The Most Sustainable Ultralight Day Hiking Pack

The Cotopaxi Luzon 24L Pack – Del Dia wins our pick for best sustainability thanks to the use of remnant nylon. This keep excess fabric out of the waste cycle and is more eco-friendly than constructing with recycled fabrics. Shop now.

• Weight: 14.4 oz
• Price: $80
• Materials: Repurposed Nylon Remnants
• Back Panel: None
• Main Compartment Volume 24L
• External Volume: 4L*
• Pros: Ultralight. Good value. Very sustainable. One of a kind.
• Cons: Minimal comfort features. lots of seams create questionable durability

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Features

We’re always happy when a sustainably made product keeps up with unconstrained designs. The Cotopaxi Luzon weighs just 14.4 oz and costs $80. It is a legit ultralight pack to consider, and certainly the most sustainable in that niche.

What’s more, it’s splashy as all get-out. Each Luzon is its own unique combination of remnant nylon; no two packs are the same. It is up the craftsmanship of the sewers to combine leftover nylon as they see fit. Very cool and very sustainable.

As far as the design itself goes, this is a non-lidded drawstring closure. Effectively a stuff sack with shoulder straps and a lightly padded back. There are two mesh side pockets for storing water bottles, and one exterior zippered pocket.

Because each Luzon pack is unique, we don’t know which fabrics will be used if you order one. But from cruising for online info and pictures, it seems like there is a fair amount of ripstop. That said, it does create an element of unpredictability and asks some durability questions. Buyer beware.

This backpack is certainly not the most technical and was designed as much for travel and adventure as it was for hiking. And in that sense, it has minimal comfort features. The shoulder straps are virtually unpadded. The nylon webbing hip belt secures the pack to your torso, but bears no weight.

Verdict

If you’re shopping at the intersection of sustainability, ultralight, value, and color pop, then Cotopaxi Luzon 24 is the obvious choice.

Compare this to the other best day hiking backpacks! Make sure you’re all set for your next day hike with our 3 pound ultralight day hiking checklist. Need a bigger pack, jump to our guide for best backpacking packs.