The 15 Best Packable Daypacks

What’s better than a backpack? How about a backpack… That you can pack in your backpack?

If you’ve never experienced the joy of having a pack that’s the exact right size for your activities, then having an Inception-style backpack setup might seem like overkill. But as a long-term traveler and frequent hiker, let me tell you: Setting yourself up with a Goldilocks-perfect pack that’s not too big and not too small will go such a long way towards making your life better. 

Stuff one of these 15 best packable daypacks into your main bag, and you’ll be ready for quick trips at a moment’s notice (without having to carry your entire life around on your back).

Matador Freefly 16 Packable Backpack

There are plenty of brands that make packable backpacks—but very few that focus on that style as their main attraction. It’s understandable: Making one bag that’s packable and utilitarian is hard enough, let alone a whole lineup of them. But Matador really has the whole packable bag thing down, and choosing just one of their awesome backpacks was tough. For day trips though, the Freefly 16 is the way to go. It’s incredibly lightweight and packs down to fit in the palm of your hand, all while offering a weatherproof and durable reinforced nylon construction. And final details like a sternum strap and contoured straps make it wear more like a high-performance ultralight pack.

• Body Material: Ripstop Robic nylon
• Capacity: 16 L
• Open Dimensions: 19” H x 10” W x 6” D
• Folded Dimensions: 3.75” x 3.75” x 5.5”
• Weight: 6.7 oz
• Price: $79.99
• Key Features: Ultralight and completely weatherproof, Matador’s Freefly backpack is tough enough to become your main pack but compact enough for quick adventures.

WANDRD VEER 18L Packable Bag

One of the main drawbacks to daypacks—and especially packable daypacks—is that they lack the structure you’ll find in bigger packs. This isn’t a problem most of the time, as you’ll be loading your daypack with less gear. But if you’re carrying heavy electronics like a camera and lenses, WANDRD’s VEER Packable Bag is the way to go. It’s equipped with an innovative inflatable back panel that gives the bag enough structure to hold more weight comfortably, and it has more pocket space than most bags in this style. Pair it with the inflatable camera cube, and all your precious gear will be safe and sound.

• Body Material: Weather resistant N100D Robic Dynatec and N210D Robic HD Oxford
• Capacity: 18 L
• Open Dimensions: 18″ H x 11″ W x 9″ D
• Folded Dimensions: 6″ H x 9″ W x 2″ D
• Weight: 14.6 oz
• Price: $99
• Key Features: This bag’s unique inflatable back panel puts it a step ahead of other packable daypacks when it comes to comfort for all-day wear

Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Travel Day Pack

The tiny 2.5-ounce weight on Sea to Summit’s Ultra-Sil Travel Day Pack makes it one of the best urban daytrip bags in the world. From the gym to the grocery to a quick hike and back, it’s always there for you—and the carabiner on its included stuff sack makes that quite literal. But what really separates the Ultra-Sil from similarly sized packs is its durability: the Cordura nylon construction has been finished with added silicon, giving it more stretch and resistance to tearing than your standard polyester bags. And bar-tack reinforced stitching means it’s doubly covered on all the friction points where a lesser bag would fail.

• Body Material: Siliconized Cordura nylon
• Capacity: 20 L
• Open Dimensions: 19” H x 11” W x 8” D
• Folded Dimensions: 2.5” x 3.5”
• Weight: 2.5 oz
• Price: $39.95
• Key Features: Even though it packs down to the size of a tennis ball, the Ultra-Sil Travel Day Pack boasts a surprisingly large 20 liter capacity to store all your gear.

REI Co-op Flash 18 Pack

When you need rock-solid outdoor gear at a budget-friendly price, REI’s Co-op brand should be one of the first places you look. Their Flash 18 Pack is an excellent example of the stripped down, quality focused aesthetic that REI Co-op is known for: Simple but not simplistic, with refined enough features to satisfy gadget junkies and minimalists alike. Hip and sternum straps combine with a surprisingly sturdy construction to make this a good pack to take out from your base camp, and it’s compatible with a hydration pack for longer trips, too. That’s especially hard to find in a bag that’s priced this affordably.

• Body Material: Recycled nylon
• Capacity: 18 L
• Open Dimensions: 18”H x 10” W x 8” D
• Folded Dimensions: Not specified
• Weight: 9.5 oz
• Price: $39.95
• Key Features: A hip belt and sternum strap make the Flash 18 pack feel closer to a full-sized hiking bag than a daypack, but it still stuffs down small for easy storage.

Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack

With its minimalist appearance and three-ounce pack weight, Osprey’s Ultralight Stuff Pack is the stuff that adventures are made of (pun intended). The smooth and sleek lines of this pack have serious integrity even while fully loaded, making it an excellent choice for both work and play. This is mirrored even when the Stuff Pack is packed away, where the included storage bag seals itself with velcro, ready for your next adventure. When it’s time to pick up and go where the wind may take you, this Osprey pack is the way to get from here to there.

• Body Material: 40D ripstop nylon
• Capacity: 18 L
• Open Dimensions: 17”H x 9” W x 7” D
• Folded Dimensions: Not specified
• Weight: 3.2 oz
• Price: $35
• Key Features: Ultralight is right—at just 3.2 ounces, Osprey’s Stuff Pack is one of the easiest ways to add storage to your daily pack without weighing yourself down.

Tortuga Setout Packable Travel Daypack

And the best personal bag for air travel is: Tortuga’s Setout Daypack, with its under-the-seat shape and size that makes it a breeze getting through TSA and back on the ground. It’s one of the more comfortable daypacks on this list, with padded mesh shoulder straps and a sternum strap that make its 19-liter capacity feel light and easy to carry. Two water bottle pockets give you enough room to stay hydrated while sightseeing, though the somewhat lightweight material of the bag might not be as well suited for long hikes. Overall, it’s an excellent bag to pack with you whenever you’re visiting a new city.

• Body Material: Nylon
• Capacity: 19 L
• Open Dimensions: 14.9” H x 10.8” W x 2” D
• Folded Dimensions:
• Weight: 8.5 oz
• Price: N/A
• Key Features: A minimalist and carry-on friendly design makes Tortuga’s Setout a favorite for travelers.

Oakley Packable Backpack

For a company that’s almost synonymous with their sunglasses, Oakley makes a darned fine packable backpack too. Take a look at its shape, and compare that to the other bags on this list—only the Oakley has a traditional backpack design complete with an extended front pocket for easy access. A water repellent nylon construction makes it good for anytime, anywhere use. And even though it’s a bit bulkier than many of the daypack options on this list, the Packable Backpack from Oakley more than makes up for it with style. 

• Body Material: Nylon and polyamide
• Capacity: 17.5 L
• Open Dimensions: 25”H x 19” W x 4” D
• Folded Dimensions: Not specified
• Weight: Not specified
• Price: $45
• Key Features: The slightly stiff polyamide exterior on this backpack’s pockets gives it great structure when it’s time to pack it down into a handsome little Oakley-branded pouch.

Burton Packable Skyward 25L Daypack

At a generous 25-liter capacity, Burton’s Packable Skyward Daypack is blurring the lines between a dedicated hiking bag and an adventure-ready travel pack. But if you’re a bigger guy who finds most travel packs look undersized on you—or you want the perfect bag to complement your big 60-liter long-term pack—then this bag will fit you perfectly. The 70D ripstop nylon construction is beefier than what’s offered in most daypacks, and a limited lifetime warranty means you’re covered for anything short of natural wear and tear. An excellent choice for anyone whose idea of minimalism still includes a full set of picnicking amenities.

• Body Material: Ripstop nylon with a silicon coating
• Capacity: 25 L
• Open Dimensions: 21” H x 10” W x 8” D
• Folded Dimensions: Not specified
• Weight: 11.2 oz
• Price: $43.96
• Key Features: A limited lifetime warranty and Bluesign approved eco-friendly manufacturing make Burton’s Skyward Daypack an investment that’s clean on your conscience.

AER Go Pack

Truly top of the line construction goes hand in hand with a thoughtful, detail-oriented design in AER’s Go Pack. 300D Cordura ripstop nylon gives the Go Pack serious durability, while long-lasting YKK zippers and Hypalon zipper pulls ensure smooth functioning for years to come. It’s also equipped with a handful of quick access pockets, including a magnetically-sealed one and a laptop pocket that will fit computers up to 13 inches. So while it can roll and fold nicely for storage in your luggage, this bag is just as capable of being your everyday go-to backpack.

• Body Material: 300D Cordura ripstop
• Capacity: 21.4 L
• Open Dimensions: 16.9” H x 11.8” W x 5” D
• Folded Dimensions: Not specified
• Weight: 1.0 lb
• Price: $85
• Key Features: Quick access magnetically-sealed pockets and a generous storage capacity make AER’s Go Pack great for urban commutes and weekend trips alike.

Herschel Packable Daypack

Our neighbors from the North at Herschel really do an excellent job of making distinctive, fashionable, and affordable clothing and accessories. Check out their Packable Daypack for proof: At half the price of many options on this list, it still has a uniquely attractive look and feel that’s backed up with solid construction and 15 different color options to suit your tastes. The exterior tech pocket makes it easy to keep your phone and keys within arm’s reach, and the interior stuff pocket lets you pack it down flat for flexible, on-the-go use.

• Body Material: Ripstop polyester
• Capacity: 24.5 L
• Open Dimensions: 17.75″ H x 12.25″ W x 5″ D
• Folded Dimensions: Not specified
• Weight: 6.7 oz
• Price: $31.99
• Key Features: A clean, minimalist style and affordable price tag make Herschel’s Daypack an excellent way to upgrade your daily carry.

Mystery Ranch In & Out Packable Backpack

Pushing the limits of what a packable backpack can offer, Mystery Ranch’s In & Out is a rugged, durable, and fully featured hiking pack that just happens to fold into a compact eight-by-four-inch rectangle. A drawstring top opening makes top-down packing and unpacking easy, and the matching weather-resistant flap will keep your gear safe and dry. Contoured and padded shoulder straps pair with a sternum strap to evenly distribute the weight of the bag’s 22 liter capacity, and extra zippered pockets, tool carry loops, and hydration pack compatibility add the final touches to the In & Out’s high performance functionality.

• Body Material: 100D Cordura Mini Rip fabric
• Capacity: 22 L
• Open Dimensions: 18″ H x 10.5” W x 9″ D
• Folded Dimensions: 8.5″ H x 4.5” W x 4″ D
• Weight: 14.4 oz
• Price: $99
• Key Features: Function, comfort, quality and durability are the four pillars of Mystery Ranch’s design ethos, and their In & Out backpack exemplifies each and every one.

The North Face Flyweight Pack

Though it appears to have a 17-liter capacity at first glance, The North Face’s Flyweight Pack can actually expand to even greater proportions. That’s thanks to a stretchy external mesh pocket, complete with a top-cinching compression strap to keep everything under control. Combine that with the bag’s comfortable and breathable mesh shoulder straps, and you get a bag that’s useful for everything from daily carry to day trips and hiking. The whole thing is wrapped up in less than six ounces of total weight too, further adding to its versatility.

• Body Material: Cordura ripstop nylon with a durable water repellent finish
• Capacity: 17 L
• Open Dimensions: 17″ H x 10.5″ W x 7.5″ D
• Folded Dimensions: Not specified
• Weight: 5.9 oz
• Price: $43.40+
• Key Features: Two external water bottle pockets and a stretch mesh pocket with top compression can nearly double this bag’s total storage capacity.

L.L. Bean Stowaway Pack

If you want your purchase to be as good for the environment as it is for your travel ambitions, consider buying L.L. Bean’s Stowaway Pack for your daily carry needs. It’s made from recycled plastic bottles, refashioned into 70D ripstop fabric that offers a great compromise between strength and weight. Back paneling and mesh straps combine with sternum straps and a waist belt to make this bag really darned close to a full fledged hiking pack—and with 22 liters of storage space, it has more than enough room to accommodate any hiking day trip’s loadout.

• Body Material: 70D recycled polyester ripstop
• Capacity: 22 L
• Open Dimensions: 19″ H x 10″ W x 7″ D
• Folded Dimensions: Not specified
• Weight: 14 oz
• Price: $59.95
• Key Features: Lots of padding and lots of pockets make the Stowaway pack both comfortable and organization-focused.

DAKINE Packable 22L Backpack

Another eco-friendly option with a different shape and design is DAKINE’s Packable Backpack. Two of the three colors are made from recycled polyester, woven into a ripstop texture and given a durable water repellent finish perfect for everyday use. But if you need a stronger ripstop material guaranteed to last longer, go for the Grayscale colorway with its Cordura construction. No matter which material and color you choose, you’ll get a generous selection of pockets for all your gear, including a side-mounted mesh water bottle pocket that will encourage you to stay hydrated.

• Body Material: Nylon, polyester, and/or Cordura (depends on color choice)
• Capacity: 22 L
• Open Dimensions: 18” H x 10.25” W x 8” D
• Folded Dimensions: Not specified
• Weight: Not specified
• Price: $65
• Key Features: Lots of pockets give you lots of options for how to carry your gear, and a sternum strap keeps even a fully loaded pack nicely stabilized.

Matador On-Grid Packable Duffel Bag

Backpacks offer a lot of flexibility in organizing your gear exactly as you want it. But is this always a good thing? When all you want to do is toss a few essentials in your bag and head out the door, not always. In situations like that, Matador’s On-Grid Packable Duffel Bag is probably a better choice. It’s built from waterproof nylon that’s been given an extra durable ripstop coating for long-lasting performance, and equipped with a no-nonsense set of quick access pockets and gear loops—perfect for grab and go efficiency.

• Body Material: 100D waterproof Robic nylon
• Capacity: 25 L
• Open Dimensions: 18” H x 11.5” W x 11.5” D
• Folded Dimensions: 7.5” H x 5.5” W x 2.5” D
• Weight: 9.17 oz
• Price: $54.99
• Key Features: It doesn’t get much more convenient than a duffel bag for grab-and-go travel, and this one can pack down inside your everyday bag to expand your storage options in a flash.

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