Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack Evaluate

Backside Line

The Osprey Daylite Plus earns its spot on our greatest daypacks for mountain climbing information as an excellent, budget-friendly daypack. This light-weight pack can deal with each metropolis adventures and easy day hikes, due to sturdy supplies, vivid colorways, and good group. Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer used this pack a number of instances per week when strolling the canine and operating errands on the town, however he’s additionally hiked over 250 miles within the Denver foothills and Utah desert with it. 

With a soft foam again panel and adjustable straps, it’s comfy whether or not you’re trekking up a mountain – or an airport escalator. The bag’s 20-liter capability is compact, however our testing confirmed it holds heavier hundreds nicely and rides comfortably when stuffed to the gills. And, the high-quality parts and burly materials all however assure this pack will final for years of tough use. 

That stated, the Osprey Daylite Plus will not be our first decide for longer day hikes with heavier gear. The skinny nylon waist belt gives minimal help for transferring weight, particularly when totally packed – and there are not any load lifters to enhance consolation. It additionally lacks technical options like trekking pole attachments, lash factors, and waist pockets. Nonetheless, in case you want a pack for on a regular basis use and quick hikes, this one is a good worth for such a sensible, no-nonsense design.

Consolation

The Osprey Daylite Plus is a snug day pack for shorter hikes however falls quick for consolation when totally loaded. After testing this pack on all the pieces from canine walks to 15-20 mile day hikes, Gear Analyst Ian Krammer gave it a shout out for its tender supplies and skill to distribute weight evenly throughout the again. Nevertheless, the skinny nylon waist strap doesn’t help heavy weight, and this ultralight pack additionally lacks load lifters, which might enhance weight switch and total consolation on longer treks.

Extra padding on the shoulder straps additionally would go a great distance, particularly after just a few hours with a full pack. On a gaggle hike in Utah, one in all our testers discovered this bag put substantial pressure on her shoulders when carrying a full water reservoir, lunch, and equipment for six hours of mountain climbing. We ended up swapping backpacks for an possibility that had extra help for her.

Our testing additionally confirmed that the froth ridges on Osprey’s again pad added a little bit of cushiness and elevated air flow, which made the pack really feel ethereal – even on scorching, sweaty hikes. For instance, Ian felt cool within the Daylite on heat spring and fall hikes in Utah’s San Rafael Swell. 

Total, this little bag thrives extra on quick adventures with lighter hundreds. It’s an ideal selection for shorter hikes and day by day use – even for work or faculty, because it holds the burden of a laptop computer pretty nicely.

The draw back of such a snug pack? Its measurement and bulk could miss the mark for ultralight and minimalist hikers who discover lighter packs extra comfy. Nonetheless, in case your prime precedence is consolation, it is a negligible tradeoff that’s nicely well worth the little bit of added weight. 

Group

The Osprey Daylite Plus makes organizing gear a breeze. 5 exterior pockets supply loads of storage choices, with deep aspect pockets that maintain slim or large water bottles, and a small exterior zippered pocket for storing continuously used objects. The entrance stuff pocket, which supplies this mannequin the “Plus” identify, works nicely to stuff bulkier objects like gloves with out taking on invaluable area inside.

A half-length inside pocket options two small, open dividers for small necessities like keys or snacks, however there’s loads of room for bigger objects, too, like a headlamp or cellphone. The total-length principal compartment is spacious for the scale of this pack. It features a devoted hydration sleeve – large enough for a 3-liter hydration bladder or a 13-inch laptop computer – for crosswalk to creekside versatility.

We just like the plentiful storage, however the absence of hip belt pockets makes accessing small objects like snacks or a cellphone a bit extra time consuming and tedious on the transfer. Plus, the Daylite Plus additionally doesn’t have many technical options, equivalent to trekking pole attachments or lash factors to repair gear to the skin of the pack. And, the stuff pocket on the entrance of the bag is stable – not stretchy or created from mesh – so it’s not as versatile or large enough for gentle however cumbersome objects like a puffy jacket. Ian needed the Daylite to incorporate both hip belt pockets or a stretch stuff pocket – which knocked its group rating down a notch. 

This average group isn’t the very best for lengthy treks or technical use, however it’s very sensible for day hikes.

Person-Friendliness

If you happen to’re in search of a easy, intuitive, and user-friendly design, the Osprey Daylite Plus is a good selection. Giant zipper pull tabs make for easy operation, even with gloves, and the zippers are sturdy and dependable. The pack’s total structure is simple, permitting intuitive entry to pockets and compartments. 

Plus, the Daylite Plus is suitable with different Osprey journey luggage. You’ll be able to clip it onto Osprey baggage and backpacks for a seamless journey expertise. That’s a significant plus in case you’re investing within the model. 

We like that the pack is hydration reservoir suitable, however Ian doesn’t love the hydration tube pocket design. The tube comes out just under the shoulder straps, inflicting it to stay out awkwardly. Ian has discovered again and again that the hose and nozzle get caught on branches, which could be a bit annoying. 

Regardless of its compact measurement, the Daylite Plus is surprisingly versatile, providing sufficient space for storing for day hikes and metropolis outings. We used this bag for the suburbs and native hikes – however it’s additionally user-friendly for journey, too.

Weight and Compressibility

At simply 1 pound, 4.64 ounces, the Daylite Plus is among the lightest choices within the Daypacks class.  It’s a light-weight semi-structured pack – however not ultralight and floppy, which is what Ian likes a lot about it. The one packs lighter than this one on our record – the Thriller Ranch Gallagator, Salomon Trailblazer, and REI Flash 22 – are totally frameless. That makes them far more packable and compressible, however in our opinion, not as comfy because the Daylite.

This Osprey mannequin additionally has a thick, pliable foam again panel that provides a bit extra construction and airflow than different packs we examined. The draw back? The Daylite Plus isn’t as compressible. Nonetheless, it may be folded and rolled and in addition packs down slimmer than day packs with frames, cumbersome waist pockets, and thicker supplies.

Sturdiness

If sturdiness is your prime precedence, then the Daylite Plus is severely sturdy. With over a 12 months of normal use and a whole bunch of miles mountain climbing, strolling, and touring, ours reveals no indicators of slowing down. The high-quality supplies, together with thick nylon and polyester material and sturdy zippers, means this mannequin can deal with abrasions and day by day put on and tears. It doesn’t have gear loops, daisy chains, or different protruding parts that might catch or tear, and the aspect mesh pockets have held up nicely additionally. With this degree of sturdiness, the Daylite Plus is constructed to final for years, making it a dependable funding.

The trade-off for these thicker supplies? They add a little bit of weight and bulk. Nevertheless, this daypack is an effective decide that ought to final for a number of seasons.

Must you purchase the Osprey Daylite Plus daypack?

The Osprey Daylite Plus is an effective selection if you’d like a easy, reasonably priced and cozy daypack for brief hikes, city use, and informal journey. Its light-weight design and versatile pockets make it appropriate for many day by day actions, whether or not your purpose is a summit or a Starbucks. Nevertheless, this pack will not be well-suited for longer, extra demanding hikes. The dearth of a supportive waist belt and cargo lifters makes it really feel a bit awkward when totally loaded, particularly on longer trails. That stated, the Osprey Daylite Plus is a straightforward advice for a trendy and reasonably priced bag that may maintain up for years of normal use.

What different day packs must you take into account for mountain climbing?

If you happen to nonetheless haven’t discovered what you’re in search of, please see our full information to the Finest Daypacks for Mountaineering to seek out your good pack: 

Salomon Trailblazer 20 Evaluate: The Salomon Trailblazer takes minimalism just a few steps additional with fewer pockets and a extra streamlined design. We want the Trailblazer 20 for extra technical hikes and fastpacking.

Thriller Ranch Gallagator Evaluate: The Gallagator weighs a bit extra, however it gives an additional 5 liters of capability and shares the Daylite Plus’s emphasis on sturdiness and flexibility whereas offering fast entry to your gear.  

REI Flash 22 Evaluate: The Flash 22 is one in all our all time favourite frameless packs for light-weight, quick mountain climbing. It weighs a half pound lower than the Daylite, however nonetheless shares the Daylite Plus’s emphasis on sturdiness and flexibility.