Venture Pal 35 Daypack Review

Bottom Line

The Venture Pal 35 is by far the most affordable model on our Best Daypacks for Hiking list. It’s a frameless backpack that folds into a tiny 8-by-9-inch package – but still offers impressive organizational features and capacity. Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer has used the Venture Pal when traveling and basecamping. The 35-liter capacity is spacious for a daypack. Even so, it’s incredibly lightweight, easy to stash in a suitcase or larger bag, and comes in a ton of colorways.

This bag’s versatility makes it ideal for short hikes, daily use, or travel, especially considering its low price and high functionality. However, the Venture Pal isn’t built for heavy-duty use or long treks. The thin, floppy material lacks internal structure, so it doesn’t provide much support when fully loaded. It also lacks core features like a waist strap, water reservoir compatibility, and trekking pole attachments, which limits its use for more serious hiking. And, it is a budget backpack, so durability is lacking compared to the competition. Still, if you need an easy-to-use backpack for a low price, this one offers a good bang for your buck.

Comfort

The Venture Pal 35 is a very lightweight design that makes it easy to carry. Combining thin foam across the back and mesh on the shoulder straps, it offers moderate cushion and breathability to minimize discomfort. The adjustable shoulder and sternum straps allow for a customizable fit, making it adaptable to different body types. 

However, the lack of internal structure impacts comfort, especially when carrying heavier items or wearing it for many hours. Wearing the Venture Pal on a 5-hour hike in Colorado’s Lost Creek Wilderness, Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer felt sore shoulders and a tweaked lower back after carrying 15 pounds – issues directly related to the lack of structure. Without a waist strap or load lifters, all the weight sits on your shoulders. That’s not a big deal for lighter loads. But for heavier loads or longer hikers, this isn’t the most comfortable design. That said, we still recommend this daypack for short excursions or travel where comfort and load-bearing aren’t as important.

Organization

The Venture Pal is full of organizational features that make it easy to keep gear tidy and accessible. It has a small zippered upper pocket for quick-access items. The Venture Pal 35 also has two water bottle holders that work well to keep snacks and maps within reach. The main compartment is impressively spacious with a large internal pocket at the back to add a bit of organization. The larger bottom pocket is a good size for a hat or gloves, and it has another zippered mesh pocket to stash a wallet, headlamp, and chapstick. Senior gear Analyst Ian Krammer brought everything he’d normally bring on a 15-mile dayhike and had no trouble finding dedicated places for most of it.

However, we also found its organization limiting. The lack of a dedicated water reservoir compartment is our biggest  drawback. There’s nowhere to hook a reservoir, let alone feed a hydration tube through. This daypack offers a ton of pockets, but they lack internal structure to keep contents from shifting when the pack is fully loaded. The absence of trekking pole attachments, waist pockets, and lash points are another downside, especially for more serious outdoor activities. As a result, Ian reserves this pack for casual hikes or for use around town when hiking in nature areas with his dog.

User-Friendliness

The Venture Pal 35 is user-friendly for travel, hiking, and rambling around town. It offers multiple storage options, including dividers in the pockets that make it easier to stow and separate items like clothes, snacks, and other essentials. The internal pouch is large enough for a tablet or small laptop, making it convenient for day trips or travel. Plus, it’s easy to pack down into its little 8 by 9 inch format for a simple, no-hassle solution on bigger adventures.

However, our analysis in the field found the zippers and zipper tracks a bit stiff, which made them harder to maneuver, especially with cold or wet hands. It has an internal pocket where a water reservoir could go, but there’s no reservoir clip, tube routing system, or attachment point on the shoulder straps for our hydration system. It also lacks external attachments for our gear, which limits its use on more serious trails. 

However, if you just need a simple, lightweight bag for casual and short adventures, this may be all you need.

Weight and Compressibility

Our favorite thing about this bag is its incredible weight-to-size ratio. At just 11.2 ounces, this pack stands out as one of the lightest and most packable options on the market. Despite the minimal weight, it still offers a whopping 35-liter capacity, offering plenty of room when packed. Ian has taken it on 10-15 mile hikes in the Denver foothills, traveled around the US, and worked at a coffee shop, where its unique combo of lightness and flexibility gave him extra space without extra bulk. 

This model can be folded into an ultra-compact 8 by 9 inch package – and you won’t have to wrestle to get it into this format, either. It’s fairly easy to collapse and unfold, making the Venture Pal a breeze to stow in a larger bag or suitcase so you’ll always have a backpack for smaller adventures wherever you’re headed. Two long compression straps on either side of the bag also reduce its profile when loaded.

Durability

The biggest downside of the Venture Pal 35 is its lack of durability compared to other day packs on our list. For functionality at a crazy-low price, the Venture Pal 35 holds up well in controlled environments. However, the Venture Pal 35 isn’t made for rough terrain or heavy use. 

At about 150 miles of hiking, the fabric showed some meaningful wear and tear. We noticed some damage along crease points from being folded up and from sitting on the ground. The zippers, mesh side pockets, and stitching have begun to show wear and tear too. Stitching is fraying and breaking on the bottom of the bag as well as along the zipper seams in places after only 8 months of use.

This is the definition of a budget daypack.

Should you buy the Venture Pal 35 daypack?

The Venture Pal 35 is a good choice for budget-conscious day hikers and travelers who need a lightweight, packable bag for short hikes, day trips, and urban exploration. Its minimal structure and thin materials make it easy to fold into a compact 9×8-inch package, so it’s a no-brainer for stashing in larger luggage or a backpack. With a generous 35-liter capacity, this one balances size and portability without breaking the bank. That said, we don’t recommend this daypack for heavy loads or long distances. It doesn’t have a frame or back padding, and the lack of a hipbelt can make it feel uncomfortable over time – especially when fully packed. And the Venture Pal won’t withstand harsh conditions or rough handling, given its budget build.

But when adventure calls, you don’t have to break the bank to answer. For this price, you could outfit a group of 3 for half the price of a premium daypack – making it a good value for light hikes and travels.

What other day packs should you consider for hiking?

If you’re looking for something different, you’ll probably find it on our full list of the Best Daypacks for Hiking.

Six Moons Designs Wy’East Review: The Wy’East is many times more expensive, but when you’re carrying lots of gear and don’t want to sacrifice durability, this pack is a stellar alternative.

LL Bean Stowaway Review: If you’re looking for a collapsible daypack but want a smaller, more durable version, the LL Bean Stowaway is our top pick. 

REI Flash 22 Review: We prefer this daypack for better comfort and durability on the trail, and it still has an excellent price point.