- The Osprey Daylite Plus is a versatile day pack
with a comfortable carry and as its name suggests,
it comes in pretty lightweight as well.
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We've put the Osprey Daylite Plus to the test
over the last two months in the UK and Portugal.
So let's dive into this review and see how well it performs.
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As with all Osprey packs this Daylite Plus
does have a typically outdoorsy aesthetic;
however it toes along the line pretty well.
So we were confident rocking this pack
in urban environments as well.
Now the smaller Daylite achieved one of our highest
Instagram aesthetic poll results
we've seen to date coming in at 71%,
so we've been eager to see how this pack would score.
And from a poll of 419 participants,
53% said that they liked the look of this pack.
It's a fair bit lower than we expected
but it's still a positive result.
The branding on this pack is relatively minimal -
especially for Osprey, who like to throw their logo
anywhere and everywhere that they can.
On the front, there is a logo at the top
and the product name at the bottom.
Then on the back, there is another logo at the top
and the word 'Osprey' on the shoulder strap.
At the time of this review, the Osprey Daylite Plus
is available in eight colors.
So there really is something for everyone.
However, we must note that the color we got
looks completely different to the one on the Osprey website.
This is quite a big deal
as our black backpack on the website
displays a matte all-black bag,
and our pack is actually more of a shiny dark blue.
Fortunately, we still like the color
but we'd like to see Osprey update their online images
to reflect closer what the bag looks like in the real world.
Moving into the materials.
This pack is made from a 210D Nylon Oxford -
a flexible weather-resistant and lightweight fabric.
So lightweight in fact
that this 20-litre backpack weighs in
at a mere 1.2 pounds, which is pretty impressive.
It's important to note though
that this isn't the most durable material
as we've already seen some abrasion marks
after just two months of testing.
But we will dive into this a little bit deeper
later on in the review.
Now let's talk about the zippers.
All of them are from the reliable and trustworthy YKK.
And the attached zipper pulls make them a joy to use too.
Finally there are YKK ITW and Woojin buckles on this pack.
All three brands make high quality hardware,
which are long lasting and easy to use - so all good here.
Now moving on to the external components.
Let's start with the harness system.
The curved shoulder straps are nicely padded with dense foam
and feature narrow gaps for added ventilation.
And the pattern here is the same used in the back panel,
which is surprisingly sturdy and sits snug against your back.
The harness system features an adjustable sternum strap
and hip belt too.
The sternum strap is easy to use and supportive -
precisely what it should be.
Plus there's an emergency whistle
incorporated into the buckle, which can come in handy
during outdoor excursions.
Now the hip belt is pretty basic and only comes in useful
if you need this thing secured tight to your back -
like when you're mountain biking, running or rock climbing.
Otherwise we'd recommend taking it off
as the straps dangle all over the place
when it's not locked in.
For such a small pack,
the overall carry of this thing is great -
which is no surprise as Osprey specialize
in making hiking backpacks and outdoor gear.
So they know a thing or two about making a comfortable
and supportive harness system.
Moving on. There is a hydration bladder sleeve
just behind the back panel accessible
from the top of the pack. It's very discreet
and you don't notice it's there when not in use.
We didn't utilize this as we stuck to more
urban environments, but it's great to have the choice
if you're feeling a bit more adventurous.
Now the quick-grab handle on this pack
is incorporated into the top of the shoulder straps.
It's okay and works well in a pinch,
but it's less than ideal.
While we didn't mind this feature too much
on the smaller Daylite, we found ourselves missing
an actual handle on this one as it's a fair bit larger.
Now let's talk about the side water bottle pockets.
We must mention that whilst we appreciate that they're there,
that's where the praise stops
because they're just not that good.
This puzzled us as the pockets on the smaller Daylite
were fantastic, and at first glance these look the same.
However, on closer inspection the pockets on the Plus
are fair bit wider with less of a curved opening.
The bottom line is - we had bottles
fall out of these pockets on numerous occasions,
and they don't secure items inside
as well as they should. Not good.
On a positive note, these pockets can be used
in conjunction with the compression straps
at the top to secure taller objects -
like a tripod - to the side of this bag.
So they're not all that bad.
Like the smaller Daylite 13 liters,
this pack can be attached to the bigger Osprey packs
like the Farpoint 80. It's a simple process
of connecting the compression straps and hip belt.
However, this is something that we will not use.
If you're already carrying 80 liters on your back,
you can probably forgo another 20.
Finally, the Osprey Daylite Plus
has a stretch pocket at the front of this pack.
This is designed to give you an extra bit of space
when you need it, and it's a great place
to pop a light sweater or compressed jacket.
This can add a bit of bulk to the front of the pack,
which we are not big fans of;
but it can come in handy dependent on your use case.
Moving inside the pack there are two quick-grab pockets -
one on the front of the stretch pocket and one on the top.
The top quick-grab pocket is going to be your 'go-to'.
It's large enough to hold your phone, wallet
and passport with room to spare.
There are even two mesh pockets
and a plastic key clip inside for added organization.
Next - the zippered pocket on the front stretch pocket
is a little small, but it complements the larger one nicely.
And it's a great place to store a GoTubb full of snacks.
The main compartment of this pack has a horseshoe opening.
This is where the zippers stretch halfway down the bag
giving you easy access to what's inside.
The compression straps have to be unclipped first
which is a bit of a pain, but you do get used to it.
And as we mentioned earlier,
there is a padded laptop sleeve inside this pack.
To gain access you first have to
undo the buckle at the top.
This is designed to keep everything in place -
but in reality it's not that necessary
and just gets in the way.
The sleeve in this is big enough to accommodate
a 15-inch laptop, but only when it doesn't have a case on.
Here at Pack Hacker we recommend
always having your laptop in a case.
You can never have enough protection
for something that costs a few thousand bucks, right?
It's possible a super-slim sleeve may fit,
but it's still going to be tight to slide in and out.
This being said, it's a comfortable fit
for all 13-inch laptops with cases on,
and a great place to store other flatter items too.
The rest of this compartment is just a huge space
that you can fill however you wish.
We recommend using packing cubes and accessory pouches
for that added organization. But it is small enough
to just stuff everything in if that's what you prefer to do.
At the time of this review
we've been testing the Osprey Daylite Plus
for just over two months.
During this time its seen use as a tech daypack
on trips to the coffee house in the UK,
and it's even come along with us
on a one-month trip to Porto, Portugal.
Unfortunately, just like the smaller Daylite,
we've noticed a few abrasion marks on the front of the pack.
They're not that noticeable at the moment,
but they're only going to get worse.
And when you consider this bag
is geared more to the outdoors than an urban environment,
it's really quite disappointing.
That being said, the aesthetic things
shouldn't affect the overall integrity of this pack.
And thankfully the craftsmanship
and hardware are all high quality.
In testing we've been impressed
with the versatility of this backpack.
And it works well as a complimentary daypack
to larger one-bag travel packs too.
We didn't utilize the front stretch pocket that often,
and honestly it's something we could've lived without.
But it's a great addition for people
who enjoy those outdoor adventures.
Now moving on to the Pros and Cons.
This pack delivers a comfortable carry
and snug harness system.
The quick-grab pockets come in really handy.
And it's impressively lightweight
at only 1.2 pounds when empty.
Now onto the Cons. Bottles can fall out of the side pockets.
The colors don't match the online images -
as our black is more of a dark blue.
And the front nylon is susceptible to abrasion marks
which can harm the look of this pack.
The Osprey Daylite Plus is a versatile daypack
with a comfortable carry
that's just as suited to the outdoors
as it is in a co-working space.
The quick-grab pockets are great.
And while the laptop sleeve isn't perfect,
we like that it has one.
It's a shame the water bottle pockets are not secure
and the front nylon is likely to scar.
But this is still a nifty daypack,
at a reasonable price, that's worth considering.
So there you have it - our review on the Osprey Daylite Plus.
And as ever, we'd love to hear your thoughts
in the comments below.
Thanks for keeping it here at Pack Hacker,
your guide to smarter travel. We'll see you in the next one.