The best packable daypack overall
We'd all love to only travel on sunny days, but sometimes the best laid plans can fail. We're big believers on not letting a little drizzle get between you and a great adventure, and it seems that the folks at Matador agree with us.
The brand's rugged 24-liter capacity Freerain pack offers a waterproof main compartment for rain, breathable straps for hot days and enough storage for all the other waterproof gear you might need on a day hike. The new 2.0 version of the pack takes an existing favorite and adds on compression and sternum straps to allow you to carry more gear in more comfort.
The Freerain 24 2.0 weighs just 187 grams (or 5.5 ounces) and packs down into a 5-by-3-by-2.5-inch package, but in use, it feels like a serious performance pack. The main compartment closes with a roll top, allowing it to keep the rain out and your gear dry. There's also an additional front compartment that closes with a reliable YKK zipper. This compartment is not waterproof but the huge opening makes a great place to stow maps or snacks on dry days.
When you're carrying the bag, you'll love the new sternum strap which many of the other bags we tested lack. This strap, combined with the new compression straps will allow you to carry weight with your whole back, not just two pressure points on your shoulders.
The Freerain includes two exterior water bottle pockets and an exterior zippered pocket which really provided all the easy access items that I can think of wanting on a day hike. The muted color options make the Freerain a fairly neutral choice that shouldn't be too divisive but might not offer such high visibility on nighttime bike share rides if this is a concern.
My one real drawback was the separate stuff sack, which I was worried about losing when the pack was in use, but I did find that it made a great holder for my phone and keys, keeping them from jangling around in the bottom of my pack. I found that, in use, the Freerain felt great with loads up to 20 pounds thanks to the sternum strap and wide, soft breathable shoulder straps. This meant that I could easily carry enough gear for a whole day on the trail or in town and take full advantage of its generous 24-liter capacity.
A satisfied Amazon shopper felt that the bag was "everything I wanted it to be and more" and felt that, compared to a drawstring backpack, "It holds substantially more, is more comfortable, is water resistant, and ultimately takes up little to no room when packed up."
The Wirecutter concluded that "the Freerain24 is still a great option for backpackers and other people for whom packability is more important than packing abilities." I loved the Freerain and would pack it on any trip where we thought it likely that we'd be carrying heavier loads or taking longer hikes.
Pros: Waterproof, high storage capacity, feels great with larger loads
Cons: No sleeves or organization features, relatively expensive
Buy the Matador Freerain 24 Backpack at Moosejaw for $64.95The best packable daypack for value
There is nothing worse than leaving your hotel or hostel only to realize that you've lost a stuff sack for something. You know you have to go, but there's that nagging regret hat you'll never be able to find quite the right size sack to stow your gear in again. Maybe someone at Osprey experienced that and decided to build a storage pocket into the ultralight pack.
The storage pocket is not the only pocket on the Ultralight, there's also a stretchy mesh side pocket for carrying a water bottle and two other exterior pockets for stowing gear you want to be able to get to on the fly.
The top compartment offers storage for keys and a cellphone, including a well thought out key fob to stop your keys making an annoying sound in the bottom of your pack. The straps are mesh and feel comfortable even with the bag loaded to its 18-liter capacity.
This bag doesn't pack down quite as small as others, but Amazon reviewers felt that this was justified by its fuller set of features. Other Amazon purchasers were impressed with the incredibly lightweight (just under 100 grams of 3.5 ounces). Some Amazon reviewers felt they missed a sternum strap, but with such a light bag this can be excused as it is not designed for huge loads.
Expert testers felt that the Ultralight was "the perfect way to add a day pack to your travel gear without the extra space or weight you would normally expect."
On a short trip to Europe, I really appreciated the water bottle pocket, which allowed us to have a drink handy as we dashed between museums and shops. The bright color options were also really nice in low light conditions and when riding bikeshare bikes on busy roads. On a short hike, the bag was plenty big enough for a couple of rain shells, I wanted a packable daypack for we need a packable daypack for and it performed perfectly.
Pros: Super lightweight, exterior pockets, stuff sack that can't be lost
Cons: Smaller capacity than some bags on test, could do with a sternum strap for heavy loads
Buy the Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack on Amazon for $35.00 to $42.85The best packable daypack for packing light
One of the advantages of a packable daypack is that you shouldn’t have to think that much about taking it with you. If a backpack is small enough it should be an obvious addition to your roll-aboard luggage. This Sea to Summit pack takes that packability to the next level, it’s so small you could almost use it as a keyring!
Despite being half the weight of Sea to Summit's previously well-reviewed daypack, the Ultra-Sil Nano still delivers on performance. In testing, I found that this tiny packed size meant that I could have the bag with me more often.
On bike rides I could put it in my pocket and grab some groceries on the way home, on a weekend trip to see family, I put it in my raincoat when we went into town and was able to carry coats for my wife and I once the weather improved.
Backpacker magazine loved the Ultra-Sil Nano and found that it performed well with loads up to 20 pounds.
It’s not just the 1-ounce weight and the fact that this bag packs to the size of a chicken egg that impressed us, we also love the bright color options for the Nano, these should help with visibility if you are walking and cycling at night. We did find the narrow unpadded straps a little uncomfortable with loads in excess of 20 pounds, and the single pocket design sometimes made keeping things organized a challenge, but we can’t ask too much of a bag that weighs less than a pair of socks.
The previous version of the Ultra-Sil was loved by reviewers on Amazon who liked its "ultra durable and compressible" build and rugged ripstop nylon construction. REI purchasers were impressed with the bag, with one buyer using it for a 19-mile hike up Mount Olympus.
Despite its incredible minimalism, the Nano remains a robust, reliable and comfortable pack and one that you’ll never think twice about bringing long.
Pros: Incredibly small and light, high visibility colors, robust and durable
Cons: Can be uncomfortable with heavy loads
Buy the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Travel Day Pack at REI for $34.95The best packable daypack for hiking
Where some packable daypacks are designed chiefly with travel or shopping in mind, the Fuse 20 clearly aims to pack all the features of a heavier daypack into a smaller package.
While many readers might not ever make use of the ice axe lashing system, it's nice to know that your pack delivers the sort of performance that adventurers and explorers can rely on in the backcountry.
Lowe's bag range is named for various ways of starting fires (Fuse, Ignite etc), that's because the European brand believes these are packs for the sort of people who blaze their own trial. I didn't expect to come across chest straps, waist belts, ice axe loops and even a hydration bladder sleeve in a review of packable daypacks, but the Fuse 20 delivers all of these while still weighing less than a can of soda.
Thanks to the use of hydroshield ripstop nylon the bag remains light, but handily deals with loads of up to 25 pounds. Not only will the chest and sternum straps ensure that you climb your mountain in comfort, the back-pad doubles as a waterproof sit mat will help you sit comfortably at the top while you enjoy a well-earned rest.
For more urban adventures, there is also a handy key clip and waterproof rain cover. The drawcord opening allows for quick unpacking at the top of a mountain just as well as it helps with quick packing at the checkout.
Gear experts at Backcountry called it "a perfect daypack for any adventure in the mountains." On top of the comforting padded back panel, Lowe Alpine also offer a lifetime warranty, meaning you should be able to buy the Fuse with peace of mind.
Pros: Comfiest bag on test, sit mat for wet ground, chest and shoulder straps
Cons: Relatively large/ heavy
Buy the Lowe Alpine LA Fuse 20 on Amazon for $39.95The best packable daypack for people and the planet
Cotopaxi has built its brand on the way it responsibly treats its workers and the care the company takes to reduce the impact of its products on the planet. If you love to travel and adventure, you’ll know the importance of reducing your carbon footprint and the impact that consumption makes on others.
The Batac 16 Del Día is built by Cotopaxi’s workers in the Philippines using scraps of cloth leftover from other products, this reduces waste and means that every pack is unique. The color of each pack is customized by Cotopaxis’s employees who can pick through dozens of rolls of fabric and select colors for each panel.
The ripstop nylon construction combined with the two external mesh pockets, zippered front pocket, comfy mesh shoulder and sternum straps, and internal hydration sleeve give the pack plenty of features aside from its color and make it a great choice for day hikes and city trips.
If you do find yourself in town more than on the trail, that hydration sleeve does double duty as a laptop sleeve. The bag has a smaller capacity than some on test, but it felt great when it was full. More minimalist bags can carry more, but it isn’t always a fun experience.
Testers at Packhunter liked the breathable straps and organized pockets. They did note that it doesn’t pack as small as some options but enjoyed the fully featured pockets and comfort when carrying heavier loads that comes with its greater size.
We found that this bag was much more comfortable than the most minimalist packs on test and that when we laid it in a suitcase or duffel it took up very little space. It’s not likely to pack into a tiny package you can put in your pocket, but if you are traveling and planning a day hike it takes up very little suitcase space.
One Amazon shopper said the bag was "just the right size for a travel bag" and that the vibrant and unique color scheme made it easy to locate. Another noted that the Batac makes an excellent school bag and stands out from the crowd.
We’d pick the Batac for short hiking trips, travel abroad or for daily use. It feels built to last and it fits comfortably even when packed full of books or groceries. Of all the bags we tested, this one is the one we got the most questions about, so if you want a bag that turns heads, this one's for you.
Pros: A responsible choice, comfy shoulder straps and sternum strap, unique and bright colour scheme
Cons: If you want a specific color this isn’t for you, 16 Liter capacity is relatively small.
Buy the Cotopaxi Batac Pack at Moosejaw for $50