Best Ultralight Daypack 2026 Lightweight Day Hiking Backpacks
Last Updated: July 16, 2026
By Jaeger Shaw
Choose a Well-Featured, Full-Size, Comfy, Ultralight Daypack For Efficient Day Hiking
This buyers guide will help identify the best ultralight daypack for your preferences and budget. Our list is uniquely lightweight, and on it, the average day hiking backpack weighs approximately one pound. That’s less than half the weight of the most heralded daypack in other buyer’s guides, Osprey M’s Talon 22 & W’s Tempest 22. While those are still great backpacks, we prefer ones that weigh about 20 oz or less.
We review the best day hiking backpacks through an ultralight lens, and make our assessments via a mixture of meticulous product info comparison, trail testing, and decades of gear review savvy. When day hiking, we aim to carry three to four pounds of base weight. While ultralight daypacks frequently eschew comfort features, this is offset by the fact that less weight is inherently more comfortable.
Jump ahead for buyer info and pro tips. You may also be interested in running packs and EDC backpacks. And while you’re here, don’t miss our complete day hiking gear list. Supplement your storage with water bottle holders, and shoulder strap pockets.
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Cover Photo: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Elevate
Quick Picks: Best Ultralight Daypacks for Hiking
- Editor’s Choice, Zipper: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Daybreak 22
- Editor’s Choice, Roll-Top: Zpacks Nero Pro 30L
- Best Value: REI Co-op Flash 22
- Best Versatility: ULA Ultra Node
- Top Pick, Trail Performance: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Elevate 22
- Top Pick, Super Ultralight w/ Zipper: Zpacks Bagger Ultra 25
- Top Pick, Vestpack: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Pemi 15
- Top Pick, Vestpack: Black Diamond Distance 22
- Value Pick, Performance: Gossamer Gear Loris 25
- Value Pick, Super Ultralight, Collapsible: Gossamer Gear Minimalist 19
- Value Pick, Versatility: Osprey Daylite Plus
- Value Pick, Versatility: Deuter Speedlite
Day Hiking Backpack Comparison Table, Sorted by Weight
Mobile users rotate device for full width table view
| Daypacks | Price ($) | Weight (oz) | Total Volume (L) | Material |
| Gossamer Gear Minimalist 19 | 69 | 11.6 | 25* | Recycled Robic |
| Zpacks Bagger Ultra 25 | 249 | 11.8 | 25 | ULTRA |
| Zpacks Nero Pro 30L | 279 | 12.1 | 30 | ULTRA |
| HMG Pemi 15 | 250 | 12.4 | 15 | ALUULA |
| REI Flash 22 | 60 | 14.0 | 26* | Recycled Nylon |
| BD Distance 22 | 230 | 14.9 | 22 | Nylon |
| Deuter Speedlite 21 | 80 | 16.6 | 21 | Recycled Polyamide |
| HMG Elevate 22 | 265 | 17.7 | 30* | Dyneema |
| Gossamer Gear Loris 25 | 135 | 19.5 | 31* | Recycled Robic |
| HMG Daybreak 22 | 240 | 19.2 | 26.5 | Dyneema |
| ULA ULTRA Node | 230 | 20.2 | 20 | ULTRA |
| Osprey Daylite Plus | 80 | 21.0 | 24* | Recycled Nylon |
*Total volume includes main compartment and all external pockets. * indicates pocket size has been estimated and may differ from manufacturer list volume to account for stretching of stretch mesh.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Daybreak 22
The updated for 2025 Hyperlite Mountain Gear Daybreak 22 improves on the beloved ultralight clamshell design by increasing volume, upgrading pockets, and reducing weight – all while retaining the waterproof durability of DCH (Dyneema Composite Hybrid). The exterior pockets are made of Dyneema Stretch Mesh, which expands like normal stretch mesh, but won’t snag or rip easily. A front zip pocket and shock cord zigzag round out the external storage suite. This is our favorite ultralight clamshell backpacking for hiking, and great for everyday use. For serious hiking, we recommend adding bottle pockets and considering the pocketed hip belt. See more in our full length HMG Daybreak 22 Review.
- Weight: 19.2 oz
- Price: $240
- Materials: Dyneema Composite Hybrid (DCH)
- Back Panel: Internal foam panel
- Main Compartment Volume: 22L
- External Volume: 4.5L
- Pros: Ultralight. Versatile. Durable, waterproof fabric. Great pockets. Perfect size. Easily accessorized. Great looking. Easy access clamshell design. External shock cord lashes a sit pad.
- Cons: Expensive. Waterproof zippers are prone to longterm failure.
Best Super Ultralight Daypack
Zpacks Nero Pro 30
For a modular, user-friendly, roll-top super ultralight daypack, we strongly recommend the Zpacks Nero Pro 30L. The chassis is an 18L seam-taped main compartment made of waterproof and highly durable Ultra TenX, swathed in large, hyper-durable Venom stretch mesh external pockets. The back panel is where it gets really interesting. A spacer mesh sleeve unzips to stash a complimentary foam sit pad. Not only does it provide structure and blocks lumps; now you have somewhere to sit! The articulated shoulder straps can be swapped out for a superb vestpack harness. We highly recommend adding a pair of Zpacks shoulder strap-mounted water bottle sleeves.
- Weight: 12.1
- Price: $279
- Materials: Ultra TenX
- Back Panel: Foam Sit Pad, spacer mesh
- Main Compartment Volume: 18L
- External Volume: 12L
- Pros: Super ultralight. Full size stretchy external pockets. Waterproof seam taped fabric. Durable. Compressible for travel. Comfy shoulder straps. Complimentary sit pad back panel.
- Cons: Expensive. Difficult to access bottom of roll top packs mid-hike.
Most Versatile Ultralight Daypack
ULA Equipment ULTRA Node
Based on exceptional build quality, versatility, and a uniquely perfect feature/material set, the new-for-2025 ULA Equipment ULTRA Node is our editor’s choice for flexing between travel, adventure, everyday carry, and of course hiking too. With a 20L capacity, Node is the only option in its size and weight class to be made with waterproof and mega-durable Challenge ULTRA fabric AND have a padded laptop sleeve. There is no situation where Node does not shine. The external storage suite, comprised of one zipper and three ULTRA Stretch mesh pockets, is user-friendly, secure, and virtually flawless. Compared to clamshell zippers, the shaped roll-top opening boosts water resistance and allows for expansion, though it does add a bit of extra fiddling with each open/close. While traveling, store the compact 20L Node at your feet while placing a larger roller bag or backpack in the overhead compartment.
- Price: $229
- Total Volume: 20L
- Weight: 20.2 oz
- Back Panel: ULTRA
- Main Compartment Volume: 16.5
- External Volume: 3.5L
- Pros: Best-in-class materials. Highly water resistant. Bomber durability. Great external storage. Lightweight. Padded tech storage. Made in USA.
- Cons: Roll-top is slower than zipper, harder to access bottom of pack. Lower volume may not always be sufficient.
Best Value Ultralight Daypack
REI Co-op Flash 22
REI Co-op Flash 22 is the least expensive ultralight daypack out there, and an absolute crowd pleasing value monster. Sixteen ounces is the ultralight bar, and Flash smashes it at just 14 oz. The 22L internal compartment opens and closes with a drawcord cinch, and is covered by a lid with a zippered pocket, handy for storing snacks and useful knickknacks. There are two tall side pockets for water bottles, which are very secure and deeper than average. A large zippered bonus pocket is situated on the wearer’s right. We like the breathable, spacer mesh shoulder straps and hip belt, which are widened to disperse pressure. What structure there is is derived from a removable foam sit pad that can be extracted from inside the top of the main compartment, but is prohibitively difficult to put back inside while in the field. The biggest drawback to Flash 22 is its lack of a front mesh external pocket. That’s prime real estate squandered, and something we hope they bring to the next edition. See more in our full-length REI Flash 22 Review.
- Weight: 14 oz
- Price: $60
- Materials:100% Recycled Nylon
- Back Panel: Modular Foam Sit Pad
- Main Compartment Volume: 22L
- External Volume: 4L*
- Pros: Ultralight. Incredible value. Recycled materials. Lid compartment. Comfy hip belt. Tall side pockets.
- Cons: No front mesh pocket. Floppy when empty. Barrel-shaped when full. Zippered side pocket shares volume with main compartment. Foam back panel difficult to reset.
Top Pick, Trail Performance
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Elevate 22
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Elevate 22 is an ultralight daypack that is basically a slimmed down version of HMG’s iconic Dyneema backpacking packs. This includes the roll-top closure, low wight, high durability, trio of front and side storage pockets, and overall minimalist feature set. Weighing in at just 17.5 ounces, this pack is exceptionally functional for its weight. The side pockets are deep and secure, the hip belt is comfy and removable – though it lacks pockets. Perhaps the biggest drawback is that, because Elevate is narrower than their full size models, the front Dyneema Stretch Mesh pocket is not as big as it looks in photos, and can’t store as much easy-access gear as you’d expect it to – basically just a fleece or rain jacket. Nonetheless, Elevate gets very high marks from us; an exceptional ultralight daypack. See more in our HMG Elevate 22 Review.
- Weight: 17.9 oz
- Price: $265
- Materials: Dyneema
- Back Panel: 1/4″ foam back panel
- Main Compartment Volume: 22L
- External Volume: 4L*
- Pros: Ultralight. Waterproof fabric. Durable. Top-of-the-line materials. All three main external pockets. Padded removable hip belt. Cinchable side pockets.
- Cons: Expensive. Front mesh pocket is smaller than it looks. No hip belt pockets. Difficult to access bottom of main roll-top compartment mid-hike.
Top Picks, Trail Running Style Vestpack
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Pemi 15
Seeing HMG offer an ALUULA Graflyte pack might be a shock to the system, but the efficacy of Pemi 15 is no joke. For the uninitiated, ALUULA is the hottest new tech fabric, at least as strong and light as Dyneema/Ultra, but it responds better to heat bonding. The chassis is a sleek, 15L running vestpack with a stiffened back panel, fully volumized roll top compartment, and external stretch mesh shove it pocket. The vest straps are decked out in accessory storage and soft bladder pockets, and there is even a side zip entry into the main. Runners won’t complain, but crossover users hiking with it might have preferred bottle pockets and a slightly larger external front mesh pocket. All in, this is a really exciting advancement in HMG’s arsenal, and a great running vestpack for all-day outings.
- Weight: 12.4
- Price: $250
- Materials: ALUULA Graflyte
- Back Panel: Stiffened sheet + spacer mesh
- Main Compartment Volume: 15L
- External Volume: 2L
- Pros: Super ultralight. Best-in-class materials. Durable. Highly water resistant. Tons of shoulder strap pockets. Vest harness allows wearers to jog without bounce and sway.
- Cons: No side bottle pockets, front mesh pocket is smaller than it looks. Unnecessary for traditional walking-pace. Vest harnesses are sweatier and overall less comfy than traditional backpacks. Front bottle pockets only fit small/soft bottles.
Black Diamond Distance 22
If you’d like to speed up the pace by integrating some jogging or shuffling into your day hikes, we recommend the Black Diamond Distance 22. This full size daypack is built with a running vest harness (instead of shoulder straps) that creates a very secure, torso-hugging fit. This is advantageous, because it prevents bounce and sway as you run. We’re particularly keen on this model because it’s ultralight, and unlike so many competitor products, has a great front mesh pocket for easy access to extra layers. If you don’t intend to run at all, we don’t recommend this style of pack because they’re more expensive, sweatier, and overall less comfortable than traditional daypacks.
- Weight: 14.9
- Price: $230
- Materials: Ripstop nylon
- Back Panel: Foam back panel
- Main Compartment Volume: 22L
- External Volume: 4L
- Pros: Ultralight. Tons of front pockets. Vest harness allows wearers to jog without bounce and sway. Large front mesh pocket.
- Cons: No side bottle pockets. Unnecessary for traditional walking-pace. Vest harnesses are sweatier and overall less comfy than traditional backpacks. Front bottle pockets only fit small/soft bottles.
Top Pick, Collapsible Super Ultralight W/ Zipper
Zpacks Bagger Ultra 25
Choose the Zpacks Bagger Ultra 25 for a versatile, frameless, fully-collapsible, zippered ultralight daypack that’s made with best-in-class waterproof ULTRA fabric. Because it can be rolled up and stored easily in a suitcase or duffel, we think it’s the best option on the list to use as a supplementary hiking pack while traveling. The offset zippered clamshell delivers easier access to gear than a roll-top, but at the cost of decreased water resistance and shortened lifespan – all zippers fail eventually. Interestingly, it also has a front zipper pocket instead of front mesh. This is advantageous for rain protection and urban use, but of a bit of downside on the trail when mesh makes the contents more visible. Finally, we love the articulated shoulder straps, and comfy/useful foam sit pad back panel. Bagger 25 has a lot going for it for an incredibly lightweight, and is easily the best super ultralight zippered option. Notably, it has no laptop sleeve.
- Weight: 11.9 oz (with foam sit pad)
- Price: $249
- Materials: ULTRA
- Back Panel: Removable foam sit pad panel
- Main Compartment Volume: 18L
- External Volume: 6L
- Pros: Ultralight. Waterproof fabric with seam tape. Durable. Comes with own sit pad. Packs down very small with sit pad removed. Appropriate for urban use and travel. Best in class materials. Made in USA. Zipper access is easier than roll-top.
- Cons: Expensive. No front mesh pocket is a downside for hiking. Zippers are always first component to fail.
Top Pick, Value & Trail Performance
Gossamer Gear Loris 25
For an all-around excellent, user-friendly, crowd-pleasing, great looking, lightweight hiking daypack at a fair price, grab the Gossamer Gear Loris 25. This pack is a roll-top with a twist. It has a singular zipper running down the center from that can be opened when the lid is unrolled and unclipped. This allows for easy access to gear in the middle of the pack without going full yard sale. On top of that, you get a full set of external mesh pockets (though we prefer more durables mesh fabrics like ULTRA Mesh), and a zippered top pocket. This design also features a sit pad back panel, great for blocking lumps and taking lunch breaks. It does not come with a hip belt, but one can be purchased separately (and includes .5L hip belt pockets) for an extra $20 and 3.3 oz. Perhaps our biggest complaint is that it’s on the heavy end of the ultralight daypack spectrum. But how fun are those colors!?
- Weight: 19.5
- Price: $135
- Materials: 70D Recycled Robic Nylon
- Back Panel: Modular Foam Sit Pad
- Main Compartment Volume: 25L
- External Volume: 7L*
- Pros: Lightweight. Easy gear access. Full external pockets plus top bonus zipper pocket. Sustainable. Comes with sit pad.
- Cons: Zipper-roll top hybrid is controversial. Lightweight-not-ultralight.
Top Pick, Value Super Ultralight, Collapsibility
Gossamer Gear Minimalist 19
Gossamer Gear Minimalist 19 is a super ultralight daypack (just 11.6 oz!) for a super ultra low price. It is easily the best way to cut weight and save money at the same time – all without sacrificing exterior storage. Minimalist comes with a full size front mesh pocket to stash rain jackets and fleece, as well as two side bottle pockets, which are a bit small. Remove the foam back panel and it becomes fully collapsible – perfect for stashing in a suitcase or duffel while traveling. The cinch top design is a fine choice – lighter than zippers, and quicker than roll-tops. In this case, the fabric itself isn’t waterproof, so a roll top isn’t necessary or even worthwhile.
- Weight: 11.6 oz
- Price: $69
- Materials: 70D Robic Nylon
- Back Panel: Modular Foam Sit Pad
- Main Compartment Volume 19L
- External Volume: 6L*
- Pros: Ultralight. Great value. Surprisingly large front mesh pocket. Collapsible for travel.
- Cons: Minimal back panel. Floppy. Narrow side pockets. Lower than average durability.
Top Picks, Value & Versatility
Osprey Daylite Plus
The Osprey Daylite Plus pack is an incredibly versatile, affordable, all-purpose lightweight daypack that performs as well on-trail as it does around town, or on your travels. At 21 ounces, it’s a bit heavy by our standards, though still lighter than average. What sets it apart from many of our hiking-centric favorites is the padded 14″ laptop sleeve and lack of a snag-prone front mesh pocket – instead you get a front zipper pocket. Both choices improve urban performance while decreasing trail performance, but not by an insurmountable amount. Other notable features include the foam back panel, and unique shoulder strap handles. This is a highly versatile, lightweight daypack for a great price, and definitely worth considering if you want one piece of kit to do it all. Or maybe you just love Osprey – that’s okay too!
- Weight: 21 oz
- Price: $80
- Materials: 300d Recycled DWR Nylon
- Back Panel: Die-cut foam backpanel
- Main Compartment Volume 20L
- External Volume: 4L*
- Pros: Lightweight. Good value. Lots of pockets. Durable. Versatile. Simple. Great warranty.
- Cons: Light-not-ultralight. Front pocket configuration is inferior to mesh for hiking purposes.
Deuter Speedlite
Weighing in at just over one pound, Deuter Speedlite 21 is the textbook lightweight daypack in clamshell configuration. Users will enjoy the airy, lightly-padded spacer mesh back panel, and a full suite of external pockets. The latter includes two side bottle pockets, a full front mesh shove-it pocket, and bonus zipper top pocket. There’s virtually nothing to dislike about this pack, though perhaps the shoulder straps could have been made a bit wider for pressure dispersion.
- Weight: 16.6 oz
- Price: $80
- Materials: 140d Recycled Ripstop Polyamide
- Back Panel: Die-cut foam backpanel
- Main Compartment Volume 21L
- External Volume: 4L (estimate)
- Pros: Lightweight. Good value. Four external pockets. Versatile. Simple. Great warranty.
- Cons: Light-not-ultralight. Narrow shoulder straps.
Criteria for the best ultralight daypack
For a day hiking backpack to be included in this guide, it must meet the following criteria:
1. Sized for day hiking
The best hiking backpacks for day hikes store 20-30L of gear. Any smaller and you’re cramming or cutting important items. Any larger and you will start to have too much empty space and the pack may feel sloppy.
2. Lightweight or ultralight
Because there are so many good day packs that weigh about 20 oz or less, there is no need to stoop to anything heavier. While this is a somewhat arbitrary cut off point, it helps with the goal of keeping total base weight for day hikes under four pounds.
3. Good External Storage
Just like our backpacking packs, we have high standards for external storage on our day packs. Through a combination of lid and external mesh pockets, you should be able to store lots of handy gear on the outside of the pack.
4. Durable
A daypack should be durable and stand up to the rigors of the trail. This is usually achieved with high abrasion resistant ultralight fabrics like Robic Nylon, Challenger Ultra, or Dyneema.
5. Comfortable
The best hiking backpacks are comfortable without dedicating excess weight towards that goal. It just needs to be comfortable enough and nearly all backpacks check this box easily. Always remember, too many comfort features make a pack uncomfortably heavy.
Best Ultralight Daypack Pockets
The best hiking backpacks all have a full suite of three large external storage pockets. And just like the best backpacking packs, this means two side pockets for water bottles, and a rear center pocket for easy access to frequently used gear. If a daypack has a lid, it should also have a pocket there.
External pockets drastically increase how usable a pack is and are almost always worth their weight in handiness.
Best Ultralight Daypack Back Panel Configurations
The best hiking backpacks are usually frameless, and have some kind of foam back panel to prevent lumps and/or do double duty as a sit pad.
If you have never used a hybrid sit pad back panel before, know that it’s comfier than it looks. The panel will conform to the natural shape of your back, and never dig in or chafe anywhere. We acknowledge that it is a tad sweatier than aerated foam or stretch mesh paneling, but it is as comfy or comfier in all other ways. They don’t transfer weight to the hips, but this hardly matters for a lightweight daypack load.
If a backpack has no frame and no back panel, you need only line the inside with your spare clothes, like a fleece or a puffy jacket, to act as a buffer against lumpier objects like water bottles or a first aid kit.
Day Hiking Backpack hip belts
Unlike much heavier backpacking packs, most daypacks are not designed to transfer weight onto your hips. As such, you will see a much dinkier assortment of hipbelts, and some daypacks forgo them entirely. The hip belts on the packs in our guide are mostly just nylon webbing, and are designed to give a secure fit.
How to pack a day hiking backpack
While this depends largely on a combination of what you’re packing, what conditions you’re expecting, and personal preferences, we will do our best to give some tips.
We like to keep water bottles, bathroom kit, a few snacks, and rain gear on the outside for easy access. First aid, repair kit, and essential knickknacks sit at the bottom of the main compartment as they’re least likely to be used. Then put your fleece and puffy jacket on top of that. You might consider storing a hat and gloves in the pockets of the fleece or puffy, since they will most likely be used together. Top it off with your lunch and you’re good to go.
Best Ultralight Daypack Conclusion
As you can see, the best ultralight daypack and day hiking backpacks are also ultra functional. They offer a full suite of external pockets while weighing about 20 ounces or less. Just below a pound is average. They are frameless but supported with a modular foam back panel. Any ultralight daypack on this list will serve you well on your next day hike. Happy trails!
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Please review the decathlon mh500 22l backpack. There aren’t many reviews of it out there. I’m pretty interested in what you think of it.
Would love to see your recommendation for an ultralight day pack with a trampoline mesh/external frame for better ventilation!
The Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 40 might suit. It’s not technically a daypack, but is ultralight with external frame and trampoline mesh. The main compartment is 28L which is a bit bigger than necessary, but it can compress down. Some folks also prefer larger daypacks so there’s room to fit a puffy or fun stuff to use on casual hikes. https://zpacks.com/products/arc-haul-ultra-40l-backpack?ref=m7CdoAGQO36N&mid=27
My girlfriend and I both have the Zpacks Bagger Ultra 25 and, although we love it otherwise, both of ours leak fairly significantly if they are exposed to even a light rain for half an hour or more. We made the purchase based on my love of my Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60L backpack and general appreciation of the quality and innovation of Zpacks gear, so I offer this in the spirit of constructive feedback and to help others make an informed decision. Our Baggers seem to leak along the main zipper. We can’t tell whether this is through the zipper itself or because the zipper stitching is not taped, but regardless the pack collects water in the main compartment, which then has nowhere to escape. This is not a deal-breaker, since we always line our packs with a dry bag anyway, but I am considering putting a couple of grommeted holes in the bottom to allow it to drain. Perhaps this is typical of zippered packs, I don’t have enough experience with a variety of similar packs to know, but in future I’ll probably go with a roll top.
Thanks for the feedback, Richard! I have the Bagger 25, and agree it’s an overall great ultralight daypack, but circumstantially don’t have tons of experience with it in rain. My guess is that the slightly-slanted-but-otherwise-flat top surface causes water to roll downward and backward to the main body compartment zipper where it can penetrate. The advantage of this configuration is that the top half of the pack is more volumized and easier to rummage around in, and you also get the top zipper compartment. Other zipper packs made with waterproof composite fabrics, like HMG Daybreak, wouldn’t have this issue since their clamshell opening is much steeper and water would roll right off. That said, their top halves are less functional for storing gear and it’s harder to rummage around inside. All said and done though, roll tops are definitely the better option for weather protection. Check out the Zpacks Sub-Nero Ultra 30L – it’s effectively a roll-top version of Bagger 25, you might like it more if deciding to upgrade/change. https://zpacks.com/products/sub-nero-ultra-30l-backpack?ref=m7CdoAGQO36N&mid=27
I picked up a Black Diamond Distance 22 for the summer. It’s proven to be a brilliant performer for scrambling and times when I want to cover a lot of ground. Holds a surprising amount of gear when necessary, but also cinches down for small loads. Minimal bounce or chafing due to the vest-style shoulder straps. At about 15 ounces it’s tough to beat.
Totally agree! Distance 22 is a great pack. We have it featured in a guide to running-style packs, grouping it with all vest-harness models rather than traditional daypacks. But that line is getting blurrier and blurrier.
I am looking for an ultralight daypack that can come as hand luggage with Ryanair. Max size 40x20x25 cm. Max volume 20 litres.
All of these are taller than 40cm (that’s exceptionally small for a backpack) when fully loaded. However, if you took the foam back panel out of the REI Flash, Gossamer Gear Loris/Minimalist, Zpacks Sub-Nero 30, or the MLD Hell 27, and filled it only 1/3 to 1/2 way, you could sort of compress it down to fit those requirements.
Hey Alan, you are my go-to expert on all things hiking. Thank you for sharing your advice!
Question: love the updated UL daypack list – I actually already have the HMG Daybreak which is awesome but I found the lack of ventilation made for a very uncomfortably sweaty back on a hot day! Any tips to keep one’s back dry using these UL packs? Starting to wonder if frameless packs are going to be my winterwear and perhaps I’ll stick to framed packs for the warmer months.
Hey Stephen!
Thanks for the feedback, and great question! You’re right in that all of these packs forgo back ventilation in favor of weight savings. And that’s definitely a matter of preference. We feel Osprey has the back ventilation market cornered, and the Osprey Stratos 24 would be a good pick if that’s what you prioritize. It’s like a slimmed down, day hiking sized version of the Exos with a suspended air mesh back panel. Def not ultralight, but would likely reduce back sweat somewhat compared to frameless ultralight model that hug the back.
Here’s a link to the Stratos 24: https://snp.link/3de2e2fd
-Jaeger, Team Adventure Alan
Thanks for the tip! I’ve been wondering if it’s possible to create more ventilation by adding something like a sit pad, mounted similar to how the Sub-Nero does: https://zpacks.com/products/sub-nero-ultra-30l-backpack
Don’t think that’s exactly what they were going for but I can imagine it might help… would be interested in your thoughts on that or if you’ve ever come across a backpack that can be adjusted to add/remove ventilation as needed!
Hmmm, good question. The textured bumps and ridges of a foam sit pad would offer a bit of breathability relief compared to a flat surface. But closed cell foam is an insulative material and usually has an R-value of ~2, as we know from sleeping pads. So any benefits from the bumps lifting the surface off your back would likely be lost as it reflects more heat to your back. Depending on what pack you’re modifying, this may be comfier feeling, but it may or may not help with back sweat. If the pack already has any degree of mesh or textured foam built into the panel, it probably wouldn’t make any difference.
Most packs with sit pad back panels use some form of stretchy shock cord to strap the sit pad down. You only need 2 or 3 lines running perpendicular to the pack to secure it. You would have to find a pack with good attachment points along the sides though.