More streamlined and lightweight than multi-day packs, and more specialized for outdoor use while hiking or touring than travel and commute bags, daypacks are suited for objectives that call for fast and light efforts that require additional gear. Constructed with technical, weather-resistant fabrics and functional features like custom-fit harness straps, trekking pole attachment points, snow safety like avalanche airbags, and built-in carry systems for hydration, the right lightweight daypack makes it easier to carry the necessities through the mountains without feeling weighed down.

What makes Arc’teryx women’s daypacks unique is their size and functional features. Whether it’s a winter hike or a technical ridgeline scramble in the summer, components like external gear loops and comfortable fit systems adjust easily for year-round objectives. For sizing, our packs come in a range of measurements with customizable harnesses that comfortably fit most body types.

Arc'teryx daypacks are most often constructed with a capacity that ranges between 16-35 litres, which is utilized via a range of configuration options — from large internal compartments to stretch-mesh exterior pockets and zippered pockets on shoulder straps or hip belts — unique to each pack design.

Our packs are equipped with technical fabrics and treatments that protect your gear from wet weather and keep the pack in prime condition, even when navigating rugged terrain. From Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finishes that protect the pack from moisture to our proprietary Hadron® LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer) fabric with abrasion resistance that rivals fabrics twice its weight, each pack is designed to help keep you prepared for sudden storms, long exits, and full days spent in the mountains.

How should a women’s daypack fit?

Daypacks that are 30 litres and below often don’t come in different torso sizes, and instead solely use adjustable harness systems to dial in the fit. The adjustable strap systems allow you to modify the torso length, shoulder strap length, chest strap positioning, and hip belt to distribute the weight of your pack properly for optimal comfort, whether you’re out on a short scramble or going fast and light on a long trail. For proper fit, make sure the shoulder straps make contact with the top of your shoulder blades and the sternum strap is comfortably above your chest and below your collarbone, without tension pulling the shoulder straps inward.

Do you need a hip belt on a women’s daypack?

Distributing the weight of a pack on your hips instead of your back is the most efficient and safe way to carry weight. And the only way to do that is with a hip belt. With smaller packs that are made to carry less than 6.5kg (15lbs), having a thinner, small hip belt that keeps the pack close to the body and offers some support is enough. Always make sure that your hip belt is aligned with the highest point of your hip bones for comfortable wear.