The 20-liter Sportlite has plenty of capacity for day hikes in warm weather. – Photo Credit: Jory Brass (cleverhiker.com)
Bottom Line
The Sportlite 20 isn’t Osprey’s best daypack, but it’s more performance-oriented than other packs priced at $100 or less. We tested the 20-liter Sportlite for three months, which highlighted several ways this pack is subtly better than the casual outdoor lifestyle packs in this price range.
Most daypacks at this price point are not specifically made for hiking. But the Osprey Sportlite has several features for hikers, starting with a ventilated back panel that didn’t leave our backs as swampy.
We also appreciated this pack’s organization. It’s not a fully featured pack, but we regularly used Osprey’s stretch-mesh shove-it pocket and small zippered front pocket for our keys, cards, and wallet.
The Sportlite 20 has a thin framesheet for a little load support, but its skimpy hip fins and belt can’t carry much weight. On the flip side, this pack is lighter and more packable than the more serious hiking daypacks we reviewed.
If you regularly hike longer trails or lug a pack full of gear, you probably want a more expensive daypack. But the Osprey Sportlite covers the basics for the average hiker while saving them a few bucks.
How We Tested
We spent three months alternating the Osprey Sportlite 20 with other daypacks on our list while hiking nearly 400 miles in New Mexico. This included more than 50 miles with the Sportlite on our back – both lightly loaded and fully loaded. We rated its comfort, organization, support, weight, and compressibility after testing it side by side with our top picks, other Osprey daypacks, and competing entry-level designs.
Quick Specs
Osprey Sportlite 20
Best Daypack Under $100
CleverHiker Rating:
4.3/5.0
Price:
$90
Weight:
1 lb. 5 oz.
Capacity:
20 L
Frame:
Internal framesheet
Pros
Ventilated back panelAiry shoulder straps Basic organization for hikersFramesheet adds light supportLightweightDurable, eco-friendly materials
Cons
Hipbelt doesn’t support much weightLimited on-the-go gear accessOne-size, unisex fit
The Osprey Sportlite 20 is one of the best hiking daypacks for less than $100. – Photo Credit: Jory Brass (cleverhiker.com)
Comfort
The Osprey Sportlite 20 didn’t excel in the comfort department, but it’s a step up compared to other packs at this entry-level price point.
One of this pack’s biggest selling points is Osprey’s AirScape back panel. It sits snugly against the back but has ventilation channels cut into the foam to allow for some airflow. This added air circulation kept our backs slightly cooler and drier in New Mexico compared to other budget-friendly designs.
This pack’s back panel isn’t as comfortable as the AirScape suspension on the Osprey pricier Talon/Tempest, and it’s not nearly as ventilated as Osprey’s AirSpeed back panel. But most daypacks in the Sportlite’s price range don’t have ventilated back panels.
At the same time, this entry-level daypack doesn’t fit as comfortably as other Osprey daypacks. Most Osprey packs have gender-specific fits and multiple torso lengths, but the Sportlite 20 is a one-size, unisex pack. This pack barely fit our male tester, who is 5’ll”. He had to loosen the shoulder straps almost all the way for the hipbelt to reach his waist.
The shoulder straps don’t stand out but show some thought with ventilation channels cut into the thin foam. We wished the hipbelt were removable. Its fins were barely padded and didn’t actually reach the hip bones of our tester (who has a 36-inch waist). The belt reduces how much the pack flops around while hiking, but it can’t carry significant weight comfortably.
During our field tests, we found the Sportlite 20 most comfortable when carrying no more than 1 to 2 liters of water and a light layer. The more weight we added, the more we felt the Sportlite 20 suspending from our shoulders rather than sitting on top of our hips.
Osprey’s AirScape back panel is a big step up from most daypacks in this price range. – Photo Credit: Jory Brass (cleverhiker.com)
Organization
The Osprey Sportlite 20 supports basic organization for the typical day hike, but you’ll need to take the pack off to access your food, layers, and gear.
The 20-liter Sportlite has front zipper access to the main compartment. There’s no internal organization, but there’s adequate space inside for a lunch and shed layers for three-season hiking.
The external pockets worked well for us. Our favorite pocket is Osprey’s front shove-it pocket, which is the perfect size to stash a puffy, windbreaker, or rain jacket outside the pack where it’s more accessible. If we loosened up the pocket’s straps, we could barely fit our DSLR camera in its soft case.
The Sportlite 20 lacks hipbelt pockets, which we missed. But we appreciated the small zippered front pocket with the key clip. It’s just big enough to stash our wallet, cards, and keys in a secure place that’s easy to find and separated from our main load.
The Sportlite accommodates a water bladder or water bottles. The internal hydration sleeve is easily accessible and carries 3-liter reservoirs (or less). The stretch-mesh side bottle pockets swallow Nalgene bottles or stainless steel tumblers more securely than Smartwater bottles. It’s awkward but possible to access bottles on the go, which is true of most daypacks.
If you hike with trekking poles, you can fix telescoping poles to the back of the Sportlite 20 using the two fabric loops at the bottom of the pack and the top compression straps. The poles aren’t accessible while walking. If you use folding (Z-style) trekking poles, you’ll need to stash them inside the pack or in the side bottle pockets (if they aren’t being used to carry hydration).
The Sportline has a basic layout for hikers, with enough storage for the 10 hiking essentials. – Photo Credit: Jory Brass (cleverhiker.com)
Support
The Osprey Sportlite 20 is slightly more supportive than the everyday packs on our list, but it’s not built to carry much weight for any extended time.
As its name suggests, this is a pack for “lite” hiking. On the plus side, the Osprey Sportlite has an Atilon framesheet, which builds a little load support into the harness system. This thin foam sheet spreads some weight across the back and down to the hipbelt. This is a step up in support from the casual, outdoor lifestyle packs we recommend in this price range – most of which are frameless.
At the same time, this frame is fairly flimsy, and the hipbelt is not substantial enough to carry weight. On an eight-mile test hike up and down Embudito Canyon, we felt the Sportlite hanging from our shoulders – not sitting on our hips – while carrying 2 liters of water and a shed layer. As a result, we felt our shoulders, neck, and jaw stiffen up on our descent before finishing the hike with a headache. We didn’t have this problem hiking the same trail with more robust daypacks on our backs.
The Sportlite’s minimalist hipbelt can’t carry weight on this hips. – Photo Credit: Jory Brass (cleverhiker.com)
Weight & Compressibility
The same features that limit the support of the Osprey Sportlite’s harness make this pack lighter and more packable than the premium daypacks on our list.
Weighing 1 pound, 5 ounces, this is one of the lightest hiking-focused designs we recommend. If you prioritize weight savings, the Osprey Sportlite 20 should be on your short list of hiking daypacks.
CleverHiker rates daypacks for hiking, not traveling. But the Osprey Sportlite 20 is one of the more packable daypacks on our list. This isn’t a frameless pack – the thin Atilon framesheet means you can’t compress, fold, or roll it. But it packs down flat and doesn’t weigh much. You could stash it in your suitcase without it hogging too much space or pushing your weight limit.
The Osprey Sportlite 20 is a solid hiking daypack for the price. – Photo Credit: Jory Brass (cleverhiker.com)
Should You Buy the Osprey Sportlite 20?
Of the sub-$100 packs that CleverHiker recommends, the Osprey Sportlite 20 is the most hike-able. Most daypacks in this price range are outdoor lifestyle packs – daypacks made for everyday use more than hiking. In contrast, the Sportlite has a well-ventilated back panel and framesheet, which improve its comfort and support while hiking. Plus, it works with both water bladders and water bottles and features a basic organization scheme that makes sense for hikers. If you prefer to keep things light, this is one of the lightest hiking daypacks we recommend.
You should consider more expensive packs if you hike longer trails, lug extra water, or carry a lot of gear. The Sportlite 20 is best for easy to moderate hikes in mild weather, where you’re carrying less weight and not spending too many hours on the trail. Still, for its budget-friendly price, the Osprey Sportlite 20 offers plenty of payoff for the average hiker.
The Sportlite’s shoulder straps have an ergonomic shape and perforated foam for cushioning and ventilation. – Photo Credit: Jory Brass (cleverhiker.com)
What Other Hiking Daypacks Should You Consider?
If this pack isn’t your cup of tea, head over to our best daypacks for hiking gear guide to check out our other top picks.
Osprey Talon 22/Tempest 22 Review: For an elevated Osprey experience, the men’s Talon and women’s Tempest offer gender-specific fits, a more ventilated and supportive harness, and improved access to gear on the go.
Osprey Stratos 24/Sirrus 24 Review: These Osprey packs feature Osprey’s most ventilated suspension system, an internal frame that carries weight well, and an included rain cover. However, they are much heavier and bulkier than the Sportlite.
REI Flash 22 Review: To spend even less on the daypack, the REI Flash 22 is a lightweight, frameless option. It’s surprisingly versatile considering its low weight and wallet-friendly price, although the Sportlite is more durable and offers better support.
The Osprey Sportlite 20 is a one-size daypack with a close-to-back fit. – Photo Credit: Jory Brass (cleverhiker.com)
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