Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack: A Hands-On review

I recently got the Osprey Daylite Plus daypack as a gift and was thrilled to try and use it when hiking and on my day-to-day. I loved the backpack, and I had some thoughts about it that I wanted to share with you if you’re planning to purchase it.

I think it’s an excellent daypack and a perfect fit for me, but it might not be for everyone. In this post, I will review this daypack and share what I’ve found based on my hands-on tests.

Key Takeaways:
The Osprey Daylite Plus is a lightweight and durable 20L daypack. It has multiple different organization areas, and it’s comfortable and adjustable. The backpack is made of thick and high-quality material, though it’s not waterproof.

Who Should Buy This Product?
Osprey’s Daylite Plus is a good fit for hikers who love taking day hikes, especially if you’re trying to minimize the weight of your pack. Get this product if you’re looking for a comfortable and durable pack, that is good for short hikes and for tougher, more strenuous trips.

Comfort

In my opinion, the backpack is relatively comfortable. It feels well-built, and the material has a generally nice feeling to it. I tried the backpack with very minimal weight and packed to the brim, and in both cases, it felt secure and comfortable on my back.

The back of the backpack has dedicated ventilation material, which does feel breathable. On a hike, when you might sweat, this makes the backpack have a better feel because it wicks moisture. The areas which touch your body all feel thin and breathable.

I didn’t like how thin the shoulder straps feel, mainly because despite how well-built the backpack feels, the straps feel like they might break if too much force is applied to them. This makes me feel like I have to notice how I take the backpack off my back, whereas with other backpacks where the steps are thicker, I don’t get that feeling.

The size of the backpack can be adjusted with a set of straps, so if you don’t carry a lot of equipment you can change their lengths accordingly. This makes the backpack fit closer to your back, which puts less stress on your shoulders.

The waist strap on this backpack is simple and doesn’t have any padding. This is quite common with small daypacks, and in my opinion, it gets the job done.

Daypack Weight

The overall weight of the backpack is quite light, weighing around 1.3 pounds (0.6 Kg) It’s made of tough fabric, and it doesn’t contain thick metal that may increase the weight of the pack.

The lightweight design is perfect for lightweight hikers trying to minimize the total weight of their backpacks, bike riders, and more. It’s also good for your day-to-day.

Space and organization

There’s a variety of space and organization options in this pack, which you can use to store your items and keep them organized. Though it’s a 20L backpack, you can store a surprising amount of items in the backpack with no issues. I actually traveled with the pack abroad and was able to take a surprising amount of clothes in the pack after adjusting the straps a little.

The backpack has three main compartments that vary in size. The main compartment, which is the biggest, is where you can store most of your items, including your hydration reservoir if you have one. It’s large enough to fit everything you need on a hike, but without too many non-essentials.

The middle compartment has two organization pockets, where you can store important items for quick access. The compartment is quite small, but it’s large enough to contain essential items, things you might want to keep safe and in quick access like your wallet or phone, and additional small items.

The small compartment on the front is quite small and can contain small items for quick access.

There are two water-bottle pockets on the side of the backpack, where you can store your water bottles. They’re stretchy, so you can store bigger bottles, but I think a 2L bottle might stretch them too much.

Looking at the front of the backpack, you’ll notice the unique design creates an additional open pocket. While it’s not a good place to store important items, it’s a good option for things you need to carry and don’t have room for inside the pack.

Material and durability

The material this backpack is made of is tough and feels high quality. It’s a thick recycled polyester, which is durable and lightweight. The mesh pockets on the side feel more sensitive, but they are much thicker and denser than mesh pockets in other backpacks I’ve tested. I think they’ll wear out eventually, but if kept safe from being torn, they can last a long time.

I used this backpack for my day-to-day during the last two months and also used it as a daypack for multiple hikes. Up to this point, I had no noticeable issues with the pack, and it shows no sign of wear and tear, even after using it quite heavily.

I should note that the backpack isn’t waterproof, so if you’re planning to hike in colder weather when rain and snow might start, you might want to get a pack cover for it.

Fit

The backpack is true to size and is around 19″ (50 cm) high. It fit well on my back, especially after being adjusted properly with the straps. After being adjusted, the pack feels comfortable and secure on my back, and I can wear it for extended periods without strain.

The Daylite has different adjustable straps, including shoulder straps that are designed to adjust the length of the shoulders, making it fit better to your body. It also has a hip belt, which though simple and without padding, can be used to distribute the weight of the backpack better across your body. It also has a chest strap that can secure the shoulder straps on your back. These features are important for hikers who plan to take the pack on more strenuous hikes.

Another key feature is that the Osprey Daylite Plus can actually be attached to other Osprey backpacks, so you can use it as a daypack while traveling. Here’s a video that showcases this feature:

Conclusions

In conclusion, I’ve found Osprey Daylite Plus to be a versatile and reliable pack, that is great for different outdoor activities. I especially like how comfortable and durable it is, and that though it’s a 20L backpack, it can fit a surprising amount of items.

After using the pack for about two months, I can safely say that it’s a quality backpack that can withstand wear and tear, and feels like it’s going to last a long time. In my opinion, it’s a great pack for any day hike.