Best Daypacks for Hiking in 2026: Top Picks for Every Trail
Check out our picks of the best daypacks for hiking in 2026. From deserts to alpine, we've rounded up the best backpacks for every trail in the southwest!
When it comes to hiking, having the right daypack can make or break your adventure. Whether you're heading out for a quick trail walk or a full-day trek, a great daypack ensures you’re comfortable, prepared, and ready for anything. From carrying snacks and water to packing extra layers, a reliable daypack is an essential piece of gear for hikers.
In this guide, we’ve rounded up the best daypacks for hiking in 2026 to help you find the perfect fit for your needs. Whether you're looking for ultralight options, budget-friendly picks, or minimal designs for technical trails, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive into the top choices that will elevate your hiking experience this year!
What to Look for in a Daypack
Finding the perfect daypack is all about balancing comfort, functionality, and durability. Here are the key features to keep in mind when choosing your next hiking companion:
Capacity
Daypacks come in a variety of sizes, typically ranging from 15 to 30 liters. For short hikes, a 15-20 liter pack should suffice. For full-day adventures, consider something larger, like 25-30 liters. If you carry a lot of gear, of a photography setup, 35-40 liters is not unusual!
Fit and Comfort
Look for adjustable straps, padded shoulder straps, and breathable back panels. A good fit reduces strain and ensures comfort even on longer hikes.
Durability
Materials like ripstop nylon and water-resistant coatings help protect your gear from the elements. If you hike in rugged environments, a sturdy, abrasion-resistant pack is essential.
Hydration Compatibility
Many daypacks come with hydration sleeves or are compatible with hydration bladders. This feature is invaluable for staying hydrated on the trail.
Organization and Accessibility
Pockets, compartments, and loops for trekking poles or gear ensure your essentials are easy to access.
Extra Features
Consider features like water resistance, compression straps, and external storage options for extra versatility.
By keeping these factors in mind, you’ll find a pack that fits your needs and keeps you ready for any adventure.
Top Daypacks for Hiking in 2026
With many miles of daypack testing in the deserts, canyons and mountains of the southwest under our boots, here are the winning daypacks for hiking in 2026!
Best Overall Daypack for Hiking
Daybreak 22 by Hyperlite Mountain Gear
Undeniably versatile, comfortable and ultralight while being durable as heck Hyperlite's Daybreak 122 is the best all-round daypack for hikers in 2026. This daypack stands out for balancing all the important features hikers look for in a backpack! It has easy to reach side pockets and a super stretchy front pocket, and more adventure-focused features like an ice tool loop and well-placed shock cord for compression. Made from 150-denier DCH fabric, the Daybreak 17 is water-resistant and burly as heck.
Best Budget-Friendly Daypack
Affordable yet reliable for beginner and casual hikers, the Little Dean by Near Zero is a steal of a deal and the best cheap daypack for hiking in 2025. And when we say cheap, we're only talking about it's price. Because the Little Dean is made from UHMW fiber, which is waterproof and extremely durable. This daypack has phenomenal organization features, using a labeled, compartmentalized system that is unique to Near Zero. If you're looking to save some cash, but still want a super thoughtful daypack, this is the best pick!
Best Ultralight Daypack
The ocean of ultralight hiking daypacks in 2026 is vast, but the best is the Elixir 20 Ultralight Daypack by Gossamer Gear. Weighing in at 6.2 ounces, this ultralight backpack still manages to be super comfortable, practical and durable.
Best Comfortable Daypack
Skyline 30 Fastpack by Outdoor Vitals
Some daypacks are made specifically with comfort in mind. Outdoor Vitals' Skyline 30 Fastpack is so obviously designed to be the most comfortable daypack on the market. From its running vest inspired shoulder harness to its body-hugging form factor, if you're looking for a daypack that can carry a good amount of gear while remaining super comfortable, this is the top pick! It's made from durable materials, has lots of great pockets and is quite water resistant.
Best Daypack with Women-Specific Fit
Women's Resolve 25L by NEMO Equipment
There are a lot of daypacks designed for women hikers, and our top pick in 2026 is the Women's Resolve 25 by NEMO Equipment. This backpack is great for moving quickly through all types of terrain and conditions, and long days. It's a compact daypack, but has all the features of a much bigger backpack. The women's specific fit has a dialed in fit for the shoulders, chest, and hips.
Best Daypack for Peak Bagging
A day of peak bagging is no easy adventure! So a daypack for challenging hiking is in order. This minimalist backpack from Mammut is perfect for scrambling, technical terrain and has just enough storage to bring essential gear along. It has a zippered main compartment, and is compatible with a hydration bladder for hands-free sips. If you're looking to ditch weight, the hip belt is removable.
Best Sustainable Daypack
Abisko Hike Foldsack by Fjallraven
Known for sustainable practices, Fjallraven gets our pick for the top eco-friendly hiking daypack of 2026! The Abisko Hike Foldsack is a really well designed and versatile daypack that's made from 100% recycled polyamide and produced without PFAS. Of course this daypack is very high quality, and perfect for any dayhike you can dream up!
How We Chose These Daypacks
To select the best daypacks of 2026, we have spent what feels like endless hours hiking over endless miles of trail. It's a rough job! But someone's gotta do it! Backpacks are such an essential piece of gear for hiking. So we really did spend a pretty incredible amount of time testing out these daypacks over the last year in order to get our round up out to you in time for the 2026 hiking season.
Oh the places these daypacks went! From the Sonoran Desert, to the Grand Canyon, to Colorado's 14ers and high plateaus in Northern New Mexico, we tested these daypacks in a wide array of landscapes, conditions and lengths of time. During our hikes, we took notes about each daypack. What we liked, what we didn't like and key features that made a big difference to the hikability of each daypack. At the end of the year, we tallied everything up and the winners were pretty clear. Our top-rated hiking daypacks are the culmination of ample testing and a lot of experience on trail.
In 2026 look for our individual reviews of each daypack you find on this list!
Packing It Out
A great daypack is more than just a backpack. It’s a crucial piece of gear, helping you stay comfortable and prepared on the trail. From budget-friendly finds to high-performance options, the best daypacks for hiking are really about ensuring that the hike stays safe and fun. 2026 is an innovative year for daypacks and there is a lot to be stoked on when it comes to amazing design.
Take the time to consider your specific hiking needs. Whether that’s capacity, weight, or extra features. The right pack can make every hike more enjoyable, allowing you to focus on the trail ahead.
Ready to upgrade your hiking gear? Explore the options above and find your perfect match today! And if you've got questions, reach out! We're happy to help you dial in your daypack for 2026.
FAQs About Daypacks for Hiking
- What size daypack do I need for hiking?
The best size daypack for day hikes are generally going to be 15 to 30 liters. When you consider the size of which daypack is best for you, think about how much water and gear you'll need for your hike! - Are hydration packs better than traditional daypacks?
To put it simply, no. Most daypacks these days are more than capable of carrying your hydration system. For most hikers, having an internal hydration sleeve is important in a daypack. This allows for easy water access and a good place for water to be stashed. A lot of hikers prefer to use water bottles, however, so it's not always necessary to have a dedicated hydration bladder spot. If you like to carry water bottles, look for good side pockets on a daypack! - Can I use a daypack for travel or other activities?
Yes, absolutely! Many daypacks even have a place to stash a laptop or tablet.
SouthwestHikes.com contains affiliate links, which help fund our website. When you click on the links to purchase the gear, we get a small commission that keeps our website running.
Originally published Dec 17 2024 | Most recent update Dec 12 2025
