We’ve had ours in testing for months, and the size, pocket placement, and overall durability all stood out to us. But we do use services by third parties that either use cookies or may be doing so, yet we do not have any control of it.

The suspended-mesh Airspeed Hikelite backpanel means hikers never have to worry about those soggy moments again. This tiny pack comes with features that you would not expect in view of its size, and it has everything that you need for a day’s hiking, and at home, you will use it in your daily life as an ordinary pack. You can use them to cinch the pack and stabilize the items inside, but you can also use them to fix in place any elongated item carried in the side stretch pockets.We hike a lot in the sharp desert, so we know to be careful with a thin 100D pack like this one, and/or avoid them altogether.

The Hikelite still has a frame and mesh back panel like the Sirrus, but the smaller volume and lighter materials make it better suited to shorter hikes or for people who don't tend to carry a lot of gear. It's not as comfortable loaded down as the "beefier" packs in this review, but it kept us cooler in the back, and we like its features. Whether you're a casual or experience hiker, the lightweight and streamlined Hikelite 18-litre daypack combines essential features and quality construction with the impeccable ventilation that AirSpeed™ has to offer.Based in Denver, Colorado, Murphy is an avid hiker, runner, backpacker, skier, yogi, and pack-paddleboarder.

Both have some good features, but the ventilation and suspension are far better in the Hikelite 18 pack; the question is of course if you need such a suspension in a back of this size.

The Osprey Hikelite 18 uses 100D Nylon in the body of the pack and 500D Nylon Packcloth on the bottom. You may be surprised to realize that this tiny 18 liters daypack has an internal frame, a peripheral wire which gives it the shape and also provides tension to its back trampoline mesh. One top scratch-free pocket is available for glasses and electronics, and the rest is just the main compartment with its internal sleeve. Now, it may look similar to yet another popular pack by Osprey, the Daylite pack, but those are very different tools, see more below. We've liked a lot of the women's specific models they produce, and we were excited to test out the new Hikelite 18 this year.

However, compared to other Osprey models and daypack variations, the Osprey Hikelite 18L is up there as one of my top two favorites. Its minimalist panel-loading approach keeps it's silhouette clean and uncluttered for simplified use on any trail. If your regular hiking environment is all soft mossy forests, then this might not be as big of an issue for you.The side compression straps can hold your trekking poles and do an excellent job of cinching everything down when the pack is not full.