10 Best Travel Daypacks 2025 in the United States

The Osprey Daylite 44L Carry-On Travel Pack is a solid choice for travelers looking for a spacious and lightweight daypack. With a 44-liter capacity, it offers ample space for your belongings, making it ideal for longer trips or those needing extra room. The pack is impressively lightweight at 1.22 kilograms, so it won't add unnecessary weight to your load. It's designed with durable materials, ensuring it can withstand the rigors of travel without being too bulky.

The quick access laptop sleeve is a convenient feature for business travelers, allowing you to breeze through TSA checks with ease. Comfort is well-addressed with the AirScape back panel and backpack straps, along with a sternum strap for added stability. While it only has one main compartment, the organization could be more straightforward, but it might require additional packing cubes or organizers for better management of your items. The pack is also hydration compatible, which is a plus for those who like to stay hydrated on the go.

Security-wise, the pack doesn't highlight any special features like lockable zippers, which could be a drawback for some. However, its compliance with most airlines' carry-on size restrictions, even when fully packed, is a significant advantage. This daypack is best suited for travelers who need a lightweight, comfortable, and spacious option for their trips, while those prioritizing compartmental organization and advanced security features might need to look elsewhere.

The WATERFLY Small Lightweight Packable Backpack is a great choice if you want an easy-to-carry and space-saving travel daypack. With a 20-liter capacity, it offers enough room for daily essentials or short trips, making it suitable for travel, hiking, or casual use. The backpack is impressively light at just about 10 ounces (290 grams) thanks to its recycled nylon material, which also adds some durability. Its foldable design lets you pack it down into a small pouch, perfect for saving space in your suitcase or larger bag.

Comfort-wise, the polyester lining helps ease shoulder strain, but it lacks padded straps or back support, which might be less comfortable on longer outings. When it comes to compartments, the backpack has a main pocket, two front pockets, and a removable zipper pocket — useful for organizing smaller items, though it doesn’t include specialized compartments like a laptop sleeve or hydration bladder pocket. Security features include standard SBS zippers but no locking mechanisms or anti-theft designs.

This backpack is ideal for light travelers or day hikers who prioritize lightweight convenience and packability over heavy-duty organization or advanced comfort features.

The 4Monster Hiking Daypack is a lightweight and compact option with a 16-liter capacity, making it suitable for day trips, hiking, and travel. Weighing only about 4 ounces, it stands out for being extremely light—about half the weight of an iPhone—and can be folded to a wallet size, which is ideal if you want an easily packable bag. The pack is made from tear-resistant 30D nylon and water-resistant materials, including zippers, which help protect your belongings from light rain and rough outdoor conditions.

It has a simple layout with one main zippered compartment, a front zippered pocket, and two mesh side pockets, providing decent organization without overwhelming complexity. This simplicity means it does not include specialized compartments for things like hydration bladders, so it is not designed for built-in hydration compatibility. The straps and back support are not padded, making it less suitable for long, heavy hikes but well-suited for short outings or as a secondary pack.

The security features are basic, with standard zippers but no lockable compartments or anti-theft elements. Considering its compact size, light weight, and durable build, this daypack is ideal for travelers and outdoor enthusiasts who need a convenient, easy-to-carry bag for light loads and quick trips rather than heavy-duty hiking or multi-day adventures.