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- Packable daypacks allow you to bring a backpack on trips without having to lug an extra piece of luggage.
- The best packable daypack we tested was the Matador Freerain 24 thanks to its useful exterior pockets, comfy straps, and waterproof construction.
Packable daypacks have become as indispensable in our carry on baggage as a cellphone charger and a toothbrush. Thanks to their ability to pack down into pocket-sized packages and expand out to carry enough gear for a hike or a day of sightseeing, they make a great addition to any globetrotter's carry on.
We tested backpacks over a period of weeks, using them to carry groceries and go on day hikes. We felt it was important to check that all the bags we tested could be repacked in their stuff sacks with ease and could stand up to day to day abuse, so we packed and unpacked each bag several times. We also made sure to test the bags when full, so that we could ascertain if the smaller straps that tend to be included on packable daypacks would be uncomfortable with heavy loads.
After weeks of hauling heavy loads, we decided that the Matador Freerain 24 was our favorite packable daypack. The comfortable shoulder and sternum straps, easy access side pockets, and waterproof construction make it a great go-anywhere, do-anything backpack that just happens to pack down into a fist-sized stuff sack.
Here are the best packable daypacks you can buy:
- Best packable daypack overall: Matador Freerain 24
- Best packable daypack for value: Osprey Ultralight
- Best packable daypack for packing light: Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Travel Day Pack
- Best packable daypack for hiking: Lowe Alpine Fuse 20
- Best packable daypack for people and the planet: Cotopaxi Batac 16
Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.
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