REASONS TO BUY
Deep pockets
Outperforms more expensive packs
Supports loads well
REASONS TO AVOID
Bladder tab not compatible with all bladders
No hydration hose clip or magnet
Hip pocket placement
No closure on right hip pocket
Osprey Sportlite 25 Review
This lightweight, minimalist pack outperformed more expensive packs, thanks to its comfort, versatility, and great storage pockets
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
By Tara Reddinger-Adams ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ November 18, 2025
RELATED: The Best Hiking Daypacks of 2025
Our Verdict
The Osprey Sportlite 25 is a new, lightweight, minimalist pack that can handle any task, making it a great pick for a truly versatile daypack. It has construction and features similar to pricier packs, and features great organization, including deep pockets on the inside and outside to keep things organized. It's available in two sizes, and you can easily adjust the fit to your torso with the shoulder, sternum, and hip straps. It's comfortable on long hikes with loads up to 15 pounds. It's also one of our favorites for when you need a versatile pack that can take you from the trail to the gym or office.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Osprey Sportlite 25 is designed to be a lightweight minimalist pack, but that doesn't mean it sacrifices comfort or features. With 25 liters of capacity and 10 pockets, this pack is incredibly versatile. It fits snugly and comfortably on the back and allows the body to move freely. The side pockets are very deep and securely hold tall bottles, while the front mesh pocket is great for stowing a jacket. The Sportlite has loads of space for all-day adventures, going to work, the gym, or even the pickleball court.
From trail to town, this versatile pack can do it all.
Credit: Byron Adams
Comfort
The Sportlite 25 has an AirScape back panel covered in mesh, providing better-than-average ventilation. It sits close to the body for unrestricted movement and does not feel bulky. The shoulder straps are comfortable and flex very well when taking the pack on and off (something those of us with shoulder injuries appreciate).
The pack comes in two sizes, S/M and M/L. We tested the M/L, as our shorter tester has a long torso (19") for her height. Both our female and male testers easily achieved a comfortable fit with this pack, thanks to the adjustments in the hip, shoulder, and sternum straps.
The Sportlite supports loads well and is comfortable on the back.
Credit: Byron Adams
The Airscape back panel performs well on moderate hikes with above-average ventilation. Despite having a sweaty back at the end of hikes, the pack did not feel warm or uncomfortable. In our tests, we found it best supports loads at or under 15 pounds; above that, the pack began to sag a bit, even when using the load lifter straps.
Load-lifting straps are found at the top of a pack and can help to shift the weight up and stabilize it.
Credit: Byron Adams
Versatility
The Sportlite 25 really shines for its versatility. It has a large main compartment and an equally deep middle compartment. There is a smaller zippered pocket on the top of the pack with a stretch-mesh pocket below, which is great for quickly stashing packable items.
The bladder compartment is on the pack's outer, leaving the main compartment for bulky gear. We frequently placed our first aid kit and extra layers in this compartment while hiking, leaving the middle pocket for food and other items.
We have plenty of space for a jacket and shoes in the main compartment with room to spare.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
When not on the trail, the main compartment easily fits a laptop, clothing, and shoes. We like that we can organize items easily in this daypack. It's even large enough to use as an overnight travel bag.
One drawback is the right hip pocket lacks a closure, and items could fall out. It's a stretchy mesh, which helps hug whatever you place in there, but we opted to only stash lip balm or a snack in this pocket — we wouldn't put your car keys in there. We also wish the left hip pocket were a bit farther forward for easier access.
The lack of a closure on the right pocket gives us pause, and we chose not to put any large or valuable items in it.
Credit: Bryon Adams
Ease of Use
We appreciate a pack that is intuitive to use. The Sportlite's features are well-designed and user-friendly. The zipper pulls are large and easy to use, and the trekking pole holders are simple yet effective, requiring no bungee adjustments.
One qualm some people have about the Sportlite is that the hydration compartment is on the outside of the pack, between the pack and the back panel. This location worked fine in our testing, and we could use bladders of all shapes and sizes by shaking the pack to help the bladder slide into place. The attachment tab, however, is not universally compatible with all bladders. For some bladders, we had to add a small carabiner for it to hang on.
The trekking pole tips slide into a small nylon loop at the pack's base, and the shaft is held in place by the side compression straps. This system is quite easy to use and effective.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
The side mesh pockets are very deep and securely hold a tall one-liter water bottle. Side compression straps also go over the mesh pocket for an added layer of security and can even be adjusted while the pack is on the body.
We had no fear of our tall 1-liter bottle falling out of the deep side pockets.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
Weight-to-Volume Ratio
The Sportlite is lightweight, weighing just 27.2 ounces for a 25-liter pack, or 1.09 ounces per liter. That is impressive, given the number of pockets and the amount of weight that this pack can carry.
Osprey does not list a maximum load capacity for the Sportlite, but it was quite comfortable with 15 pounds of gear in it for our testers.
For a pack with support and structure, 1.7 pounds (27.2 ounces) is an impressive weight.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
Construction Quality
The Sportlite held its own as we bushwacked through thorny vegetation, crawled through caves, and tossed it onto the ground. The lightweight 100D recycled bird eye nylon has held up well with no cuts or holes and shows no signs of wear aside from a stray scratch.
The nylon fabric did not fare so well in our hose test, however, and a fair amount of water entered the pack, leaving it rather soggy. A dry bag and raincover would be good to have if you use this pack in wet environments. Our one tester always carries a dry bag for valuable items, since the weather can be unpredictable.
A very wet pack interior. Even with all the zippers closed, the material did not resist water very well.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
Should You Buy the Osprey Sportlite 25?
We think the Sportlite 25 is a great pack not only for its on-trail capabilities, but also as a versatile do-it-all pack. We can easily organize gear in it thanks to its many pockets. The fit is comfortable, even on hard, all-day hikes, and it can carry a lot of gear. The Sportlite should definitely be a contender on your short list of daypacks.
What Other Daypacks Should You Consider?
If you're looking for a pack that is more budget-oriented, we recommend the REI Co-op Flash 22. It has thoughtful features, is comfortable, and is also lightweight. If you need something to carry larger loads, we recommend the Gregory Zulu 24 or the REI Co-op Traverse 35, both of which have wire frames to support heavier loads and more highly padded shoulder and hip straps.
Whether you're looking for a pack for short hikes, long hikes, work, or travel, the Sportlite can do it all.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Osprey Sportlite 25 versus top competing products:
—Tara Reddinger-Adams
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