I used to hike with my old Northface backpack that I used for my books in college. Even empty, the back pack itself was heavy. It didn’t have good support through the shoulders, chest, or hips straps either. And honestly, it was way bigger than I needed for day hiking. A new day hike backpack was first on my Christmas wish list this year. My husband, wonderful man that he is, did all the research for me and gifted me the Dueter Speed Lite 20.
I’m not exaggerating when I say it changed my life. It sits perfectly on my back. The backpack itself weighs practically nothing, and even when its full of stuff, I still feel like I’m not carrying anything. It has a ton of thoughtful pockets as well as room for a hydration pack. There’s plenty of room for mine and the dogs snacks and water. My favorite feature is the top pocket that can fit phone/wallet/keys. Its amazing to not have to dig through the whole bag looking for those.
Its easy to clean and obviously I love the color of mine. It retails for about $70 at REI. Its a great day hike pack, though you might want something a little bigger if you’re hiking more than 15 miles in a day.
Final verdict: 10/10 for day hikes!
