Daypacks are an essential, whether you are a student, an office worker, or a tourist moving around the city. While travel backpacks are bulkier and more complex with a great degree of features to them, daypacks are usually basic designs made to cater to everyday needs. They are found in almost every aspect of a daily life and routine and outshine other bags simply because of the level of comfort and mobility they provide to a user.
Backpacks for day trips are comfortable to wear and can contain all the essential belongings you require daily. They provide you a level of mobility that is not matched by any other bag design. Moreover, the sense of freedom that comes with a backpack is unique as you can easily commute around a city without worrying about your belongings or feeling any unnecessary body aches. Before we get into some of the best backpacks for day trips, let’s go through what factors can help you identify which backpack works best for you. There are a number of these factors, and we go through each of them.
Factors to consider
There are a couple of factors you need to weigh over carefully that will eventually help you decide the right backpack for your needs. We outline what these key factors are. We come back to these considerations later in the guide as well when considering each product individually to help you identify which factor stands out in each product. So without further ado, let’s get down to what these are.
Type of activities
Choosing the kind of activities you intend to perform on your trip is an important factor in deciding which backpack works well for you. Some examples of backpack-related activities that require different types of backpacks include travelling with a carry-on travel backpack, going on a day hike, bringing your laptop to work every day, taking groceries on your way back home, and so on. Deciding which activity you are likely to be using your daypack for can help you decide which daypack is suitable for your needs.
Amount and Size of the Blongings
Secondly, the size of your daypack is largely dependent on the amount of belongings you will be carrying in your backpack. This can also depend on things such as weather. Do you need to carry things such as a raincoat, a hoodie, or an umbrella and so on.
Budget
A better backpack can also entail a pricier backpack, but this usually depends on which factors you regard as more valuable. For instance, do you want a more durable product or a more stylish one? In general, high quality material, better designing, accessorizing usually yield a product that is more expensive.
Body type
A good fit is important to ensure a comfortable and safe journey. Usually backpack sizes are designed according to torso length. Women’s backpacks are usually smaller than men’s backpacks as such. However, this factor is usually more important when it comes to travel backpacks and not so much for daypacks.
Durability
This factor depends on the type of area your backpack will have exposure to. For instance, daily commuting would probably require you to keep a backpack made of tougher material as opposed to a backpack you use to visit the neighborhood cafes.
Weight
Certain backpacks are made of materials that yield a more lightweight design. For this feature, backpack descriptions usually mention if they are lightweight products or not.
While these six factors provide a sufficient summary of the features you need to be aware of to decide the best daypack for your needs, a few other features could also help such as padded straps for comfort and support, sternum strap for additional support, and compartmentalization features such as a laptop sleeve, a water bottle pocket, and so on.
Product Recommendations
- Timbuk2 Uptown Laptop Travel-Friendly Backpack
- Osprey Daylite Plus
- Burton Tinder Backpack with Padded Laptop Compartment
- AmazonBasics Laptop Backpack
- The North Face Jester Backpack
1. Timbuk2 Uptown Laptop Travel-Friendly Backpack
One of the most travel-friendly day backpacks, the Timbuk2 Uptown is abundant with some great features. Containing plentiful pockets, a cushioned interior with ample space, this backpack provides a spacious and luxurious experience to any traveler. The simple but efficient compartmentalization also offers a great degree of organization such that you can sort your belongings according to a category. More so, you can place the more commonly used items nearby for ease of access.
The stylish design yields a look that can blend into a variety of urban settings while the adaptive fit of the backpack offers a product that is compact and comfortable to carry. Similarly, the strap design which is customizable makes it suitable for different body types and allows the user to walk in a healthy upright posture while carrying the backpack.
Adding to the comfort are the ventilated back panels that make the backpack a comfortable design to carry on a longer ride. Similarly, the tricot-lined pocket allows you to store sun protection gear in a safe manner.
Overall, the Timbuk2 Uptown is a really great backpack which can come in handy in a variety of situations. It is also particularly suitable for journeys that may entail carrying a lot of weight for long hours in the sun. As such, it works well as a backpack for daily commute and its stylish look really sets well with the work environment. The only drawback of the backpack is that it is not waterproof and as such, not suitable in a moist climate.
Pros
- Comfortable and travel friendly
- Spacious and organized
- Adjustable fit
Cons
- Not water-proof.
2. Osprey Daylite Plus
The Osprey Daylite Plus is a lightweight, durable, and spacious backpack. Made from heavy duty 210D Nylon Oxford, this backpack is made of a sturdy and strong material. At the same time, it weighs a mere 1.2 pounds making it an incredibly lightweight product. This offers great versatility as a daypack which can be used anywhere around town and in the city.
The backpack comes with a lot of great features. A convenient and easily accessible hydration bladder sleeve is located right behind the back panel while a hip belt is also added for additional stability. The hip belt helps distribute the backpack load sufficiently across your body and is particularly helpful if your day trip involves biking.
The large panel-loading main compartment is spacious and there is plenty of room to keep your essentials from cellphones to a lightweight rain jacket. This can include a laptop as well. Moreover, there are side mesh pockets, a front pocket that has a mesh organizer, and a key clip. As such, this backpack comes with a lot of practical storage space.
Moreover, the Osprey Daylite Plus is also a really stylish and good-looking Osprey backpack and can be used both on its own or with attachment to some larger Osprey backpacks. This additional feature is usually more helpful for outdoor, countryside travelling. As such, this backpack offers a great deal of versatility in terms of the ways it can be used.
Pros
- Spacious and organized design
- Lightweight
- Durable
Cons
- Does not have a laptop sleeve.
3. Burton Tinder Backpack with Padded Laptop Compartment
The Burton Tinder backpack has a polished finish that makes it stand out as a great stylish option. However, this is only an immediate attraction while the backpack has plenty of other great features than just its pleasing design.
A spacious and roomy backpack, this daypack can fit a number of belongings for different purposes, whether it is for work or an outdoor trip. The backpack can be used to keep groceries, hiking boots, harness, rain jackets, and so on. Even better, the backpack comes with a padded laptop compartment and as such, will keep your laptop safe and protected without you having to worry about it.
Similarly, there is an interior mesh pocket which is zippered, making it a secure and comfortable design. At the same time, the cushioned shoulder harness is designed to make comfortable what may otherwise be an uncomfortable journey of carrying a heavy backpack on a hot and sweaty day. Given its design and interior organization, the backpack is more suited for urban settings. Its stylistic look offers it a design that can easily blend into a variety of urban backgrounds whether it is a cafe, a coffee shop, or a workplace. Lastly, there are few drawbacks. The backpack does not have any exterior pockets for water bottles which makes it unsuitable for use in the countryside.
Pros
- Fashionable look
- Padded laptop compartment
- Cushioned shoulder harness
Cons
- Lacks exterior pockets.
4. AmazonBasics Laptop Backpack
What is really great about this backpack is how it offers a quality product at an affordable price and with a really basic design. This is quintessential of the AmazonBasics range which provides really good quality luggage at reasonable prices and this laptop backpack is one of their best products. The backpack has good size dimensions and comes with a multi-compartment interior that makes it an ideal choice for travelers who are on a budget.
As a backpack that can be used for work, this backpack works really well as its padded laptop sleeve can easily and securely contain a laptop measuring up to 17 inches. At the same time, this sleeve can also be used for tablets. The other compartments in the backpack include spaces designed to hold pens, keys, cell phones, as well as zippered compartments to keep your belongings safe and secure in one place.
On the backpack sides are mesh water bottle holders and there is also some additional space for quick access items that you may need to reach quickly. Moreover, the backpack is also very comfortably designed and has adjustable heavily padded shoulder straps that you can adjust to fit your needs. The backpack is made of a water-resistant material which makes it weatherproof. Moreover, the material is also easy to clean and can simply be wiped.
Pros
- Affordable
- Can carry a laptop up to 17 inches
- Multi-compartment and well-organized
Cons
- Less fashionable look.
5. The North Face Jester Backpack
The North Face Jester is a sleek and sturdy backpack design that works well in a variety of environments, whether you are commuting in an urban setting, or if you are an outdoor explorer. Even better is that this backpack is a more budget-friendly option.
The sturdiness of this backpack comes from the extremely strong polyester it is made of. More so, the backpack is available in a range of colors and while it can shake off some rain, it is not completely waterproof. As such, you would have to be cautious not to use it in a very moist climate. The backpack’s simple design offers a lightweight product which is very portable and easy to carry around. This is complemented with an additional degree of comfort by means of the adjustable padded shoulder straps and the FlexVent support on the back panels which provide a comfortable and breathable experience.
The central compartment is a large one and comes with ample padding, providing some protection to laptops as well. A secondary zippered compartment is also present which is fleece-lined and convenient for keeping travel essentials close by for easy access. The backpack also has an external bungee storage space.
Pros
- Great storage space
- Fashionable look
- Works well in many settings
Con
- Not completely waterproof.
Summary
We had a look at a list of factors that can help you in choosing the right backpack for you day trips and we saw how these factors become important in each of the backpacks we go through. While most day trip backpacks are suitable for urban settings, some offer greater versatility and come with waterproof features. As such, choosing the best backpack for you really depends on which factor is more important for you.
