I saw two Herschel daypacks on the subway today. One sat in the lap of a lady wearing black loafers, button-down blouse, and work pants. Her navy Herschel initially stood out to me as an odd choice; then again, a daypack is the jack of all trades of travel backpacks, even if the excursion doesn’t extend beyond three subway stops and arrives at a WeWork. The second Herschel daypack, in brown, was carried by a rugged man in travel pants and hiking boots; that’s more like itI thought. Surely, he was going somewhere Upstate for a hike, and his backpack probably stowed a pair of shoes, some clothes, gadgets, and a water bottle in it. That’s where travel daypacks excel—packing essentials needed in a jaunt out of town.
Whatever your travel needs are, daypacks are always a good choice because they can satisfy all the following needs: Commuting to the office, daily errand runs, a day trip away from downtown, or a weekend flight to your cousin’s whatever… the list is endless. Below, we’ve selected 10 best daypacks for travel that’ll let you enjoy the world around you while keeping your stuff handy, whatever they are, and wherever they’re headed.
BEST AFFORDABLE Packable DAYPACK
Herschel
Packable Daypack
| Capacity |
24.5 |
| Dimension |
17.75″H x 12.25″W x 5″D |
| Fabric |
Ripstop |
MOST CLASSIC Packable DAYPACK
L.L.Bean
Stowaway Ultralight Day Pack
| Capacity |
13L |
| Dimension |
18″H x 8.5″W x 7″D |
| Fabric |
Recycled polyester |
| Weight |
0.8LB |
BEST SMALL DAYPACK
Osprey
Daylite Daypack
| Capacity |
13L |
| Dimensions |
10″W x 17″H x 8″D |
| Fabric |
Recycled polyester |
| Weight |
1LB |
BEST DAYPACK FOR HIKING
The North Face
Mountain Daypack – S
| Capacity |
18L |
| Dimension |
11”W x 6”D x 15”H |
| Fabric |
Recycled nylon |
| Weight |
1LB |
MOST DURABLE travel DAYPACK
Patagonia
Refugio 26L Day Pack
| Capacity |
26L |
| Dimension |
18″H x 12″W x 6.5″D |
| Fabric |
Recycled polyester, recycled nylon, and spandex |
| Weight |
1.6LB |
MOST CONVENIENT Packable DAYPACK
Bellroy
Little Daypack
| Capacity |
20L |
| Dimension |
350G or 0.8L |
| Fabric |
Diamond ripstop fabric |
| Weight |
19″H x 10.6″W x 7″D |
Most functional Travel DAYPACK
Topo Designs
Daypack Tech
| Capacity |
21L |
| Dimension |
11″W x 19″H x 5″D |
| Fabric |
Recycled nylon |
| Weight |
0.5LB |
THE DO-IT-ALL DAYPACK
Aer
Day Pack 2
| Capacity |
14.8L |
| Dimension |
5.5″D x 12”W x 19”H |
| Fabric |
840D ballistic nylon |
| Weight |
2.9LB |
THE COOLER DAYPACK
Carhartt
Cargo Series 25L Daypack + 3-Can Cooler
| Capacity |
25 |
| Dimension |
12″W x 20.25″H x 9″D |
| Fabric |
500D Cordura ripstop nylon |
BEST LARGE DAYPACK
Troubadour
Aero Backpack
| Capacity |
34 |
| Dimension |
13″W x 20″H x 8″D |
| Fabric |
Recycled polyester |
| Weight |
2.75LB |
You see a backpack, so you take it wherever you go. That’s how backpacks work. Daypacks just happen to be larger, burlier, and tougher for roughing it. A travel daypack and a daypack for hiking often have enough space and smarter interior organization for a variety of outdoor gear like shoes, gadgets, clothes, and something to eat or drink.
And then there’s packable daypack that can be folded onto itself to be stored in your luggage during your travel. It’s considered the spare, extra bag you’ll need when your main carrying option is too big or heavy. As such, packable daypacks are often lightweight and flexible.
What to Look for in Daypacks
- Capacity: If for a day trip, don’t stray too far away from 20L-to-25L daypacks; A daypack nicely under 20L will also suffice. If for a longer outing, shoot for larger, more spacious daypacks that can really pack. Most of the time, larger capacity begets larger dimension and heavier weight, but fabric and material also play a role.
- Material: If a backpack is built for traveling, it likely already comes in durable fabrics that can withstand nature’s curveball. Polyester is the common, basic one that’s not too shabby. Going from there you’ve got ripstop that’s anti-tear-and-rip, or nylon that’s water-resistant. There’s even ballistic nylon or Cordura that are weather-resistant. Hence, most daypacks are pretty impervious to accidental harm.
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Maverick Li
Maverick Li is the Assistant eCommerce Editor at Esquire, where he covers tech, home, and all things related to lifestyle.
