The 8 Best Hiking Daypacks for Women
Having a comfortable and durable hiking daypack should be a staple in every hiker’s gear closest. Whether you are hiking a mile in your favorite park or 15 miles up a 14,000-foot mountain, having a good hiking daypack is crucial. There are so many different sizes and types of hiking daypacks that it can be overwhelming when trying to find the perfect one for you. But do not worry!! This guide will review the best hiking daypacks for women, the pros, and cons of each, and what to consider when looking for the best hiking daypack for women, including weight, capacity, water resistance, and breathability. Let’s dive into the best hiking daypacks for women!
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Why You Should Invest in a Hiking Daypack
The last thing you want while hiking is for your back and shoulders to hurt because your backpack is not supportive. Trust me, I did it for a few years, and it was not fun. I used a regular bookbag as my backpack, which did not provide any support. My back and shoulders were always sore and sometimes bruised after hiking.
The best hiking daypacks for women provide support, distribute your gear’s weight evenly, and allow you to pack your essential hiking gear. Your hiking daypack can also have features, including a breathable back panel and a variety of pockets to store your hiking gear. Hiking daypacks come in different sizes, so you can find the perfect size to fit the hiking gear you bring on every hike! No matter what level of hiking you do, I highly recommend buying one of the best hiking daypacks for women, so you can have the support you need!
Best Hiking Daypacks for Women
Deuter Trail 28 SL daypack
Pros:
Lightweight for having a frame (2.5 lbs)
Extremely comfortable
A lot of pockets and attachments
Hydration system compatibility
Cons:
Only one hip belt pocket
Find at:
The best hiking daypack for women and my favorite hiking daypack is the Deuter Trail 28SL Pack. I have been using it for the past few years, and absolutely LOVE it! The Deuter Trail 28SL Pack is durable, has enough room to fit everything you need and more, and is very comfortable.
Being comfortable while hiking is crucial, and the Deuter Trail 28SL Pack provides the ultimate comfort. The shoulder straps are wide enough that they do not scrape against your neck, and the shoulder strap and hip belt padding make carrying weight easy on the body. The Deuter Trail 28SL Pack also has an internal frame, which distributes the weight evenly. The back panel has a ventilation system that allows your back to breathe while hiking, which is so helpful when you are sweating. It also comes with a removable rain cover.
The main compartment of the Deuter Trail 28SL Pack is very spacious and has a hydration reservoir sleeve. You can access the main compartment through the top or a large 2-way zipper in the front. The Deuter Trail 28 SL Pack also has four other pockets: two side pockets that are perfect to fit large water bottles, one pocket on the top of the bag that can hold a wallet, keys, and snacks, and one small pocket on the hip belt that can hold a phone. The Deuter Trail 28 SL Pack also has hiking pole attachments and helmet holder loops if you are rock climbing. It is one of the best hiking daypacks for women on the market!
Osprey Sirrus 36 Daypack
Pros:
A lot of pockets for storage
Great back panel ventilation
Hydration system compatibility
Cons:
Heavier than other hiking backpacks (3 lbs)
Cannot use rain cover when carrying a sleeping pad
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Before coming across the Deuter Trail 28SL Pack, the Osprey Sirrus 36 Pack was the hiking daypack I was going to buy. It rivals the Deuter Trail 28SL Pack for being the best hiking daypack for women with its versatility, durability, and comfort. Ultimately, I decided to buy the Deuter Trail 28SL Pack because it fit my body a little better, but the Osprey Sirrus 36 Pack is one of the best daypacks!
The padding and ventilation on the Osprey Sirrus 36 Pack are incredible! The back panel has a mesh ventilation system that allows your back to breathe. The shoulder straps and seamless hip belts have extra padding that helps carry weight comfortably. The Osprey Sirrus 36 Pack also has an internal frame, which helps keep the weight distributed evenly. It also comes with a rain cover.
The main compartment of the Osprey Sirrus 36 Pack is very spacious and has a hydration sleeve. You can access the main compartment through the top or side panel zipper. There are also seven other pockets: one small pocket on the front panel, one small mesh pocket under the top lid, two side pockets that are perfect to fit large water bottles, two small pockets on the hip belts, and a sleeping bag compartment. The Osprey Sirrus 36 Pack also has hiking pole attachments and an ice axe loop. If you are looking for one of the best hiking daypacks for women, the Osprey Sirrus 36 Pack is it!
Hyperlite Mountain Gear 40L daypack
Pros:
Lightweight (1.88 lbs)
Waterproof
Roll-Top closure system
Can double as hiking backpack and backpacking pack
Cons:
No hydration sleeve
Not many pockets
Find at:
Now, you may be wondering why this guide includes a 40L backpack in a post about the best hiking daypacks for women. Although the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 40L Backpack is on the larger side, it has a roll-top closure system that allows you to compress the bag to a smaller size when it is not at full capacity. A lot of thru-hikers use Hyperlite bags because they are durable, lightweight, and waterproof, which also makes them perfect to use as a hiking daypack.
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear 40L Backpack is a backpack for the minimalist. It does not have a lot of pockets, but that does not mean it lacks storage. Remember, it is a 40L backpack! The main compartment of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 40L Backpack is very large. As I mentioned above, one of the best features of this backpack is the roll-top closure system that allows you to compress the bag when it is not at full capacity. It also has three external pockets and two pockets on the hip belts. If you want more storage, you can buy additional pockets for the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 40L Backpack. The Hyperlite Mountain Gear 40L Backpack is one of the most lightweight and best hiking daypacks for women.
Deuter Speed Lite 23 SL daypack
Pros:
Lightweight (1.5 lbs)
Extremely comfortable
A lot of pockets for storage
Hydration system compatibility
Cons:
Hydration hose opening is on the side of the bag which can create issues with larger bladders
Find at:
The Deuter Speed Lite 23 SL Pack is one of the best hiking daypacks for women by Deuter. It has a lot of the same great features as the Deuter Trail 28 SL Pack but with a lighter weight and smaller capacity.
The Deuter Speed Lite 23 SL Pack is just over 1 lb, making it the lightest hiking backpack Deuter offers. It has an internal frame that helps distribute weight evenly and padded shoulder straps and hip belts that make it very comfortable. The lightweight and compact back panel provides comfort, stability, and ventilation.
The main compartment of the Deuter Speed Lite 23 SL Pack is spacious and has a hydration sleeve. It also has many pockets, including two side pockets, two hip belt pockets, one small top pocket, and one large front stretch pocket. The Deuter Speed Lite 23 SL Pack also has an attachment for hiking poles and an ice axe. If you want a small but spacious and comfortable hiking daypack, the Deuter Speed lite 23 SL Pack is one of the best hiking daypacks for women.
Osprey Tempest 20 daypack
Pros:
Lightweight (1.5 lbs)
Comfortable padding
A lot of pockets for storage
Hydration system compatibility
Cons:
Can be short in the torso
Hip belt pockets could be bigger
Find at:
The Osprey Tempest 20 Pack is one of the best hiking daypacks for women women and for good reasons! It is a go-to daypack for many women because it is simple, lightweight, and versatile that is great for hiking, biking, and more.
The Osprey Tempest 20 Pack has lightly padded shoulder straps and hip belts that provide support carrying weight. The back panel is made of breathable material that helps keep you cool on hot days.
The main compartment of the Osprey Tempest 20 Pack is spacious and has a hydration sleeve. It also has five pockets: two small hip belt pockets, two side pockets, and one large front stretch pocket. The Osprey Tempest 20 Pack also has hiking pole and ice axe attachments. The Osprey Tempest 20 Pack is another one of the best hiking daypacks for women that is small but spacious.
Gregory Jade 28 Daypack
Pros:
Lightweight (2.5 lbs)
Breathable and comfortable back panel
A lot of pockets for storage
Hydration system compatibility
Cons:
Difficult to get water bottles out of the side pockets without taking off the pack
Find at:
The Gregory Jade 28 Pack is an overall great hiking daypack for women. It is made of breathable and durable material and provides a good amount of storage.
The Gregory Jade 28 Pack has a lightweight frame to distribute weight properly. The back panel is made of “FreeFloat” and 3D foam breathable material, which allows the pack to move with the natural movements of your body and provides ventilation. The padded shoulder straps and hip belts also provide comfort when carrying weight.
The main compartment of the Gregory Jade 28 Pack is very spacious and has a hydration sleeve. It also has six pockets: two side pockets, two hip belt pockets, one large front stretch pocket, and one pocket on the inside of the lid. The Gregory Jade 28 Pack also has a rain cover and attachments for hiking poles and an ice axe. It is one of the best hiking daypacks for women for those who are’’t looking for anything fancy!
Osprey Mira 32L daypack
Pros:
A lot of pockets for storage
Comes with a hydration reservoir
Back panel ventilation
Cons:
Heavier than other hiking backpacks (3 lbs)
Hip belt pockets can be hard to reach
Find at:
The Osprey Mira 32L Backpack is the best hiking daypack for women who are looking for a lot of pockets. It has plenty of storage space for every piece of gear you need for a day hike!
The Osprey Mira 32L Backpack has an “AirSpeed” suspension and back panel that provides comfort and ventilation. The shoulder straps and hip belts are lightly padded and provide great support when carrying weight.
The main compartment of the Osprey Mira 32L Backpack is very spacious and has a hydration sleeve. The hiking backpack comes with a 2.5L reservoir that has a magnetic sternum strap for easy use. The Osprey Mira 32L Backpack also has seven pockets: two side pockets, two hip belt pockets, one small pocket on the top, one large pocket on the front, and one large stretch pocket. The Osprey Mira 32L is one of the best hiking daypacks for women!
Patagonia Altvia 22L daypack
Pros:
Lightweight (1.5 lbs)
Back panel ventilation
A lot of pockets for storage
Hydration system capability
Cons:
Shoulder straps can be too narrow for some women
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The Patagonia Altvia 22L Backpack is another all-around good hiking daypack for women. It provides comfort and many pockets for storing your gear.
The Patagonia Nine Altvia 22L Backpack is made of durable and lightweight material and has what Patagonia says is its “most breathable back panel they have ever made”. The main compartment in the Patagonia Nine Altvia 22L Backpack is spacious and has a hydration sleeve. It also has two hip belt pockets that are perfect for phones and snacks. The Patagonia Altvia 22L Backpack is one of the best hiking daypacks for women!
Women’s Hiking Daypack Features
Find what works best for you
The biggest recommendation I can provide is making sure you find the best hiking daypack for women that works for your body and what you need. A hiking backpack may work for one person but not for another, so I always recommend going to a store like REI to try on different daypacks.
Price
The best hiking daypacks for women can cost anywhere from $50-$300. If you are a beginner hiker, I do not recommend breaking the bank for a hiking backpack. There are plenty of inexpensive daypacks that are still of great quality. For more advanced hikers who will be hiking long and difficult trails, I recommend investing in a hiking backpack that will last you for years.
Capacity
The capacity for hiking backpacks can range from 5L-45L. I recommend finding a hiking backpack in the 20L-35L range because it will provide enough storage for your day hiking gear.
Weight
I recommend not stressing too much about the weight when looking for the best hiking daypack for women because most are under 3 lbs. If you are looking to get into backpacking, weight may play a role in what backpack you choose, but for day hiking, any daypack between 1 lb and 3 lb will work very well.
Frame
There are two types of hiking daypacks for women: frame and frameless. Frameless backpacks are lightweight and can be great options for those looking to do shorter hikes and carry less gear. Hiking backpacks with frames weigh more than frameless backpacks but provide more support for carrying more gear. If you will are hiking long trails and carrying more gear, I recommend getting a hiking backpack with a frame, but it is up to what feels best for you!
Back Panel Ventilation
Back panel ventilation is important in a hiking backpack because it provides airflow between your back and the daypack. Having a ventilation system will keep your back cool on difficult hikes and hot days. The back panel should also have padding to provide additional comfort.
Frameless backpacks usually have less padding, while backpacks with frames have more.
Shoulder Straps, Hip Belts, and Sternum Strap
Placement of shoulder straps and hip belts on a hiking backpack can make or break a daypack. Part of a hiking backpack’s comfort depends on how the shoulder straps and hip belts fit on your body and how much padding they have. Some shoulder straps are too narrow and hip belts too high or low for some women, which is why it is important to try a hiking backpack before purchasing it.
There are also two types of hip belts: webbing and padded. Webbing hip belts are good for carrying weight under 10 lbs. Padded hip belts are great for carrying heavier weight because they provide additional support and comfort.
All of the best hiking daypacks for women should come with a sternum strap that clips together across your chest and provides additional support.
Hydration System Compatibility
Most hiking backpacks have hydration system compatibility except for a few (the two Hyperlite backpacks listed in this guide do not). I recommend getting a 2L reservoir for day hikes because it will fit into most hiking backpacks. Larger hiking backpacks can fit a 3L hydration reservoir.
Water Resistance
Most of the best hiking daypacks for women listed in this guide are water-resistant, but will not be enough for getting caught in a heavy rainstorm. I recommend also purchasing a rain cover if the hiking backpacks do not come with one, so you can have extra protection for your gear.
Pockets
Most of the best hiking daypacks for women come with multiple pockets to help organize your gear. Usually, they will have a small pocket for your keys and wallet, side pockets to store water bottles, and hip belt pockets to store a phone and snacks. Some hiking backpacks also come with a stretch pocket in the front, which is great to store a jacket or extra layer.
I hope this guide helps you in purchasing the best hiking daypack for women! Remember, a hiking backpack that works for one person may not work for another, so it is important to try different daypacks on before purchasing one. This guide is a great place to start in finding the best hiking daypack for women.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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