10 Best Daypacks For Women

The Osprey Sirrus 24 is my top pick for the best daypack for women.

The Sirrus 24 has an adjustable torso and is tailored to fit women comfortably. The AirSpeed suspension system supports your back nicely and keeps it well-ventilated—there are no sweaty backs with this daypack.

What I love about the Sirrus 24 is how easy it is to pack and organize things thanks to the panel-access main compartment and the many different exterior pockets. The main compartment is spacious and has a separate internal pocket for a hydration bladder. This versatile daypack has Stow-On-The-Go trekking pole attachments and even comes with an integrated rain cover.

Other than the price, which is a bit on the expensive side, I only have good things to say about this Osprey daypack for women. If you want a dependable, versatile women’s daypack, the Sirrus 24 is perfect.

At just over 1.5 lbs, the Tempest 20 comes in two sizes—XS/S and M/L—and features an adjustable torso that fits most women comfortably. The AirScape back panel molds to your body as you move while still being breathable.

Like most Osprey hiking backpacks, it has a separate pocket for a hydration bladder that keeps your hiking essentials in the main compartment safe from any leaks. The panel-loading opening offers ease of access and the exterior pockets make organization simple.

The Tempest 20 can feel a little uncomfortable for taller women, and I also wish Osprey included a rain cover with this daypack. But aside from these minor drawbacks, Osprey got almost everything right. The Tempest 20 is hands down the best women’s backpack for hiking in my opinion.

The Gregory Alpinisto 50 is my pick for the best mountaineering backpack for women. Although it does not come in a dedicated women’s size, it is a unisex pack that feels comfortable for most women.

This is a technical backpack with lots of space to stow your helmet, rope, ice axe, and any additional gear you might need for a mountaineering adventure. The zippers of the pack are placed in a way that makes it easy to access your stuff without having to unpack everything.

This mountaineering daypack is on the heavier side, but you can remove the frame, waist strap, or top pocket to shed weight. I would choose the Alpinisto 50 if I was heading out for alpine action and needed the extra stability and gear storage space.

If you want the best features of larger backpacks with the versatility of a smaller daypack, the Gregory Maya is the answer. This 16L daypack weighs just over 1.5 lbs and is the perfect companion for shorter day hikes. It has many points for attachments including a quick-stow feature on the shoulder strap for sunglasses. Few other lightweight backpacks offer a similar feature.

The back panel is adjustable and the waist straps and sternum strap offer a good amount of stability despite the Maya being a frameless daypack. I also love how inclusive Gregory is—the Maya 16 is also sold in a plus-sized version.

I wish they had included a rain cover with the daypack, but that is a small drawback for such a versatile women’s daypack.

REI makes some of the most rugged gear, and the Traverse 32 is no different. I think the Traverse 32 is the most durable women’s daypack on the market.

With a steel wire frame, good padding, good ventilation, load management, and three different sizes, the Traverse 32 daypack has it all. REI’s Packmod compression straps sculpt the shape of the backpack to your liking. The side pockets are tilted forward so you can easily reach your water bottles on the go. The pack also includes a rain cover, which can be stowed away under the top lid.

Osprey wins once again with the Sopris 30 ski daypack for women. This daypack has an EVA foam back panel and a contoured fit that offers support without compromising on mobility even during fast-paced descents.

The Sopris 30 has convenient carry straps for skis or snowboards. The full-zip back panel gives complete access to the gear you’ve packed in the main compartment. You can easily attach your helmet, ice tools, and other snow gear to the daypack and stash smaller items in its handy exterior pockets.

The Sopris 30 is less durable than other ski daypacks like the BD Dawn Patrol. However, the comfort and support of the Sopris 30 are hard to beat, and it’s a great ski daypack for women heading out to the slopes.

The Cotopaxi Del Dia Luzon 18 is one of my favorite daypacks ever.

This frameless 18L daypack weighs just 0.66 lbs, but it’s super spacious. The ultralight mesh shoulder straps are comfortable even when the pack is filled to the brim.

The Luzon is made from repurposed ripstop nylon fabric, which is robust yet lightweight. It has one main compartment that cinches closed at the top with a drawstring and a small zippered pocket in the front.

This daypack does not have exterior pockets, so you have to stop every time you need something from the bag. While this can be a big drawback for some, there is a lot to love about the Luzon 18L. In my opinion, it’s one of the best lightweight daypacks for women.

This daypack is specifically made for women and has a micro-adjustable yoke to perfectly fit your torso length. The padded waist strap and shoulder straps and adjustable load-bearing straps at the top ensure that the daypack sits comfortably against your back.

Its three-zipper design provides easy and complete access to all your stuff in the main compartment. In addition, the bottom of the daypack is double-layered for extra durability.

All these features add weight, so the Scree 32 is heavier than most of the daypacks in this category. Still, because of its carrying capacity and extra pockets, I think the Scree 32 is the best large daypack for women for an all-day hike. It can even be used for a light overnight trip.

The Tempest 9 is a comfortable, durable daypack made from recycled materials. It’s a little small for all-day outings, but it’s a great companion for short hikes.

This pack has six handy pockets in addition to the main compartment. It also features Osprey’s Stow-On-The-Go trekking pole attachment and you can attach an ice axe to the daypack with bungee tie-offs. It comes in two sizes—XS/S and M/L—so it’s easy to find the right fit for you.

I like having a little extra space in my packs, especially for stowing gear, and you won’t find extra space in a pack this small. Aside from that, though, Osprey’s Tempest 9 is a fab choice for a small daypack for women.

The REI Trail 25 is quite a popular choice for hikers as a budget daypack for women. It is lightweight, made from recycled, durable materials, and comfortable for strenuous hikes over rugged terrain.

With 25 liters of carrying capacity, you can easily fit all your hiking gear, food and water, and extra layers in this daypack. It comes with a rain cover, which stows away in a dedicated pocket when the sun is out.

The waist strap on this pack doesn’t offer a lot of support and I found the ventilation in the back panel to be lacking. However, if you’re on a budget, the REI Trail 25 is priced at a fraction of the cost of the other daypacks I reviewed.