If you’re new to hiking or camping you might be wondering what’s the difference between a daypack and a backpack and even more importantly which type of pack, daypack vs backpack do I need?
Well before we get into which type of pack is better daypack vs backpack and when it’s best to use a daypack vs backpack it’s important that we look at each individually to know what makes a daypack a daypack and what makes a backpack a backpack.
What is a Daypack?
As the name indicates a daypack is a small and lightweight pack that is just large enough to carry items for a one day or short trip.
Another way to look at daypacks is that daypacks are a mini version of backpacks. So technically a daypack is just a small backpack.
Daypack Specs:
- Range in size between 20 liters and 40 liters
- Do not have any inner framework or skeleton for support or rigidity.
- Have Shoulder Straps
- Can be made of many different materials but are typically made using canvas, leather, or other types of durable synthetic materials.
- Typically daypacks are unisex and are made to be used by either males or females.
- Many daypacks are specifically built for certain types of activities, for example, there are hiking daypacks, climbing daypacks, travel daypacks, etc…
What is the Best Daypack for Hiking?
One of the best daypacks for hiking on Amazon right now has to be the HIKPRO 20L Travel Hiking Daypack because of how lightweight it is, at only 7.5 ounces. Even though it’s lightweight though it’s still plenty durable and rugged enough to handle almost anything you can throw at it. You can check it out on Amazon by clicking here.
Backpacks for Camping and Hiking
While we all know what a backpack is as most of us have been using them our whole life.
When we are talking about backpacks in the article we are specifically talking about either camping backpacks or hiking backpacks.
The biggest difference when comparing a daypack vs backpack is the size of the pack. As backpacks are larger in size compared to daypacks and are used when you need to carry more gear for longer hiking and camping trips.
Camping and Hiking Backpack Specs:
- Range in size between 40 liters and 80 liters
- Can be used for multi-day camping or hiking trips.
- Often includes an inner framework or skeleton to help disperse the load of the pack and to provide more comfort while on the trails. (One nice benefit of the inner framework is that hiking packs usually do a nice job of standing up on their own)
- Highly compartmentalized to help keep your gear organized and easily accessible.
- Adjustable shoulder straps that are heavily padded for comfort.
- Usually have multiple points of adjustments at the hip belt, shoulder straps, load lifters, and sternum straps for a custom fit and better comfort.
What is the Best Hiking Backpack?
One of the most popular camping and hiking backpacks on Amazon right now is the Teton Sports Scout 3400 because it offers a lot of the features that you might see on more higher-end camping and hiking backpacks such as an internal framework, large size at 3400 cubic inches or 55L, and multi-position torso adjustment while still being affordable. You can check it out on Amazon by clicking here.
Daypack vs Backpack: Which is Better
So which is better the daypack or the backpack? Really they are both great for hiking and camping the real question is which is better suited for your situation and needs.
If you’re planning a quick hiking trip and are only going to be gone a few hours then the daypack is going to be a better option for you. As it will allow you to carry a handful of needed items such as water, a snack, a map of the area, and a cellphone without being too overbearing or heavy.
If however, you’re going on a multi-day camping, hiking, or backpacking trip then a full-size hiking backpack is going to be the way to go. The larger hiking backpack will not only provide plenty of room for all your needed items such as a tent, sleeping bag, water, and food, etc… but it will also be more comfortable over the long haul. As hiking backpacks usually come with heavily padded shoulder straps, internal frames, and adjustable belt straps to help distribute the load more evenly and comfortably.
How Do I Choose a Hiking Backpack?
When choosing the appropriate hiking backpack there are 3 main considerations to keep in mind to help make sure you choose the best hiking backpack for your needs.
Duration of Trip
The first consideration is the duration of your hike or trip because this will help you decide what size of a hiking backpack you need. Obviously, the longer the hike the bigger your hiking backpack needs to be to carry all the additional gear needed for a longer trip.
If your hike is just going to last a few hours then as mentioned above a daypack should be all you need. When looking at the different sizes of backpacks a pack in the range of 20L to 40L should be all the space you need for a short hiking trip.
If however, your hike is going to span multiple days and involve a camping element, then you will need a full-size hiking backpack to carry all the gear needed for a multi-day hike. When picking out a hiking backpack for a multi-day hike you need to choose a hiking backpack in the range of 40L to 80L depending on how much gear you need to bring with you.
Body Size
After you have selected a pack appropriate for the duration of your hiking trip the next item to take into consideration is the size of your body or more specifically the length of your torso from the base of your neck to the top of your hips.
To get this measurement you will more than likely need some help as you want to measure along your spine from the base of your neck to the top of your hips. Once you have this measurement you will be able to pick out an appropriate size hiking backpack based on that measurement.
Hiking Backpack Sizing Chart
| Extra Small | Up to 15″ |
| Small | 16″ to 17″ |
| Medium / Regular | 18″ to 19″ |
| Large / Tall | 20″+ |
Customizing the Fit
The last item to take into account when choosing a hiking backpack is how customizable the hiking backpack is.
Typically the better quality hiking backpacks will have multiple adjustment points to help ensure the pack is adjusted for optimum comfort. Obviously, the more adjustment points a hiking backpack has the better. The most common adjustments and the ones to look for when choosing a hiking backpack include the hip belt, shoulder straps, load lifters, and sternum strap adjustments.
How Big is a 20L Backpack?
When someone is talking about a 20L or 20-liter backpack it can be hard sometimes to picture just how big that bag really is especially if you’re looking at backpacks online.
The first thing to realize is that a 20L backpack is on the small side when it comes to backpacks. To put this in perspective backpacks usually, range in size from 20L all the way up to 80L for large hiking backpacks.
Often times the easiest way to determine the size of something is to compare it to the size of other commonly known items. So to put the size of a 20L backpack into perspective a few items that compare in size would be a watermelon or a fully inflated balloon.
One of our favorite 20L daypacks is the HIKPRO 20L Travel Hiking Daypack.
How Many Liters Should a Daypack Be or What Is a Good Size for a Daypack?
The typical size for a daypack is between 20 liters and 40 liters with the most popular size daypack being 20L.
When choosing the size of your daypack the best thing you can do is work backward. First, you need to figure out how many items you want to bring with you and then choose a daypack that will accommodate those items.
If you’re just going to bring a bottle of water, a snack, and a cell phone then a 20L daypack should be all you need. If however, you are bringing more than just a few basic items than you might want to consider a slightly larger daypack in the range of 40L.
Want to know what the best affordable hiking backpack is? Check out our article “Best Budget Backpacking Pack for Hiking and Camping“.