Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack Review

Bottom Line

The Osprey Daylite Plus earns its spot on our best daypacks for hiking guide as an outstanding, budget-friendly daypack. This lightweight pack can handle both city adventures and simple day hikes, thanks to durable materials, bright colorways, and smart organization. Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer used this pack multiple times per week when walking the dog and running errands in town, but he’s also hiked over 250 miles in the Denver foothills and Utah desert with it. 

With a cushy foam back panel and adjustable straps, it’s comfortable whether you’re trekking up a mountain – or an airport escalator. The bag’s 20-liter capacity is compact, but our testing showed it holds heavier loads well and rides comfortably when stuffed to the gills. And, the high-quality components and burly fabrics all but guarantee this pack will last for years of rough use. 

That said, the Osprey Daylite Plus is not our first pick for longer day hikes with heavier gear. The thin nylon waist belt offers minimal support for transferring weight, especially when fully packed – and there are no load lifters to improve comfort. It also lacks technical features like trekking pole attachments, lash points, and waist pockets. Still, if you need a pack for everyday use and short hikes, this one is a great value for such a practical, no-nonsense design.

Comfort

The Osprey Daylite Plus is a comfy day pack for shorter hikes but falls short for comfort when fully loaded. After testing this pack on everything from dog walks to 15-20 mile day hikes, Gear Analyst Ian Krammer gave it a shout out for its soft materials and ability to distribute weight evenly across the back. However, the thin nylon waist strap doesn’t support heavy weight, and this ultralight pack also lacks load lifters, which would improve weight transfer and overall comfort on longer treks.

More padding on the shoulder straps also would go a long way, especially after a few hours with a full pack. On a group hike in Utah, one of our testers found this bag put substantial strain on her shoulders when carrying a full water reservoir, lunch, and gear for 6 hours of hiking. We ended up swapping backpacks for an option that had more support for her.

Our testing also showed that the foam ridges on Osprey’s back pad added a bit of cushiness and increased ventilation, which made the pack feel airy – even on hot, sweaty hikes. For example, Ian felt cool in the Daylite on warm spring and fall hikes in Utah’s San Rafael Swell. 

Overall, this little bag thrives more on short adventures with lighter loads. It’s a great choice for shorter hikes and daily use – even for work or school, since it holds the weight of a laptop fairly well.

The downside of such a comfortable pack? Its size and bulk may miss the mark for ultralight and minimalist hikers who find lighter packs more comfortable. Still, if your top priority is comfort, this is a negligible tradeoff that is well worth the bit of added weight. 

Organization

The Osprey Daylite Plus makes organizing gear a breeze. Five external pockets offer plenty of storage options, with deep side pockets that hold narrow or wide water bottles, and a small external zippered pocket for storing frequently used items. The front stuff pocket, which gives this model the “Plus” name, works well to stuff bulkier items like gloves without taking up valuable space inside.

A half-length internal pocket features two small, open dividers for small essentials like keys or snacks, but there’s plenty of room for larger items, too, like a headlamp or phone. The full-length main compartment is spacious for the size of this pack. It includes a dedicated hydration sleeve – big enough for a 3-liter hydration bladder or a 13-inch laptop – for crosswalk to creekside versatility.

We like the plentiful storage, but the absence of hip belt pockets makes accessing small items like snacks or a phone a bit more time consuming and tedious on the move. Plus, the Daylite Plus also doesn’t have many technical features, such as trekking pole attachments or lash points to fix gear to the outside of the pack. And, the stuff pocket on the front of the bag is solid – not stretchy or made from mesh – so it’s not as versatile or big enough for light but bulky items like a puffy jacket. Ian wanted the Daylite to include either hip belt pockets or a stretch stuff pocket – which knocked its organization score down a notch. 

This moderate organization isn’t the best for long treks or technical use, but it’s very practical for day hikes.

User-Friendliness

If you’re looking for a simple, intuitive, and user-friendly design, the Osprey Daylite Plus is a great choice. Large zipper pull tabs make for smooth operation, even with gloves, and the zippers are durable and reliable. The pack’s overall layout is straightforward, allowing intuitive access to pockets and compartments. 

Plus, the Daylite Plus is compatible with other Osprey travel bags. You can clip it onto Osprey luggage and backpacks for a seamless travel experience. That’s a major plus if you’re investing in the brand. 

We like that the pack is hydration reservoir compatible, but Ian doesn’t love the hydration tube pocket design. The tube comes out just below the shoulder straps, causing it to stick out awkwardly. Ian has found time and again that the hose and nozzle get caught on branches, which can be a bit annoying. 

Despite its compact size, the Daylite Plus is surprisingly versatile, offering enough storage space for day hikes and city outings. We used this bag for the suburbs and local hikes – but it’s also user-friendly for travel, too.

Weight and Compressibility

At just 1 pound, 4.64 ounces, the Daylite Plus is one of the lightest options in the Daypacks category.  It’s a lightweight semi-structured pack – but not ultralight and floppy, which is what Ian likes so much about it. The only packs lighter than this one on our list – the Mystery Ranch Gallagator, Salomon Trailblazer, and REI Flash 22 – are fully frameless. That makes them much more packable and compressible, but in our opinion, not as comfortable as the Daylite.

This Osprey model also has a thick, pliable foam back panel that adds a bit more structure and airflow than other packs we tested. The downside? The Daylite Plus isn’t as compressible. Still, it can be folded and rolled and also packs down slimmer than day packs with frames, bulky waist pockets, and thicker materials.

Durability

If durability is your top priority, then the Daylite Plus is seriously durable. With over a year of regular use and hundreds of miles hiking, walking, and traveling, ours shows no signs of slowing down. The high-quality materials, including thick nylon and polyester fabric and robust zippers, means this model can handle abrasions and daily wear and tears. It doesn’t have gear loops, daisy chains, or other protruding elements that could catch or tear, and the side mesh pockets have held up well also. With this level of durability, the Daylite Plus is built to last for years, making it a reliable investment.

The trade-off for these thicker materials? They add a bit of weight and bulk. However, this daypack is a good pick that should last for several seasons.

Should you buy the Osprey Daylite Plus daypack?

The Osprey Daylite Plus is a good choice if you want a simple, affordable and comfy daypack for short hikes, urban use, and casual travel. Its lightweight design and versatile pockets make it suitable for most daily activities, whether your goal is a summit or a Starbucks. However, this pack is not well-suited for longer, more demanding hikes. The lack of a supportive waist belt and load lifters makes it feel a bit awkward when fully loaded, especially on longer trails. That said, the Osprey Daylite Plus is an easy recommendation for a stylish and affordable bag that will hold up for years of regular use.

What other day packs should you consider for hiking?

If you still haven’t found what you’re looking for, please see our full guide to the Best Daypacks for Hiking to find your perfect pack: 

Salomon Trailblazer 20 Review: The Salomon Trailblazer takes minimalism a few steps further with fewer pockets and a more streamlined design. We prefer the Trailblazer 20 for more technical hikes and fastpacking.

Mystery Ranch Gallagator Review: The Gallagator weighs a bit more, but it offers an extra 5 liters of capacity and shares the Daylite Plus’s emphasis on durability and versatility while providing quick access to your gear.  

REI Flash 22 Review: The Flash 22 is one of our all time favorite frameless packs for lightweight, fast hiking. It weighs a half pound less than the Daylite, but still shares the Daylite Plus’s emphasis on durability and versatility.