Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack - Review 2023

Stay Lightweight On-the-Go

If you need to bring more than bare essentials, Osprey Daylite Plus is ready to serve you. With its 20-liter capacity, carry more than just your phone and wallet without your daypack weighing you down.

Complete with enough compartments and a robust build, stay organized and make more memories outdoors. Enjoy every second knowing you’re Osprey Daylite Plus won’t leave in the middle of the action.

This daypack appears to survive pretty well. And relatively easy and comfy to use too!

Construction and Design

Osprey is a dedicated outdoor brand constantly creating new gear for the children of adventure. Their Daylite Plus is another member of their Daylite line, along with their Daylite Sling Bag.

If you’re looking for a simpleton to carry on your day hike, Osprey Daylite Plus comes with numerous 2-tone daypacks. You can have it in Acorn Red/Tunnel Vision Gray, Cosmic Red, Dream Purple, Medium Gray/Dark Charcoal, Oasis Dream Green/Mute Space Blue, Wave Blue, Teakwood Yellow, and more.

Technically, this daypack came from recycled polyester. The fact that the company is aboard the eco train is a major plus for us, although it comes with a cost, literally. Like any sustainable product, Osprey Daylite Plus comes with a higher tag since the materials had to undergo additional processing.

And if you support going green, you know the good that recycling brings. 

And it didn’t affect how robust the construction was. With 300D Recycled Ripstop Polyester Face fabric and 600D Recycled Polyester Accent/Bottom, you get a solid combination with high water resistance. And since the face fabric comes in a ripstop weave pattern, the interwoven thick threads add more durability. The grids formed by these thick fibers act as tear-stoppers, keeping any punctures/runs within its borders. PFC-free DWR Coating also added better weather protection to Osprey Daylite Plus.

300D Poly Face Fabric and 600D Poly Base/Accent

It’s worth noting that although Osprey Daylite Plus is highly water-resistant, it’s not waterproof. The DWR coating beads off the water when it hits the fabric,  but this finish can also wear off over time. No worries, you can reapply DWR easily. But if you want a waterproof pack, you might want to consider getting a waterproof backpack or a dry bag.

Stitching-wise, Osprey Daylite Plus won’t let you down. Clean and reinforce each seam so there’s no threat your items will spill out. Take it on your hiking or biking trip. Stay lightweight, hands-free, and ready for action.

And if you ever need a replacement for defects or a repair for everyday wear and tear, have them solved for free. Your Osprey Daylite Plus comes with a lifetime warranty! 

Want more options? See our complete lowdown on the best daypacks today. 

Harness System

With Osprey’s AirScape back panel and AirSpeed mesh layer to provide a stable and breathable carry, Daylite Plus wicks away moisture while giving you a comfortable snug. AirScape is one of the famous frames you’ll also see in Talon 22 and Aether 65. The ridges of the back panel, combined with the suspension the mesh material offers, promote optimal airflow in all contact points. 

Now, the shoulder straps are not as comfortable as we expected. They don’t have rich padding like Arc’teryx Brize 25. Yes, the top hauling option was good since it also doubles as a pass-through for your luggage‘s handle, but in exchange for carrying comfort? It depends on you, but it’s a no for us. It tends to dig at the back of your neck. 

The sternum strap has a built-in emergency whistle. It’s a mark that Osprey Daylite Plus is a total outdoorsy type. It’s a missing handy bonus we would like to see in other famous outdoor-inspired daypacks like the Patagonia Refugio.

There’s nothing special about the hip webbing of Osprey Daylite Plus. They’re adjustable and removable. We noticed that the hip belt is pretty thin, offers almost no support like Arc’teryx Brize 25, and was rather uncomfortable over the long run. It’s better to remove them, so they don’t dangle your way.

Its cousin Talon 22 offers you padded and way more comfy hip straps. You also get the convenience of hip pockets along the way.

Another downer about Osprey Daylite Plus is its lack of lash points. No dedicated loops for your trekking pole or ice ax. You can’t clip additional gear since there’s no daisy chain. You have to work your way around with all the compartments available to fit everything you need. You can slip your sunglasses at one shoulder strap and your bladder’s tube on the other, but that’s that.

Osprey Daylite Plus might turn you off if you want more attachment points. You might as well check out Patagonia Refugio or Gregory Arrio 30.

But overall, Osprey Daylite Plus’ harnessing is good enough for an ok carrying experience. Besides, considering its low capacity, it doesn’t need any sophisticated suspension system with load lifters and many compression straps. Many, many compression straps.

Not convinced? Jump to our main guide for more daypacks.

Storage

Osprey Daylite Plus provides 20 liters of total storage space to load up. Whether you ought to use this daypack for hiking, as a carry-on, or your backpack for everyday use, you’ll like its versatility and just-right capacity.

Main Compartment

The main compartment of Osprey Daylite Plus is super roomy, enough to fit in everything you need for a day hike or even a weekend trip if you’re a passionate light packer. We sneaked in a couple of shirts, a pair of PJs, one sweatpants and sweatshirt, a dress, and undergarments good to last for four days.

Inside Osprey Daylite Plus, you’ll also find a built-in, very versatile built-in sleeve that can adapt to your needs. It can fit a 3L bladder and is padded enough to keep your 15″ laptop/tablet secured.

It’s a safer alternative than Gregory Arrio 30 if you’re searching for a daypack that can cross over from nature to an urban setting. There is no need to worry about hurting your laptop when opting for Osprey Daylite Plus.

Zipped Front Compartment

We love staying organized whether we’re out in the woods or crossing from one border to another. And if you’re like us, you’ll love how the zipped front pocket has sleeves to keep your Osprey Daylite Plus clutter-free. You can keep your pen, journal, cables, charger, chapstick, power bank, and other small items you need within reach here.

We enjoyed the same perk while testing The North Face Jester and Borealis. But there’s a key clip with Osprey Daylite Plus, so there’s no need to sift through your daypack. It’s a handy feature whether it’s a fanny pack, backpack, or gym bag, especially when you’re in a rush.

Shove-It Front Pocket

An Osprey trademark we’ve grown to love- the front shove-it pocket. You’ll see this in their Talon 22 and bigger packs like Aether 65 and Levity 60. It’s a good spot for whatever you need in a snatch, like a waterproof jacket or a windbreaker.

This quick-access perk of Osprey Daylite Plus makes it one step ahead of Arc’teryx Brize 25. TNF Borealis, Arc’teryx Aerios 30, and TNF Jester had their take with a bungee strap at the front, which works the same way and is great for airing out and drying wet gear.

Zipped Front Pocket

It’s got a zipper, but it’s not the safest since it’s way at the front. It’s best to keep your mints, keychain-sized tools, some change and energy bars, or any unimportant items in the zipped front pocket. Osprey Daylite Plus has pretty functional yet straightforward storage for small stuff.

Side Mesh Pocket

A must-have for many outdoor enthusiasts, the side mesh pockets play a vital role in your ease of use. It’s a pain to open up a compartment to grab your water bottle when you’re tired and need to quench your thirst. Surprisingly, Osprey Daylite Plus has super stretchy side pockets that can fit in even bulky 32 oz. Nalgene.

With its 20-liter capacity, Osprey Daylite Plus can keep up with all the gear and food supply you need to survive a day or overnight hike. And for you all light packers, you can definitely load up to 4-days worth of items in this daypack.

TNF Borealis comes with 28-liters, while Gregory Arrio and Arc’teryx Aerios have 30 liters if you need more room. Although, if you want to stay lightweight and on the go, Osprey Daylite Plus’ roominess is one of the ideal choices.

Still unsure? Click here for more daypacks to compare.

Summary

Osprey Daylite Plus serves its purpose with excellent construction starting at roughly $70. Its 20-liter capacity is enough storage to pack up your needs whether you’re out for a day hike, overnight camping, or just your daily commute riding your bike to work.

The back panel is comfy and breathable. However, the harnessing isn’t the best. It’s pretty padded thinly, the top of shoulder straps digs at the back of your neck, and the hip webbing doesn’t offer much support. And with this in mind, we don’t recommend Osprey Daylite Plus if you need a daypack for your running routine. It might not also suit people with a large frame.

Organization is no-problemo. There are lots of compartments to keep your stuff neat and clutter-free. With Osprey Daylite Plus, you get a roomy main compartment with a built-in padded sleeve for your 3L bladder or 15″ lappy. There’s another zipped compartment with sleeves for small items. In front of that, there’s a shove-it pocket and a zipped small pocket.

The storage is almost perfect, but we hoped there were also lash points outside for extra gear attachment. But other than that, we are satisfied with how Osprey Daylite Plus handled our hiking supply and equipment.

Bonus, we got Osprey’s All Mighty Guarantee if we need a replacement or repair, for life!

Not what you’re looking for? One of these daypacks might be your best choice. 

Buy this daypack if:

• You’re an avid Osprey fan
• Want to make the most out of your hard-earned money
• Need to carry more than bare essentials