Best Small Hiking Backpacks of 2025

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Small hiking backpacks are a must-have for any outdoor enthusiast. These compact and lightweight packs are designed to carry all the essentials for a day hike, without weighing you down. With features like padded straps and back panels, hydration compatibility, and multiple pockets for organization, small hiking backpacks offer unbeatable comfort and convenience. They come in a variety of sizes and colors to suit different preferences and needs. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or a beginner, a small hiking backpack is a great investment for your next adventure.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Small Hiking Backpacks
G4Free 10L Hiking Backpack
The G4Free 10L Hiking Backpack is a lightweight and foldable daypack perfect for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, camping, and traveling. It is made with thickened water-resistant nylon material and high-quality SBS zipper, and features one main compartment, one front compartment, and two side pockets. Customers love its quality construction, comfortable straps, and waterproof material. The only downside is that the side pockets are too small for larger water bottles.
PS Le Periple 20L Hiking Backpack
The PS Le Periple Hiking Backpack is designed for convenience and comfort during your outdoor adventures. With a 20-liter capacity, it’s perfect for short trips and daily use, allowing you to carry your essentials effortlessly. The multi-compartment design includes a secure anti-theft pocket and a convenient phone pocket on the shoulder strap, making it easy to access your devices. Its ergonomic back panel and adjustable straps ensure a comfortable fit, reducing strain on your shoulders. Plus, safety features like reflective strips and a whistle buckle enhance your visibility during low-light conditions, ensuring a secure experience.
G4Free Lightweight Packable Shoulder Backpack
The G4Free Lightweight Packable Shoulder Backpack is made of high-quality tear-resistant nylon material with a durable abrasion-resistant SBS zipper. It is ultra-compact and easy to fold up into a small pocket, making it perfect for day trips, travel, day hikes, school, camping, and shopping. It has two zippered compartments, two large mesh side pockets, and is suitable for various occasions.
Xgunion 15L Hiking Backpack
The Xgunion Lightweight Daypack is a 15L hiking backpack perfect for your outdoor adventures. Weighing only 0.4 pounds, it is lightweight yet sturdy. Its foldable design allows it to be compact and portable, making it easy to carry around. Made of water-resistant nylon with a high-quality zipper, this backpack ensures your essentials stay safe and dry. The ergonomic design with adjustable shoulder straps and breathable mesh padding provides comfort and stability, reducing pressure on your shoulders. Ideal for hiking, travel, cycling, and everyday use, this backpack is a versatile companion for your activities.
ZOMAKE Ultra Lightweight Hiking Backpack 20L
ZOMAKE Ultra Lightweight Hiking Backpack 20L is a packable and portable backpack, perfect for traveling and hiking. It is only 0.5 pounds and can be folded into a compact pocket when not in use. With a capacity of 20L, it has a reasonable pocket distribution and is made of water-resistant and tear-resistant nylon material. The latest design effectively reduces shoulder pressure and has an anti-light strip for night walks. ZOMAKE has received praise from 500,000 satisfied customers worldwide.
G4Free 10L Hiking Backpack
The G4Free 10L Hiking Backpack is a lightweight and foldable daypack that is perfect for outdoor travel, camping, hiking, day trips and shopping. It features one main zipped compartment, one zipped front pocket and two side mesh pockets, and is made with high-quality tear and water-resistant material. The adjustable breathable mesh shoulder straps and foam padding help reduce pressure on your shoulders and keep you comfortable. It is also an ideal choice for international travel at the airport.
G4Free Mini 10L Hiking Daypack
The G4Free Mini Daypack is a practical and compact hiking backpack designed for both men and women. Made of high-quality, water-resistant polyester material, this backpack is durable and can withstand various weather conditions. With its multi-pocket design, including a hidden security pocket for your passport, two side pockets for water bottles or umbrellas, and multiple compartments for organizing your belongings, this backpack is perfect for short trips and day hikes. The adjustable shoulder straps and reinforced stitching provide long-lasting comfort and performance. Additionally, the backpack features a reflective strip for visibility at night and an adjustable chest strap with a whistle buckle for emergency situations. The G4Free Mini Daypack is not only functional but also stylish, making it a perfect companion for your outdoor adventures.
G4Free 24L Hiking Backpack
G4Free Lightweight Hiking Backpack is designed for convenience. It is incredibly light at 0.49 pounds, making it easy to carry around. The backpack is made of tear-resistant material, ensuring durability for long-term use. Its packable design allows you to fold it into a compact size, perfect for travel. With a 24L capacity, you can fit all your essentials. Additionally, the water-resistant material protects your belongings from the elements, ideal for outdoor activities.
ETRONIK 15L Packable Hiking Backpack
The ETRONIK Packable Backpack is a versatile and lightweight option for all your outdoor adventures. Its compact design features multiple pockets, ensuring you can easily organize your essentials. The sturdy, waterproof nylon material makes it perfect for hiking, while the ergonomic design and adjustable straps provide a comfortable fit. Plus, its packable feature allows you to fold it into a small handbag, saving space in your luggage. Whether you're hiking, cycling, or simply running errands, this backpack is designed to meet your needs with convenience and style.
SKYSPER 20L Hiking Backpack
The SKYSPER 20L Hiking Backpack is a lightweight and water-resistant daypack designed for outdoor activities. Made of high-density 600D polyester and 210D nylon plaid fabric, it is tear-resistant and wear-resistant. It features multiple compartments, an anti-theft zipper, adjustable and removable straps, and an outdoor emergency rescue guide. Customers praise its quality construction, lightweight design, and convenient compartments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What size backpack is best for day hiking?
21–35 liters: This is the sweet spot for most hiking and travel daypacks. There's enough capacity to hold food, clothing and some extras, like a camera and a book. 36–50 liters: These larger packs are ideal for trips that require additional clothing and gear, such as climbing, mountaineering or non-summer hiking.
2. What are those small backpacks called?
Generally, rucksacks are smaller than regular backpacks specifically because of their design. Their capacity ranges from 15-30 liters, they often have several external pockets, and some even feature a laptop sleeve inside (like the one in the photo).
3. How do I choose a backpack for a day hike?
To choose the right backpack, the length of your hike is the first thing to consider. For a day hike, a pack between 10 and 25 liters should be enough. You could fit your water bottle and your picnic in this pack, as well as a jacket and sunscreen, to cater for all weather conditions!
During our small hiking backpack research, we found 24 small hiking backpack products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 142,962 customer reviews through our big data system to write the small hiking backpacks list. We found that most customers choose small hiking backpacks with an average price of $21.39.
The small hiking backpacks are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of small hiking backpacks, including G4Free, PS Le Periple, Xgunion, ZOMAKE, ETRONIK. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 1,695 consumers with an average rating of 4.9.

Arlen Smith is a writer and a surfer who lives in Los Angeles, he runs a popular blog that focuses on surfing skills and popular surf spots around the world. He enjoys the sun, the beach and the feeling of surfing. His expertise ranges from categories such as climbing, swimming, boating and outdoor sports.