Love the design but need a little more space? Be sure to take a look the bigger sibling, the 20-liter Daylite Plus that comes complete with an external pouch, an extra front zipped pocket, and a padded laptop sleeve for longer hikes and more versatility as an urban commuter pack.
Osprey Daylite Review
Our Verdict
Love the design but need a little more space? Be sure to take a look the bigger sibling, the 20-liter Daylite Plus that comes complete with an external pouch, an extra front zipped pocket, and a padded laptop sleeve for longer hikes and more versatility as an urban commuter pack.
Compare to Similar Products
This Product
Osprey Daylite | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Awards | Best Bang for Your Buck | Best Daypack for Urban Environments | |||
Price | $50.00 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $60 List $59.95 at REI | $64.47 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $50 List $39.95 at REI | $80.00 at REI Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | Simple yet well-designed, this model has everything you need for a short trail romp or city sightseeing | A clear Best Buy winner, the updated Flash 22 is lighter than ever while still providing excellent versatility | This is a pack that works almost equally well for hiking and for carrying your work supplies | It makes sense that this model is so popular, considering its low price tag and weight | Versatile and lightweight, this daypack is a good all-arounder |
Rating Categories | Osprey Daylite | REI Co-op Flash 22 | Osprey Daylite Plus | REI Co-op Flash 18 | Deuter Speed Lite 20 |
Comfort (25%) | |||||
Versatility (25%) | |||||
Ease of Use (25%) | |||||
Weight (15%) | |||||
Durability (10%) | |||||
Specs | Osprey Daylite | REI Co-op Flash 22 | Osprey Daylite Plus | REI Co-op Flash 18 | Deuter Speed Lite 20 |
Volume | 13 L | 22 L | 20 L | 18 L | 20 L |
Measured Weight | 16.0 oz | 14.0 oz | 20.6 oz | 9.5 oz | 16.1 oz |
Back Construction | Mesh and soft foam | Removable foam pad | Mesh over vented foam | Simple foam pad | Mesh and soft foam |
Hydration Compatibility | Sleeve for 2L bladder or tablet, bladder not included | Internal hydration sleeve | Internally accessed sleeve, holds up to 3L, bladder not included | Internal hydration sleeve | Internal sleeve, holds up to 3L, bladder not included |
Hip Belt | 3/4" webbing, removable | Broad, not padded. | 3/4" webbing, removable | 3/4" webbing, removable | 3/4" webbing, removable |
Number of pockets | 3 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 5 |
Description of Pockets | 2 side mesh pockets, 1 front pocket | 1 main compartment, 2 mesh side bottle pouches, 1 side zippered pocket, 1 top pouch | 2 stretchy mesh side, 1 interior padded laptop sleeve, 1 back zippered with internal mesh dividers and key clip, 1 back expandable waterbottle, 1 back zippered. | 1 cinched main compartment, 1 outer zippered | 2 stretchy mesh side, 1 internal zippered with key clip, 1 back stuffable, 1 main compartment |
Materials | 210D nylon, 600D packcloth | Nylon | Nylon | Nylon | Nylon |
Outside Carry Options | 1 strap on each side, small water bottle pockets | Tool loop and bungee holder | Side compression strap | 1 exterior daisy chain, ice-axe loop | Emergency light tab, places to mount aftermarket helmet holder, one pair of side compression straps |
Whistle | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Key Clip | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Other Notable Features | Attaches to several large Osprey backpacks | Removeable foam back panel doubles as sit pad, removeable sternum, removeable Packmod bungee | Compatible as an attachment to other Osprey packs | Removeable foam back panel doubles as sit pad, removeable sternum and hip belt straps | Versatile compression, ice axe loop |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Osprey gave this pack a minor update in the looks department, with a new graphics logo and new colors. Otherwise, this pack is the same as its predecessor according to the manufacturer. Check out the photos below, with the updated version on the left and the older one we reviewed on the right.
Performance Comparison
The Daylite is exactly what many people look for in a small daypack, with its breathable back panel and shoulder straps, hydration compartment, front zipped pocket, compression straps, and water bottle pockets.
Comfort
3D mesh on the shoulder straps helps wick moisture away. The hip belt was a nice feature but often unnecessary when carrying just a few items. Still, it is a nice feature if you need to run or jog with the pack. The back panel design was comfortable and allowed for a little ventilation in a hot and humid climate. When used while trekking through the mountains of southern Haiti, this pack kept our reviewer's back dry.
Weight
The Daylite lives up to its name and only weighs 16 ounces. It surely won't weigh you down. However, that low weight comes with tradeoffs: minimal features and low carrying capacity. If that sounds like your cup of tea, great; otherwise, consider heavier and more well-featured packs.
Versatility
The Daylight is a simple pack with a few features. Because it lacks a front pocket and only has two compression straps, we found it to be less versatile than most packs we tested, which has four reconfigurable compression straps, a front pocket, and an ice axe loop.
However, the low weight and simplicity of this pack makes it nice for transitions between the urban and mountain environments. It's at home both on the bus and on a short day hike, which is really nice.
Ease of Use
In total, we appreciated the streamlined design that slipped from sight and mind. The biggest complaint we have is that we wish that the water bottle pockets on the sides were bigger with forethought; they can fit a standard one-liter water bottle if you put it in before filling the pack. If you forget or pick up a drink later, you'll probably join us in wishing that the pockets were stretchier. Without a front stash pocket, you'll need to put small things like sunscreen, your phone, and keys in the top zipped pocket, which is the perfect size to keep essentials handy. The external access hydration pocket allows for quick fill-ups.
Durability
Made of 210 denier nylon along the front and 420 denier packcloth on the bottom, the Daylight is built with moderately durable materials and should withstand the rigors of typical daypack use. We would expect this pack to last for many adventures. If climbing is a function you want in a pack, we think that burlier, simpler packs are better options.
Value
The Daylite is a pretty good deal for what you get. While our reviewers ultimately preferred the versatility of some more expensive packs, some testers like the simplicity and design appeal of the Daylite. It's great for people just looking for a simple, panel-loading pack.
Conclusion
The Daylite is an excellent small daypack that's perfect for short hikes, traveling, kicking it around town, or carrying your gym shoes. We loved the simple design and visual appeal of this pack. We particularly enjoyed using it as a personal item while flying, because it was a perfect size and is easy to get into. The hydration sleeve is an accessible place to stash travel documents! Though it didn't win any awards, the Daylite is a top-scoring pack that's ready for your next adventure.