Best Travel Daypack in 2023 (Great Options)

Osprey Daylite (Plus)

Osprey Daylite is one of the most iconic travel daypacks ever. It is the perfect option for those of you that already own one of Osprey’s larger travel backpacks, especially if it has attachment points for the Daylite. You can strap the daypack onto the larger backpack, which makes it so much easier to travel with more than one piece of luggage. 

The Daylite and the Daylite Plus are both made from polyester. They are small and lightweight backpacks, with padded and ventilated backpanel and harness for great carrying comfort. The only difference between the two is that the Daylite Plus has two extra pockets – one is a stretchy shove-it pockets, and the other is a small zippered pocket.

Both daypacks have an internal laptop sleeve that will fit devices up to 14”, as well as an external hydration sleeve that is just behind the backpanel. Both Daylites come equipped with a thin webbing hip belt and a chest strap, in case you ever need that extra support. Which shouldn’t happen too often, since they are incredibly lightweight packs.

They both have a small front compartment with two slip pockets and a key clip, as well as two side water bottle pockets. And let’s not forget about those side compression straps, that will help you cinch in the backpack if you decide to use it for just your phone, sunglasses, and wallet.

If I had to choose, I would go with the Daylite Plus. The difference in size between these two is not remarkable, but the difference in their capacities is actually pretty big.

The larger Osprey daypack offer 7 liters more, which is a big deal when talking about small capacity backpacks. And since the difference in price is also barely noticeable (some $15), I think it just makes sense to go for the larger daypack. But it is entirely up to you, and your personal preference.

Pacsafe Metrosafe Anti-theft Backpack

I’m sure you’ve heard horror stories at one point in your life, about friends or acquaintances who had their belongings stolen while they were in a foreign country. And I’m not talking about just their phone or camera – I mean their wallet, IDs, credit cards, and passports.

That’s one of my worst nightmares, which is why I’m a really big fan of anti-theft backpacks. Especially when travelling to cities that are known to have a big issues with pickpockets, like Lisbon.

While there are many cheaper options out there, Pacsafe Metrosafe daypack will forever be one of my favorite anti-theft packs. The simple design is suitable for everyone, from teens to seasoned business travellers. It is made from polyester and entirely cut-proof materials, meaning that its straps, body and backpanel are 100% slash proof.

The backpack has lockable zippers, which includes both the zippers to the main compartment and to three external pockets. But the thing I love most about is the Turn and Lock security hooks.

They’re great for when you’re riding the metro or sitting at a crowded restaurant – you can put the backpack down on the floor, secure it to the nearest fixture (chair leg, pole, etc.) and have peace of mind that no one will run away with it while you’re not looking.

And if someone does try to tamper with the lock, you will most definitely notice them.

This anti-theft backpack is carry on sized, and features a spacious main compartment that can fit 15” laptops, a change of clothes and a few other items. There are also several exterior pockets for all your smaller travel accessories, as well as an RFID safe pocket inside the main compartment.

The shoulder straps and the backpanel are padded, for your carrying comfort.

Herschel Travel Daypack

Herschel backpacks are hip and trendy – perfect for the young traveller who wants to be stylish and cool. They’re also really good travel backpacks, made from great materials with excellent features.

Their travel daypack is a great choice both for people who need a simple pack for day-to-day outings and also for those that are looking for a good carry-on.

It has three main compartments, one of which is a TSA-friendly padded laptop compartment designed to fit devices up to 15”. The interior of this compartment is also lined with fleece and features a protective strap, to ensure that your computer doesn’t just slip out when you’re unzipping the compartment.

The main compartment of the daypack is quite spacious, and can easily fit enough clothes for shorter trips. And it can fit even your bulkiest gear – DSLRs, lenses, tripods, drones, etc.

The travel daypack also has a front compartment with an organizer panel, perfect for all of your smaller items you like to keep separate and have easy access to. In addition to all that, this backpack also features a side water bottle pocket, as well as a luggage strap in the back.

That luggage strap is actually a padded and ventilated insert that will keep your lower back cool and dry even in scorching summer heats. The airmesh of the luggage sleeve is also found on the padded shoulder straps, ensuring your carrying comfort.

In addition to all that, the Herschel travel daypack also features a hidden top pocket, with hook and loop closure.

Fjallraven Kanken Classic

The Kanken is one of the most iconic backpacks ever. Still sporting the same style from the 70s, it’s one of the most popular daypacks with teens and young adults all over Europe.

Part of that is because it’s a hip and trendy backpack, and the other part is that it’s sort of a status symbol – these packs aren’t cheap at all.

But they’re worth every single penny, because of their amazing durability. They can easily survive more than a decade of use, which is mostly due to the tough and abrasion-resistant Vinylon fabric.

And while this travel backpack is most popular with high schoolers and college kids, I’ve also seen it on numerous travelers and digital nomads all over the world – specifically because of its excellent style and durability.

There’s also the really spacious main compartment, which can fit enough clothes for shorter trips, and not to mention all the travel gear you might need to put in a daypack.

There’s the smaller front pocket for any accessories you want to have easy access to, and the internal sleeve that’s just the right size to hold a 14” laptop. The backpack itself can contain a 15” device, but it won’t fit in the sleeve.

The shoulder straps aren’t padded, but they are really tough and convertible. In addition to that, the sleeve in the main compartment of the Kanken has a foam insert – this is supposed to keep it comfortable against your back, but also doubles as a sitting pad. A useful thing to have if you wind up in a pub with uncomfortable wooden stools.

Plus, if you don’t take it out of the sleeve, it will do a great job at protecting your laptop.

TETON Sports Oasis 1100 Hydration Pack

Not everyone has the same definition of a travel daypack. Most of us are looking for something to hold all our travel gear while exploring city streets, but some of us need a more rugged bag. Something they can take off the beaten path, and which will serve them very well.

That’s where the Teton Sports Oasis daypack comes in – with a dedicated hydration sleeve and a hydration bladder included in the purchase, this daypack is perfect for the travel who isn’t afraid of the unknown.

And it’s still a pretty small pack, so it won’t weigh you down in your adventures. With a total capacity of 18 liters, this will easily hold your must-have gear, but still, stay lightweight enough that you don’t really feel it on your back. Especially with the help of the padded and ventilated backpanel and harness, and the convenient chest strap.

The Oasis is a backpack with multiple compartments and exterior pockets. It’s not designed to hold your laptop, but rather your outdoor gear.

Its many compression straps allow you to control the shape and size of the daypack when it is not full, while the bungee cord at the front panel lets you stash away a layer of clothing without stopping in your tracks.

The best thing about this Teton Sports backpack is its price point. It is under $40, so it’s still very affordable. Plus, for that money you will also get a 2-liter hydration bladder system and a rain cover, so it’s actually really good value.

Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack

If you’re interested in a packable daypack, Osprey’s Ultralight Stuff Pack is a really good option. It’s quite affordable, although still not as cheap as I would have liked. But, you’re paying for the brand name, so it’s expected.

The bag is made from ripstop nylon, a material with great durability, abrasion and water resistance. It is not entirely waterproof, so don’t go rafting with it just yet – unless you decide to get a rain cover for the daypack.

One thing that makes this bag stand out from most other packable daypacks is the presence of breathable mesh on its shoulder straps. That’s not really something you expect from a daypack that folds to a size of a pen, and a really big plus when it comes to your carrying comfort.

Its main compartment is very spacious, and it features an internal security pocket that is just the right size to fit your smartphone or a smaller wallet. There’s also an external zippered pocket, perfect for any items you want to have more easily accessible, like your sunglasses. And there’s one stretchy exterior mesh pocket, which will easily fit your water bottle.

The only downside of this daypack is that it does not have a chest strap. Now, there are ways to create your own if you really need one, so don’t skip the backpack just because of that. A cheap mattress cover clip can work just as well as a chest strap, and ensure that those lightweight shoulder straps stay put on your chest.

Are there cheaper options out there? Yes, absolutely. But will they hold up as well as this one? Probably not. The thing is, if you want a cheap packable solution, you can grab pretty much just any daypack for $10-15. But there’s a good chance it won’t survive more than one or two trips.

But if you want a lightweight, packable travel daypack that you will be able to use for a long time, Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack is the one for you.

AmazonBasics Ultralight Packable Day Pack

If you’re looking for a quick and cheap solution, the AmazonBasics packable daypack is a great option. With a price point under $20, it’s a pack anyone can afford, so easily one of the best options for people on a really tight budget.

And it’s going to perform really good, as long as you know exactly what to expect from a travel daypack. It is made from durable nylon, so it’s a very sturdy bag. I actually love it for travel because it is so small, and it can easily fit into the inner pocket of your jacket.

And then when you need an actual backpack, just take it out and transform the little square of fabric into an amazing portable travel backpack.

With breathable mesh on the straps, the AmazonBasics packable daypack does a good job at keeping you cool and dry during hot weather. But keep in mind that this doesn’t have a chest strap – if you move around a lot, the straps will fall off your shoulders.

So, just be careful not to make the backpack too heavy, since it’s not going to be the most comfortable to wear.

Its main compartment is very spacious and can fit a lot of travel gear. In fact, you can choose between two sizes – a 25-liter bag and a 35-liter bag. I would personally go with the smaller one since the 35-liter bag can be really uncomfortable at full capacity.

In addition to that large main compartment, this travel daypack also features two mesh exterior pockets and an external zippered pocket. Both sizes have the exact same features, and the only difference is in their size and capacity.

Even though the daypack doesn’t have a dedicated laptop sleeve, you will be able to fit a computer inside the spacious compartment. But I wouldn’t necessarily recommend that, seeing how there’s no padding to prevent the device from poking you in the back when you travel.

Pacsafe Vibe 325 Crossbody Daypack

The Vibe anti-theft backpack by Pacsafe is an amazing option for people who really don’t carry a lot of stuff. If you need something to keep your phone, wallet, and maybe a tablet safe, this is a really good option for you.

It’s a crossbody travel daypack, so you actually have multiple ways of carrying it. And with ventilated and padded shoulder strap and back panel, you will stay comfortable regardless of how you decide to carry this travel bag. 

This daypack is made from cut-resistant fabric, and it features lockable zippers. The main body of the bag is made from water-resistant ripstop nylon, with steel mesh inlay that makes it slash-proof. Its interior is lined with polyester, and there’s thick padding all around the backpack.

It is designed to keep all your belongings safe, no matter where you are in the world – perfect if you’re traveling to an area that has a reputation for being a bit unsafe for tourists. The internal RFID safe pocket will protect you even from those that are trying to illegally scan your credit card or ID, which is a big bonus.

And this travel backpack is actually a lot bigger than it looks. Yes, it is small and slim, but it can easily fit a 13” MacBook or an iPad – not bad for such a compact daypack.

On top of that, there is a dedicated padded laptop sleeve inside the bag, as well as an organizer panel for your phone, wallet, and other smaller items.

This packable daypack also features an exterior zippered pocket, which is lockable just like the main compartment. Overall, if you’re leaning towards a smaller bag but would like to have the option of carrying your (13”) laptop, consider getting the Vibe.

HIKPRO 20L Durable Daypack

Here’s another great option for all of you on a budget – the Hikpro packable daypack is only around $15, making it one of the most affordable travel backpacks out of the bunch. It is made from water-resistant, ripstop nylon, which is very durable.

And it is incredibly lightweight – at only 6.5 ounces, this is easily one of the lightest travel daypacks out of the bunch.

This bag features double fabric at the bottom, for extra sturdiness. Its shoulder straps are covered with breathable mesh, for good ventilation on really hot days. But since this is a packable backpack, there is no padding in it whatsoever.

This is actually fine, considering the small capacity of the bag; it shouldn’t get too heavy, and as long as you are careful about which items will come in contact with your back, you can still stay comfortable while wearing it.

It has a spacious main compartment that can actually hold a 15.6” laptop. Just make sure to put it in some sort of a sleeve first, since this pack does not have a padded laptop compartment. But it does have one zippered internal pocket, which is something you don’t see on many of these packable daypacks.

On top of that, the Hikpro travel backpack also features an external zippered pocket, as well as two side water bottle pockets. The stretchy pockets are made from tear-resistant material, while all the zippered compartments feature abrasion-resistant SBS metal zippers.

This does not have a sternum strap though, so you will need to improvise if you want it to stay put on your body while you’re walking around for hours.

The North Face Jester Backpack

If you’re looking for one of the most spacious and comfortable travel daypacks, the Jester by TNF is another option worth considering. With a capacity of 28 liters, it’s one of the largest daypacks featured in this review.

And with a sturdy polyester body, comfortably padded and ventilated backpanel, and harness, it’s a backpack that you’ll be able to use both abroad and home.

The Jester is equipped with the FlexVent suspension system, which includes breathable mesh and a spine channel for optimal ventilation. It has a sternum strap that ensures the padded shoulder straps don’t slip, for ultimate carrying comfort.

This bag features a floating laptop sleeve inside the main compartment – floating means that it doesn’t touch the bottom of the bag, which protects your laptop from any bumps at the bottom of the bag. In addition to that, the main compartment is quite spacious and has more than enough space for all your necessary travel gear.

The Jester is one of the best travel daypacks for those that don’t travel light. If you’re carrying a lot of equipment when you’re traveling, you will need all the extra space you can get.

And with multiple compartments and exterior pockets, including an organizer pocket for all your smaller travel accessories, this daypack can really hold it all.

On top of all that, the Jester travel backpack also features side pockets and a bungee cord on the front panel for quickly stashing away your jacket or hoodie. The only thing it’s missing are compression straps – I would have loved to see some above the side pockets so that you could put bulkier items inside them.