water-resistant, panel-loading zipper opens the packbag like a clamshell, which makes it more travel-friendly than a typical top-loader. Ding: The foam backpanel has no air channels; our backs got sweaty on hot days.

The details Run your hydration tube through a hose port on either the left or right side (many packs have a port on only one side). On the outside, the waterproof, 12-inch-deep zippered pocket kept one tester’s wallet, guidebook, and maps dry during an afternoon squall in Costa Rica. Eight-inch-tall mesh side pockets are large enough for big water bottles or a rain shell.

Trail cred “I hate clutter and having several daypacks seems like overkill,” says a tester who put in more than 200 trail miles with the pack. “I love how I can get home from class, then transition to skiing, hiking, or biking without grabbing a new pack.”