Top 5 Light Daypacks in 2019 

In this post, you will find a list of the top 5 light daypacks that we tested out for you to read and decide if one of these daypacks is the one you are looking for. We personally bought all of these 5 light daypacks and used them one by one in various circumstances. All reviews in this post are written by us and all the daypacks were tested by us. This post only covers briefly all the highlights of each daypack but if you want to read the full review click the ”Read Full In-Depth Review” link and it will take you to the full extended expert review with topics such as specifications, main features, pros and cons and more.

Looking for high-quality top of the line ultralight daypack? The Osprey Talon has all the essentials and makes a great choice for all various activities. It comes in a variety of sizes and colors to fit your needs perfectly. If you needed one pack to do it all, the Osprey Talon daypack is for you because the Talon is a versatile, lightweight and comfortable daypack.

Specifications

  • Size: S/M & M/L

  • Volume: 20l/22l

Main Features

  • Hydration Port

  • Lidlock™ Helmet Attachment

Osprey Talon Front Side

Pros

  • Good Quality

  • Very Adjustable

Cons

  • Limited Access to Side Mesh Pockets

  • Uncomfortable With Bulky/Max Load

This pack is great at keeping you organized with various mesh and zippered pockets for easy storage. Dual mesh hydration pockets on either side of the bag and can fit a one-liter water bottle each but note that it’s hard to reach when the pack is on your back. An external sleeve in the back can fit a three-liter water bladder keeping you hydrated for longer day trips.

LEARN MORE: Check our In-Depth Review of the Osprey Talon 22l.

A great 20-liter all daypack that is designed for maximum comfort. There’s a lot to love about this pack, but most of all it’s the overall comfortability and ease of use that really makes the Speed Lite 20 bag great. It has a fairly unique V-shaped Design that spreads the weight of the pack evenly between your shoulders, making it hug the shape of your back.

Specifications

  • Size: One Size

  • Volume: 20l

Main Features

  • Removeable Hip Belt

  • V-Cut Shape Design

Deuter Speed Lite Front Side

Pros

  • Very Lightweight

  • Comfortable

Cons

  • Lack Luster Hip Belt

  • Thin Waist Belt

This will allow you to move quickly without shifting your center of balance too much at all. This makes it great for fast-moving activities where you don’t need to carry too much gear, like skiing, mountain biking, short hikes, or even trail running. Another thing that I enjoy about this pack is that it is hydration sleeve compatible. This is great because it means you can use it to replace your conventional hydration packs that don’t offer as much gear storage space.

LEARN MORE: Check our In-Depth Review of the Deuter Speed Lite 20l.

Are you ready to be whisked off to your favorite travel destination? Now is the right time to hit the trails and roads to explore the world around you. But for this, you need to find yourself an ideal travel backpack that should be small, light in weight and spacious enough to hold all your traveling or hiking gear in one place along with all the essentials.

Specifications

  • Size: One Size

  • Volume: 20l

Main Features

  • Hydration Slot & External Access

  • Mesh Covered Die-Cut Panels

Osprey Talon Front Side

Pros

  • Light & Compact

  • Durable

Cons

  • Not For Everyone

  • Fragile Elastic Panels

To start with, considering all the specifications, features and price, I would recommend this backpack. The materials are very strong and durable, and I would highly recommend it for e.g.college purposes, work or any other urban activity. It can efficiently accommodate a couple of books or a laptop and is also very easy to carry around on the go. However, I would highly recommend this pack for those seeking a daypack for strictly hiking and mountain traveling purposes, as it might not be able to fill in all the gear you would usually pack.

LEARN MORE: Check our In-Depth Review of the Osprey Daylite Plus 20l.

The Kompressor Plus is a modern looking, minimalist and well thought out backpack. It would suit people who engage in various activities such as hiking, running, bike ride-ing and traveling. It has handy features that make life easier and fits everyone when used as a simple daypack. For me, it’s a little expensive, especially when compared to similar daypacks.

Specifications

  • Size: One Size

  • Volume: 20l

Main Features

  • Hydration Slot

  • Top Lid Pocket

Marmot Kompressor Plus Front View

Pros

  • Clever & Convenient

  • Ultralight & Stuffable

Cons

  • Bad Back Breather

  • Little Pricey

But with the Kompressor Plus, you get that fascinating and accurate minimalist build and it truly provides everything you would need and would expect from a light daypack. If you can imagine yourself using the Kompressor Plus for multi-purpose activities after reading this review, and you want to make sure that your money has been well spent on a backpack, I would personally recommend buying the Marmot Kompressor Plus 20l backpack.

LEARN MORE: Check our In-Depth Review of the Marmot Kompressor Plus 20l.

Have you ever wished to have a daypack that could stick with you all day and yet provide exactly the comfort you need? If yes then this bag pack is for you. Its design was Inspired by the open-and-shut style of a climbing chalk bag. This Lightweight Black Hole Cinch Pack loads and unloads in a cinch and simple way. It features a clean, simple design that’s perfect for cruising around town or drifting through the hills.

Specifications

  • Size: One Size

  • Volume: 20l

Main Features

  • Nylon Ripstop

  • Top-Loader

Osprey Daylite Plus Front Side

Pros

  • Lightweight

  • Water Resistant

Cons

  • No Hip Belt

  • No Cover On Top

This bag is made from lightweight yet very tough ripstop nylon with a TPU-film laminate. It has a DWR (durable water repellent) finish that resists abrasion and protects your gear from the external effect and damage. The design of the top-loading neatly features a single-pull closure lock, a simple main compartment that has the ability to hold enough for a day’s outing. It also has an internal hydration-compatible sleeve.

LEARN MORE: Check our In-Depth Review of the Patagonia Black Hole Cinch 20l.

TOP 5 LIGHT DAYPACKS IN 2019

In this post, you will find a list of the top 5 light daypacks that we tested out for you to read and decide if one of these daypacks is the one you are looking for. We personally bought all of these 5 light daypacks and used them one by one in various circumstances. All reviews in this post are written by us and all the daypacks were tested by us. This post only covers briefly all the highlights of each daypack but if you want to read the full review click the ”Read Full In-Depth Review” link and it will take you to the full extended expert review with topics such as specifications, main features, pros and cons and more.

Osprey Talon Front Side

Looking for high-quality top of the line ultralight daypack? The Osprey Talon has all the essentials and makes a great choice for all various activities. It comes in a variety of sizes and colors to fit your needs perfectly. If you needed one pack to do it all, the Osprey Talon daypack is for you because the Talon is a versatile, lightweight and comfortable daypack.

Specifications

  • Size: S/M & M/L

  • Volume: 20l/22l

Main Features

  • Hydration Port

  • Lidlock™ Helmet Attachment

This pack is great at keeping you organized with various mesh and zippered pockets for easy storage. Dual mesh hydration pockets on either side of the bag and can fit a one-liter water bottle each but note that it’s hard to reach when the pack is on your back. An external sleeve in the back can fit a three-liter water bladder keeping you hydrated for longer day trips.

Pros

  • Good Quality

  • Very Adjustable

Cons

  • Limited Access to Side Mesh Pockets

  • Uncomfortable With Bulky/Max Load

LEARN MORE: Check our In-Depth Review of the Osprey Talon 22l.

Deuter Speed Lite Front Side

A great 20-liter all daypack that is designed for maximum comfort. There’s a lot to love about this pack, but most of all it’s the overall comfortability and ease of use that really makes the Speed Lite 20 bag great. It has a fairly unique V-shaped Design that spreads the weight of the pack evenly between your shoulders, making it hug the shape of your back.

Specifications

  • Size: One Size

  • Volume: 20l

Main Features

  • Removeable Hip Belt

  • V-Cut Shape Design

This will allow you to move quickly without shifting your center of balance too much at all. This makes it great for fast-moving activities where you don’t need to carry too much gear, like skiing, mountain biking, short hikes, or even trail running. Another thing that I enjoy about this pack is that it is hydration sleeve compatible. This is great because it means you can use it to replace your conventional hydration packs that don’t offer as much gear storage space.

Pros

  • Very Lightweight

  • Comfortable

Cons

  • Lack Luster Hip Belt

  • Thin Waist Belt

LEARN MORE: Check our In-Depth Review of the Deuter Speed Lite 20l.

Osprey Talon Front Side

Are you ready to be whisked off to your favorite travel destination? Now is the right time to hit the trails and roads to explore the world around you. But for this, you need to find yourself an ideal travel backpack that should be small, light in weight and spacious enough to hold all your traveling or hiking gear in one place along with all the essentials.

Specifications

  • Size: One Size

  • Volume: 20l

Main Features

  • Hydration Slot & External Access

  • Mesh Covered Die-Cut Panels

To start with, considering all the specifications, features and price, I would recommend this backpack. The materials are very strong and durable, and I would highly recommend it for e.g.college purposes, work or any other urban activity. It can efficiently accommodate a couple of books or a laptop and is also very easy to carry around on the go. However, I would highly recommend this pack for those seeking a daypack for strictly hiking and mountain traveling purposes, as it might not be able to fill in all the gear you would usually pack.

Pros

  • Light & Compact

  • Durable

Cons

  • Not For Everyone

  • Fragile Elastic Panels

LEARN MORE: Check our In-Depth Review of the Osprey Daylite Plus 20l.

Marmot Kompressor Plus Front View

The Kompressor Plus is a modern looking, minimalist and well thought out backpack. It would suit people who engage in various activities such as hiking, running, bike ride-ing and traveling. It has handy features that make life easier and fits everyone when used as a simple daypack. For me, it’s a little expensive, especially when compared to similar daypacks.

Specifications

  • Size: One Size

  • Volume: 20l

Main Features

  • Hydration Slot

  • Top Lid Pocket

But with the Kompressor Plus, you get that fascinating and accurate minimalist build and it truly provides everything you would need and would expect from a light daypack. If you can imagine yourself using the Kompressor Plus for multi-purpose activities after reading this review, and you want to make sure that your money has been well spent on a backpack, I would personally recommend buying the Marmot Kompressor Plus 20l backpack.

Pros

  • Clever & Convenient

  • Ultralight & Stuffable

Cons

  • Bad Back Breather

  • Little Pricey

LEARN MORE: Check our In-Depth Review of the Marmot Kompressor Plus 20l.

Osprey Daylite Plus Front Side

Have you ever wished to have a daypack that could stick with you all day and yet provide exactly the comfort you need? If yes then this bag pack is for you. Its design was Inspired by the open-and-shut style of a climbing chalk bag. This Lightweight Black Hole Cinch Pack loads and unloads in a cinch and simple way. It features a clean, simple design that’s perfect for cruising around town or drifting through the hills.

Specifications

  • Size: One Size

  • Volume: 20l

Main Features

  • Nylon Ripstop

  • Top-Loader

This bag is made from lightweight yet very tough ripstop nylon with a TPU-film laminate. It has a DWR (durable water repellent) finish that resists abrasion and protects your gear from the external effect and damage. The design of the top-loading neatly features a single-pull closure lock, a simple main compartment that has the ability to hold enough for a day’s outing. It also has an internal hydration-compatible sleeve.

Pros

  • Lightweight

  • Water Resistant

Cons

  • No Hip Belt

  • No Cover On Top

LEARN MORE: Check our In-Depth Review of the Patagonia Black Hole Cinch 20l.

Comparison Table – Light Daypacks

Light DaypacksPriceRatingRank
Marmot Kompressor 20$69.0063#4
Deuter Speed Lite 20$75.0065#2
Osprey Talon 22$102.0071#1
Osprey Daylite Plus 20$60.3564#3
Patagonia Black Hole Cinch 20$79.0058#5

Author

Stephen John

Founder, Tester & Editor

Stephen is the founder of Backpackfanatic. Besides managing daily operations he also edits, designs & tests products.