The Best Daypacks for Every Kind of Hiker
Level-up your carrying comfort with these top-performing daypacks.
Daypacks
From pre-work jaunts to all-day excursions, finding the right daypack to fit your needs and frame is imperative. The expert gear reviewers at Backpacker Magazine test the latest daypacks in real backcountry conditions for comfort, durability, packability, and more.
Osprey’s 33-Liter Daypack is the Best We’ve Ever Tested
Extreme adjustability and a cushy ride made the Talon/Tempest 33 our favorite day hiking pack of 2025
Latest in Daypacks
Deal of the Week: Grab This Light-and-Fast Vest Pack for 75% Off
With a stable, body-hugging design and enough room for your water, snacks, and layers, the Ultimate Direction Adventure Vest 5.0 is an ideal pack for trail runners and fast-moving hikers alike.
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First Look: deuter Speed Lite Pro Series
When it comes to fast and light hiking, deuter’s Speed Lite Pro series leads the pack—again
Review: NEMO’s Resolve is One Step Closer to a Truly Sustainable Backpack
It’s pretty dang comfy to hike in, too.
This Lightweight Daypack Can Handle a Dunk in the Ocean
The frameless Mustang Survival Highwater 22L is the best of frameless backpacks and drybags in one slick package.
Patagonia’s New Fast-And-Light Vest Pack Is Best in Class
For carrying weight while moving quickly in the mountains, the Slope Runner Exploration 18L is our new favorite vest-pack hybrid
The Best Day Packs of 2022
These bags redefine carrying comfort
The 6 Best New Daypacks for Every Kind of Hiker
From short hikes to long runs that push the definition of a dayhike, these six packs will be your constant companions.
These 6 Waterproof Packs Will Keep Your Gear Dry on The Trail
Don’t let a little rain ruin your hike. These waterproof packs will keep your gear safe and dry, mile after mile.
Deal of the Week: Deuter Guide Lite 24 / Guide Lite 22 SL
It may look minimalist, but this pack has everything you need for a day exploring the alpine.
Matador Beast18
The most packable backpack of 2021.
Arc’teryx Aerios 30
The best backpack for organization of 2021.
Exped Verglas 30
The most weatherproof backpack of 2021
Mountain Laurel Designs Hell 27
The lightest backpack of 2021
Patagonia Altvia Pack 36
The most eco-friendly backpack of 2021
Granite Gear Perimeter 50
The best backpack for big and tall backpackers of 2021
Deal of the Week: Osprey Talon 22/Tempest 20
These light, comfortable daypacks will feel even better at this price.
Osprey Hikelite 26
Reliable rucksack
Deal of the Week: Patagonia Planing Roll Top Pack 35L
Keep your gear dry with this waterproof pack.
The 6 Best Daypacks of 2020
Wring extra miles out of long summer afternoons with these weight-conscious daypacks.
Salomon XA 25
Best organization in a daypack
Matador Freerain32
Most weatherproof daypack
Six Moon Designs Daybreaker
Best daypack for overpackers
Black Diamond Trail Blitz 12
Best daypack for big miles
CamelBak Women's Zephyr Vest
Best daypack for women
Montane Mezzo 10
Best value daypack
Member Deal of the Week: The North Face Hydra 26
Save on a comfy pack that's made for long dayhikes.
Kelty Redwing 36
Best bargain pack
Deuter Guide Lite 24 / Guide Lite 22 SL
Pack with best comfort-to-weight
CamelBak Octane 25
Best pack for organization
Osprey Archeon 30
Most durable pack
Black Diamond Trail Zip 14
Lightest pack
BCA Stash 30
Best fit
3 All-Purpose Daypacks for Any Trail Adventure
A good daypack makes or breaks an outing. These three perform.
Newsletter Exclusive Deal: Patagonia Nine Trails 28L/26L
Hit the trail with this versatile daypack.
The 7 Best Daypacks for Every Kind of Hike
From quick jaunts to the biggest days, these packs will keep you comfortable no matter how heavy (or light) your load.
Deuter Trail Pro 36 / 34 SL
Most versatile
Mystery Ranch Scree 32
Best access
JanSport Tahoma 27
Best value
Hydro Flask Journey Series 20L
Best hydration pack
Black Diamond Distance 15
Best for peakbagging
Gregory Miwok 12 / Maya 10
Best fit
Thule Rail 8L
Best hydration pack
Cotopaxi Allpa 28L Travel Pack
Best travel pack
EXPED Whiteout 30
Best for mountaineering
Mountain Equipment Ogre 33+
Most versatile
Arc’teryx Alpha AR 35
Most durable
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil 18L Nano Daypack
Editors' Choice update
Truce Drop Liner 24L
Sailcloth makes this everyday bag nearly indestructible.
Backcountry Access Float 27 Speed
This intuitive avalanche pack gets an upgrade.
Backcountry Access Float 32 Airbag Pack
Get your favorite backpack features in an avy pack.
Dakine Women's Heli Pro DLX 24 Backpack
This full-featured backcountry ski and snowboard pack has the best women’s fit of any model we tested.
Grivel Zen 40 Backpack
The low-profile design of this ski pack doesn’t restrict arm swings or high steps.
Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32 Backpack
This is the first Black Diamond ski pack we could use with or without the company’s AvaLung system.
L.L. Bean Snowfield 30 Backpack
This durable ski pack is exceptionally tough for the weight and price.
High Sierra Symmetry 18
Save big on a full-featured ski pack.
SCOTT Air Free Alpride Pack
This pack's light, low-bulk airbag system means less weight on your back and more space for your gear.
Salomon S-Lab X Alp 20
The Salomon S-Lab X Alp 20 makes gear-grabbing quick and easy.
Montane Habu 22
Smart design maximizes comfort for small and curvy figures
Kelty Capture 25
You get sweet features with a sweet price to match
Columbia Trail Pursuit 30L
Get one pack for hiking, biking, climbing, skiing, and traveling
Granite Gear Virga 26
This 1-pound pack is tougher than most ultralights.
Mountain Hardwear Scrambler 30 OutDry
Get superior waterproofing without a rain cover.
High Sierra Lightning 35
Superior external storage allows the big daypack to carry minimalist weekend loads.
Dakine Blade 38L
It’s loaded with all the winter-specific features we love for big backcountry days.
Bergans of Norway Istinden 26L
The unique hipbelt closure on this ski-touring pack provides a custom fit.
Editors' Choice Snow 2014: Black Diamond JetForce Technology Airbag
A backcountry airbag that you can actually practice using.
Field Test: Daypacks
From ultralight to ultraweatherproof, our testers found the perfect load hauler for every trip and hiker.
Granite Gear Superior Daypack Review
Looks like a backpack, protects like a raincoat.
Osprey Talon 22/Tempest 20 Daypack Review
Your stuff disappears into this daypack, and it disappears on your back.
Exped Mountain Lite 20 Daypack Review
A simple, clean, top-loading rucksack.
Ultralight Packs
Roll these up and stow them in your duffel or big pack for summits or dayhikes.
Marmot Kompressor Verve 26 Daypack Review
A breathable pack for sweaty testers.
Salomon Synapse Flow 30 AW Daypack Review
A low-profile bag that the wily climbers loved.
Patagonia Ascensionist 45 Daypack Review
It’s light, low-profile, and “perfect in that there’s nothing left to take away,” according to one tester.
Mammut Neon Crag 28 Backpack Review
This retro-looking rucksack sports a single, roomy packbag that can easily compress low-volume loads. It’s well-suited for dayhikes, sessions at the crag, or anyone who’s tough on gear.
Arc'teryx Alpha FL 30 Daypack Review
Ultralight, waterproof, and comfortable—the top-loading Alpha FL 30 hits a rare trifecta. Plus, its shape provides unmatched mobility.
Readers' Choice 2014: Gregory Maya 18 Backpack
This frameless little pack is a great all-arounder for bike commuting and dayhikes.
Gear Review: Eddie Bauer First Ascent Bacon Pack
Check out Glenna Xie's author page.