8 Packable Daypacks That Fold Up for Easy Travel

Now that many travelers are cutting costs by packing only a single carry-on bag, a new problem arises: What should they carry around for a day of touring? All of their clothes and toiletries are now filling their only bag.

The solution is to pack an extra bag that collapses into nearly nothing and can be whipped out and unfolded when it's time to explore.

Packable day packs solve travelers' temporary tote needs, but by design, they lack the heavy infrastructure of backcountry backpacks or purses. They also are made of relatively light fabric, so when you use one, you give up a degree of rugged protection—you have to be extra mindful of rips and blade-wielding pickpockets, for example. (But we always are anyway.)

Despite minor compromises in performance, a foldable carry bag can bring a vacation the storage flexibility it needs, whether that's for souvenirs, picnic supplies, dirty laundry, or even as a standby carry-on bag for flights.

All of the bags below may come in more colors than what's pictured here.

You may also like our roundup of excellent wheeled luggage that's truly small enough to fit under an airline seat.

The Streamline Imagined Metallic Stash & Go Backpack ($22) has one of the simplest designs of our recommended foldable backpacks, with two small mesh pockets on either side. When it's unfolded, it measures 10 x 6 x 15 inches, but once it's stuffed in its pouch, it takes up only 8 x 2 x 6 inches. Expect it to be a little more wrinkled when it comes out of storage, but considering the low price, that's no biggie. 

Another cheap-and-cheerful utilitarian choice, the HIKPRO Unisex Adults Hiking Daypack ($18) is made of water-resistant nylon and has a few zippered compartments. All told, you get 20L of storage space, which is a little less than two standard shoeboxes' worth. Its bottom is lined with double fabric to make it less susceptible to accidental tears, but the whole thing still weighs less than 7.5 ounces when empty.

Spend a little bit more, and you begin to see some embellishments. The nylon-made Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Ultralight Day Pack ($40) comes with ergonomically designed shoulder straps (after all, you'll probably be slinging it for hours of sightseeing) and it's outfitted with webbing loops so cyclers can attach a safety light to it. All of that—and 20L of space—squishes down to less than 3 ounces and into the size of a tennis ball. Sea to Summit also makes the Nano Day Pack, a version with even thinner fabric, for $10 less, but we think the Ultralight is made of more durable stuff. SeatoSummit.com

You might want something with a little more fashion flash, so for you, there's the Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Sling 8L ($98), which wraps around one shoulder at a time. Patagonia is a company known for quality products (and quality civic responsibility), which is a selling point unto itself, but the bag, which is made from recycled nylon, has some good points of its own, including an interior zippered pocket for small valuables, a range of vivid fabric colors, an 8L of space inside. Patagonia.com

Eagle Creek, a longstanding brand that was rescued from the jaws of insolvency during the Covid pandemic, is back in the ring. One of its current products is the Eagle Creek Packable Backpack, a 20L-capacity item that weighs 6 ounces when empty. It's available in some peppy looks, as you can see above, but you can get it in basic black if that's more your thing. Place the zipper handles in its special loop and pickpockets will be thwarted, plus there's a small side pocket for water bottles, a breathable shoulder strap so you sweat less, and the whole shebang stuffs into its own zippered pocket for storage. EagleCreek.com

Beloved Maine outfitter of outdoorsy folk and yuppies alike, L.L. Bean has its own version of the compressible backpack. The Adults' L.L.Bean Stowaway Ultralight Day Pack ($40) will get you 13L of space in a bag that measures 18 x 8.5 x 7 inches and stuffs into its own built-in stow pack. Two benefits of this one translate into extra comfort: light padding on the back panel (so lumpy cargo won't dig into so much) and a sternum cross-strap that will hold the bag in place on your back as you hike. LLBean.com

Keeping it simple, the 4Monster Hiking Lightweight Travel Backpack ($19) is pretty much all you really need: This water-resistant backpack has a main cavity, a front zippered pocket, two mesh side pockets, and weighs less than 4 ounces. Choose between three sizes: 16L, 24L, and 34L (that last one is probably way more than you really need). It's a lot stronger than it looks, but even if it wasn't, the price is so low you could easily buy a spare. 4Monster.com

The Matador Freerain28 Waterproof Packable Backpack ($125) has the most features of any bag on our list, making it our best choice for serious hikers and backcountry vacationers. It's waterproof (the only bag on this list that can claim that—enabled partly by its rolltop enclosure), comes with pocketed hip belts that transfer heavy loads to your waist, has loops so you can attach extra gear that won't fit inside, and its giant 28L capacity mashes down to 4 x 4 x 5.5 inches for storage. Matadorup.com

Note: All of the above items were independently selected by the Frommer's editorial team and no product's inclusion was based on partnerships or business relationships.

You may also like our roundup of excellent wheeled luggage that's truly small enough to fit under an airline seat.