Osprey daylite pack plus#
Unlike the pricier Talon, the Daylite Plus doesn’t have Osprey’s LidLock bike helmet attachment system, nor do you get a spot to stash trekking poles or carry an ice axe. I use this space for just about everything, including quick access to snacks and a windbreaker jacket or rain shell. Finally, there’s a large shove-it pocket on the front of the pack, which is a feature that we love (the regular Daylite forgoes this). In practice, we’ve found the bottom one perfect for stowing a phone and/or wallet, and the top outside pocket is comprised of smaller mesh sleeves including a key clip for additional organization. You get an internal sleeve for carrying a water bladder (not included) or small laptop/tablet (up to 15 in.), side mesh water bottle pockets, a generous main compartment, and two zippered pockets on the outside. In our opinion, the Daylite Plus is plenty for most day hikes and outperforms most similarly priced daypacks.įor such a lightweight and inexpensive pack, organization is impressive on the Osprey Daylite Plus. Osprey’s own Stratos offers a major boost in ventilation with a suspended backpanel (similar to a backpacking pack) that provides more separation between your body and the pack, but that model is much heavier and pricier at $140. For the design, Osprey chose a slotted foam back covered in mesh, which allows room for air to flow and kept me reasonably cool on short to moderate day hikes in the harsh Colorado sun. In the end, we have little to complain about with the design choices that Osprey made here.Īs we touched on above, the Daylite Plus is a great breather overall. You can go lighter with an even more trimmed-down design like the REI Co-op Flash 18 (9 oz.) or Flash 22 (13 oz.), but these packs compromise big time in terms of structure and durability. Some of this weight savings is a result of opting for the simple webbing hipbelt mentioned above and lack of an internal frame, but the Daylite Plus still is well-built and comfortable overall. for the S/M size) and just slightly heavier than the similarly built Deuter Speed Lite 20 (1 lb. At 1 pound 4.6 ounces, it’s significantly lighter than the aforementioned Talon 22 (2 lbs. In addition to its budget-friendly $70 price tag, another big upside of the Osprey Daylite Plus is its reasonable weight.
Comfort does start to suffer if you weigh it down with heavy items and lots of water, but we found the Daylite Plus to be a great match for shorter day hikes with less gear (including a jacket, some food, and a normal amount of water). The shoulder straps are surprisingly comfortable and nicely padded (similar to the Talon), and the mesh backpanel is a good breather and keeps the load close. Their pricier Talon 22 has a much more substantial hipbelt that’s better at handling heavier loads and longer days on the trail-the Daylite Plus has a simple webbing waist belt that doesn’t offer much support-but the rest of the design is very well-executed. Osprey is a leader in carrying comfort, and even the budget-friendly Daylite Plus lives up to that billing. We’ve noted these changes where applicable in text below. To see how it stacks up to the competition, see our article on the best daypacks.Įditor’s note: Osprey has updated the Daylite collection since our test, and the Daylite Plus now weighs slightly more than its predecessor, costs an additional $5 (the previous version was $65), uses PFC-free DWR and beefier fabrics that are recycled and bluesign-approved, and boasts a lightly retooled front panel with a vertical (rather than horizonal) zipper. Below we outline our experiences with the Daylite Plus. We reach for Osprey’s beefed-up Talon or Stratos for shuttling heavier loads or on longer missions, but the Daylite Plus has become our go-to choice for shorter outings around the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountains. We put the 20-liter “Plus” model to the test and found that it offers a good amount of storage and capacity, has a healthy number of features, and is very well-built overall-all for only $70. Osprey is a leader in the daypack market, and the Daylite is their entry-level collection.