By Stephen John · Owner & Editor · November 6, 2019

Imagine a perfectly acceptable hiking backpack that can be folded to the size of a folded fist. Sounds unrealistic, doesn’t it? Well, the Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack can be compressed to a fraction of its size, which is about the size of a small fist or an apple. To achieve this compressibility, the company had to make various compromises, such as doing away with extra padding, pouches, straps, and zippers. At just 3.6 ounces, this daypack is the lightest, with the exception of the Sea to Summit Ultra-SIL Nano Day Pack that weighs about 2.5 ounces. It is, therefore, a great complementary daypack for your large backpack that can be used in emergency cases or shorter day hikes on long expeditions.

Comfort & Support

The first thing you notice about this bag are the adjustable mesh straps that allow for a perfect fit. They are not as large or thick as straps on larger backpacks, which may trick you into believing that the straps are not strong enough. However, the mesh straps outperformed my expectations and can handle as much weight as the pack can carry. In my opinion the straps were are also very comfortable, as the soft paddings feel great on the skin and prevented soreness and pain after my 6 hour long hike. The only problem with these harnesses is that they cannot accommodate very tall individuals or people with very broad shoulders.

Features

On the side of this daypack is a pocket, primarily designed to hold a water bottle. The pocket is made of a stretchable mesh material fastened with compressors that can basically hold any extra accessory like a smartphone or even an umbrella. Unfortunately, this Osprey daypack does not include a frame or any reinforcement on its structure that can help it stand on its own. It means therefore that it is impractical to carry anything on its side pocket, without fully stuffing the pack first.

It features two stash pockets at the top. The external stash pocket is used to store accessories that will be used frequently during the hike, such as phone, glasses, and sunscreen. It even includes a key handle to secure your keys. However, the capacity is low and you can only store a few small-sized accessories. Luckily, there is another internal security compartment that you can use to store more accessories. The two pockets are very convenient, as they allow faster access and retrieval of accessories, without the need of digging through supplies in the main compartment just to locate an accessory.

Durability & Design

Sometimes, carrying a full backpack is impractical, for instance, when you are about to climb to the mountain top and you are too exhausted to haul a backpack full of supplies. In such instances, a daypack really comes in handy. You just fill it up with a few necessary supplies and leave the rest in the camp, as you continue with your gruesome trek to the mountain top. The fact that it can be compressed to the size of a fist means that you can pack it with the rest of the supplies, without worrying that it will eat up too much space. The only drawback with this daypack is that it is designed to cater to small and average bodied people. Therefore, if you are over 6’2, you may find this bag too small and uncomfortable for you. Overall I think this is a no brainer buy, whether if you have another similar day pack, the Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack comes at such a small price compared to its quality.

This daypack has a total capacity of 18 liters, weighs 3 ounces only and measures 7 x 9 x 17 Inches when full. It is, therefore, a small pack that can only be used as a complementary pack with your normal backpack to carry a few essentials or as a safety backpack. It is also lightweight and can be easily torn by heavy objects. Aside from the padded straps, this Osprey pack is fully made of nylon ripstop fabric, a flexible material that allows it to be compressed to a fraction of its size for easy packaging in a tiny pouch that it comes with.

Therefore, if you are worried that the daypack may eat up space in the backpack, then just throw the pouch inside your coat pocket and save the extra space for more essentials. The durability of this daypack depends entirely on how you use it. If you overload, then it will tear. However, if you fill it with lightweight supplies only, then it will last a long time.

The Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack is an amazing daypack to own. Although it does not offer the same capacity or flexibility as larger backpacks, it is very convenient when you have to carry a few essential supplies to a rigorous hiking adventure. My only request is that the company improves on the adjustability of the straps so that the daypack can be accommodative of taller people.

Last but not least I’d like to remind you of the Osprey All Mighty Guarantee, which means all their products are guaranteed for life. It’s their way to show that they are committed to protecting the environment. They want to repair products instead of replacing them.

	Outlander 20	Hikpro Light 20	Osprey 18	Zomake 20
Price	$17.82 at Amazon	$15.99 at Amazon	$34.95 at Amazon	$15.99 at Amazon
BPF Rating	76%	78%	68%	78%
Amazon Rating
Pros	Light, weather-resistant, versatile.	Durable, light, foldable.	Lightweight design, foldable, mesh straps.	Lightweight, compact, comfortable straps, spacious.
Cons	Not waterproof, wrinkled fabric, no padding.	Not waterproof, wrinkled fabric.	Won't fit all, cannot accommodate heavy loads.	Not waterproof; not suitable for heavy rain.
Bottom Line	Versatile bag, suitable for daily use like college/school and perfect for short day trips.	Great pack for minimalist hikers who love comfort and light traveling.	Very convenient when you have to carry a few essential supplies to a rigorous hiking adventure.	Ultra-durable, ultra-light backpack for camping, hiking, one-day trip, traveling and everyday use.
Rating Cat.	Outlander 20	Hikpro Light 20	Osprey 18	Zomake 20
- Comfort & Support	80%	80%	50%	80%
- Features	70%	80%	70%	80%
- Durability & Design	80%	80%	80%	80%
- Personal Exp.	75%	70%	70%	70%
Specs	Outlander 20	Hikpro Light 20	Osprey 18	Zomake 20
Weight (ounces)	7.36oz	7.50oz	3.00oz	8.00oz
Volume (liters)	20l	20l	18l	20l
Back Construction	Simple foam pad	Simple foam pad	Simple foam pad	Simple foam pad
Fold Ability	Packable	Packable	Packable	Packable
Hydration	No	No	No	No
Hip-Belt	No	No	No	No
No. of pockets	5	5	4	4
Pockets	Two front zipper pockets, one internal zippered pocket, two side pockets.	Three zippered compartments, two side mesh pockets.	Internal security pocket, zippered top stash pocket, two side mesh pockets.	Front zipper pocket, internal zippered pocket, and two open-mesh side pockets.
Materials	Rip-proof and water-resistant nylon	Water-resistant nylon	Nylon Ripstop	Water and tear-resistant nylon
Warranty	Life-time	5 years	Life-time	N/A
Colors	11	11	4	13
Other features	Includes a free carabiner clip. Folds into a zippered inner pocket to fit anywhere.	Folds into a zippered inner pocket. Good durability backpack at a fair price.	Osprey pack is fully made of nylon rip-stop fabric, a flexible material that allows it to be compressed to a fraction of its size for easy packaging in a tiny pouch that it comes with.	Ultra-durable, ultra-light, and ultra-awesome backpack for camping, hiking, a one-day trip, traveling and everyday use.

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