Eagle Creek Packable Daypack

I compared this to NEW Ultralight Travel Daypack / Backpack The Perfect Light Weight Daypack For Sightseeing, Hiking, Biking & Travel Super Durable & Comfortable Yet Only 6.5 oz and believe this is the better product. Its capacity is greater than stated, the fabric and construction is durable, and it folds flat and will fit in my pocket.

I owned the predecessor to this packable day pack -saw it several years ago in a well known bookstore in Portland Oregon and bought it on the spot. Since then, I've retired all my various messenger bags, backpacks, briefcases, etc. in favor of this extremely lightweight, packable day pack. It has held up well over about 3 years, despite nearly daily use and over-packing. Nothing has really failed -there are a few spots where friction on a sidewalk or wall wore some small holes when it hit the dirt with a full load, but its fairly good quality ripstop nylon, so the holes are small and not a concern.

I bought the new version because a disintegrating chocolate bar left inside in the heat is going to require some major cleaning. The latest version is slightly improved -the back pocket (which is slightly smaller than the old version) now has a straight across zipper. The old pocket had a U-shaped zipper that you had to meticulously close at the risk of having things drop out without notice. The main pocket now has a small rain gusset covering the zipper -looks neater although I doubt whether it makes the bag significantly more waterproof. The fabric is non-waterproofed ripstop nylon, so if you drop it in the lake, it may float for a while, but things inside are going to get wet. The shoulder straps are slightly improved and are now made of more breathable mesh.

The best part is that it weighs nearly nothing and will pack into a small zippered pocket the size of a pack of cigarettes. I personally think that it is ridiculous to spend $70 $100 bucks on a day pack that has 17 pockets, a 1 gallon water bottle pocket, and an ice axe loop just to go to the store or to work. If I'm going 15 miles from the trail head and heading for the alpine meadows, sure, I want a technical day pack or better. But for running around town, this is great.

Minor beef: I ordered this in blue, got black instead. Not worth exchanging, but be aware. Also Amazon may be displaying the wrong picture. This does not look like a duffel, but is a day pack.

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For years I've taken a light 8-oz 12"x16"x6" Wilderness Experience pack with me on trips as a convenient day pack capable of being rolled up and stored in carry-on luggage. This size is just right for carrying an extra camera lens for my SLR, and adding in a light jacket, lunch, and a pocket umbrella. I've been unsuccessful in trying to replace my 30-year-old pack until recently, when I discovered the Eagle Creek Packable Daypack. It's an exact match in size (12"x16"x6") and has a similar 6"x7" single outer pocket for knickknacks like spare SD cards and camera batteries, lens filters, and small camera accessories. What's better, the Eagle Creek pack only weighs 6 1/2 oz, yet it's very well made of modestly-heavy black nylon fabric with dual high-quality metal-pull Nylon-tooth zippers. I just returned from 5 weeks in India using it every day while touring temples and museums. I found my old pack (same size) also perfect for trekking in Nepal when the porters had our main luggage. So, for both light day hikes and foreign day trips it's a great size...it also easily caries my 10" netbook computer if I want to take it on the plane or to a hotel-lobby hotspot. As an added attraction, the pack has really comfortable mesh shoulder straps...a big improvement on my old pack. Note, however, that the fabric is not waterproof...but neither was my old pack. I highly recommend it as a light travel daypack.

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This is a great extra day bag. LIGHTWEIGHT was a priority.

Not good as a full time backpack, that is not what is intended.

Useful for extra stuff or day trips, not a lot of pockets, but good total room inside.

Looks good....most inexpensive day bags look like crap.

Packs into itself, lightweight.

Good price.

Eagle Creek quality.

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I like this backpack and it would be perfect if it had a bottle holder on the side.

It is light weight, durable and holds a lot for a day hike.

I have another similar to it by EagleCreek with the bottle holder and didn't notice when I ordered this one that it didn't have it on the side.

These bags last and last and last.

I wonder if I could have one sewn on...maybe when in Asia. It's much cheaper to go to a tailor there.

Eagle Creek, please put the bottle holder back on this backpack!