The mini day pack can be an essential and valuable item on any camping or hiking trip because of its versatility and compact size. The use is in its name, the mini day pack is best suited for short trips or hikes where only a small number of important or essential items are needed to be stored or carried.
This guide will help you figure out the best camping mini day pack currently on the market for your needs, some advantages and disadvantages of the mini day pack, best uses, and things to look out for when searching for the best pack to brave mother nature with.
Best Mini Day Pack
Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack
This day pack made by one of the most well known manufacturers in the space, Osprey offers great versatility and ease of use. The day pack comes in a variety of colors and can be suited to almost any need whether camping or hiking.
The pack has both mesh shoulder straps as well as an integrated top handle making the pack easy to handle around the campsite or on the trail. In addition, there are several pockets and pouches making it a breeze to stay organized on the go.
Also, this daypack offers a hydration pack compartment so you can stay hydrated while on the trails.
Pros
- Price -In the low to mid range price for day packs.
- Versatility – Well suited for a variety of tasks
Cons
- Side Pockets – Side mesh pockets are loose fitting making it difficult to store anything including water bottles securely.
- Comfort – The packs thin and lightweight design can be a negative in regards to comfort as the pack is not the most comfortable on long trips and is best suited for shorter trips.
Patagonia Black Hole Daypack
This mini day pack is one of the most rugged and water resistant packs on the list. The bag is constructed with ripstop polyester that has a water resistant TPU laminate and a durable water repellent finish.
No matter where the outdoors takes you this bag should be able to handle most anything that your throw at it. Also, the bag just has a cool factor to it that is sure to stand out from all the other backpacks and bags on the trail.
A really cool feature of this bag is the daisy chain lash points on the front which gives you endless possibilities on things that you could carry and strap to the pack.
Pros
- Tough – Water resistant and rugged design.
- Versatile – Many different compartments, pockets, and lash points.
Cons
- Price – Upper price range.
- Size – While the mini day pack is supposed to be small in nature the size on this pack is on the small size making it challenging to store bulky or awkward items.
The North Face Borealis Backpack
This mini day back at 28L is the perfect size for quick trips and to grab a few things while on go. Also, the North Face Brand is iconic and well established in the outdoor space so you can trust that this rucksack has been put to the test and is built for durability and ruggedness.
The bag has a unique bungee cord system on the front allowing for storage of various smaller items that you want to have at easy reach. In addition, there are several pockets and compartments in the bag to keep you well organized and streamlined while at the campsite or hiking on the trails.
Pros
- Design – Multiple colors available to match any style
- Quality – Well built and constructed with ripstop nylon
- Price – Medium price range
Cons
- Comfort – Bag a little stiff and on the heavy side for a mini day pack.
- Rounded Bottom – Rounded bottom makes it difficult to stand up when sitting the bag on the ground or on a flat surface.
Osprey Manta AG 36 Hydration Pack – Men’s
This mini day pack is one of the larger packs on the list coming in at a potential 36L capacity. However, with all that size you get a very versatile and feature rich day pack.
The pack includes many great features like a rain fly, inner frame, and upper and lower compression straps. No matter what mother nature throws at you this mini day pack is sure to handle it with ease.
With all of these great features and size though it does come with some obvious trade offs. If you are looking for a small bag that you can cram in your larger full pack or something that does not take up much space, this bag is probably not a good fit for you.
Pros
- Features – Bag very features rich with all the latest in comfort and bag technology.
- Comfort – Due to the bags inner frame, comfortable straps, molded contour, and compression straps the bag feels great even if you are wearing it all day.
- Versatility – With the bags larger size and numerous compartments, lash points, and pockets this mini day pack can hold just about anything that you throw at it.
Cons
- Price – Pack is in the higher price range.
- Size – While the large size can be a benefit it can also be a negative if you are looking for a small mini day pack that does not take up much space.
Cheapest Mini Day Pack
Bago Lightweight Backpack
Don’t let the silly name fool you this bag is a great camping mini day pack. The bag is water resistant and collapsible making it great for all your camping and day hiking needs.
When space and weight are a concern this makes a great pack as it is both lightweight and convertible. A really cool feature about this bag is that it will fold into an inner zip pocket converting to a handy pouch.
The bag is also very durable for its price point made from honeycomb polyester fabric that is durable, water resistant, and tear resistant all good things when braving the harsh elements of the outdoors.
Pros
- Price – On the lower side of mini day packs
- Compact – Very lightweight and easy to store in tight spaces.
Cons
- Straps – Straps are not padded or the most comfortable but should be fine for short treks.
- Size – While you will never please everyone with size, a bag that is just right for some may be to small for others, this bag is certainly not the largest size on this list and if you are needing to carry a lot of items you might want to look at some other options.
Huntvp 12L Mini Daypack Military MOLLE
One of the smaller mini day packs on this list is also one the cheapest. This bag is great if you are looking for something small and compact to hold a few items while you are at the campsite or doing a short day hike or less. This backpack really takes the term mini to heart though as it would be challenging to make a bag much smaller.
The bag comes in several different colors as well a few camo designs. Also even though the bag is one of smallest mini day packs on this list it still manages to accommodate several pockets and compartments for storing small to medium sized items.
Pros
- Price – One of the least expensive camping mini day pack bags to be found.
- Size – Great little mini bag for quick trips that can be stored away when not in use.
Cons
- Size – Size comes in as both a pro and con on this bag, as the bag could be considered to small by some to be considered useful while camping or hiking.
- Straps – Straps are on the smaller size and might be difficult for larger people to use the bag comfortably.
Osprey Daylite Daypack
This bag is a great all around camping mini day pack that is easy on the pocketbook. The bag is comfortable on those short to medium hikes with an internal frame and plenty of mesh spread throughout the pack to keep you cool.
Also, the bag is great for organization, boasting side mesh pockets, front pocket with mesh organizer, and a multi function interior sleeve.
This mini day pack even comes in multiple color variations so you are sure to find a color option that matches your style.
Pros
- Price – A lot of value can be found with this day pack due to its economic price.
- Organization – Great for keeping your organized while at the campsite or on the trials.
Cons
- Mesh Pockets – The mesh pockets on the side do not comfortable hold a water bottle which would be one of the more logical uses for them, as they tend to fall out. Mesh pockets are ok for smaller items though.
- Access – It can be a little challenging to access the inner contents of the bag, the front pocket is very easy to access though.
Advantages
For those of you that might be wondering why bother with the mini day pack? There are many great benefits and advantages to the pack. One of the biggest advantages of the mini day pack or rucksack is that they are generally smaller in size and easier to move around with.
A great situation that you might want to use a day pack or mini day pack would be for camping and hiking. The mini day pack might not work well if you’re planning a weeks long excursion into the wilderness as it would never be able to hold all your necessary gear for the trip. However, where it would excel is to use the mini day pack for quick little day trips or short camping trips. Using the day pack where you don’t want to be weighed down with heavy gear and want to stay more nimble and mobile.
Below is a list of general advantages to the daypack or mini day pack.
- LIght
- Compact
- Versatile
- Ease of Use
- Simple Design
- Less Expensive than Larger Packs
- More Comfortable for Smaller Individuals or Kids
What Makes a Mini Day Pack
While a mini day pack can take many forms the most defining characteristic is its size. Typically just as the name implies they are small or mini in nature and best suited for short day trips or small excursions.
In addition, day packs tend to have several compartments, pockets, and zippers to help you stay organized while on the go. As opposed to a gym style bag that might just have one large open compartment.
Lastly, mini day packs tend to be built with better construction and more rugged materials. As the packs need to withstand the punishment endured in outdoor activities and travel.
Construction
Typically the mini day pack is made to withstand outdoor elements and harsh use, as such you tend to see very durable fabrics used in their construction such as polyester, canvas, nylon, and leather.
In addition, many day packs use heavy stitching at the seams for extra strength, mesh fabric for breathability, and water resistant or repellent coatings or materials to help keep moisture and rain from getting to the contents inside.
When it comes to the construction of mini day packs strength, dependability, and versatility are the names of the game.
Things to Consider When Buying a Mini Day Pack
When you are thinking about purchasing a mini day pack the two most important things to consider are how you will be using the bag and the amount of gear you need to carry.
While the mini day pack is smaller in nature they can come in varying sizes so be sure to look at the dimensions and weight to know if it will be able to carry all your needed items.
Also keep in mind that some bags are built to be more compact and lightweight, while others are built to be larger and offer more comfort. In some ways you can’t have the best of everything. So its important to consider how long you will be using the pack and what you will be carrying. If you are planning on a couple hour trip to a nearby river, then compact and lightweight might be the way to go. On the other hand if you are planning a two day trip into the woods or away from your campsite, where you will need a decent amount of supplies and comfort than a larger and more comfortable mini day pack may be in order.
What to Avoid When Choosing a Mini Day Pack
While you can certainly find some economically priced mini day packs that are built well and have a quality design.
Do not be tempted to purchase the cheapest bag that you can find as you will surely be disappointed in construction and durability. Considering you will be using this bag in the outdoors and sometimes rugged and harsh surroundings you definitely want to pick a bag you can count on. When the weather turns south or the trail gets long the right gear can make all the difference.
Conclusion
We hope this guide was of great help in exploring the World of the mini day pack. You should now be able to make an informed purchasing decision when choosing the best mini day pack to meet your needs while camping or hiking.