Daypacks

Welcome to the world of daypacks. These little workhorse packs are designed for your everyday carry or for hikes and activities that last a few hours, but less than a day. Unless they’re an ultralight model designed to stash in a pocket or inside another pack, they usually have a lightly padded back panel, and no rigid internal frame. They are best for carrying loads less than 10kg, as the weight is supported by your shoulders rather than your hips. Shop for all types of daypacks at MEC from some of the best brands out there, including Osprey, Gregory, MEC Label and more.

Types of daypacks

Daypacks cover a wide variety of the smaller subsection of backpacks, with each one being tailored to specific activities. Day hiking daypacks often feature mesh panels that enhance breathability, ensuring you don’t get overheated while you hike along the trail. These packs typically have enough space to carry the top 10 essentials for hiking. Mountain biking daypacks are designed to hold your essentials close to your body, improving balance and stability as your tear down rugged terrain. For all the travelers out there, ultralight travel daypacks are a great companion to have. They’re easy to pack into a large bag and meet most carry-on size restrictions at airports, making them perfect for your trips across the globe.

Daypacks for kids

Kids’ daypacks are just scaled-down versions of adult packs. They’re engineered to keep your adventurers comfy on day hikes or the walk to school, with helpful features like padded straps, a DWR finish and reflective details for better visibility.

Fitting a daypack

No matter how large the pack, if it’s correctly sized and adjusted, it should feel like an extension of your own body.

• Find the most prominent vertebrae in your neck, at about the same level as the top of your shoulders.
• Find the top of your hipbone and trace a line around to the middle of your back.
• Measure the distance between these two points, this is your back length.

Put about 8–10kg of stuff in the pack and loosen all the straps. Remember to loosen the stabilizer straps at the top of the shoulder straps too.

Daypack care and repair

Repairing and storing your pack properly will go a long way to making it last. Make sure it’s dry before you put it away and keep it out of direct sunlight. You can use an old toothbrush to clean dirt out of the zippers before you put it away. If the zippers feel sticky and are not sliding smoothly, try rubbing a candle over the teeth and sliders to lubricate them.