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Best Packable Daypack Backpack?
Allison would say I have a backpack addiction. This is likely true. I’m always on the lookout for the silver bullet backpack. The one pack to rule them all. Of course, that’s not possible, since there are different backpacks for different purposes. Daypacks, backpacking packs, travel backpacks, school backpacks, and so on.
One type of backpack that I wanted for a long time is a packable backpack. These super lightweight backpacks pack down into their own pocket, making for a very easy to pack daypack for daily travel adventures.
As you know, I use a travel backpack for all our travels. However, during cruise excursions or daily adventures around a city, you don’t want to carry around a 40+L travel backpack. I also don’t always want to carry a full size daypack with my luggage on a plane. This is where the packable daypack fits in, perfectly.
I looked at quite a few different packable daypacks before settling on the Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack.
Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack
Why did I pick the Osprey?
#1 The Osprey Almighty Guarantee: Osprey warrants their backpacks, for life. “Osprey will repair any damage or defect for any reason free of charge – whether it was purchased in 1974 or yesterday. If we are unable to perform a functional repair on your pack, we will happily replace it. We proudly stand behind this guarantee, so much so that it bears the signature of company founder and head designer, Mike Pfotenhauer.”
#2 I already own several Osprey backpacks and know their good quality and very well designed.
#3 The packed down size is very small on the packable daypack.
#4 Simplicity: It’s just one big pocket. I can just shove my stuff for the day in it and go.
The Osprey has been excellent for us. In fact, after I bought mine, Allison saw me using it and said, “Buy me one of those!” She uses hers more than I do!
Other Stuffable Daypacks
A couple other stuffable backpacks that I considered include the AmazonBasics Ultralight Packable Day Pack and the HikePro 20L.
The AmazonBasics pack is much less expensive than the Osprey and I do like the larger water bottle sleeves on the sides. However, it does not pack down as small as the Osprey and has an outer zippered compartment. When space is limited in a travel backpack, your packable daypack needs to be as small as possible to conserve space. The extra compartment is on the outside of the pack, making it very susceptible to pickpockets and thieves while traveling with it on your back. It’s also one more zipper that can break. It’s also much heavier material — great for durability, but not for weight considerations.
The HikePro is the best competition for Osprey, in my opinion. However, it’s also very large when fully packed. The reviews on Amazon also demonstrate that it’s not the quality that you get from Osprey, with many failures at the strap attachments and the zippered compartments. It has an internal sleeve for a tablet or small laptop and that same external zippered compartment. The more complicated you make these packs (with more zippers, sleeves, and pockets), the more likely you will have a failure point. Again, a reason I love the simplicity of the Osprey.
Conclusions
So, while you may pay more for the Osprey, you know you’re getting a well-designed, high-quality product from a well-known company that stands behind their product. If you’re looking for a packable daypack, look no further than the Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack.
