Daypacks are essential for carrying your gear on a hike. But there are so. many. options. to choose from! And finding a women’s pack that is functional, stylish, AND affordable is like finding a cheeto on Trump’s face OOH BURNN a magical unicorn. Incredibly hard.
But not impossible! (See? I found a unicorn.) Your daypack should be built for the lifestyle you lead and the type of hiker you are. Whether you’re new to hiking or you’re on the trail more than at home, there’s a pack here for every woman. And the best part is they’re all UNDER $100!
1. The Casual Hiker Who’s Outdoorsy But Not Too Intense
Osprey Skimmer 16 — $80 from Amazon
This pack is perfect for the outdoorsy woman who enjoys a nice minimalistic day hike. It’s got a 2.5-liter hydration reservoir for water and will carry 25 pounds comfortably. There are plenty of pockets for storage, including a scratch-free zippered pocket for keeping your sunglasses or small electronics in. Comes in multiple colors.
2. The Extreme and Adventurous Hiker Who’s Probably Overprepared
Arc’teryx Velaro 24 Pack — $93.73 from REI Garage (was $189!)
This is totally the pack for the adventurous woman who wants nothing more than to be outside, tackling a challenging trail. This woman is prepared for any mishap that might come her way. It’s also perfect for you left-handed ladies! That’s because it has dual hydration ports which lets you run the water tube over either your right or left shoulder for easier drinking access. You can buy this pack in a tall, regular, or short size. It’s got a watertight main zipper, an internal security pocket, and 4 external lash points to store trekking poles or other similar items. Comes in multiple colors.
3. The Newbie Hiker Who’s Definitely Overpacked
Mountaintop Internal Frame Pack — $89.98 from Amazon
This woman is new to hiking and probably doesn’t know what she’ll realistically need versus what she can leave behind. Or maybe she just likes to have an extra pair of clothes, her everyday makeup, 3 days worth of food, and a flare gun “just in case”. The maroon 80-liter Mountaintop pack has plenty of space for extra necessities and it comes with a built in rain cover! The compression straps let you secure a tent or hammock to the pack, and the side buckles let you fasten trekking poles or a tripod to it as well. There’s also a 3-liter hydration bladder compartment for your water.
4. The Stylish Hiker Who’s Probably Just Doin-It-For-The-Gram
Bagail Retro Vintage Canvas Leather Rucksack — $48.99 from Bagail
This woman likes the outdoors, but she’s not about to sacrifice her looks while on the trail. She wants something practical, yet also hip. This pack is made of high density canvas with leather trim. So it’s durable and ruggedly trendy. It has a zipper closure on top and adjustable shoulder straps for different heights and body types. Comes in multiple colors.
5. The Eco Friendly Hiker who’s likely judging your plastic usage
The Classic Re-Kånken Reinvented — $85.08 from Amazon
This type of hiker is socially responsible and does her best to lower her carbon footprint while practicing Leave No Trace ethics. Which we should all be doing anyway, and she’ll let you know that. This pack is made from 100% recycled material to make her conscious happy. The recycled polyester is made from the equivalent of 11 plastic water bottles and is colored with SpinDye. This is a dying technology that radically decreases the amount of water, chemical, and energy used in the dying process. Comes in multiple colors.
6. The Working City Hiker Who would rather navigate the streets
Garybank Waterproof Laptop Backpack — $29.99 from Amazon
This pack is for the busy working woman who considers hiking to be walking the streets of the city. If she gets the chance to find a reprieve in nature, it’s probably going to be somewhere like Central Park and she’s probably going to bring her laptop to work from. This backpack has a laptop compartment of up to 15.6″ and an earphone hole for music. Not to mention extra storage for a tablet, iPhone, pens, keys, wallet, and more. Water resistant nylon makes up the top layer, with waterproof PU on the bottom layer. Side pockets allow water bottle storage.
Which Type Of Hiker Are You?
Tell me in the comments!
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Comments
Lol I’m definitely the eco-friendly pack. This made me laugh, but some seriously great suggestions in here for different types. Which do you use?
Hahah glad it made you laugh! I use an Osprey pack mostly, or any canvas leather bag if it’s just a short easy hike.
I’m a casual hiker for sure. These are great options!
I have been looking for a smaller backpack that I can take as my personal item on budget airplanes. I’m going to check some of these out. I love that they’re all affordable too!
Definitely! I always make sure to look at a pack with the thought that I’ll be using it on the trail but also as my carry on for travel!
I love this post and these are some really great and affordable options! I would say I’m a casual hiker lol! I’ve been a bit obsessed with searching for a perfect daypack recently, I eventually settled on the Osprey Daylite :)
Any Osprey bag is amazing. I just LOVE the company!
Wow, awesome post! I always struggle finding the right backpack, especially since I often use it for hiking as well as daily use during my travels. I have one like the first one for the casual hiker but always love the Falraven bags!! They look so cool!!
Right?! I love how they look!
I typically use my outdoorsy backpack on my flights and travels as well. Finding one that can be multipurpose like this is pretty tough!
Hahaha this is great! Well written and super informative! Thank you! GLT love :)
Ha! I’m definitely #2 – and always carrying a bit of photo gear! Good round up and I love the “types” of hikers!
Great article! I go pretty much exclusively on day hikes. I have an older version of this Ascend day pack (https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/350-100085191) and while I love how compact it is, it definitely could use some more space. Great for snacks and a hat, but not quite big enough to cram a sweater into.
I just got a Deuter Speed Lite women’s pack for day hikes and it’s absolutely perfect! It’s still small and lightweight but has enough space for me to pack the things I’ll want AND need — in case I get stuck out in the wild then I’ll know I’m prepared. Plus it comes with a fake flower on it which is super cute haha