Keeping a packable backpack on hand is a small yet mighty convenience when it comes to unexpected errands, hauling souvenirs, and spontaneous day trips. The best packable backpacks are lightweight, water-resistant, spacious enough for your essentials, and, most importantly, designed to be stuffed into a small sack or built-in compartment for easy transport.
Weight
The backpack you choose should be, above all else, lightweight. The heaviest option on this list is barely over half a pound, while the lightest weighs three ounces. Opting for packs with specific travel-friendly features like slash-resistant steel mesh or padded straps for hiking can increase the overall weight of the bag. Likewise, choosing an ultralight daypack means you may have to compromise on features like sternum straps and padding in exchange for a backpack you’ll barely feel.
Water resistance
Weather resistance is another factor to consider. You won’t find leather or canvas here — instead, packable backpacks tend to be made from lightweight synthetics, like durable nylon, that are water-resistant enough to keep your gear dry through incidental splashes or some light rain.
Capacity
All the packs below range in capacity, from 18 to 40 liters. For a point of reference, 11 to 25 liters is considered a mid-size pack and can haul all your standard daily essentials.
From a basic option with over 10,000 Amazon reviews to one with extra security features for traveling, these five packable backpacks are ones you’ll be glad to have stashed in your trunk or your suitcase when you need them.
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1. The basic one
- Capacity: 20 liters (also available in 25 liters and 33 liters
- Weight: 8 ounces
Over 10,000 Amazon shoppers have weighed in on this all-purpose packable backpack, with many praising it for having all the essential features without any unnecessary bulk. It's made from water-resistant nylon and there are two zippered pockets on the outside, plus mesh pockets for water bottles and umbrellas. The roomy main compartment hides another zippered security pocket, while wide padded straps and reinforced stitching help you shoulder the load. When you’re ready to unpack, this bag comes with a stuff sack and carabiner so you can clip it wherever when not in use.
"The incredibly lightweight material feels pretty strong for normal wear and tear, and it's relatively water resistant," one shopper noted. "We went sailing and it stayed with me the whole time and nothing inside got wet, despite constant spray from the waves. Would it protect a camera in a rain storm? No, definitely not, but it'll keep your clothes dry enough in a sprinkle." If you're looking for additional protection from the elements, you can spring for the waterproof version, which is also available in variety of colors.
- Available colors: 11
2. The one for travel
- Capacity: 18.5 liters
- Weight: 11.8 ounces
This daypack built for travel is loaded with security features to give you peace of mind when you’re on the go. The slash-resistant body and straps hide stainless steel mesh, and the straps themselves can be locked around poles or chairs for added peace of mind when you need it. The zippers lock securely, and there are interior slots with RFID-protection for your ID, credit cards, and passport.
The backpack has a water-resistant coating (though it's not waterproof) and one shopper dubbed it "a lifesaver for a recent long overseas trip," adding, "we were in areas with lots of pickpockets and this bag has safety zippers all over. It folds down to practically nothing to throw in your suitcase but holds a lot of heavy things."
- Available colors: 2
3. The ultralight one
- Capacity: 18 liters
- Weight: 3 ounces
This ultralight daypack clocks in at just 3 ounces without sacrificing capacity or design. If you’re not a fan of the outdoorsy look, you may appreciate its sleek minimalist lines. The backpack features a single zip compartment and two low-profile pouches on the water-resistant nylon exterior for your beverages. The air mesh straps are highly breathable (although you might want to opt for a backpack with extra padding or a sternum strap instead if you plan to carry heavy loads). When empty, it packs down into a small bag no longer than a ballpoint pen. "Perfect design," one fan declared. "Ultralight, best in class straps, and packs down to nothing. Even better in a hot climate that allows for your back to breathe."
- Available colors: 4
4. The extra spacious one
- Capacity: 40 liters
- Weight: 11.2 ounces
This roomy yet collapsible hiking backpack offers at least double the capacity of other options on this list, and it has padded shoulder straps as well as a strap that buckles across your chest to help distribute weight when you’re carrying it all day. It’s made from water-resistant nylon with a hidden wet pocket you can access from inside or out, allowing you to store damp items like sweaty clothes or use it as a safe place to stash your phone in the event of a sudden downpour.
The spacious main compartment has an impressive number of organizational pockets for a packable bag, plus extra straps and D-rings so you can hook even more onto the outside. "I’ve had several packable backpacks. I’m really impressed with this one. It is surprisingly sturdy and holds a lot," one reviewer confirmed.
- Available colors: 11
5. The budget one
- Capacity: 20 liters
- Weight: 6.5 ounces
If all you need is a cheap packable backpack, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better one. This foldable backpack is lined with an extra layer of nylon to withstand rain or rips and has 25 points of stitched-on reinforcement. It boasts a main compartment, an exterior zippered pocket, and two mesh slings for your water bottle and umbrella. The straps are lined with mesh, although it's worth noting that they’re not exceptionally padded.
"If you travel light, you need this little daypack," one reviewer wrote. "It's really got everything you need – just a lightweight, packable container for all your needs while you're out touring during the day. If you're one-bagging in general, this is a great way to have an extra bag when you need one, and not have one when you don't."
- Available colors: 8
