Our favorite ultralight, fully featured day hiking pack

Technically, Zpacks Sub-Nero Ultra 30 is a super ultralight backpacking pack, but we prefer to think of it as the perfect day pack. It is comfy, waterproof, durable, and has massive external pockets.

• Weight: 11.8
• Price: $235
• Materials: Challenge Ultra 100/200
• Back Panel: Foam Sit Pad
• Main Compartment Volume: 17L
• External Volume: 13L
• Pros: Ultralight. Full External Pockets. Waterproof.
• Cons: Expensive

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Features

Offering 13L of external storage, the Zpacks Sub-Nero 30 has the best external storage of all packs on our list. We’ve never met a pack with too much external storage, and most daypacks have far too little. This is the exception.

The body fabric is Challenge Ultra, the best performance pack fabric currently in-use. It’s extremely durable, waterproof, and lightweight – the perfect material for the job. We recommend the Jet Black colorway because its fabric is thicker and more durable than the gray for only 0.3 oz more weight.

The foam back panel doubles as a removable sit pad and the 2.75” extra wide shoulder straps make for a very comfortable carry. The nylon webbing hip belt strap costs $10 extra and adds an ounce. The modular sit pad foam back panel is included. Our listed weight counts both, but they are removable if you’d like to scrape off two ounces.

Lastly, it has side and top straps for attaching extra gear, or compressing when you don’t need the volume.

Verdict

The super ultralight backpacking pack makes for the perfect daypack. It is constructed with the best materials, and delivers a top notch performance and user experience. It’s expensive but well-worth the price.

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.