11 best daypacks for your everyday adventures

Whether you commute to your job on the subway, drive to an office park or just walk to the nearest coffee shop to work on your screenplay, you need a great bag to carry your most important items with you every single day. You may require more than what a typical handbag offers, but less than the giant backpacks that hikers and campers have to have. So if you’re shopping for a moderately sized daypack, but you don’t know where to start, we’re here to help. We found the best daypacks to carry with you every day.

Functional and Trendy

You’ve probably seen a Herschel Supply Co. bag or on the subway or on the arm of a celeb. These bags are trendy AF, and for good reason. With their stylish and lightweight design, they work with any look. Herschel’s Retreat Backpack offers a padded, 13-inch laptop sleeve; magnet-fastened straps; and contoured, padded backstraps. This bag is functional, comfortable, and — let’s just say it — sexy.

The Swedish Style Bag

Offered in 47 different color options, the Kanken backpack from Fjallraven offers a simple, classic design in whatever color you can think of. Fjallraven originally designed the Kanken to straighten the backs of Swedish school children. But with its durable Vinylon material and iconic look, the Kanken has been popular as one of the best daypacks around for over 40 years.

For the Sleek Mover and Shaker

Looking for something stylish to throw over your shoulder? A great option is the ReNew Transit Backpack from Everlane. Everlane focuses on clean lines, neutral colors and timeless styles. They create ethically produced materials of high quality. Featuring a laptop pocket, two water bottle holders, and interior slip pockets, it’s a functional day bag that looks professional and sleek.

An Outstanding, All-Purpose Bag

Osprey’s Daylite Plus Pack is Goldilocks’s choice of bags: Not too big and not too small, it’s just the right size for everyday use (plus it has just the right number of pockets). And with its waterproof exterior, it’s as perfect for a nature hike as it is for your urban adventures. Osprey is a always good bet because of their use of high-quality materials and their bags’ long-lasting durability.

Crisscrossing With a Crossbody

If you’re not into the backpack look and want something a bit smaller, Eagle Creek’s Wayfinder Crossbody is an excellent choice. The small-looking back is surprisingly roomy and verstaile with tons of hidden and secure compartments, which makes it a great travel bag when you’re feeling touristy. All of the convenience of a fanny pack without the embarrassing aesthetic bankruptcy.

For the Retro Roamers

Handmade in Colorado, the Rover Pack Classic by Topo Designs is a well-balanced pack offering a retro symmetrical design that would fit perfectly in a Wes Anderson film. And it’s slim design makes it great for storing in cars, planes and trains while still leaving room for your feet. Plus, it comes in 9 color options. (We dig the Navy/Red combo.)

The Timeless Classic From a Timeless Brand

Lands’ End has long been known and celebrated for its many high-quality staples, including some of the best bags and daypacks on the market. Their Waxed Canvas Backpack is meant to resist water as well as wear and tear. And it comes in two classic, no-nonsense colors: brown and classic navy. This is the type of bag that lasts forever and never goes out of style.

For the Fashionable On the Go

Who says your pack can’t keep you organized and look professional? Ted Baker’s HIWAY Nubuck PU Backpack is the most professional-looking of daypacks. So it’s great to take to the office, but it also fits a change of clothes for wherever the day takes you. And Ted Baker is known for style and quality. Everything is in the details with this bag, from its leather handles to its fully lined interior.

A Daypack That’s Not Afraid to Stand Out

The Radlands Sling Pack is full of compartments and definitely makes a statement. And with its hidden security pocket in the back panel, it’s a great bag for traversing those crowded city streets or an epic music festival. You can wear the sling on either side. And it offers a cell phone pocket in the front strap, making you hands-free and ready to go.

For Those Who Like Their Bag Two Ways

Classy and versatile. A dual tote bag and backpack, the Tokyo Totepack from Bellroy has double the straps, offering two ways to carry your belongings. And the two front vertical pockets give it a unique twist with the ultimate in accessibility. The internal compartments are great for electronics. Overall, it’s one of the best daypacks for both organization and style.

For Leather Enthusiasts

With its timeless look, Portland Leather’s “Almost Perfect” Mini Crossbody Tote is the bag you get for design. Plus it has removable straps to switch easily from crossbody to handheld. Though a good fit for your tablet and a few other odds and ends, pocket utopia it’s not. So if you’re looking for something that elevates your outfit and are willing to sacrifice a pocket or two, this may be the bag for you.