LL Bean Stowaway Pack Review

Bottom Line

The LL Bean Stowaway Pack is a smart choice for hikers and travelers who want a versatile and seriously portable daypack. It weighs just 14 ounces – tied for the lightest on our best daypacks for hiking guide. Our favorite thing? The Stowaway packs down to a 6-inch square, which is perfect for travel and shorter hikes.

Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer has used the Stowaway for multi-city cross-country travels, and it’s also one of his favorite minimalist packs for peakbagging in Colorado. Since it packs into a backpacking backpack so easily, it’s also perfect for side trips to lakes, summits, and day hikes when you’re deep in the desert or forest. This bag is surprisingly durable, too. 

That said, this bag has some funky design choices, such as shallow side pockets and a hydration bladder that blocks the internal zippered pocket. Plus, it’s frameless and a bit of a challenge to stow into its small package. Still, the Stowaway’s colorful style, lightweight design, and low price are tough to beat. It’s an awesome value for anyone who needs a reliable, compressible bag for hours of exploring cities or summits.

Comfort

If you’re seeking a simple design that minimizes bulk, the LL Bean Stowaway may be a comfortable choice. If you prefer a pack with a frame that can carry a heavy load, you’ll want to keep looking.

The Stowaway is a frameless pack built to fold into a small package. It lacks structure and support because it’s meant to be a lightweight day pack for short outings, and low pack weights. We found that the bag sags if it’s overpacked and can feel uncomfortable for long hikes or heavy loads. Ian carried up to 20 pounds in this bag for 8+ hours, which led to a sore back the next day. That said, simply adding a clothing layer or using a hydration bladder can make it feel more solid.

Organization

Despite its compact design, the LL Bean Stowaway has six pockets to keep gear organized and accessible. Two zippered compartments on the front are perfect for small essentials like chapstick or a cell phone, and it even has a dedicated key clip for an extra layer of security. The stuff pocket provides on-the-go access to frequently used items.

Inside the main body, a large compartment holds bulkier items, and an internal zippered pocket keeps smaller gear neatly separated. This daypack also has side mesh pockets useful for stashing gloves, snacks, and other small items. We love that this little bag even has a water bladder clip and drinking tube hole for hands-free hydration. 

Our biggest issue with organization is the design of some of the pockets. The internal zippered pocket sits directly behind the bladder clip – instead of in front – which means the pocket is inaccessible, and useless, with a hydration bladder in place. We typically rely on side mesh pockets for water bottles while hiking, but the Stowaway’s pockets are a bit too wide and shallow to hold them securely. Also, the stuff pocket size is adjustable, thanks to two long nylon straps, but the material itself isn’t stretchy, limiting its usefulness. 

The Stowaway is missing more technical features like hiking pole loops and gear attachment points. But that’s because it’s a minimalist pack. This simple bag offers just the pockets we need and nothing more.

User-Friendliness

The Stowaways’ smart design makes it a breeze for any adventure. Zipper pulls have durable, lightweight cord loops that are easy to grab, even with gloves. The hydration bladder port is soft and flexible, ensuring smooth access to water without the nozzle snagging. The pack’s multiple compartments make it a breeze to stay organized. Ian returns to this pack over and over because of its size – we find  22 liters is dynamic and works well for both travel and day hikes. From big trips where you need quick access to a tablet or passport to long hiking days with snacks, a puffy jacket and a map, the intuitive layout minimizes time spent rummaging. 

A few design quirks can make using the pack frustrating, though. This pack doesn’t have a clip on the shoulder strap to secure a hydration bladder tube, leaving your nozzle and tube to dangle awkwardly. Additionally, the internal pocket becomes unusable if a bladder is in place, since the reservoir obstructs access. Still, for small loads and short trips – and folks who like minimalist gear – this LL Bean model is a good pick.

Weight and Compressibility

The Stowaway lives up to its name – it’s one of the most compressible and lightweight bags on our list, making it easy to stow away in a larger pack or luggage. Weighing just 14 ounces, this pack is ultralight, so it’s easy to carry, pack, and use in a variety of situations. Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer has traveled across the US with this bag as his go-to, and he’s also tackled long days peakbagging, canyoneering, and commuting by bike across Denver.

But, the real magic lies in its ability to compress into a tiny 6-inch square. Simply fold, stuff, and push the Stowaway into its front pocket to stash it easily in a suitcase or larger backpack. But folding it into such a small pouch requires some real effort, especially if your hands are cold – Ian learned the hard way on a 30 degree morning in Colorado’s Indian Peaks WIlderness.

Durability

Despite the Stowaway’s lightweight status, it’s impressively long-lasting. Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer has used this model as his go-bag over two years traveling over 5,000 miles in airplanes, trains, and cars, and it’s held up well. He’s also put it through its paces over 300 miles of hiking in the tall Colorado Rockies, the sweltering Texas panhandle, and the craggy Utah desert.

Ian’s nonstop testing shows the 75D ripstop polyester is fairly effective against  abrasions, even after bushwhacking through off-trail routes and tackling rocky routes. The hips and shoulders seams have held up fairly well under heavy loads. Thick plastic clips and robust zippers further add to its durability. But the stitching is beginning to fail along the main pocket, the mesh of the side pockets has torn after catching on branches and edges, and the soft mesh padding across the back is fraying and wearing down. However, he’ll continue to use this bag until it’s fully blown out because it’s just so versatile.

Should you buy the LL Bean Stowaway pack?

The LL Bean Stowaway Pack is perfect for hikers, travelers, and adventurers who want portability and versatility. It’s the lightest daypack on our list with superior packability. However, this pack doesn’t have a frame or much support, so we don’t recommend it if you want maximum support on long, strenuous hikes. Plus, people with broader chests may also find the sternum strap a bit tight. Still, if you need a versatile, lightweight, and packable daypack for small adventures, this backpack is an affordable and practical choice for most hiking and travel setups.

What other day packs should you consider for hiking?

If this pack isn’t your cup of tea, please see our full guide to the Best Daypacks for Hiking.

Venture Pal 35 Review: When space and price are top of mind, this pack is a simple, affordable, and spacious pick for travel and light hiking.

REI Flash 22 Review: This is one of our all-time favorite daypacks. The REI Flash 22 is the same size and weight as the LL Bean Stowaway, but it offers  better comfort, organization, and durability and costs just a bit less.

Salomon Trailblazer Review:  If you want a sleek, no-frills daypack with pockets for essentials and nothing else, the Trailblazer is worth a closer look.