April 2026: After six months of testing in Italy, Canada, Montana, and beyond, our Best All-Around daypack is the Osprey Talon 33/Tempest 33 for its plush comfort, high load-carrying capacity, and organizational prowess. Looking for a budget-friendly bag without the bells and whistles? Try The North Face Trail Lite 12 for its simple layout and featherlight weight. This year, we added new category leaders for “Most Eco-Friendly” (NEMO Persist 30), “Lightest” (Millet Mixt 15), and “Best for Adventure Travel” (Fjällräven Abisko Hike Lite 20).
Daypacks are the unsung heroes of the hiking world. Unless you’re lucky enough to camp out every weekend, chances are you’ll be strapping on that 20-liter pack a lot more often than your trusty 65-liter hauler. That means you need a model that’s comfortable enough to wear day in and day out, on all kinds of terrain, and in all kinds of weather. To help you pick the right companion for your next adventure, we evaluated dozens of top-ranking rucksacks—both brand-new models and time-tested stalwarts. Here are our all-time favorite packs for day-length adventures.
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