Six Moon Designs Wy’East Daypack Assessment

Backside Line

The Six Moon Designs Wy’East is an ultralight daypack for minimalist hikers who need loads of area for gear-intensive day hikes or ultralight overnighters. That’s why we added it to our checklist of the finest mountaineering daypacks of 2025.

After 250 miles of dayhikes and overnights within the Colorado Rockies, Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer’s favourite factor about this pack is its versatility. It’s gentle sufficient to hold over lengthy distances however cavernous sufficient to haul cumbersome gear for winter day hikes, due to its 30-liter capability. The thick, adjustable foam shoulder straps and detachable waist belt permit for personalisation. So does the delicate foam backer pad, which doubles as a sit pad for breaks on the path. Its flexibility shines on light-weight day hikes and brief overnighters. 

Throughout testing on steep, rocky trails and forested paths, it dealt with gentle hundreds effectively with out compromising consolation. Nonetheless, this pack has some quirks. For instance, the froth backer lacks rigidity for heavier hundreds, and the hydration reservoir compatibility isn’t one of the best. We additionally discover accessing the sit pad awkward when the bag is absolutely packed. However in the event you’re an ultralight hiker, none of those might be dealbreakers. This pack delivers with regards to a big capability for day hikes and in a single day adventures.

Consolation

For an ultralight, larger-capacity daypack, the Wy’East is a snug decide. Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer used this pack from summer season to winter for shorter day journeys with bigger gear hauls and in a single day adventures with an ultralight setup. The thick, adjustable foam shoulder straps conformed effectively to his physique sort and supplied first rate cushioning with out compromising flexibility. He may regulate the sternum strap and waist straps, too. We discovered the delicate foam backer added additional padding and guarded our backs from cumbersome gear. Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer liked eradicating the froth backer to make use of it as a sit pad to maintain his bum off the bottom throughout break time.

The draw back of this design? The froth backer is delicate, however it might not present sufficient construction to hold heavy hundreds comfortably. Our testing additionally revealed this bag didn’t match the air flow of different packs, which made it much less snug on sizzling and humid days, particularly on powerful routes with a lot of ascent and descent. The broader shoulder straps additionally had been a bit uncomfortable for Ian after 5 hours or mountaineering with a fully-loaded bag of round 23 kilos. That mentioned, these consolation tradeoffs gained’t be an issue for people who prioritize a light-weight day pack.

Group

The Wy’East’s pockets garnered blended evaluations from our testers. We discovered the shoulder pockets had been the proper measurement for a snack bar, satellite tv for pc system, and a chapstick however not extensive sufficient to suit a cellphone. The detachable hip belt contains small pockets – which did match our iPhone and Android. This mannequin additionally has a prime “mind” pocket with a zipper and a key clip for straightforward entry to smaller gadgets, nevertheless it was too flat and slim for holding a lot besides smaller gadgets. The hidden zippered pocket inside is a pleasant contact, nevertheless it’s in an ungainly spot for entry when the bag is loaded to the highest.

Despite these drawbacks, this 30-liter pack was one in all our testers’ favorites for winter and shoulder-season adventures the place carrying gear is necessary. Its principal compartment and beneficiant entrance exterior pocket supplied loads of room to stash our jacket and hat. Nonetheless, we would have liked to pack fastidiously due to the pack’s restricted construction. Ian likes working a stretchy wire by daisy chains when doable for an additional place to stash a midlayer or a puffy jacket when not in use. He discovered this bag might be rigged for any journey with its eight daisy chains, trekking pole loops, and ice axe loop.

Person-Friendliness

This daypack’s easy design shines in the event you love simplicity on path. The cinch-top closure and mind clips are simple to safe, offering flexibility for various load sizes. Deep facet and entrance pockets permit for fast entry, retaining water bottles and jackets inside attain. Shoulder strap pockets provide handy storage for snacks or a cellphone, making it simple to seize necessities with out eradicating the pack. Total, the dearth of zippers and pointless straps provides to its attraction for ultralight hikers preferring perform over frills so you’ll be able to give attention to the path as an alternative of fiddling along with your gear.

That mentioned, in the event you choose a extra conventional pack design, some options might be extra intuitive. For instance, the hydration reservoir system isn’t our favourite – the pocket solely matches lengthy and slender bladders. Threading the consuming tube by the tiny holes is cumbersome, and there’s nowhere to safe the nozzle on the shoulder straps, leaving it to dangle awkwardly. 

This pack could really feel too stripped down for customers who worth additional performance, however the Wy’East is pretty user-friendly for a big, ultralight bag.

Weight and Compressibility

Weighing only one lb, 9 oz, this daypack strikes a wonderful steadiness between capability and minimalism. Its 30-liter quantity is spectacular for such a low weight. The nylon Robic cloth retains the load down and provides stable sturdiness with out including a lot bulk. 

Regardless of its plentiful pockets, the profile stays slim and light-weight, even on longer hikes. It nonetheless folds down simply for storage in a trunk or gear room. The principle assist comes from a sit pad, so it may be rolled into a reasonably small package deal for storage or journey. For instance, we packed this bag into baggage for a visit to Vancouver, Canada, for a weekend backpacking journey.

On the draw back, the Wy’East doesn’t have facet compression straps, so it’s restricted in how small it might probably shrink. With out these, it might probably really feel awkwardly cumbersome when packed full. Additionally, people preferring the basic construction of a daypack could discover this one too gentle, too huge, and a bit too floppy for a lot of use instances – particularly in the event you follow shorter hikes and extra informal outings. For ultralight hikers and minimalists, nonetheless, this mixture of area and weight is a standout characteristic.

Sturdiness

Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer discovered the Wy’East extremely dependable after bushwhacks and difficult trails. His pack continues to appear to be new after sitting on tough grime, dragging over rocks, and bumping in opposition to timber. Considerate development, together with double-stitched seams and solely two slim zippers, reduces weak factors. Sturdy clips and durable cinch cords are resilient, and even the stash pockets and water bottle sleeves are bolstered to face as much as frequent use.

That mentioned, the Wy’East shouldn’t be invincible. Our stitching is starting to fray the place the shoulder straps are connected to the body. Ian additionally patched a small puncture on the left facet from a pointy rock in Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park. For tough, multi-day treks with heavy hundreds, a extra strong possibility could be obligatory. That mentioned, we’ve used this bag over 250 miles, and it reveals no indicators of slowing down anytime quickly. Should you’re on the lookout for a reliable light-weight pack, this design balances weight and longevity successfully.

Do you have to purchase the Six Moon Designs Wy’East Daypack?

The Wy’east daypack is an efficient alternative for ultralight hikers who desire a versatile, low weight pack with a big capability for bigger gear hauls and brief overnights. Its 30-liter measurement is ideal for lengthy day hikes or fast in a single day journeys, particularly if you have already got a minimalist package. Nonetheless, this pack isn’t your best option for individuals who want heavy-duty assist for big or awkward hundreds. Moreover, smaller-framed hikers may discover the extensive shoulder straps uncomfortable. However in the event you’re trying to drop your base weight for day hikes or brief overnights, the Wy’East delivers as a flexible, ultralight, giant pack that’s prepared for journey.

What different day packs must you think about for mountaineering?

For possibility choices, please browse our information to the Greatest Daypacks for Mountaineering.

REI Path 25 Assessment: The REI Path 25 pack shines for people searching for a sturdy, versatile bag for day hikes and concrete adventures at a a lot lower cost.

Thriller Ranch Gallagator Assessment: We choose this pack for its smaller, extremely environment friendly design on hikes the place fast entry to gear and group are key.

Gregory Zulu 30 Assessment: The Gregory Zulu 30 is ideal for hikers tackling heavy hundreds in cooler seasons or people preferring a standard, extremely sturdy pack with best-of-the-best carrying consolation.