The shoulder straps are thin but still have some padding in them, and are wide enough to go around our shoulders without digging into our necks.

The 16-inch back length worked well on all of our female testers though, because the fit doesn't have to be as precise like it does for those models with a real hip belt. Osprey’s aim with the Hikelite series is to create an “unassuming” and versatile pack — one with enough technical features to support double-digit day hikes, and enough comfort to support general, everyday wear. The side compression straps can hold your trekking poles and do an excellent job of cinching everything down when the pack is not full. The Hikelite is heavier than the Lithia because it has a rigid frame and a mesh back panel, and slightly thicker material in the body. 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.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. If you want something light to throw on your back as you head out on shorter trips, the Hikelite is a great choice. In fact, they were great compared to the Patagonia Nine Trails 26, which are cut so close together that they dug into our necks.

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. Both the hip belt as it is, and the sternum strap help stabilize the pack if you have to move fast or even to run. This is a small pack, yet shoulder harness is with some light and breathable padding, while the hip belt is just a narrow strap.Whether you're a casual or experience hiker, the lightweight and streamlined Hikelite 18-liter daypack combines essential features and quality construction with the impeccable ventilation that AirSpeed™ has to offer. In the summary of this Osprey Hikelite 18 Backpack review, to say that what you have here is a great combination of high-performance features, versatility, and excellent value for money.

With technical design and a few extra components added, the Osprey Hikelite 18L pack challenges the brand’s old fan favorite, the Daylite daypack. Based in Denver, Colorado, Murphy is an avid hiker, runner, backpacker, skier, yogi, and pack-paddleboarder. The Daylite Plus offers a few extra compartments and is more expandable, making it the best travel pack out of the three. The Hikelite 18 is the part if a completely new series that includes also a bigger pack, the Hikelite 26 which has a bit more features. The side mesh pockets are nice and wide and can hold larger 1L water bottles with room to cram a few other things in them as well.Sure, there is some one-inch webbing that you can cinch tight around your waist, but it doesn't do much to transfer the weight off of your shoulders, nor is it comfortable to cinch it tight! The mesh back panel is nice and comfortable as well, and doesn't get as wet and clammy as the back of a pack does when pressed up against your back for miles.

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. Now, it may look similar to yet another popular pack by Osprey, the Daylite pack, but those are very different tools, see more below. One top scratch-free pocket is available for glasses and electronics, and the rest is just the main compartment with its internal sleeve.This pack doesn't have a proper hip belt though, which made it less comfortable overall than the models that did. Prior to that, Mary wrote for 5280 Magazine in Denver while working as an outdoor instructor teaching climbing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and mountain biking. We’ve had ours in testing for months, and the size, pocket placement, and overall durability all stood out to us. The side pockets are wide and can fit larger bottles than this one, but mesh doesn't last too long in the desert. Inversely, the Daylite is lighter-weight, packs down smaller, and is a better choice for general use.