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Our experts tested the latest women's daypacks on the market, from brands such as Gregory, Nemo, and Osprey to determine the best for different uses and budgets.
The lineup of new and previous award winning packs that we tested.
An essential item for any hiker is a daypack that can hold all of your essentials - water, food, extra layers, first aid, and other items. A great daypack should be large enough to carry everything you need, comfortable, and feel like an extension of your body.
Our expert gear reviewers have tested over 80 daypacks, and this review focuses on the latest and highest-rated women's-specific packs on the market today. We've taken these packs on short hikes, bushwacking excursions, and to the tops of mountains. And, because many packs can serve double duty, we've also tested them as commuter, gym, and travel bags.
Many manufacturers are starting to move away from women's specific packs in favor of unisex models, which are found in our full daypack review. In our tests, we found that torso size greatly influences how a pack fits, and that for some women, a women's specific pack is not the best choice due to the back panel size and shoulder strap spacing.
Our testers chose the Gregory Maya 20 as the best women's daypack. It features 20 liters of space for all your gear, has well-designed pockets, an adjustable back panel to help dial in the fit, and comfortable shoulder straps. When we need more carrying capacity for longer hikes or for loads over 15 pounds, the Gregory Jade 28 is our top choice. It comfortably supports weight by distributing it over our hips and has well-cushioned shoulder straps.
Editor's Note: Our women's daypack review was updated on November 18, 2025, to include new products from Gregory and Osprey.
Sometimes, the details make all the difference, and that's what we found in the Gregory Maya 20. This lightweight pack is comfortable and well-designed. It comfortably supports loads of 15 pounds, and the hip, shoulder, sternum, and load lifter straps allow you to customize the fit and feel of the pack. The large hip belt pockets are easy to access while hiking. One of our testers noted, “I can actually fit my phone (iPhone SE) with its case in the hip pocket; I can't do that on other packs.” Small details, including hip belt “webbing keepers” to hold straps, a large hydration hose opening, hydration hose clip, and an integrated whistle set this pack apart.
SPECIFICATIONS
Advertised Volume
20 L
Measured Weight
29 oz
Weight per Liter
1.5 oz/L
Back Construction
Channeled foam backpanel with aerodynamic grooves
Hydration Compatibility
Hydration compartment
One tester said, “I can easily use this pack for work, hiking, biking, travel, or pickleball.” A 13-inch laptop snugly fits into the hydration compartment, leaving other pockets to organize clothes, shoes, snacks, and other items. We would appreciate a larger front or internal mesh pocket. Both can hold a small wallet, keys, and a snack, but a little extra depth would be nice. While the Maya 20 performs well, its comfort decreases with loads over 15 pounds. We recommend the wire-framed Gregory Jade 28 or Gregory Juno 24L that provide greater support and comfort for heavier loads.
For the dedicated hiker who wants the most comfortable technical pack, the Gregory Jade 28 offers a large capacity in a plush, supportive pack, making it an easy pick as one of our favorites. It's comfortable right from the start, has an adjustable frame, and is available in two sizes. One of its standout features is the large U-zip opening that makes accessing essentials a cinch. “I think this is THE bag for anyone hunting for something that can serve as more than just a single-daypack,” one tester told us. She points out, “The Jade 28 fits the bill for so much more, and can easily carry everything I need for quick overnight trips.”
SPECIFICATIONS
Advertised Volume
28 L
Measured Weight
42 oz
Weight per Liter
1.50 oz/L
Back Construction
FreeFloat suspension
Hydration Compatibility
Internal hydration sleeve
The Jade 28 is one of the heavier packs we tested, but we couldn't tell once it was on because it is so comfortable. However, because of its capacity, it is easy to overstuff. We recommend packing only what you need, even if there's room for more. But should you end up with a stuffed pack, it's nice to know the Jade carries light because the weight is evenly distributed and sits on your hips. Whenever we need to bring a lot of layers or weight over a single day or an overnight distance, this is the pack of choice. No other daypack has proven more comfortable and up for such treks. If you are a petite user, you should double-check that the hip belt will adjust small enough for your waist before purchasing. Our petite testers found that with layers on, the sizing was fine, but when hiking in just shorts and a tank, we wanted it to pull a bit tighter to really hold the load of a full pack in place. If you don't need something quite as large, the Gregory Juno 24L is a great pack that is still large enough to hold a full day's worth of supplies.
The Gregory Jade is hands down our top pick for a full day out hiking.
Credit: Katie Brown
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From mountain tops to valleys, we've tested these women's specific daypacks to help you find the best pack for your needs.
Credit: Byron Adams
How We Tested
GearLab has extensively tested daypacks and backpacks for years, including men's, unisex, and women's specific designs. Each year, we look for the latest models and updated versions of past award winners. We then put each pack through extensive testing in our metrics, both on and off the trail. Each women's daypack is assessed and scored in our five ratings metrics, which include:
Comfort (25% of overall score weighting)
Versatility (25% weighting)
Ease of Use (25% weighting)
Weight-to-Volume Ratio (15% weighting)
Construction Quality (10% weighting)
Whether you're looking for a pack that can hold its own on the trail and as your travel bag, or a dedicated day hiking pack, we've analyzed each pack in real-life conditions to help you find the perfect pack for your needs. Want to learn more about our test process? Read more in our How We Test article.
Why Trust GearLab
This review is authored by our team of female hiking enthusiasts and professional guides Tara Reddinger-AdamsMadison Botzet, and Katie Brown, with input from hiking friends. Tara is a former professional mountain bike coach and guide who spends her free time exploring the Southwest's red rock and canyon country on foot and on bike.
Madison enjoys getting out in Western Montana's mountains for a quick romp in the woods or on an all-day hike to summit a new peak. Katie lives in the mountains of Colorado and grew up hiking Fourteeners in Colorado. She was a professional rock climber and spent “years carrying heavy bags up hills.” Together, our team has a discerning eye for detail and understands what makes a great daypack.
All of our testers out adventuring.
Analysis and Test Results
Each women's daypack in our review is tested both on and off the trail using our side-by-side comparison process. We hiked with each pack for a minimum of eight hours, on short and long distance hikes.
We also used them for paddleboarding, skiing, commuting, and pickleball to determine their overall performance in each of our test metrics.
After testing, we rated each daypack in each of our five mutually exclusive metrics, from comfort and adjustability to available features and durability, all to find the best daypack.
Worse Value
Better Value
What's the Best Value?
Frequently, there are tradeoffs when purchasing gear, and a daypack is no different. We test a range of packs at various price points to recommend the best gear for your hard-earned dollar. Less expensive packs can have similar features and comfort as more expensive packs, but sometimes lack more durable materials.
The Gregory Maya 20 is a versatile bag that works well for a wide variety of activities and offers high performance across all metrics at a moderate price. The Gregory Juno 24 holds 24 liters of stuff and is one of the most comfortable (and affordable) packs we tested. The Gregory Jade 28L, on the other hand, is on the pricier side, but can easily act as an overnight crossover and offers incredible support and comfort for longer adventures.
A pack that can serve double duty can be a great investment. Here we are using the hydration compartment for our 13" laptop and the main pocket for a jacket, cables, and other items.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
Comfort
Comfort is incredibly important while hiking, and your pack can turn an otherwise enjoyable hike into an unpleasant adventure. To ensure objectivity and fairness in our assessments, we balance our assessment in this metric against each bag's intended usage.
A pack built for day hikes and a pack intended to be compact and portable enough to use on a spontaneous hike are designed differently. Yet, each should be comfortable to use for its intended use.
Packs with adjustability features generally score higher as they allow the user to customize the fit to their body. When determining comfort, we consider padding, the hip belt, breathability, and other features that impact comfort.
The hip belt can greatly impact a pack's comfort level by shifting weight off the back and onto the hips. Most of the packs in this review have a load-bearing hip belt, but we found a varying degree of comfort with how they performed.
The Gregory Juno 24L is a superbly comfortable pack to wear. While many daypacks seem to have a fit that feels as small as the bag, the Juno is as secure and well-fitted to the individual as a full backpack can be. It distributes weight across a wide hip belt and has one of the most effective back ventilation systems we've tested.
The Jade 28L features tons of padding in all the places we want it. It has a wide, cushy hip belt that is on par with the support found in a proper backpack. The Jade also features a trampoline back panel for unparalleled ventilation. This pack is one of the most comfortable to wear in all conditions, loaded with varying amounts of gear.
The Gregory Jade is an amazing, all-around pack that can hold everything you need, and more.
Credit: Katie Brown
The Gregory Maya 20 is one of the most comfortable packs for its size and construction. While not heavily padded, the adjustable foam back panel adjusts from 17" to 19", and has adequate ventilation while hiking or scrambling. The shoulder straps are comfortably spaced and lightly padded, and do not rub or create pressure points on the chest or sides. The pack comfortably supports loads up to 15 pounds while hiking and scrambling, and is a great choice for day hikes.
Testers found the Osprey Sirrus and the Osprey Tempest 22 somewhat disappointing in terms of their comfort. The Sirrus has plastic slots in its frame that are used to adjust the pack, but they rubbed quite badly, particularly when hiking with just a tank top. The Tempest's shoulder straps rubbed and lacked the comfort found in other models.
We compared and measured how far the shoulder straps are set apart on each pack. We then compared the women's specific packs to unisex and men's models and found the women's straps to be much narrower.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
Women's specific packs generally have a shorter back panel and shoulder straps that are set closer together than on men's and unisex packs. This strap placement creates an exaggerated S-curve that best fits petite and narrow physiques. For those with longer torsos and broad shoulders, this design may feel uncomfortably small. We recommend taking measurements and buying the pack that fits you best, regardless of how it is labeled.
Versatility
How useful are a daypack's features? Is the pack versatile enough to use for purposes other than hiking? Can it be used as a gym bag, work bag, or for other purposes? The most comfortable pack will be of little use if it can't perform the tasks you need it to do.
Our standard hiking kit weighs 3.6 pounds without water and includes first aid, GPS, extra layers and more. Our 3 liter bladder adds an additional 6.9 pounds when it is filled.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
We packed the same hiking essentials into each pack to see how they performed. We then emptied our hiking gear from the pack and tested its functionality for other uses. From pickleball to travel, trips to the local park, and more, we tested how well each pack's design lends itself to other uses.
The Gregory Maya is a versatile daypack and one that would make a great travel companion. It has well-thought-out features, such as a hydration hose clip and whistle, and transitions from trail to travel, to the gym, and office without missing a beat.
The zippered hydration compartment fits a 3-liter bladder or a 13" laptop or pickleball paddle, and the main compartment can easily hold a pair of shoes, a change of clothes, and more. Deep, mesh stretch side pockets fit a 1-liter water bottle or similar-sized items. Zippered pockets on the hip belt and on the pack's front can hold snacks, lip balm, cell phone, and other small items, while a stretch mesh front pocket allows you quick access to a jacket or other small items. If you're looking for one pack to serve multiple purposes, the Maya is a great choice.
From hiking to pickleball, this pack can do it all.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
The Gregory Jade and Osprey Sirrus are other top contenders for their versatility. They're fully loaded with super useful features that are handy for just about every possible adventure. Notably, the Sirrus also comes with rain covers stowed away for emergencies.
We appreciate the super functional features of the Jade 28 for big missions, such as its oversized hip belt and large pockets. Its large capacity makes it a great pack for an overnight trip, ensuring nothing you need is left behind. The Juno 24 has simple yet highly functional symmetrical pockets with wide openings and intuitive shapes, making this one of the more versatile models we tested, regardless of what you tend to carry while you hike.
Large internal pockets and hip belt pockets are great for stashing small items and keeping things organized.
The NEMO Resolve 25L had some unique features we didn't find in other packs, adding to its versatility. These include internal bungees to help separate items in the large, main compartment, a small, snap closure pocket on the shoulder pocket, and a tightening system on the side pockets so water bottles don't fall out. Although none of these were activity-defining enough to warrant an award, they are worth a mention as useful extras.
We enjoyed the internal bungee system of the NEMO Resolve, which allowed us to separate items in the large compartment.
Credit: Katie Brown
Ease of Use
Scoring how easy each pack is to use was a two-pronged endeavor. Firstly, we packed and unpacked them to see how easy their organization, zippers, and overall design are to use. Can we easily adjust the hipbelt and sternum straps? Are the trekking pole holders easy to use? We considered all adjustable pieces and how they affect the pack's usability.
Secondly, we evaluated the pack's adjustability. Daypacks are notorious for not having a lot of adjustability. Many are offered only in one size, with limited options for further adjustments, like load-lifting straps to help take weight off the shoulders or hip belt tensioners.
The Gregory Maya and Gregory Jade 28 both feature large hip belt pockets, reinforced easy-to-grab zipper pulls, and easily fits an iPhone (SE) with a bulky case.
The Maya's hydration hose port is large enough to thread a hose through with the bite valve attached, and the right shoulder strap features an integrated hydration hose clip.
We enjoy how easily we can thread our hose with mouthpiece from the Maya's hydration compartment to the pack's outer. The SpeedClip hydration hanger is easy to use, but we wish it had a more universal compatibility with other brands.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
Each pack in our review has an adjustable back panel, but there are limits to their adjustability. Only the Gregory Jade 28 is available in two torso sizes; all others are only available in one size. The Gregory Maya has an easy-to-adjust Velcro back panel. To adjust the panel's length, pull up on the panel, adjust it to the desired size, and push back down. Easy peasy.
One of our testers has a 17 to 17.5-inch torso, which often falls on the cusp between sizes. Another has a 19 to 19.5-inch torso, which falls into the top end for women's specific packs. The Maya is easy to adjust for all torso sizes, while we found the Tempest and the Jade both run a bit on the small side, making a comfortable fit more challenging.
Each of the packs we tested has an adjustable back panel, which is an important part of ensuring a comfortable fit. We recommend visiting the pack manufacturers' websites or this REI video for guidance on how to measure your torso length for a pack. This will help ensure that the back panel, shoulder straps, and hip belt land in the right places.
Some packs have load-lifting straps on the shoulders that are designed to shift the weight closer to your back and stabilize your load while reducing the weight on your shoulders. For these straps to work, the pack's body has to extend above the shoulder straps, which isn't usually the case with a daypack. We noticed a slight difference in performance when using the load-lifters in the Gregory models, but not in others. This is likely because their packs are slightly larger with a larger gap between the back panel and shoulder strap anchors compared to the others we tested.
The Osprey Tempest's Stow-and-Go trekking pole attachment was perhaps the most frustrating feature we tested. We struggled to get our tips (with small baskets on) into the strap, the Stow-and-Go elastic shoulder strap broke, and our left arm rubbed our trekking poles as we hiked. However, we liked the size of the Tempest's deep pockets. The interior mesh pocket is great for your wallet and keys, while the front pocket is large enough for a sandwich and other snacks.
Inserting poles with small baskets into the lower strap was frustrating, but without baskets, we were able to much more easily place the tips of our poles. We think inserting poles with snowshoe baskets would be challenging.
Credit: Byron Adams
Weight-to-Volume Ratio
A pack's weight and comfort can greatly influence your hiking enjoyment. In general, packs with more padding weigh more than their minimalist counterparts. In this metric, we weigh each pack and then calculate how much each pack weighs per liter. We also consider if the pack feels or packs larger or smaller than its stated capacity.
The 24-liter Gregory Juno has the best weight-to-volume ratio in our test, weighing 1.29 ounces per liter, which is impressive given its comfort and features. The Gregory Jade 28 and Gregory Maya both weigh 1.5 ounces per liter, which is slightly more than the internal frame Nemo Resolve .
Each pack was weighed on a luggage scale three times to ensure an accurate weight. This number was then used to calculate the weight-to-volume ratio.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
Both packs from Osprey, the Sirrus and Tempest, had the highest weight-to-volume ratio, which surprised our testers, especially considering the Tempest's design.
Construction Quality
Lastly, we rate each pack's durability in construction. All models have undergone several months of regular use and intense testing, and some of our top-rated bags have been tested over several years. We continue to make updates here based on their continued use. We also comb through online user reviews to identify durability concerns or patterns reported by other hikers who purchased the pack. We incorporate these insights into the “lab” examinations and field tests to see if they occur in our hands-on experiences. This includes hosing each pack down for a full minute to assess its water resistance.
The construction quality results were impressive for the most of these packs. Most packs are made with at lesat 210-denier nylon in the body with and many features a double layer on the bottom, and all feature reinforced seams, thick adjustable straps, heavy-duty plastic components, and minimal or thickly reinforced mesh.
The body of the 100D high-tenacity nylon Osprey Tempest proved durable in our test, but the trekking poles' elastic Stow-and-Go strap broke, which was disappointing.
The elastic bungee for the pole holder snapped from the plastic tab during use. We knotted the ends so that they do not pull through the slot.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
No pack will last forever, and some terrain is less forgiving than others. If you hike on trails in “gentle” forest ecosystems, durability may be less of a concern. But if you hike through desert scrub, scramble up craggy peaks, or squeeze through slot canyons, a thicker material will offer more abrasion resistance. You should consider your planned use when making a purchase decision.
After the water test each pack was laid in the sun to dry, and you could see the water seeping out of the packs in this comparison.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
How To Pick the Best Daypack
There are a few key things to consider when choosing a daypack: what you typically take with you, your intended use, and personal comfort.
What Activities Will You Use It For?
When choosing your daypack, identifying the activities you will be using it for can be helpful. If you're using it for bike commuting, helmet storage may be important. Will you be using it for work? If so, will your laptop fit? Will you use it for travel or overnight trips? Or do you want a bag that can be used for going to the gym? All of these factors determine which daypack is the best choice for you.
Do You Need Your Daypack to Go Far and Long?
Budget is always a factor in every purchase, but it's also important to consider overall value. If you are struggling with a pack's price tag, it can be helpful to identify where the value lies for you. If you are looking for a pack that will last years, eventually turning into a family heirloom, then you may consider a bag with more durable construction and a higher price tag. If you just need a pack for an upcoming trip or to take to the gym in the morning, durability may be less important to you. Knowing how you'll use the pack can help you determine if you need the most durable materials or not.
A well constructed bag has the potential to last a lifetime.
Credit: Katie Brown
How Does It Feel When You Carry It With Weight?
Every person is a unique shape and size, and while we can offer advice on fit and comfort, it's important to note that this is a very personal piece of the puzzle. Look for a retailer that will allow you to put weight in the pack and walk around with it on. Packs fit very differently empty than they do with weight. If it's an online purchase, check that the retailer has a good return policy if the fit does not work for you.
When trying on daypacks, walk around with it on, move your arms, squat, and bend over to test the overall movement. Check the width of the shoulder straps - do they feel uncomfortable, rub, or could they potentially chafe?
If you use side pockets for a water bottle, check to see how easy it is to access that pocket while wearing the pack. Lastly, can you adjust the straps to accommodate different clothing or weather needs? The comfort of your pack can make the difference between a great day and a terrible day on the trail.
Your daypack should be able to carry everything you need on your adventure and be comfortable.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
Conclusion
Finding the perfect daypack can feel like an overwhelming challenge. With so many models on the market, even from the same manufacturer, it's not always easy to differentiate among the choices. We hope our extensive testing and ratings will help you in your quest. If you're looking for the best backpack for school or even if you're not sure what kind of backpack you need, we've got a comprehensive backpack round-up to help you decide.
Where will you go with your daypack?
Credit: Byron Adams
—Tara Reddinger-Adams, Katie Brown, Madison Botzet, & Maggie Nichols
