Daypack

A daypack is a small, lightweight bag meant for a single day's outing, such as sightseeing, a hike, or a day at the beach, rather than for carrying everything needed for a whole trip. Many are designed to fold or stuff down into a pouch small enough to fit inside a main carry-on bag when not in use.

For one-bag travelers, a packable daypack solves a common problem: the main bag is usually too large and too full to carry around all day once you have checked into where you are staying, but bringing a second full-sized bag would defeat the purpose of packing light. A daypack that weighs only a few ounces and folds into a small pouch adds minimal weight for a lot of flexibility.

When choosing one, look at how small it actually packs down, whether it has a sternum strap for comfort on longer walks, and whether the fabric is durable enough for the kind of trips you take, since ultralight packable fabrics can tear more easily than a bag built for daily use. A common mistake is buying a daypack too small to hold a water bottle, jacket, and a few purchases, which makes it far less useful for the exact trips it was meant for.