Top 5 compared
The best daypacks
Water, lunch, a rain jacket and a spare layer, carried comfortably on a hike, a theme-park day or a trip.
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The top 5 at a glance
A daypack is a backpack sized for a single outing, without the frame and weight of a backpacking pack. Around 20 liters suits most day hikes; bigger packs take family gear, a camera or what’s needed for a night away. Packable ones fold into their own pocket and ride in a suitcase until they’re needed.
Most of these shrug off a shower rather than a downpour: the fabric is water-resistant or water-repellent, and one carries its own rain cover in a base pocket. The larger hiking packs take a water bladder, while the packables trade padding for lightness.
What matters
- A chest strap, to stop it swinging on rough ground.
- Side pockets for a water bottle.
#1SKYSPER 20L Hiking Daypack
$30–$50
The right size for a day on the trail: room for a rain jacket, lunch, a thermos and a spare layer, with a ventilated back, reflective trim, trekking-pole loops and an anti-theft zippered pocket.
What owners say: Owners take it on day hikes, theme-park days and under the seat on flights, and like the zipped pockets and wide straps; stitching at the strap joins has come loose for some.
A closer look: Pack the heavy things, water and a thermos, closest to your back and it carries far better. Water-resistant isn’t waterproof, so line it with a trash bag on wet days; the detachable straps on the front hold a rolled-up jacket.
- Ventilated grooved back panel
- Trekking-pole loops
- Anti-theft zippered pocket
- Reflective trim
- Front straps hold a jacket
Best for: Day hikes
- Capacity
- 20L
- Weight
- About 18 oz
- Fabric
- 600D polyester, 210D nylon
- Weather
- Water-resistant
- Folds away
- No
- Chest strap
- With whistle
- Bottle pockets
- Bottle holder
#2SKYSPER Foldable 20L Hiking Daypack
$20–$30
Folds into a pouch about 8 by 7 inches, yet opens into a full-size 20-liter daypack with a wide-opening main section, three zipped pockets, a hidden back pocket and deep mesh side pockets. A chest strap with a whistle steadies it on the trail.
What owners say: Two full 32 oz bottles fit the side pockets, owners say, the chest strap takes weight off the back, and the zippers and seams hold up; it folds back into its pouch easily too.
A closer look: There’s little padding in the back, so it carries best with soft things against you and bottles in the side pockets. Keep it folded in a suitcase or the car for the days when plans grow; it doubles as a spare bag for groceries.
- Folds to 7.9 × 7.1 in
- Hidden back pocket
- Three zipped pockets
- Wide-opening main section
- Doubles as a grocery bag
Best for: Trips with unplanned days out
- Capacity
- 20L
- Weight
- About 13 oz
- Fabric
- Polyester
- Weather
- Water-resistant
- Folds away
- Yes
- Chest strap
- With whistle
- Bottle pockets
- Deep mesh, both sides
#3MOUNTAINTOP 40L Hiking Backpack
$50–$75
Room for a long day or a night away: a 40-liter main section that also takes a 16-inch laptop and a water bladder, two zipped front pockets and side pockets for bottles. YKK zippers run smoothly, and the mesh straps and back are well padded.
What owners say: Roomy compartments and practical pockets win praise, the padded straps don’t dig in, and one owner carried it across four continents in two months of travel.
A closer look: Fill the water bladder first, as it sits in its own sleeve against the back, then pack the heavy things close to it. The chest clip’s whistle buckle keeps the load centered on rough ground, and the laptop space makes it a weekend travel bag too.
- Fits a 16 in laptop
- Sleeve for a water bladder
- YKK zippers
- Padded mesh straps and back
Best for: Long hikes and weekends away
- Capacity
- 40L
- Weight
- –
- Fabric
- 400D polyester
- Weather
- Water-repellent
- Folds away
- No
- Chest strap
- Chest clip, whistle
- Bottle pockets
- 2 side pockets
#4MIYCOO Ultralight Packable 35L Daypack
$10–$20
Thirty-five liters for under 13 oz, folding down to about 4.5 by 8 inches, with a separate wet compartment for a swimsuit or a sweaty shirt and an IPX4 splash rating for light rain. Zipper clips lock the pulls together on a busy street.
What owners say: Owners like how light and roomy it is, with room for two bottles in each side pocket, and the pocket for wet clothes gets a mention; one kept everything dry through a Maui storm.
A closer look: Light fabric and thin straps suit a day of sightseeing or a trip to the beach better than a heavy load. Folded into its own inner pocket it barely takes up room in a suitcase, ready for the souvenirs on the way home.
- Separate wet compartment
- Zipper clips lock the pulls
- Folds into its inner pocket
Best for: Beach days and sightseeing
- Capacity
- 35L
- Weight
- About 13 oz
- Fabric
- Polyester
- Weather
- Water-resistant (IPX4)
- Folds away
- Yes
- Chest strap
- –
- Bottle pockets
- 2 mesh pockets
#5Maelstrom 40L Hiking Backpack with Rain Cover
$30–$50
A rain cover lives in the bottom pocket for when the weather turns, and the 210D ripstop nylon shrugs off showers until then. Inside there’s a waterproof wet pocket, and a padded back, hip belt and hydration port make it comfortable on a long day.
What owners say: A great bag for day trips and short hikes, owners say, with lots of zipped pockets and comfortable padded straps; a few had it rip after light use.
A closer look: Pull the cover over at the first drops; it’s quicker than stopping to dig out a jacket. The two hip-belt pockets keep a phone and snacks in reach without taking the pack off, and at about 2.2 lb it’s light for its size.
- Hip belt with two pockets
- Waterproof wet pocket
- Hydration sleeve and hose port
- Trekking-pole loops
- Reflective prints
Best for: Hiking in changeable weather
- Capacity
- 40L
- Weight
- About 35 oz
- Fabric
- 210D ripstop nylon
- Weather
- Rain cover included
- Folds away
- No
- Chest strap
- Chest buckle
- Bottle pockets
- 2 mesh side pockets
How they compare
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| Feature | #1SKYSPER 20L | #2SKYSPER Foldable 20L | #3MOUNTAINTOP 40L | #4MIYCOO 35L | #5Maelstrom 40L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best packable | Best budget | Best with a rain cover | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.1 | 9.4 | 9.2 | 9.0 | 8.9 |
| Price | $30–$50 | $20–$30 | $50–$75 | $10–$20 | $30–$50 |
| Capacity | 20L | 20L | 40L | 35L | 40L |
| Weight | About 18 oz | About 13 oz | – | About 13 oz | About 35 oz |
| Fabric | 600D polyester, 210D nylon | Polyester | 400D polyester | Polyester | 210D ripstop nylon |
| Weather | Water-resistant | Water-resistant | Water-repellent | Water-resistant (IPX4) | Rain cover included |
| Folds away | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Chest strap | With whistle | With whistle | Chest clip, whistle | – | Chest buckle |
| Bottle pockets | Bottle holder | Deep mesh, both sides | 2 side pockets | 2 mesh pockets | 2 mesh side pockets |
| Best for | Day hikes | Trips with unplanned days out | Long hikes and weekends away | Beach days and sightseeing | Hiking in changeable weather |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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