The Differences in the Top Osprey Daypacks — And How to Choose the Perfect Smaller Pack for Daily Use

I’m obsessed with lightweight travel and have been using Osprey packs and daypacks for years. I also think they’re very much worth recommending for school, hiking, cycling, outdoor sports, shopping, carrying laptops and gear for work, and more.

I’m now here with my tiny team of researchers and adventurers to help you decide which of the wide range of Osprey daypacks is right for which use — this based on our experience of them and absorbing every quality review out there (which we link to in this post).

Unfortunately, Osprey’s over-the-top creativity in naming, e.g., Daylite, Hikelite, Tempest, Arcane, and Transporter, don’t really help much in determining which daypack is for which whom. And the guidance that comes directly from Osprey is maze-like and repetitive without actually providing much concrete insight. (Hey kids, here’s an example of truly awful product copywriting: “Its lightweight [sic], simplicity, durability, comfortable carry and price has proven to be wildly popular, and today their popularity is undeniable.”)

Fortunately, Osprey’s actual bags are much more carefully thought out than their writing—and are expertly built and durable. So we’re here to give you the real low-down. We’ve picked the top Osprey daypacks (the bestselling and our favorites) and put them side by-side with mini-reviews of each option and explanations of whom it might be for.

What we don’t cover in this article are bags for extended travel. If you’re going on a trip, consider instead either the Osprey wheeled carry-on backpacks or the full-sized wheeled backpacks — both come with their own excellent detachable daypacks. And if you’re going on multi-day jaunts, check out our review of the full range of larger Osprey trekking and hiking backpacks.

FAQs on Osprey Daypacks

What is the best Osprey daypack for use while travelling with other Osprey packs?

The Daylite series packs explained below are compatible with and can be clipped onto the major lines of Osprey backpacking packs or have a luggage handle pass-through sleeve.

Which Osprey daypack is best for big laptops?

The Arcane Tote, Flap, and XL below have padded laptop sleeves advertised for a 16-inch laptop, and depending on your laptop’s specific dimensions may be able to handle one that is a bit larger. Likewise, the Transporter Roll Top below can carry a large, 16-inch laptop in a relatively compact and very weather-resistant package.

Are Osprey daypacks worth the (somewhat) higher price?

Osprey does not make the cheapest backpacks, but given the quality of their materials, design, and construction, the prices are excellent. They come with a lifetime warranty and Osprey has a reputation for making things right if the daypacks ever fail.

We consider Osprey daypacks a worthwhile long-term investment—having a quality day pack prevents us from having to buy another one a few years later, and also from damaging our gear. Most of the daypacks discussed here are also quite versatile, so one daypack can fulfill multiple uses. We talk about what each one is ideal for (commuting, travel, hiking) in this article, but really any of them can be used for all kinds of things. We’ve done so.

Do Osprey daypacks fit carry-on / personal item requirements?

The Osprey daypacks covered here are all well within most international and USA carry-on standards, though of course airline size requirements will vary. The sleeker, 20-25L bags will often be acceptable for USA airlines’ “personal item” size standards and so can be carried alongside a fuller-sized carry-on. 30L to 44L bags tend to be overhead-bin carry-ons. Check also our full coverage of the sizing for airline personal items if you’re looking for a bag for that purpose; we’ve got a chart that shows the airlines from most- to least-restrictive.

Overall Pros and Cons of Osprey Daypacks

I have no qualms in recommending Osprey as I’ve been using the brand’s packs myself for years as I travel the globe writing for this site.

Osprey daypacks vary between themselves depending on intended use, but they do share some overall features, quality build, and the singular Osprey aesthetic.

Pros of Osprey Daypacks

• Osprey daypacks are extremely lightweight, with the standard daypacks ranging in our selection from just under a pound (half-kilo) to just over two pounds (one kilo). The packable, simple Ultralight Stuff packs are even lighter.
• The pocket situation generally offers a good balance for each type of bag depending on activity — and since there are so many different options you’re sure to have a bag that offers the right level of organization and device protection without any confusing pocket overkill. (Too many pockets will add weight and also make it harder to figure out where you have stashed things when you’re on the go.)
• Quality materials: Osprey daypacks generally use 210D nylon bodies and even tougher 400HD or 420HD nylon for their bottoms, they are tougher than the cheap PP or polyester used in cheap bags and lighter than the waxed cotton canvas that was once popular. In a move towards better sustainability, this material is usually Bluesign-approved recycled high tenacity nylon, or (as with the renewed Daylite series) Bluesign-approved 300D and 600D recycled polyester. The zippers and buckles are of very high quality and tend to hold up well over the years. Backpackers like me buy an Osprey for life and expect it to last. We’re generally pleased with the results.
• All daypacks are backed by Osprey’s excellent lifetime warranty and reputation for follow-up with customers if something does go wrong.
• These daypacks are comfortable to carry; they offer good ventilation on the back panel and shoulder-friendly padded harnesses/shoulder straps.

Cons of the Osprey Daypacks

There are a few general downsides, though they generally haven’t held us back from recommending and using these bags.

• Not the cheapest backpacks out there: While Osprey is also not most expensive daypack designer, and we don’t consider the brand to be overpriced in most cases, you can definitely find good-enough generic backpacks out there without all that Osprey charm and perhaps overkill in terms of rough-and-tumble durability. Here’s a list of the top-rated cheapos from Amazon.
• Only the Daylite bags can attach directly onto Osprey’s other backpacking packs. For longer travel, another option is to buy a larger pack that comes with a detachable daypack (doubling as the head of the bag), like the Aether/Ariel series of backpacking packs.
• The sportier bags are not suitable for carrying laptops (as explained in the section for each series below. But there are commuter/urban/travel Osprey daypacks also listed here that are great for laptops. For example, the Daylite Travel Plus is OK for smaller laptops and the Nebula/Nova, Arcane Series, and Transporter series are the best choices for medium to larger laptops and tech gear.
• There are a variety of quick-access pockets on many of these bags which can be targets for pickpockets in crowded places. Such pockets are better for things of little value, not for your passport and money, which should be in the inside pockets. You can also wear the bags in front of your torso in crowded places and pick up a smart, modern money belt.

Are Osprey Daypacks Water Resistant or Waterproof?

To be marketed as “waterproof”, backpacks would have to be shown to be submersible underwater and still keep their contents dry; no normal daypacks are built for scuba diving and Osprey’s are no exception.

All Osprey Daypacks are made of highly durable materials, as noted above, and will provide a good degree of water resistance. Also, Osprey carefully constructs its reinforced seams and uses quality zippers with protective flaps over them that are key for protection from water in a downpour.

Osprey daypacks are much more likely to withstand a heavy rain than cheaper, lower quality polyester or PP bags, even when those materials have a water-resistant coating. Such coatings tend to wear off and in any case water gets in mainly through looser seams and crummier zippers on such bags. And older canvas bags, while well-built, will soak up water, especially after any coating has worn off.

Some of Osprey’s newer bags made with recycled materials are treated with PFC-free DWR, which means “durable water repellency” treatments that do not use PFCs, the environmentally disastrous perfluorochemicals.

To share my personal experience, I’m not the sort of person to carry an umbrella; my Osprey Daylite and my Osprey Farpoint Fairview daypacks have been caught in the rain with me a number of times and my papers and computer have always return home dry and in good shape. I, on the other hand, arrive as a sopping wet idiot.

So for most people, the standard water resistance these Osprey Daypacks offer is likely enough. But if you’re going to frequently be in long periods in heavy rain—urban bikers in the American Northwest, for example—you’ll likely want to also get a rain cover or a daypack from the Transporter series, either of which will more completely protect your gear.

The Osprey Hikelite discussed below has a built-in rain cover. Otherwise, you can buy a rain cover separately; Osprey offers the following options that are compatible with the daypacks discussed in this article:

• For daypacks, bright orange for optimum visibility: The Osprey Hi-Vis Raincover (get the extra small for 10 – 20 L packs and the small for 20-35 L packs)
• For daypacks, in bright orange or subdued black and with reflective tape for visibility: The Osprey Hi-Vis Commuter Raincover (fits 20-35 L packs)
• For 30-50L daypacks/backpacker packs: The Osprey Ultralight Raincover Medium

If in doubt, choose a size larger, especially if you carry gear in outside pockets.

Here are other raincover options if the Osprey raincovers are out of stock at the moment.

Finally, for those who want a daypack that packs down quite small and is suitable for travel to very rainy environments, the best option would be the Ultralight Dry Stuff pack discussed below.

Women’s vs. Men’s Osprey Daypacks: The Differences

Osprey’s are in a few cases gender-specific, though most are unisex. Broadly speaking, dedicated women’s Osprey packs are designed with slightly changed angles in the padding around the hips, to allow women to use their often rounder hips to better support more weight there. Women’s packs are also generally a bit shorter and narrower than the men’s or unisex counterparts.

This does not make as much of a difference with Osprey daypacks, as they are not generally designed for carrying a lot of weight on the hips. The sportier packs with thin hip straps are meant merely to secure the pack if you’re running, scrambling, or biking over bumpy terrain.

In any case, the main thing to note with gendered daypacks is size. If you’re a man with a shorter torso, you may prefer a women’s daypack in some cases, and likewise, if you’re a woman with a longer torso you might prefer the daypacks marketed to men. In cases where these packs are not one-size-fits-all, we’ve listed the torso length ranges (see next section) so that you can get the exact right size.

You’ll also notice in our tables listing each daypack’s details that the women’s packs are sometimes designed to carry just a few liters less than the men’s counterparts — something to consider if you want to scale down or up just a bit from a particular pack.

And finally, Osprey hasn’t quite caught on to post-gendered-color-consciousness and offers slightly different color options in some cases for women and for men.

The features and pockets on men’s vs. women’s Osprey daypacks are the same.

Guys, if you’re concerned, there’s nothing particularly “girly-looking” about Osprey’s “women’s” daypacks. If you have a shorter torso or want a slightly smaller pack, they may be a great choice.

How to Measure Your Torso for Choosing Osprey Daypack Sizes

Torso sizes are not super-important with daypacks; the main considerations are features, capacity, and intended use. But a couple of Osprey daypacks are offered in different sizes, so here’s a guide to help you get the exact right one, should you choose a daypack with size options.

1. Locate the level of your hip bones.
2. Identify your C7 vertebra (it’s the bone that sticks out at the base of your neck when you bend your head down to your chest).
3. Measure the distance between the two.

That’s your back measurement for Osprey daypack purposes! The measurements for differently sized daypacks are included where there are such options in our descriptions.

The Best Osprey Daypacks for Travelling: The Daylite Series

The Osprey Daylite series is a good starting point for travel; these are generally quite affordable but have the same quality build and materials as other (much more expensive) Osprey packs. The features are in some cases (especially the Daylite and Daylite Plus) a bit more paired down, but these are an excellent choice for keeping basic items on hand without a lot of separate organizational pockets in a comfortable pack you can carry all day.

If the Daylite series appeals to you, you can also check out our full post on the differences between the Daylite series bags to pinpoint which one is best suited for your needs. But a few basic notes:

• The basic Daylite is pretty small and not really right for regularly carrying a laptop; both it and the Daylite Cinch are more suitable as outdoorsy daypacks for basic hikes.
• I think that the Osprey Daylite Totes are extremely appealing as travel daypacks, because they have such a wide range of carry options: Traditional padded backpack straps, a luggage handle pass-through sleeve to slip over rolling luggage, and tote straps to go over one shoulder (useful in airports and transport when you want to keep your bag handy in front of you or protected from pickpockets under an arm).
• The Daylite and Daylite Plus can clip onto many larger compatible Osprey packs, which is very convenient when travelling. The same is true of the Farpoint Fairview Daypack, which is just below and is in my opinion better for city travel with its laptop and dual water-bottle carry sleeves built-in.

A Slim Travel Daypack: The Osprey Farpoint Fairview Daypack

There is slim Osprey travel daypack option that carries a larger, 16″ laptop in its padded sleeve: the Farpoint / Fairview Travel Daypack. Its total volume sits in between the Daylite and Daylite Plus at 15L.

The daypack is branded with two names because it is compatible with both the Farpoint series for men and Fairview series for women; the very adjustable daypack is fine for any gender and body dimensions. These two series have both Osprey trekking backpacks and wheeled backpacks; this is the perfect daytime compliment if you own or plan to purchase packs from this Osprey series. It can clip onto the front straps of the Farpoint and Fairview bags (which is more balanced, comfortable, and better for keeping an eye on valuables) and also be attached into the back of the bags (if you want to keep the packs as one unit).

The Farpoint / Fairview Travel Daypack is a bit narrower than the Daylite packs as it is really mainly designed as an accessory, and the main compartment is lockable. It is otherwise quite similar. The laptop sleeve is padded and can double as a hydration pouch, though you should never use it for both at the same time, obviously. As with other newer Osprey daypack models, the material is recycled 450D polyester with PFAS-free DWR, or water-repellent finish. There is an internal pocket on the laptop sleeve that is perfect for protecting valuable passports, money, and other such items, external mesh pockets for water bottles, and an external top pocket for quick access items.

I’d recommend the Farpoint / Fairview for those with a larger 16-inch laptop or who are using the Farpoint / Fairview series for travel (it comes with a few of those trekking packs). The clips are the same as the clips for the older Daylite packs, so, while Osprey doesn’t announce this, the Osprey Farpoint Fairview Travel Daypack is also compatible with (that is, can be clipped onto the front of) packs from the Osprey Aether/Ariel, Porter, Sojourn, and Volt/Viva series.

The Farpoint Fairview Travel Daypack is generally a great travel companion on its own or with other luggage—I still use mine all the time and have given a full review here.

The Most Lightweight, Packable, Scrunch-Down-Able Osprey Daypacks

These are Osprey’s answer for travellers who want a daypack for odds and ends while out walking a city or parks, and then want to stuff the pack down and have it take up as little space and weight as possible in their main luggage. While I prefer the organizational features of the Daylite options above, packable packs are a good answer for those travelling light with packs or small suitcases that are not compatible to be clipped on, or for those who otherwise want to be able to fold down and pack their daypacks.

The smallest, lightest daypack option is the Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack, weighing under .329 pounds or .149 grams. The chief feature is that it can be stuffed and scrunched down into its own built-in packing cube about the size of the palm of your hand. Otherwise, folded out for use there are not a lot of frills: just a simple water bottle pocket and a top pocket with a built-in key clip.

The shoulder straps are thinner than those of other Osprey daypacks; this is not designed to support serious weight, but the straps are still soft and quite comfortable.

The waterproof packable version is the Osprey Ultralight Dry Stuff Pack, which comes in at about twice the weight and doesn’t fold down quite as small, but is still quite light and packable. A sternum strap with a built-in safety whistle is added, so this is suitable for carrying just a bit more stuff for longer periods.

The Best Osprey Daypacks for Adventure Sports, Mountain Biking, and Hiking: The Sportlite Series

Osprey’s new take on smaller backpacks for day hikes and outdoor sports are its Sportlite daypacks. They excel in stability for those who are carrying a small to medium amount of gear while hiking, running, biking, climbing, or otherwise bouncing about a bit.

All Sportlite packs are designed to be incredibly comfortable for an entire day of outdoor wearing, even when limber, athletic movement is required. The shoulder straps (and sternum strap on the Sportlite 20, 25, and 30) and the hip belts keep the Sportlite packs secured in place. The compression straps help keep the load supported by bringing it closer to your body. Meanwhile, there is a central channel in the back panel that supposedly allows some air flow, or at least won’t trap much heat and sweat.

The smallest is the Osprey Sportlite 15, with that number meaning a 15L volume. Since both it and the slightly larger Osprey Sportlite 20 are for smaller loads, they don’t have a full-on padded hip belt intended to carry the weight, but rather a thinner, removable hip strap that merely stabilizes the pack at the waist level—especially useful during dynamic movement. The Sportlite 15 is truly minimalist and lacks even the front stash pocket that is so convenient on the larger Sportlites for having a quick place to stuff a scarf, hat, sweater, or small jacket; it’s also a good place to keep anything wet or smelly.

The larger Osprey Sportlite 25 and Osprey Sportlite 30 have fully padded hip belts that tighten at each side for stability and distribution of the weight to the hips. The hip belts have zippered pockets for quick access to small essentials. The Sportlite 30 has a lid with its own pocket as seen on Osprey and other brands’ larger backpacking packs and loads from the top. (I prefer the panel loading of the three smaller Sportlites as it is easier to access everything in the bag without unpacking.)

All of the Sportlite packs are entirely equipped for serious hikers, with long and deep side pockets that serve for water bottles or other gear (some previous Osprey daypacks have water bottle pockets that were not deep enough to secure taller water bottles). There are loops for trekking poles, which are then secured at the top of the packs by the compression straps and can be quickly released.

If you bike, hike, or run near such a dangerous and awful thing as automobiles, you’ll appreciate the attachment point on all Sportlite packs for a blinker light for visibility.

The Osprey Talon / Tempest vs. the New Sportlite Series: Differences in These Adventure/Hiking Packs

The main differences between the Osprey Sportlite series of daypacks (shown previously) and the classic Osprey Talon (men) and Osprey Tempest (women) series (covered next) are:

• The Sportlite daypacks add some features that the Talon and Tempest lack, like a blinker light attachment point, improved Airscape breathable padding on the back, more flexible hip straps, deeper and more useful side mesh gear / water bottle pockets, and an additional top exterior quick-release compression strap. The organizational pockets are slightly different and depend on pack size.
• The older Talon/Tempest series are sometimes available for a bit cheaper (we link to the best prices we can find in the Talon/Tempest table in the next section). You can also check the Osprey sale page where there are sometimes deals on older packs.
• The Talon/Tempest daypacks come in a wider range of size options than the Sportlite series, including gendered options. This means that if you have a particularly longer/shorter or wider/narrower torso you may be able to find a more exact fit for your frame. However, with smaller daypacks like these, such exact sizing is not really necessary, so we’re not surprised that Osprey has done away with the women/men distinctions and some of the volume options in the new Sportlite packs. The Sportlite shoulder harness and hip straps are quite adjustable for a range of body types.

In spite of these differences, the Sportlite and the Talon/Tempest series have quite a lot in common; they have excellent organizational pockets, quality 100D recycled nylon material, and very comfortable carrying straps and padding for long days in the wilderness.

Osprey’s Classic Adventure/Hiking Daypack Series: The Osprey Talon (Men) and Tempest (Women) Series

Osprey’s mountain biking, sports, and longer-rougher-wilder-hikes daypacks are its Talon (for men) and Tempest (for women) series. The entire series got an update in spring of 2025; we link to the latest models here but you’ll still see the old ones floating around. The newer packs are mainly enhanced to facilitate movement; the “AirScape” system is meant to keep the load close to your body while still providing ventiliation and the “BioStretch” hip belt and harness should keep the packs stable while still allowing full movement. (The older ones were also quite good and came in two different sizes for each pack; these just have one size but there are more options in the series and extended options for large-bodied people.)

All of these daypacks are quite lightweight. On the smaller end, the men’s daypacks are the Talon 11-liter and Talon 22-liter versions, and the women’s options are the Tempest 11-liter and Tempest 22-liter packs. There is a full range of Talon Tempest packs out there as well, the bigger ones could be used for light trekking and overnight adventures; the smaller “lumbar” packs carry a bit more gear than a fanny pack (and are more comfortable for long walks or sports). But in this article we’re focused on daypacks.

As shown in the table above, the 22 L Talon / Tempest are quite similar to the 11 L versions of those same packs in terms of features; the 22 L obviously carry twice as much and the only other difference is that the Talon / Tempest 11 have (thankfully, given their small size) an adjustable bungee on front of pack where you can stuff an extra bit of small stuff and carry it on the outside.

There is a “stash pocket” on the packs that is great for quickly stuffing wet gear, a bit of trash that you intend to pack out, or other items that you’d want to keep separate from your main compartment.

The backpanel’s rigid suspension system manages to keep the packs stable and yet backpackers find it offers excellent breathability. The redesign aims to make this even more flexible for free movement.

The harness packets and back stash pockets are made of a stretchy but quite tough mesh material that doesn’t fall apart like the mesh used on cheaper packs (which can often be the first point of weakness).

Those who use trekking poles enjoy the quick access of having them under their arms, attached to the shoulder harness.

As we noted above, the genders for Osprey daypacks don’t make a huge difference; the torso lengths and angle of the straps are slightly different.

Importantly, the Talon 22 Extended Fit and the Tempest 22 Extended Fit packs are made to fit people with much larger bodies. The hip straps and sternum strap are elongated and the hip pockets are thoughtfully placed further forward and extended for easier access.

The Best Small Packs for Long Days Out Hiking in Very Wet Weather: The Osprey Hikelite Series

Are you going for daylong hikes in the gorgeous, rainy Northwest of the USA, for example? The Osprey Hiklite 18 or Hikelite 26 would then be the top choice for you. (Their main difference is that they hold 18 or 26 liters of your stuff, respectively.)

These are the Osprey daypacks with an integrated (but removable) raincover that slides out of the bottom sleeve and can be used to completely cover the pack, making it quite convenient to cover up when a downpour starts.

The other basic hiking and trekking elements are also there. You can stash trekking poles in the attachments on either side of the pack and secure them with the upper compression straps. There’s a hydration sleeve that holds up to a 3L reservoir. And the scratch-resistant top pocket holds sunglasses or a phone without damaging them, and making them easy to access when needed.

The Osprey airspeed system provides a bit of a “trampoline” effect so that only a springy mesh rests against your back and air passes through in the curved space between this mesh and the pack itself, keeping you cool. It doesn’t mean you’ll never sweat, but it does help keep air flowing, and keeps heat from building up on your pack, and any sweat from soaking the pack. The shoulder harness also lets air through and is quite comfortable, as with most Osprey packs.

There are hip straps but they are not padded and not designed to carry weight, just to secure the pack to you if necessary, as the other Osprey daypacks. They are removable (and probably not useful for most people unless you’re running, biking, or otherwise bouncing). Reviewers have found the pack to stay comfortable and not chafe after day-long hikes.

The 26L version also has a stash pocket on the outside, making it a convenient place to carry partially wet rain gear for example, should the sun come out.

And while it has an inner pouch that could fit a 15-inch laptop, the Hikelite 26 is still not very suitable for carrying electronics as this sleeve is not padded. If you’re rough with your bag or regularly using it for a laptop, go for a more laptop-friendly hiker option like the weatherproof and laptop-ready Transporter series daypacks.

A Full-Featured City/Laptop Backpack: Tropos

The Osprey Tropos is meant for urban use and is extremely suited for carrying large laptops and even a second portable screen.

Two main features distinguish the Tropos from other such Osprey bags. The first is the “kickstand” feature, which is a bit poorly named since it’s nothing like a bike kickstand aside from keeping the whole unit vertical. What Osprey means is that there’s an interior hard frame on the front and back of the back, and whether or not the pack is full of stuff this frame will always keep it standing up straight, rather than collapse over on its side as most bags would. Not exactly indispensable, but cool enough. Most Osprey bags (like the thin Farpoint Fairview Daypack I use daily right now) cannot stand up vertically on the ground.

The laptop sleeve in the Tropos is roomy and entirely separate from the main compartment — the laptop sleeve is located just against your back and is both padded and has a hard shell on the back panel to keep it safe. There’s another little sleeve in the laptop compartment for cables and such.

The main compartment is quite roomy; it holds 32 liters. There are also side mesh pockets for water or coffee and a front panel pocket with very complete organizational options for cards, pens, and more, including also the key ring holder seen on Osprey’s other daypacks.

Reviewers have found the pack to hold up well over time, and while it is larger than the other daypacks on this page, it remains relatively lightweight for its size. It’s not quite as great as being able to roll your laptop bag, but it’s the closest you’ll get without wheels.

Note that if you don’t need all that space you can reduce the size with the compression straps and get the feeling of carrying a svelter daypack that stays closer to your body. You can then expand again whenever you need to.

While this is an “urban” daypack it’s quite adapted for active use, including biking. The back panel mesh allows for breathability and there is an attachment point on the front panel that are suitable for a bike light.

We of course link to the current (as of 2025) model and list its correct current dimensions, but you may still see the older model from some other sellers, which was 2L larger and didn’t have the stash pocket on the front.

A More Basic City/Laptop Backpack: Nebula

The Osprey Nebula is a high quality city laptop daypack that is just as durably built as the Tropos above, and has almost the same features. It’s generally to be found for a bit cheaper.

The Osprey Nebula’s main advantage over the Tropos is that the laptop compartment opens completely flat to allow for airport screening without removing your laptop. That’s in theory at least, for the TSA in the United States; most airport screenings in most countries will still make you take your laptop out, in my experience. It’s still convenient to be able to open this all the way up to get at stuff.

The main compartment is separate from the laptop compartment, and has mini organizational sleeves inside it for separating cables and for documents.

On top of the pack there is a scratch-resistant pocket for sunglasses or a phone, and on the front is an organizational panel with plenty of mini mesh pockets for business cards, cables, and the like, plus a fob for your keychain.

There are attachment points at the front of the Nebula daypack for a bike light and a quick access open pocket that’s great for carrying wet gear until you get a chance to dry it out, or a sandwich.

As with all of the other daypacks on this page, the Nebula holds up over time quite well. In spite of its light weight, it can hold quite a bit of gear.

For University Campus Life: The Osprey Astronova 23, Axis 24, Flare 27, and Proxima 30

The Osprey “campus” backpacks aimed at college students are, from smallest to largest: The Osprey Astronova (23L), Axis (24L), Flare (27L) and Proxima (30L).

All of these have secure, comfortable straps and a breathable back panel that Osprey calls “AirScape”; they’re suitable for securely carrying a change of clothes and a couple of textbooks while walking or biking to class (all have blinker light attachment points). They can all fit quite large laptops (16-inches or more) in their padded sleeves. And they have dual side water bottle pockets—useful for example in environs where one always needs to carry both an umbrella and a water bottle or else both a water bottle and coffee.

If you don’t carry much, you could opt for the Osprey Astronova 23L, which has the sleekest look and is wider at the sides so that it can stay close to the body but still take on some volume.

The Osprey Axis 24L steps up the size just a bit and is more practical for organization, with both an outer scratch resistant pocket and a front panel pocket with organizational sub-pockets.

The Axis adds front panel daisy chains down the sides for attaching other gear and side compression straps so that you can slim it down when you don’t need the extra space (or you could hang a wet item from these).

One more step up in size gets you to the Osprey Flare 27L. It has the same features as the Axis but is just a bit larger and has an outer mesh stash pocket on the front, which is a great place for quick access to a hat, gloves, scarf, food, etc.—things that you would want to keep on the outside of the pack. It’s worthwhile feature.

For students carrying very large textbooks or athletic or other gear, the Osprey Proxima 30L is your choice; with its 30L volume it is the largest campus backpack from Osprey and better built to take on some weight. It’s also the only one of these four that has a sternum strap, which helps distribute the load. This is, I think, I key feature worth having.

The Proxima laptop sleeve is bigger, thicker, and separated from the main compartment. The tablet and document sleeves are in the main compartment and the design of both them and the front panel pockets is the same as on the Axis.

An advantage of the Proxima is that, while it doesn’t flatten out with side compression straps, it does have compression straps on the front panel and these also allow you to easily carry a wet jacket or other gear on the outside of the pack.

While all four of these campus packs have excellent feature sets for students (especially the breathable back panels and dual water bottle pockets) without extra bells and whistles, students may also want to check out the Arcane Series just below, which has a similar design to these four campus packs but a bit more variation in designs and features. I like the Arcane versions for their mesh sleeve pockets on the shoulder straps for a card and the clip-off shoulder strap to secure the bags to things. Students might also consider the full-featured Nebula or Tropos packs if they carry quite a lot of gear or books and/or want techie city pack features.

---

Minimalist-Looking-but-Full-Featured City Backpacks: The Osprey Arcane Series (Small, Large, XL, Flap, Roll-Top, and Tote)

The Arcane Family from Osprey emphasizes daily city use with a full range of organizational pockets and features, but in deceptively simple designs. The materials are durable and sustainable.

The Arcane Series packs have laptop sleeves but also a separate sleeve to protect your documents—an excellent feature that is missing from many competing backpacks. I have inadvertently and often crushed papers with my laptop when using the same sleeve for both—Osprey designers may have had the same issue and have solved it here.

Another important Osprey Arcane feature for city folks or students is the clip-off shoulder strap that allows you to quickly secure the pack to a chair or bar rail in a way that any bag snatchers will not be expecting.

The Arcane day packs use very comfortable foam padding on the harness and back panel, though it is not as breathable as what you have on the more outdoorsy Tempest/Talon/Hikelite options or the Daylite series. Arcane is going for a simpler, streamlined look and feel as opposed to being ready for rugged, outdoorsy, technical uses.

All Arcane day packs except for the Flap pack have an in-shoulder harness strap mesh sleeve to keep small items accessible without removing the pack from your back. This is great for bus/train/tram cards, chapstick, a work ID, and/or an earbud case. The shoulder straps do not, however, have a front sternum strap that connects them; this can help bring the weight forward and off of your shoulders. It is generally not a necessity for such smaller packs but if this is an issue for you, you may want to opt for other city pack options on this page.

At the smallest end of the Arcane day pack series is the Osprey Arcane Small Day Pack, which doesn’t look like much but has everything you might need for a full day in the city or at classes—except for a water bottle pocket (we think that’s key, so for a small pack we’d opt instead for the excellent Arcane Flap Pack described below).

The Arcane Small can carry a 14″ laptop and 12L total of gear.

The Osprey Arcane Large nearly doubles the capacity to 21L and is thus more suitable for most people; there is a 16″ laptop sleeve as well as a water bottle pocket. This is a more practical size and feature set for most people, in our opinion.

Moving another step up in size to 30L, we find the Osprey Arcane XL, which still manages to look minimalist and not at all like a laptop bag, though it is that too. In this case the laptop is accessed separately through a zippered side enclosure on the back panel. The water bottle pocket also hides away when not in use.

The Osprey Arcane Tote Pack is a version of the Osprey Large with basically the same features, but also tote straps for carrying the bag over one shoulder.

One imagines oneself at a farmers’ market picking up a few vegetables this way or doing other small errands. The tote straps tuck into a stash pocket (also quite convenient for wet items like a poncho). And yet this pack is ready to go on your back with fully padded backpack straps and a back panel.

The Arcane Tote can fit a 16″ laptop in its inside padded laptop sleeve and has a hidden water bottle pocket.

The Osprey Arcane Flap Pack is an interesting offshoot from the Arcane series that still maintains the minimalist-style-but-maximal-features mindset.

Its 14L capacity is just a bit larger than the Arcane Small, but unlike the small it has a zipping, pop-out water bottle pocket and it can carry a 16″ laptop in its padded sleeve, which are key features. We’d opt for this feature set instead of the Arcane Small if you want a small daypack.

The shoulder straps, unfortunately, lack the mesh transport card pocket that is present on the other Arcane packs. But overall, this is an excellent, complete day pack with a classy profile, and one of my favorites from Osprey.

The Osprey Arcane Roll Top is quite similar to the Arcane Large Day Pack but a bit larger at 24L and with a distinctive look due to its roll-up top. It’s an option if you want to carry stuff on your back but don’t want to look like you’re carrying a typical backpack. I’d rather use zipper technology myself, but—even with Osprey’s quality construction—an argument could be made that a roll-up and clip closure is likely to last even longer.

The Ultra-Rugged City Daypacks: The Osprey Transporter Series (Roll Top and Zinch)

The rough-and-tumble Transporter series from Osprey includes a whole lot of things that are not daypacks, including large duffel bags with and without wheels. This is the Osprey series that’s ready for truly serious outdoor abuse.

As we noted earlier, all Osprey daypacks offer a good level of resistance to water. So you don’t necessarily need the Transporter series in order to protect your precious documents and laptop. I’ve used other Osprey daypacks and my laptop has been fine when I get stuck in a downpour. But if you frequently live and travel in very wet and/or dirty environments, the Transporter daypacks are the way to go. If they get wet or muddy, you just wipe them off quickly; no fuss.

The Osprey Transporter series daypacks (unlike Osprey’s other weather-resistant daypacks from the Hikelite/Tempest/Talon series) are also ready to organize your day-to-day city needs, with organizational pockets for laptops, pens, separate documents, water bottles, and more.

The Osprey Transporter Roll Top is the 30L option; it’s bordering on the large end for a daypack but it can certainly keep everything you need for a full day of work and play out in a wet city and there are side compression straps to cinch it in closer if you’ve got more space than you need. There is side separate compartment for a 16″ laptop. I like the quick-access front panel stash pocket (for a light jacket or food) and front panel organizational pocket for keeping everything accessible. The dual side water bottle pockets mean you can carry both a water bottle and a small umbrella and keep them separate from the delicate things inside the main compartment.

I’m not as much of a fan of having to roll the top of a pack open and closed, but others certainly like that style and it seems to be getting more popular. It’s great added extra protection from wet weather too.

The Osprey Transporter Zinch is happy in-between; the top doesn’t roll but it does fold over and get pulled down to compress the daypack a bit. This is smaller than the Transporter Roll Top at 22L but can still carry a 16″ laptop and other essentials like a water bottle. This is the most weather-resistant small commuter backpack from Osprey. The outside of this pack is rather simple and streamlined but there is a lot of organization built into the inside of the main compartment.

There is also a sling in the Transporter series; see the next section.

One-Shoulder Almost-Daypack: The Osprey Nebula Sling and Transporter Sling

The Osprey Nebula Sling (our full review is here) is a bit larger than most slings and so is a good option if you’d prefer a single, cross-body strap.

The chief advantage of a sling: Since there’s only a single strap, you can quickly rotate it around to your front under your arm to get at your stuff without taking off the pack. The Nebula Sling’s main compartment zips all the way down on either side to enable you to open it from the side like that.

You can adjust the strap for use on either side of your body and also use a stabalizing strap under the other arm (useful for very active biking or climbing).

The Osprey Transporter Sling offers a similar design but with even more robust and water-resistance; it loses the water bottle pouch though, which I think is key.

Roundup: Which Osprey Daypack Is Best for You? And Where Are the Best Prices?

All Osprey daypacks are made of excellent lightweight but durable materials and have held up for years in our hands and those of other reviewers and customers.

For the best prices, be sure to check their different color options at the Amazon links to Osprey daypacks, as some colors are often deeply discounted there.

Throughout this article we try to link to the cheapest color options, but things often change so it’s worth checking the different colors for a discount. At last check Amazon is much more likely to have all of the bags in stock, but Osprey USA of course sells its day packs (or “lifestyle” packs) directly too and sometimes it has sales. (Check here for Osprey European shoppers.)

We’ve also on some occasions noticed good prices at Moosejaw, though there can be less of a selection.

If you want a daypack for travel, and particularly a daypack that will clip on to other Osprey packs, go for the Osprey Farpoint Fairview Travel Daypack, the Osprey Daylite or the Daylite Plus; the Farpoint Fairview and the Daylite Plus are suitable for carrying a laptops.

The best daypacks for bouncing and jumping around (literally) in the great outdoors are the Sportlite series, and of these the one I’d go for is the intermediate sized Osprey Sportlite 25, which is both panel loading, like the smaller Sportlites and has a padded hip belt with a quick access pocket, like the Osprey Sportlite 30 (which is top loading, bleh).

While all Osprey daypacks offer some rain resistance, if you need an outdoorsy pack with an integrated rain cover for seriously wet climes (you poor thing!), the unisex Osprey Hiklite 18 or Hikelite 26 are your guys. They also have all the necessary storage features for trekking like attachments for trekking poles and a hydration pouch.

My personal favorites are currently the Arcane series as I’m a bit of a city boy. While I’m not about to give up my Daylite (I’m also a perpetual, minimalist nomad), if I were getting a new bag right now for city commutes I’d without a doubt go for the classy, svelte, full-featured Arcane Flap Pack.

Deals on Discontinued and Used Daypacks

If you’re looking to spend less, check at the Amazon links in this article for used versions for sale—within those listings. Since Osprey packs are so durable these can be a great option. The brand’s bags and luggage, in our experience, lasts for decades.

You may also check our notes on discontinued Osprey daypacks (such as the Osprey Daylite Travel, Quasar / Questa, Comet / Metron, and Heritage Simplex, Scarab, and Nanofly).

While minor improvements have been made over the years, these older Osprey daypacks were also well designed.

An Essential Accessory for Daypacks: The Heroclip

If you’re settled on a daypack, I would definitely also recommend a small travel gadget that allows you to hang it anywhere: The Heroclip.

Folded up, it’s a little carabiner that hangs on the top loop (which you’ll find on just about all Osprey daypacks). When needed, you unfold the hook and you can hang it on chair backs or even table surfaces due to the grippy silicone tip. We have a full review of the Gear Aid Heroclip and its uses.

The right size for a daypack is the Gear Aid Heroclip Mini in the box below.

If you’re going to also use it for checked luggage when traveling, opt instead for the slightly larger Gear Aid Heroclip Small, which supports up to 22 kg.