Best daypacks for day hikes
Day hikes do not need a complicated pack, but they do need one that fits, rides well, and does not turn into a sponge. OutdoorGearLab, Consumer Reports, and Good Housekeeping all found solid options, with comfort and pocket layout doing most of the work.
5 products ranked Updated
Our rankings are built from published testing by named outlets, not from our own lab. We earn a commission when you buy through our links, and it never changes the order.
The short answer
- 1 Gregory Zulu 24 Top trail comfort
- 2 Osprey Sportlite 25 Best pocket organization
- 3 REI Co-op Flash 22 Best value carry
- 4 Deuter Speed Lite 24L Most secure fit $115
- 5 Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack Best hiking features $75
Prices checked 26 October 2026. They move constantly — the retailer's own page is the authority.
Gregory Zulu 24
OutdoorGearLab puts the Gregory Zulu 24 near the top for hiking daypacks. Its strongest points are comfort, breathability, and its ability to handle heavier loads well.
Pros
- Incredible comfort and breathability
- Handles heavier loads well
- Top-ranked hiking daypack, per OutdoorGearLab
Cons
- Not a budget pick
Where these findings come from
- OutdoorGearLab: ranked hiking daypack pick; the outlet called out incredible comfort and breathability, and said it performs well in hiking use and on heavier loads
Osprey Sportlite 25
OutdoorGearLab liked the Osprey Sportlite 25 for the way it carries gear. The pocket layout stands out, and the fit is close to what the outlet found in pricier packs.
Pros
- Well-designed pockets
- External bladder sleeve
- Comfortable fit
Cons
- Got very soggy in hose testing
- Needs a rain cover or dry bag in wet weather
Where these findings come from
- OutdoorGearLab: favorite daypack pick with well-designed pockets, an external bladder sleeve, and a comfortable fit that rivals more expensive options
- OutdoorGearLab: got very soggy in the hose test; OutdoorGearLab suggests a rain cover or dry bag in wetter environments
REI Co-op Flash 22
OutdoorGearLab's budget pick is the REI Co-op Flash 22. The case for it is simple: it is light and affordable, which makes it an easy fit for many day hikes.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Affordable
- Good deal pick, per OutdoorGearLab
Cons
- Less detailed writeup than the top picks
Where these findings come from
- OutdoorGearLab: great deal pick; lightweight and affordable way to carry day gear
Deuter Speed Lite 24L
Consumer Reports gives the Deuter Speed Lite 24L its Editor's Pick for large day packs. The outlet's strongest praise is for comfort and security, especially for serious day hikers.
Pros
- Supremely comfortable
- Secure fit
- Good breathability and pocket layout
Cons
- Price is higher than the cheapest picks
Where these findings come from
- Consumer Reports: Editor's Pick for Large Day Packs; Consumer Reports called it a supremely comfortable bag for serious day hikers or anyone who wants a pack that fits well and feels really secure
Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack
Good Housekeeping picks the Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack as the best hiking backpack. The outlet liked the strap setup, the removable hip belt, and the extra storage options, including a back compartment for a hydration pouch or a small laptop.
Pros
- Padded straps
- Removable hip belt and chest strap with whistle
- Separate compartment for hydration pouch or laptop
Cons
- Hand wash only
- Not the cheapest option
Where these findings come from
- Good Housekeeping: Best for Hiking; padded straps, removable hip belt, chest strap with whistle, front compression straps, side bottle holders, and a separate back compartment for a hydration pouch or a 14-inch laptop
- Good Housekeeping: hand wash only
What actually matters
For day hikes, the first question is fit. A pack can have the right size on paper and still feel wrong if the shoulder straps, hip belt, and back panel do not sit properly. Consumer Reports focused on fit across multiple bodies, which is a useful reminder that one person's comfortable pack can be another person's annoyance.
Comfort is the next filter. OutdoorGearLab scored comfort, weight, ease of use, versatility, and durability across 15 hiking daypacks. That is the right set of tradeoffs for this category. A daypack should disappear on your back. If it needs constant fixing, it is the wrong pack.
Pocket layout matters too, but only if it matches how you hike. Some people want a clean main compartment. Others want side pockets, a bladder sleeve, hip-belt pockets, and quick access to snacks or layers. OutdoorGearLab and Consumer Reports both pointed to pocket usefulness as part of the appeal of their top picks.
Weather resistance is worth noting, but not every daypack needs to be waterproof. OutdoorGearLab's hose test showed that some packs got very soggy, which is a reminder that a light hiking pack may still need a rain cover or dry bag if the weather turns.
Picked daypacks
Gregory Zulu 24
OutdoorGearLab puts the Gregory Zulu 24 near the top for hiking daypacks. Its strongest points are comfort, breathability, and its ability to handle heavier loads well.
Pros:
- Incredible comfort and breathability
- Handles heavier loads well
- Top-ranked hiking daypack, per OutdoorGearLab
Cons:
- Not a budget pick
Osprey Sportlite 25
OutdoorGearLab liked the Osprey Sportlite 25 for the way it carries gear. The pocket layout stands out, and the fit is close to what the outlet found in pricier packs.
Pros:
- Well-designed pockets
- External bladder sleeve
- Comfortable fit
Cons:
- Got very soggy in hose testing
- Needs a rain cover or dry bag in wet weather
REI Co-op Flash 22
OutdoorGearLab's budget pick is the REI Co-op Flash 22. The case for it is simple: it is light and affordable, which makes it an easy fit for many day hikes.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Affordable
- Good deal pick, per OutdoorGearLab
Cons:
- Less detailed writeup than the top picks
Deuter Speed Lite 24L
Consumer Reports gives the Deuter Speed Lite 24L its Editor's Pick for large day packs. The outlet's strongest praise is for comfort and security, especially for serious day hikers.
Pros:
- Supremely comfortable
- Secure fit
- Good breathability and pocket layout
Cons:
- Price is higher than the cheapest picks
Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack
Good Housekeeping picks the Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack as the best hiking backpack. The outlet liked the strap setup, the removable hip belt, and the extra storage options, including a back compartment for a hydration pouch or a small laptop.
Pros:
- Padded straps
- Removable hip belt and chest strap with whistle
- Separate compartment for hydration pouch or laptop
Cons:
- Hand wash only
- Not the cheapest option
Where this comes from
OutdoorGearLab bought 15 hiking daypacks, hiked with them in varied settings, used them on commutes, gym trips, and travel, and ran a hose test for weather resistance. It updated its page on November 18, 2025.
Consumer Reports said three testers used the packs for more than a month on day hikes, city walks, and domestic and foreign travel, while checking fit on multiple bodies. Its page was published about 4.4 years ago on the crawl.
Good Housekeeping's backpack guide came from its Textiles Lab and a packing test.
Where this comes from
We did not test these. These people did.
Every score on this page rests on the testing below. The ranking is ours; the measurements are not. How we research.
- OutdoorGearLab — Ranked test of 15 hiking daypacks; bought the packs, hiked with them in varied settings, used them on commutes/gym/trips, and ran a hose test for weather resistance. Scored comfort, versatility, ease of use, weight, and durability. Updated November 18, 2025.
- Consumer Reports — Three testers used the packs for more than a month on day hikes, city walks, and domestic and foreign travel, and tested fit on multiple bodies. Published about 4.4 years ago on the page crawl.
- Good Housekeeping — Published about 2.3 years ago on the page crawl.
Questions people ask
Do I need a hydration bladder for a day hike?
Which pack is best in wet weather?
Which pick is the cheapest?
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