[Daypacks] Ultralight packable daypacks (rolltop & <150g)

Keithy reviews Lightweight Packable Daypacks with rolltop closures <150g
I've owned a number of the Sea to Summit ultralight daypacks and since Suz's review here viewtopic.php?f=63&t=23237 I have bought a few of the S2S ultralight dry daypacks as well. I've owned the zippered version of the Sea to Summit ultrasil daypack for around 5 years and in over a year of using the roll top version, I have changed my mind and now favour the rolltop closure style over the slightly smaller zippered 20L Sea to Summit ultrasil daypack.
I've found these packs under 150g to be handy, for use as packable daypacks when bushwalking or when traveling. I've had a few of the square style pocket foldable bags before as well, and they usually weighed >250g, but I found I didn't carry them as often as I would with these smaller/lighter style packs. My S2S zippered version lasted a good 4 year of use and abuse before I had a small puncture in the fabric. There are sacrifices of course. The sll nylon straps can bunch up with weight in the packs and become uncomfortable for longer carries, and I do get a sweaty back from use in warm conditions.
In my travels over the past year or so, I have seen similar bags in various stores, mainly in Europe and bought a few to use and review.
I now have a collection of these style of bags, including the ones similar to the zippered S2S daypack which I will review at a later stage. This review will be of the ultralight packable day packs with roll top closures.
Firstly to the Sea to Summit Dry Daypack:
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Day Pack
Not much to say that hasn't been covered in Suz's review. When packed, it is about the height of a drink can, although slightly thinner than a can. Restuffing the bag into it's stuff sack can be challenging. I've had two of these now - one was pinched from the external pocket of my duffel bag while in storage at a hostel. My second one has now been in use for almost a year.
I will be mainly using this bag as a base comparison against the other bags.
Zayo 24L backpack (Matador Freerain24)
I was contemplating not including this bag as it was much heavier than the Sea to Summit dry daypack when weighed (advertised at around 150g it turned out heavier in real life). It has thicker material, more comfortable straps, external pockets, an external zip pocket. Includes load lifter straps as well, but probably not required. Let down by the overly complicated fold down top which can be buckled down as well. The separate carry pouch is quite big, so restuffing this into the bag isn't difficult. When packed, due to the generous stuff sack, it can appear taller than a can of drink. I generally wouldn't recommend this bag over the others I've tried.
Also in the similar style is the Matador Freerain24. The difference between the Zayo which I have and the Matador appear to be the straps (solid on the Zayo and part mesh on the Matador). lseries92 mentions below that the Freerain24 is lighter than the Zayo, and appears to be made of thinner material than the cheaper Zayo bag.
One of the other packs I review later also has a similar design to this pack, but with what appears to be a lighter silnylon fabric http://www.peregrineequipment.com/shop- ... ummit-pack. I will try to get one of these for later review.
Green Hermit Ultralight Dry Pack 20 Litre
This is a nice pack that compares very well with the Sea to Summit pack. It uses a Cordura silnylon fabric and is very waterproof and airtight when sealed - for my pictures I used an inflated S2S ultrasil drybag and it wouldn't go in to the Green Hermit pack as it wouldn't let the air inside the pack out without squeezing my fingers between the inflated drybag and the inner walls of the backpack.
It has reinforced shoulder straps which have a fabric mesh on the underside, which makes for a more comfortable wear, and has two mesh stretch side pockets, and an integrated handle between the shoulder straps. It is slightly smaller in capacity in comparison to the S2S dry daypack. These additions come at a weight penalty of an additional 14g in comparison with the S2S dry daypack. I've only had this for a few weeks, but the shoulder straps are definitely more comfortable than just silnylon or PU, especially in warmer weather.
This manufacturer also has a larger 25L back which is lighter than the 20l pack but the straps appear to be similar to the S2S silnylon only, and excludes the external pockets. https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk ... itre-p3039
This larger 25L version appears to be also sold as the Peregrine Ultralight Dry Summit bag. http://www.peregrineequipment.com/shop- ... ummit-pack
Quechua Ultra Compact 20L
This pack is also close to the Sea to Summit Dry Daypack although significantly cheaper, and made with inferior materials.
The bag is actually lighter than the S2S bag, and is marginally narrower than the S2S bag is hence the additional 2L less carrying capacity. The fabric used on this bag is inferior, being a PU material. The sealing strip at the top of this Quechua bag uses a fabric strip, which coupled with the PU material and poor seam sealing means an inferior air/water tightness performance compared with the strip and fabric on the S2S bag.
The stuff sack is sewn to the bag, but the position at the top at the sealing strip also contributes to its weakness for air/water tightness. Still, the Quechua has advantages, like the stuff sack being sown to the inner of the bag, and being cheaper than the S2S bag. I would not use this bag for its water resistant capabilities but it has proven a good travel companion being a worthy shopping bag where I'm not as worried about punching hole in the thin sil nylon of the S2S bag.
I picked mine up in Italy for around 8-10 Euros in Italy. I see the UK store has it for cheaper. And now that Decathlon has opened up in Aust, it might be a cheap alternative to the S2S bag for non-wet use.
Outdoor Research Dry Isolation Pack
I spotted this on Massdrop, but was too slow to get one earlier in the year. This appears to be a very close design copy of the Sea to Summit Dry Daypack, but the advertised capacity is lower. I will endeavour to get one and review later.
Side by Side Comparisons
So that's it for the my review of ultra lightweight roll top closure packable daypacks. I will review the range of zippered ultralight packable daypacks that I have next.
I've owned a number of the Sea to Summit ultralight daypacks and since Suz's review here viewtopic.php?f=63&t=23237 I have bought a few of the S2S ultralight dry daypacks as well. I've owned the zippered version of the Sea to Summit ultrasil daypack for around 5 years and in over a year of using the roll top version, I have changed my mind and now favour the rolltop closure style over the slightly smaller zippered 20L Sea to Summit ultrasil daypack.
I've found these packs under 150g to be handy, for use as packable daypacks when bushwalking or when traveling. I've had a few of the square style pocket foldable bags before as well, and they usually weighed >250g, but I found I didn't carry them as often as I would with these smaller/lighter style packs. My S2S zippered version lasted a good 4 year of use and abuse before I had a small puncture in the fabric. There are sacrifices of course. The sll nylon straps can bunch up with weight in the packs and become uncomfortable for longer carries, and I do get a sweaty back from use in warm conditions.
In my travels over the past year or so, I have seen similar bags in various stores, mainly in Europe and bought a few to use and review.
I now have a collection of these style of bags, including the ones similar to the zippered S2S daypack which I will review at a later stage. This review will be of the ultralight packable day packs with roll top closures.
Firstly to the Sea to Summit Dry Daypack:
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Day Pack
- Weight advertised 110g weighed 113g (with stuffsack)
- Style roll top closure
- External pockets No
- Capacity 22L
- Packed Size 14cm x 6cm x 5cm
- Open Size 46cm x 29cm x 20cm
- Carry pouch separate
- http://seatosummit.com/product/ultra-sil%c2%99-dry-daypack/
Not much to say that hasn't been covered in Suz's review. When packed, it is about the height of a drink can, although slightly thinner than a can. Restuffing the bag into it's stuff sack can be challenging. I've had two of these now - one was pinched from the external pocket of my duffel bag while in storage at a hostel. My second one has now been in use for almost a year.
I will be mainly using this bag as a base comparison against the other bags.
Zayo 24L backpack (Matador Freerain24)
- Style roll top closure & zip
- External pockets Yes Two side and one zip
- Weight Advertised 156g Actual 183.5g with case (the Matador Freerain is around 150g)
- Capacity 24L
- Packed Size 14cm x 9cm x 9cm
- Open Size 46cm x 40cm x 16cm
- Carry pouch separate (attached to the Freerain 24)
- https://matadorup.com/products/matador-freerain24-backpack
I was contemplating not including this bag as it was much heavier than the Sea to Summit dry daypack when weighed (advertised at around 150g it turned out heavier in real life). It has thicker material, more comfortable straps, external pockets, an external zip pocket. Includes load lifter straps as well, but probably not required. Let down by the overly complicated fold down top which can be buckled down as well. The separate carry pouch is quite big, so restuffing this into the bag isn't difficult. When packed, due to the generous stuff sack, it can appear taller than a can of drink. I generally wouldn't recommend this bag over the others I've tried.
Also in the similar style is the Matador Freerain24. The difference between the Zayo which I have and the Matador appear to be the straps (solid on the Zayo and part mesh on the Matador). lseries92 mentions below that the Freerain24 is lighter than the Zayo, and appears to be made of thinner material than the cheaper Zayo bag.
One of the other packs I review later also has a similar design to this pack, but with what appears to be a lighter silnylon fabric http://www.peregrineequipment.com/shop- ... ummit-pack. I will try to get one of these for later review.
Green Hermit Ultralight Dry Pack 20 Litre
- Style fold down top
- External pockets Yes Two side mesh
- Weight Advertised 118g Actual 127g
- Capacity 20L
- Packed Size 14cm x 7cm x 6cm
- Open Size 40cm x 22.5cm x 14cm
- Carry pouch separate
- https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/equipment-c3/rucksacks-c19/all-rucksacks-c134/ultralight-dry-pack-20-litre-p8352
This is a nice pack that compares very well with the Sea to Summit pack. It uses a Cordura silnylon fabric and is very waterproof and airtight when sealed - for my pictures I used an inflated S2S ultrasil drybag and it wouldn't go in to the Green Hermit pack as it wouldn't let the air inside the pack out without squeezing my fingers between the inflated drybag and the inner walls of the backpack.
It has reinforced shoulder straps which have a fabric mesh on the underside, which makes for a more comfortable wear, and has two mesh stretch side pockets, and an integrated handle between the shoulder straps. It is slightly smaller in capacity in comparison to the S2S dry daypack. These additions come at a weight penalty of an additional 14g in comparison with the S2S dry daypack. I've only had this for a few weeks, but the shoulder straps are definitely more comfortable than just silnylon or PU, especially in warmer weather.
This manufacturer also has a larger 25L back which is lighter than the 20l pack but the straps appear to be similar to the S2S silnylon only, and excludes the external pockets. https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk ... itre-p3039
This larger 25L version appears to be also sold as the Peregrine Ultralight Dry Summit bag. http://www.peregrineequipment.com/shop- ... ummit-pack
Quechua Ultra Compact 20L
- Weight Advertised 90g Actual 97g
- Style Fold down top
- Capacity 20L
- Packed Size 15cm x 8cm x 7cm
- Open Size 47cm x 29cm x 21cm
- Carry pouch sewn to bag
- https://www.decathlon.co.uk/arpenaz-20l-ultra-compact-wp-id_8357283.html
This pack is also close to the Sea to Summit Dry Daypack although significantly cheaper, and made with inferior materials.
The bag is actually lighter than the S2S bag, and is marginally narrower than the S2S bag is hence the additional 2L less carrying capacity. The fabric used on this bag is inferior, being a PU material. The sealing strip at the top of this Quechua bag uses a fabric strip, which coupled with the PU material and poor seam sealing means an inferior air/water tightness performance compared with the strip and fabric on the S2S bag.
The stuff sack is sewn to the bag, but the position at the top at the sealing strip also contributes to its weakness for air/water tightness. Still, the Quechua has advantages, like the stuff sack being sown to the inner of the bag, and being cheaper than the S2S bag. I would not use this bag for its water resistant capabilities but it has proven a good travel companion being a worthy shopping bag where I'm not as worried about punching hole in the thin sil nylon of the S2S bag.
I picked mine up in Italy for around 8-10 Euros in Italy. I see the UK store has it for cheaper. And now that Decathlon has opened up in Aust, it might be a cheap alternative to the S2S bag for non-wet use.
Outdoor Research Dry Isolation Pack
- Weight 118g
- Style Folddown top
- Capacity 18L
- Open Size 43 cm x 22 cm x 17 cm
- Carry pouch separate
- https://www.outdoorresearch.com/us/en/dry-isolation-pack/p/2501640001222
I spotted this on Massdrop, but was too slow to get one earlier in the year. This appears to be a very close design copy of the Sea to Summit Dry Daypack, but the advertised capacity is lower. I will endeavour to get one and review later.
Side by Side Comparisons
So that's it for the my review of ultra lightweight roll top closure packable daypacks. I will review the range of zippered ultralight packable daypacks that I have next.