10 Best Daypacks For Women in 2023

Having a solid daypack can help make your hike a lot more enjoyable. When I first started hiking, I bought one of the cheapest backpacks in the market. This wasn’t a bad idea at the time since I was a beginner, but as I got better at hiking, I needed a backpack with more support and more space. Getting a better quality pack was necessary for me to get to the next level. After so much research and trying out packs, I have come up with the ten best daypacks for women. Women’s bodies are different than men, so it is crucial to get a pack specifically made for women when you are out in the grueling trail all day. Don’t worry, I have also listed some beginner packs as well (ones that I had at the beginning of my adventure). So keep reading on!

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Women’s Day Pack Reviews

Best Daypacks For Women

REI Co-op Flash 18 Pack

I have had the Flash 18 backpack for years. It is my first hiking backpack 🎒 and I love it. I don’t really use it anymore due to how heavy my hiking equipment has become. I always carry my ten essentials and 3 Liters of water. I also carry my camera gear with has gotten a lot heavier than when I first started hiking. I feel like this backpack feels uncomfortable when the load gets pretty heavy.

But, not everyone has heavy camera gear like me, so I highly recommend this to someone that is just starting out or if you are looking to do some trail running. It is the lightest backpack, as well as the cheapest backpack on this list. It is still a great buy.

I will say one last thing. I do not recommend this backpack on very rainy hikes. It doesn’t protect your gear from heavy rain, and it doesn’t come with a rain cover. I would be wary of carrying this bag if the forecast is iffy.

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Osprey Tempest 20 Pack – Women’s

The Osprey Tempest is one of the best small womens daypack. It has a great helmet holder and has hip belt pockets. This pack is excellent for women my size (5′-2″), but for taller women, it can get pretty uncomfortable. The Tempest is great for lightweight hiking, so for a person like me that likes to carry heavy camera gear, this isn’t a great choice. However, it is an excellent starter hiking backpack and more durable than the REI Flash 22. What is significant is that you can use it around the city and on a trail, so if you are looking for a more versatile backpack, then this is a great choice! The Tempest is an awesome Osprey women’s daypack.

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My Pick For Best Womens Hiking Day Pack: Osprey Sirrus 24 Pack – Women’s

The Osprey Sirrus is my top pick for the Best Daypack for women. This backpack has so many cool packing features like on the go trekking pole holder, and many pockets to store small items. The best part of this backpack is the ventilation. What I don’t like about some hiking backpacks is just how soaked the back panel gets with my sweat. This backpack has such great ventilation that you don’t need to worry about getting your bag drenched with sweat.

This is perfect for storing all my heavy equipment as there is excellent framing support. The pack is more on the expensive side, but it is worth it if you are doing longer hikes and need more gear.

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Osprey Daylite Plus Pack

The Daylite Plus is probably the best urban daypack on this list. This backpack is a step up from the REI Flash because it is a lot more versatile and has better constructability. The Osprey Daylite’s biggest attraction is how you can use it daily. This backpack is a great laptop bag and a great hiking bag. The inside pockets can hold both a laptop and a bladder. I feel like this is the main positive of this backpack, as it really shouldn’t be used on really long grueling day hikes. The framing isn’t there for support, and it doesn’t carry as many things as the Gregory Jade. But if you rarely do any strenuous hikes and you need a bag for your laptop, then this is a great bag to choose.

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Gregory Jade 28 Pack – Women’s

If you are looking for an extremely comfortable pack that can carry any hiking gear then this pack is just for you. This women’s day pack is perfect for people that carry many things (like me) in their day pack. This pack is on the borderline of being too big for day hiking or a little too small for backpacking. However, don’t let that deter you as this pack is especially perfect for winter hiking because it can carry more things. It is also great for difficult, grueling long day hikes when you need to take more stuff.

I would rank this backpack after the Osprey Sirrus just because of the price and the size of this pack. It might be overkill for most day hikers. But I am still extremely impressed with this daypack.

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Patagonia Nine Trails 26L Pack – Women’s

The Patagonia Nine trails is great for an all-day hike. This backpack can pack a lot! However, this pack is the most expensive and the most uncomfortable bag in the bunch. The shoulder straps are a little too narrow, making it difficult to enjoy this backpack all day on the trails. Since it is one of the most expensive ones on the list, I would probably go for a cheaper, more comfortable option like the Gregory Jade 28 Pack. You would get more bang for your buck there. But if you are an avid Patagonia lover, then this is probably their best daypack to choose.

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REI Co-op Trail 25 Pack – Women’s

This daypack is an excellent choice for beginner hikers. The price is pretty low, and the quality is still high. I still use this backpack all the time, but I am looking to upgrade as the weight does get to you if you are hiking all day with heavy equipment. The reason for this is that the hip belt doesn’t provide much support. Usually, sturdier hip belts can help with carrying your load. Having no hip belt pockets is the main drawback of this pack.

I also dislike how poor the ventilation is. When I get to the viewpoint of my hike, the REI CO-OP Trail Pack back panel is usually soaked in my sweat.

Other then those two negatives, this backpack is still a great backpack for easy trails.

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Gregory Maya 16 Pack – Women’s

The Gregory Maya is a middle of the pack backpack when it comes to day hiking backpacks. It is a very average backpack that doesn’t seem to excel on any one thing. But if you are looking for a good trail running pack or a backpack for short hikes, then the Maya is a good choice.

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Osprey Mira 22 Hydration Pack – Women’s

This Osprey Mira 22 Hydration Pack has some of the best ventilation and padding on this list. This backpack is super comfortable. It also comes with a water reservoir and a rain cover. This is great for people that want to carry a ton of stuff while hiking. The support is pretty legit and the pocket system is great. I love how big the hip pockets are and how they fit my phone.

This backpack is the heaviest one on this list though, so I would not use this on an easy day hike. I would only use this backpack on a difficult all-day trail. The support is great but it is just so heavy.

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Deuter Speed Lite 22 SL Pack – Women’s

This is probably the best lightweight daypack on this list. This backpack is pretty lightweight and perfect for taking with you on easy to hard hikes. Deuter is known for its high-quality backpacks, and of course, this backpack is not any different.

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More Information On Best Women’s Daypack For Hiking

Price

The price for day packs ranges from $40-$175. A good daypack should not break the bank, but that being said, I highly recommend thinking about your hiking activities to pick out the best hiking backpack for you. If you are a beginner hiker, it might be a good idea to spend less. When you become more advanced, you can definitely invest in a new backpack. A good hiking backpack should last you for years. So on average, you should invest in at most two hiking backpacks in a ten-year span.

Capacity

Day packs come in all sizes of capacity. Smaller capacities range from 5-20 L, medium sized capacities range from 20-30 L, while larger sized capacities are around 30-45 L. I feel like 20-30L is a perfect range, to have most of your hiking essentials and camera gear.

Weight

Cheaper, minimalist designs usually weigh less when it comes to day packs. More expensive daypacks generally weigh more due to the added support of the frame and hip belt. The weight depends on what all you are going to need in your backpack. For example, most beginner backpackers really only need the 10 essentials in their backpack so a lightweight backpack is ok. You do not need the extra support.

But for someone who is hiking long miles and needs extra food, water, or extra layers, then a backpack that weighs more is better. It will provide you more support for your heavy gear. Your shoulders and back will not hurt as much.

Hipbelt And Padded Shoulder Straps

All the women’s daypacks I have listed do have a hip belt. But there are usually two different types of hip belts you can have in a daypack.

The first one is a webbing type of daypack. These are good for easy short hikes where you have a maximum weight of ten lb gear.

The second type of hip belt is the cushioned hip belt. These tend to support heavy weights as you can adjust it for your hips to help carry your load.

The cushioned hip belt usually comes with a hip belt pocket which is useful for keeping snacks or phones.

Cushioned hip belts are more expensive and heavier but I feel like it can really help you out on challenging long hikes.

Sternum Straps

All womens day packs in this list have a sternum strap, and they help with securing your bag. The strap is located above your chest, and it is usually adjustable. This can help a lot with support.

Frames

Usually, lightweight backpacks are frameless. In all honesty, a frame is not needed in all cases. If you are doing an easy day hike, a frame might not be required. Frames tend to add weight, and if you are carrying 10lbs or less worth of equipment, I don’t think a frame is needed.

But if you are doing a strenuous all-day hike, framed backpacks are highly recommended. Just note that framed day packs tend to be more expensive.

Backpanel and Ventilation

Lightweight backpacks usually have flexible frame sheet and fabric as their back panel. The positive of this is that they tend to be easier to pack, and they are light on weight. The negative is that you tend to get a sweatier back, and the support isn’t that great.

An adequately ventilated back panel usually has outstanding support, and you will have a less sweaty back. But, please note that these are often the more expensive backpacks.

Water Resistence

Most daypacks have some water resistance to avoid your equipment from getting wet. But this is only when there is a small bit of rain. When there is a downpour, that is a different story. You might need a rain cover.

Some of the daypacks do come with rain covers, but those are usually the more expensive and durable hiking backpacks. You can also buy a rain cover for your backpack separately.

Hydration System Compatibility

All the backpacks I have listed have hydration compatibility. I feel like having a water reservoir is essential when hiking as it will keep you nice and hydrated. On smaller hiking daypacks, I recommend a reservoir with a maximum of 2 liters. The larger daypacks you should use a 3 liter reservoir.

You can add the reservoir easily inside the hydration sleeve and hook the reservoir for added support. Then route the hose through the hydration opening. You can then clip the hose onto most shoulder straps.

Some backpacks like the Osprey Tempest 20 have external hydration sleeves.

Organization

Usually, good day hikes have several pockets and different ways to organize your items. For example, most packs have water bottle pockets, small pockets to add your keys 🔑, trekking pole attachments, hip belt pockets, a large main compartment, and a shove it easy access pocket. The shove-it pocket is great for storing your rain jacket or anything that has gotten wet without compromising your main pack items. The hip belt pockets are great for storing snacks or your phone.

Women VS Mens Day Packs

When it comes to hiking daypacks, you can usually get away with hiking with a smaller unisex pack and still be comfortable. For example, the REI CO-OP Flash is great for a super easy short day hike and that pack is a unisex pack.

But for more strenuous day hikes, I highly recommend getting a daypack explicitly made for women. Most of these backpacks 🎒 have the hip belt and straps made for women. As you know, the hip belt helps tremendously with support. Having a hip belt made for your body type is vital for hiking comfortably on those grueling challenging hikes.

Final Thoughts On Best Womens Hiking Daypack

I hope this guide helped you choose an awesome new daypack for your adventures. Please make sure to check out some other posts on great outdoor gear:

• Best Gift For Hikers
• What To Wear Hiking
• Best Women’s Winter Hiking Boots
• Gear Guide To Best Hiking Essentials
• Best Trekking Poles

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