Best Daypacks for Hiking 2024 | Tested and Reviewed by Our Gear Experts
We've extensively tested out the latest daypacks for hiking, looking at options ranging from 15 litres through to 36 litres. Here are our favourites
We’ve tested the best hiking daypacks for 2024, suitable for everything from walking in the countryside to hiking in the Lake District fells or the Scottish Highlands. This round-up looks at the backpack options with a volume between 20 and 40 litres for this test. All will be large enough to carry everything from extra layers, food, water and navigation equipment, plus extras like trekking poles and storm shelter.
Different walkers look for different features in rucksacks, so we’ve gone for a broad mix of designs. They include zipped openings, floating lids, removable hipbelts, ventilation panels, compression straps, stretch side pockets and small hip-belt pockets for stashing things like phones and snacks.
How To Choose The Best Daypack For Walking
As is the case when choosing the best backpacks for backpacking, there are also lots of elements to consider when choosing a daypack. Are you prepared to carry extra weight to ensure a full feature set, or would you prefer a stripped back pack to save grams while you’re walking? Do you want ventilation that allows good airflow between your back and the rucksack, or do you like a snug fit that keeps the rucksack close to your body as you move? We’ve tested options to suit every kind of walker.
It’s worth heading over to our daypacks buyer’s guide if you could do with more details on what to look out for. There you’ll find information on everything from back sizing and ventilation, to the pros and cons of waterproof backpacks.
Many of the backpacks in this Top 10 are featured in our Outdoor 100 and in our Green Gear Guide. Within these product guides, you’ll be able check out a more in depth review of each pack, including tester’s verdicts and industry trade secrets.
Some important things to consider. The pack pictured is the Gregory Arrio.
Best Daypacks For Hiking 2024
Here are the results of our team’s testing over the last couple of seasons. Most of these passed muster for our Outdoor 100 series and Green Gear Guide, with each one rated for its material quality, the overall functionality, carry comfort and features.
Best Overall Daypack: Gregory Arrio 30
Runner up: Osprey Hikelite 28
Best Winter Daypack: Rab Ascendor
Best Lightweight Daypack: Montane Trailblazer LT
Best Pack For Travel: Cotopaxi Allpa 35
Our team out testing the packs for this round up. Photos: Dave Macfarlane.
1. Gregory Arrio 30 Daypack
Best daypack overall: Our test team chose this as the best in test
Our tester using the Arrio on a dayhike in North Wales
Price: £100 Weight: 850g Capacities: 18, 24, 30L Best for: day hiking, day-to-day, trail running What we liked: Superb comfort, intuitive organisation, durable fabrics What we didn’t like: no ice axe attachment, no hipbelt pockets
The Gregory Arrio 30 Daypack is a perfect all-rounder of a backpack: lightweight, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing. It’s jam-packed with clever features, from the open-air mesh back panel (back sweat is a thing of the past) and super comfortable perforated foam harness, to the integrated safety whistle in the sternum strap.
The Arrio’s intuitive organisation is a real plus, with quick-access pockets on the top and to the side and zips which are easy to use (and locate). You’ve also got a side stretch mesh pocket across the front which is perfect for a flask or a first aid kit.
It’s also equipped with a fitted rain cover. Winter walkers should note that there’s no ice axe attachment however.
Our runner up: Our second favourite and also our top choice if ventilation is your top priority
OM editor Will using the Osprey Hikelite 28 in Glen Nevis, Scotland.
Price: £130 Weight: 920g Capacities: 18, 26, 28, 32L What we liked: Big stretchy pockets, 100% recycled fabrics, useful details, lots of airflow What we didn’t like: not great for colder weather
This is a large daypack that will suit those big days out on the hill and it strikes a very nice balance, bringing a supportive and intricate back system to the table without loads of weight to carry.
In our tests, the stretchy mesh pockets were a standout feature. OK most packs have these, but not many have such big ones! We found that they could easily swallow a down jacket and your waterproofs – allowing you to keep them within quick and easy reach – and they’d even fit a tent on one side and a sleeping mat on the other. Fortunately they aren’t baggy or flappy when not in use either, with the elastication keeping them taut.
It comes with an integrated rain cover (a lot of packs don’t these days) and it uses 100% recycled materials for the main fabrics. We also liked that we didn’t feel any pressure points while wearing this, with heavy loads well managed and supported. You really do get bucket loads of ventilation too. The downside there, however, is that your back is pretty exposed and in snowy conditions we’d expect that snow would build up in the cavity that the trampoline mesh creates. Durability rating: 8/10 / Airflow rating: 10/10 / Integrated rain cover?: yes
Best winter pack: Top in our tests as a technical winter pack
Will out using the Ascendor on a Scottish scramble.
Price: £100 Weight: 900g Capacities: 28, 35:40, 45:50 L Best for: hikes with climbs and scrambles, ski touring and mountaineering What we liked: Very durable, loads of technical design details What we didn’t like: nothing
This is a daypack for those who need a hiking pack that can also be used for more technical pursuits – things like scrambling, climbing and ski touring. If you need something that’s going to be comfortable to wear and that’ll have room for your waterproof kit, lunch and thermos flask, this will do the job just fine, but you can also call upon it to carry skis in an A-frame, or to safely and securely strap two ice axes across the front. There are daisy chains for clipping on your carabiners too.
During our tests, we were particularly impressed by this pack’s durability – it was easily able to shrug off any scrapes with rough rock. We also liked its wide U-shaped opening at the top which lets you see right in and that gives you easy access to all your kit. There’s also the fact that you can strip out bits and bobs if you want to streamline it to bring the overall base weight down for those fast and light mountain missions.
Durability rating: 9/10 / Airflow rating: 5/10 / Integrated rain cover?: no but the fabrics are very water resistant
Best pack for travel: A great travel bag that can be carried for hikes too
Price: £190 Weight: 1.1kg Capacities: 20, 28, 35, 42L Best for: Day hiking and city breaks What we liked: Made from waste fabric, unique appearance, very useful storage options What we didn’t like: Fabric not very water resistant and the bag doesn’t have much structure or shape to it if only lightly packed
New from certified B-Corp Cotopaxi, the Allpa travel pack is one of those bags that can make your kit disappear. There are so many pockets, some of which are hidden, that you need to be quite mindful of where you stow your stuff. If you’re an organised person, we think you’re going to really love this bag. And if you’re like us, then you will like it if you just learn to practise some organisational discipline: ‘this pocket is for this, that pocket is for that’ – that kind of thing.
Made from repurposed materials, its 35-lite capacity makes it the perfect size for most airlines’ carry-on requirements and there are loads of other travel-friendly features, including lockable zips, a harness and hipbelt that can be tucked away and a total of four grab handles. It’s like a duffel bag but one that’s just as comfortable as a normal backpack.
Whilst the water resistance lets the pack down a bit, it’s a very handy pack that has the potential to really streamline a travel experience. Usefully, we found it can also be packed down pretty flat when it’s empty, and that makes it something that you can realistically stuff into another suitcase or duffel bag to use for forays from your accommodation. From our experience using it in the hills of the Lake District, it’s not a totally unrealistic pack to use for day hiking either, particularly as the back panel and harness are quite comfortable.
Best Lightweight Daypack for Hiking and Running: Lightweight and stable, this was judged to be the best for fast and light adventures
Our team using the Montane Trailblazer on a fast and light trip in the Scottish Highlands
Price: £100
Weight: 300g Capacities: 20, 28L Best for: Hiking, fastpacking, trail running, general outdoor use What we liked: Very light, waterproof What we didn’t like: Straps are a little fiddly
This is primarily designed for fast and light adventures – mainly running or fastpacking – but from our experience using it, we’ve found it’s right up to scratch as a three-season daypack too. With its 20-litre capacity, this pack suits day trips in the mountains where you want your essentials with you – your wet weather gear, insulation, your lunch and snacks and map etc.
Montane have deployed a bunch of very light materials here, giving it a total weight of a meagre 300g. And comfort hasn’t been sacrificed either; this pack wraps around your body’s contours nicely and neatly with just enough padding to keep the contents inside from poking into your back. It’s reasonably durable too thanks to its silicone coating and ripstop weave.
This is a fully waterproof daypack, using a water tight fabric, taped seams and rolltop closure to block out the elements and there are a bunch of nifty pockets and storage options. We particularly liked the front bungee which gives this pack that extra capability if you do want to stretch its potential and use it as an overnight bag.
Our only gripe is that with the bungee, cords and straps it is a little bit on the fiddly side. Still, if you’re looking for something that’s lightweight but capable and loaded with useful design touches, this would be a good option to go for.
Durability rating: 4/10 / Airflow rating: 4/10 / Integrated rain cover?: no, but the fabrics are very water resistant
Our tester Sarah using the Kånken as a daypack on a summer hike in Eryri.
Price: £60 Weight: 410g Capacities: 16L Best for: Light summer hiking What we liked: Eco-friendly design, stylish and practical design What we didn’t like: Very small capacity, low on technical details
The Tree-Kånken is an evolution of the classic Kånken design, sharing the same looks but with much more sustainable materials. It’s made from something called Pine Weave, a bio-based material that’s derived from cellulose fibres obtained from tree bark. Fjällräven get their wood for this collection from trees grown just outside the brand’s hometown and the foresting is all done sustainably and is fully traceable to its source.
This is a practical and versatile bag that’s equally at home in everyday life or on more casual outdoor excursions. The main compartment has a large zipped opening that makes the Kånken easy to pack and unpack, aided by its practical rectangular design, and it comes with a foam pad in the inner rear sleeve. This stops stuff from digging into your back and can be used as a handy seat when needed.
The side pockets will accommodate a slim water bottle (take a look at Primus’ Klunken for the perfect partner) or an umbrella. There’s daisy chain webbing to fix a bike lock or to hang things off with a carabiner or two and there’s also webbing straps along the base where you can quickly fasten a jacket or tripod. Other details include easy-grab top handles, adjustable shoulder straps, a reflective logo, and a handy zipped pocket at the front that’ll fit flat items like maps, books or work documents.
Price: £75 Weight: 589g Capacities: 20L Best for: day hiking, commuting, everyday use What we liked: sustainably made, durable, useful storage options, comfortable What we didn’t like: no rain cover or water proof materials
The Osprey Daylite Plus Earth is a smart day pack that showcases some admirable efforts by the American brand to lower their footprint, most notably through the use of a fabric that’s made entirely from recycled materials. We’ve been using it over the past couple of months, including on a three-day hiking trip to the Lake District, and the team have been very impressed with its performance.
With its 20-litre volume, this is the kind of pack that’s best suited to day hiking, day-to-day use and commuting. We’ve found it can easily cater for a waterproof jacket, warm layers, a thermos flask, and all the other extras you’d carry in the hills. Its sternum strap, basic hipbelt and its flat, padded back panel also make this a realistic pack to use for running, not so much as a technical option for ultra running but as something for running to work with.
Usefully, the Daylite Plus Earth packs down quite flat, so it’s also the kind of pack that you can stash in the bottom of a duffel bag if you’re travelling and want to have something for daytime forays.
You can also count on the fabrics being PFAS-free and bluesign approved – meaning they’re certified for sustainable processes and minimal impact on people and the environment.
The current RRP on this pack is £75 which is quite reasonable, especially given the sustainability efforts involved here, and the overall durability too. It has the feel of a pack that’s built to last.
Jordan Tiernan with the L.I.M on a hot hike in North Wales
Price: £100 Weight: 890g Capacities: 25, 35L Best for: Three-season day adventures, long-distance fastpacking What we liked: Innovative minimal design, lightweight, comfortable to carry What we didn’t like: Not very stable
Super lightweight (especially for a pack with a suspended back system) and produced using ethical fabrics, this pack is somewhat minimalistic in design but without any compromise in function or performance.
For us, arguably the most impressive feature was the back ventilation system. The suspended lightweight mesh panel effectively keeps the contents of your pack away from your back, allowing that much-needed airflow and preventing sweat from building up. It’s also surprisingly durable, with a 70-denier rip-stop polyamide that’s reinforced with 140-denier sections in high-wear zones. There’s just about the right amount of padding in the hip belts too – and these have large pockets on them where you can stash a good amount of snacks.
At just 35l this backpack is best suited to day hiking, but it’ll also cater for a few minimalistic backpackers and fastpackers too.
Durability rating: 8/10 / Airflow rating: 10/10 / Integrated rain cover?: no, fabrics have a high water resistant though
Our tester Emma with the Lowe Alpine Airzone Ultra 36 ND in the hills of Wales.
Price: £150 Weight: 800g Capacities: 36L Best for: Big days out or lightweight backpacking What we liked: Lots of airflow, lightweight design What we didn’t like: Top closure a little unreliable in wet weather, can feel unstable
This is one of those packs that straddles the line between daypack and multi-day pack. With its 36-litre capacity, it’s easily big enough to cater for a big day out in the hills while it’s also just about the right size for carrying lightweight camping gear.
It has a suspended back system which is comfortable and offers bucket loads of ventilation. It also keeps the contents of the pack from poking into your back. The downside is that, with the pack fully loaded, the trampoline style system keeps the weight of the pack quite far from your body.
We liked some of the details here, including the big stretchy mesh pockets and the dual hipbelt pockets which we found are big enough for a mobile phone. The main downside we found with the Airzone Ultra is that the top closure of the pack wasn’t always that reliable in wet weather and sometimes we felt it left our kit a bit exposed. We’d therefore recommend using it with drybags.
The Bach Molecule 15, used by Will in Pembrokeshire. Notice the useful pocket on the hip fin.
Price: £100 Weight: 680g Capacities: 15, 30, 45L Best for: general day hiking, commuting What we liked: lightweight and durable fabric, packs flat so can be carried in a suitcase What we didn’t like: nothing This might be listed as a 15L pack but it can actually manage a fair bit more than that. That’s thanks to its rolltop which gives an extra 5 litres of capacity, plus the stretchy mesh side pockets.
The back system is quite simple, with just foam panels and a hardened back panel, but we found that it’s still comfortable and functional. We also liked that it keeps the pack’s load nice and close to your body, creating a very stable centre of gravity and a balanced feel.
The ripstop Robic Nylon fabric that Bach have used here is impressive. It’s lightweight but also very tough. It’s also 100% recycled. It’s not fully waterproof but when we used it in wet conditions we found that it does have a very high water resistance. In our tests, we also liked the clever zipped pocket on the harness. It’s a big mesh pocket that’s perfect for keeping your phone within easy reach but it can also be zipped up and kept out of the way when it’s not needed.
Durability rating: 9/10 / Airflow rating: 8/10 / Integrated rain cover?: no but the fabric has high water resistance
Best waterproof daypack: Our top selection for use in extremely wet weather
Price: £300 Weight: 1528g Capacities: 36L Best for: Big days out and overnights What we liked: waterproof construction, volume capability What we didn’t like: expensive and not suitable for use in snowy conditions due to back system design
This is one of those packs that’s versatile enough to serve either as a daypack for those big days out or as a pack for lightweight multi-day missions. We used it to carry all of our backpacking kit for a summer wild camp and it worked great, though it doesn’t leave you with too much space for extra food or luxuries.
What stands out most about this is the fact it offers IPX 5 waterproofing. That might not make it fully submersible but, as we found during our tests, it makes it capable of seeing off the worst weather you can possibly imagine.
Yes, we’ve seen waterproof packs before, but not any that strike such a good balance between protection, durability and weight. This is mainly thanks to the high-spec TPU coated nylon that Osprey have developed for this – it’s top notch stuff. The model we tested fitted perfectly, with the adjustable back length giving the potential for a perfectly refined fit.
Durability rating: 10/10 / Airflow rating: 9/10 / Integrated rain cover?: not needed as the pack is highly water resistant
Our tester Ian with the Brimer in the mountains of north Wales.
Price: £200 Weight: 973g Capacities: 24, 32L Best for: Climbers, mountaineers, ski tourers What we liked: Adaptable, eco-friendly, hardwearing, unisex What we didn’t like: Expensive, quite narrow
This is a high quality pack that’s designed for resilience. Made from a 210D polyamide fabric, it’s the kind of pack that offers superb durability, while a coating on the outside and laminate on the inside, bring a very high degree of weather resistance.
Despite that durability, this thing still weighs in at under 1kg, which ain’t too shabby – there are many bags that are less robust but still heavier. OK it might not become the pack of choice for the ultralight brigade, but the carrying comfort is fantastic, even with a heavy load.
The back panel is adjustable and the lumbar bar and pivot system help the bag to move with your hips and shoulders. The side pockets are enormous, capable of fitting most one-person tents, and daisy chains across the harness and front of the pack are ideal for hanging gear.
At only 24L capacity, this best suits a minimalist packer, although the bag’s capacity could be almost doubled by adding some of Klättermussen’s optional extras such as bottle holders and extra pockets.
Durability rating: 10/10 / Airflow rating: 8/10 / Integrated rain cover?: no, but the fabrics are highly water resistant
Price: £160 Weight: 900g Capacities: 18, 30, 35, 45L Best for: Day hikes, overnighters, fast hiking, winter walking What we liked: Impressive design features, lightweight build, capacious What we didn’t like: quite pricey
This is essentially a lightweight hiking pack with a running pack harness system. The front vest-like shoulder straps really conform to your torso – it’ll even hold comfortably against your chest as it rises and falls with your breathing.
It’s made from a light but incredibly tough ripstop nylon with durable Cordura threads and liquid crystal polymer mesh too (a material used in bulletproof vests). From what we’ve seen it’s easily robust enough to stand up to tough backcountry trips, including rough scrambles.
There are features in abundance and more roomy pockets than you can shake a stick at, meaning that you could even fit some solo tents in this pack to upgrade it from a day pack to an overnighter.
It comes in two back lengths, regular and tall, and there are different volumes too, including a 15L and a 45L.
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