For most first day hikes, the Kelty Asher 24 is the daypack to start with. Kelty lists 24 liters, a ventilated back panel over an HDPE frame sheet, two hip-belt pockets, two mesh bottle pockets, loops for trekking poles and a sleeve for a hydration bladder. Its maker-stated carry range of 10 to 30 lb (4.5 to 14 kg) is the widest of the packs here that publish one.
Choose the Deuter Futura 23 if you hike in heat or carry more weight; its Aircomfort mesh back holds the pack away from you on a spring steel frame, and it comes with a rain cover. Choose the CamelBak Rim Runner X22 if you want to drink from a tube and would rather buy the reservoir and pack together. Choose the Deuter Speed Lite 17 for short hikes where a light, simple pack matters more than pockets.
| Pack | Volume and weight | Maker’s recommended load | Hydration | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Search Amazon for Kelty Asher 24 | 24 L, 0.71 kg (1.58 lb) | 10 to 30 lb (4.5 to 14 kg) | Bladder compatible | Two hip-belt pockets, pole loops |
| Search Amazon for Deuter Futura 23 | 23 L, 1,180 g | 3 to 6 kg | Compatible up to 3 L | Mesh back, rain cover included |
| CamelBak Rim Runner X22 | Liters not listed, 690 g | Not published | 1.5 L Crux reservoir included | Removable stability belt |
| Search Amazon for Deuter Speed Lite 17 | 17 L, 410 g | 2 to 5 kg | Not listed as a feature | Lightest pick, detachable waist belt |
What size daypack do you need?
Size the pack to what you carry and how much it weighs, not to a liter number on its own. Lay out everything for your usual hike, including water, an insulating layer, a rain shell, food and your first aid kit, and see whether it fits with room to close the pack easily.
Then check the weight against the maker’s recommended load. Water is the heavy part: a liter weighs about 1 kg (2.2 lb), so two liters alone are about 2 kg. That already sits at the bottom of the Speed Lite 17’s 2 to 5 kg range before any food or layers go in, which is why it suits short hikes. The Futura 23’s 3 to 6 kg range leaves more room, and Kelty’s 10 to 30 lb range for the Asher 24 is the widest of the three that publish one. The site’s water-planning worksheet shows how to work out the water number for your route.
How to choose a daypack
- Check back length. Deuter publishes a back-length range: 44 to 54 cm for both the Futura 23 and the Speed Lite 17, and 38 to 48 cm for the women’s-fit Futura 21 SL. Kelty lists the Asher 24 as one size fits most. If your back is short, start with a pack built for it.
- Look at the back panel. A suspended mesh back, like the Futura’s, leaves a gap between the pack and your back, according to Deuter. Kelty and CamelBak describe their back panels as ventilated but do not describe a suspended gap.
- Decide how you drink. If you want a tube, either buy a pack with a reservoir included or check that the pack has a sleeve and buy a reservoir separately; the site’s hydration bladder picks cover that choice. If you prefer bottles, look for stretch side pockets.
- Count the pockets you will use. Hip-belt pockets keep snacks, a phone or sunscreen within reach. A stretch front pocket is the quick place to stuff a layer when you warm up.
- Plan for rain. Only one pick here lists a rain cover as included. With any of the others, a pack liner or dry bags keep layers and your first aid kit dry.
1. Kelty Asher 24: best first daypack for most hikers
Kelty describes the Asher as built for everything from a first trip onward. The 24-liter version lists an AMP-Flow ventilated back panel, an HDPE frame sheet, a sternum strap and waist band stabilizer, two hip-belt pockets, dual mesh bottle pockets, a zippered top pocket with a soft-touch liner, a front shove-it pocket with side compression straps and twin tool loops for carrying trekking poles. It is hydration bladder compatible, made from 600D polyester oxford, and weighs 1.58 lb (0.71 kg).
Buy it if you want one pack with a place for everything and a carry range that comfortably covers a full day’s water and gear.
Skip it if you have a short torso and want a pack offered in sizes; the Asher 24 is one size fits most.
2. Deuter Futura 23: best for hot days and a ventilated back
The Futura 23 uses Deuter’s Aircomfort back system, which leaves a gap between the mesh and your back for ventilation, on a lightweight spring steel frame. Deuter lists 23 liters, 1,180 g, a recommended load of 3 to 6 kg, a back length of 44 to 54 cm, hip fin pockets, a zippered top pocket, a mesh front pocket and stretch pockets on the outside, an ice axe and pole attachment on one side and hydration compatibility up to 3 liters. The rain cover is included.
Women’s fit: Deuter’s women’s-specific version is the Futura 21 SL (Search Amazon for Deuter Futura 21 SL ), with 21 liters, 1,150 g and a 38 to 48 cm back length.
Buy it if you sweat through packs on warm days or carry more weight than a minimal kit.
Skip it if you want the lightest pack; it is the heaviest pick here by a wide margin.
3. CamelBak Rim Runner X22: best with a reservoir included
The Rim Runner X22 comes with a 1.5-liter Crux reservoir in an internal reservoir sleeve, with a tube trap to keep the drinking tube in place. CamelBak lists an Air Support back panel designed to ventilate the hottest areas of your back, a removable stability belt, side stretch pockets for an extra bottle, a stretch overflow pocket for a layer, an essentials organization pocket, cargo compression, dual daisy chains and a key clip. It is made from recycled 210D nylon double ripstop, measures 55 x 21 x 29 cm and weighs 690 g. CamelBak does not list a liter volume on the product page.
Women’s fit: The Women’s Rim Runner X20 has a women’s-specific harness and vest shape, per CamelBak, and also includes a 1.5-liter Crux reservoir.
Buy it if you want to drink while walking without buying a reservoir separately.
Skip it if you need more water than the included reservoir holds and do not want to carry extra bottles; size your water first.
4. Deuter Speed Lite 17: best light pack for short hikes
Deuter lists the Speed Lite 17 at 410 g with 17 liters and a recommended load of 2 to 5 kg. It uses Deuter’s Lite back system, perforated shoulder straps, a detachable waist belt, a 2-way adjustable sternum strap, a zippered top pocket and two mesh side pockets. The back length is 44 to 54 cm.
Buy it if your hikes are short, your load is light and you want a pack you barely notice.
Skip it if you carry two liters of water plus layers and food; that load starts at the bottom of its recommended range.
If you are looking at Osprey
The site has already covered Osprey’s day-hike packs on their own. The Osprey Hikelite 18 review looks at that pack’s capacity and fit, and the Hikelite 18 versus 26 comparison explains when the larger size is worth it. You can view the Osprey Hikelite 18 on Amazon or view the Osprey Hikelite 26 on Amazon .
Sources consulted
- Kelty Asher 24
- Deuter Futura 23
- Deuter Futura 21 SL
- CamelBak Rim Runner X22 Hiking Hydration Pack with Crux 1.5L Reservoir
- CamelBak Women’s Rim Runner X20
- Deuter Speed Lite 17
Specifications were checked on the makers’ pages on October 5, 2026; confirm the exact model, size and color on the listing. This is researched buyer analysis without hands-on testing.
FAQ
What size daypack do I need for day hiking?
Size it to what you carry, not to a number on a chart. Lay out your water, layers, food and safety gear, then check that the total weight sits inside the maker’s recommended load. The picks here run from 17 to 24 liters.
Do I need a hip belt on a daypack?
A hip belt helps keep a loaded pack steady. All four picks have one, and on the Deuter Speed Lite 17 and CamelBak Rim Runner X22 it detaches for very light loads.
Is a hydration pack better than a daypack with bottles?
It depends on how you like to drink. A pack with a reservoir lets you sip while walking; bottles in side pockets are easier to check and refill. The Kelty, the Speed Lite 17 and the CamelBak list side pockets.
Does a daypack need a rain cover?
Not always, but it helps in wet weather. Of these four, only the Deuter Futura 23 lists a rain cover as included.