Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in Volume I of B.H. Magazine. Purchase your copy here.
Hands-free commuting is as efficient as it is liberating. That’s why we’re helping you get strapped (if you’ll pardon the expression) with a selection of the best daypacks, backpacks, and even fanny packs — handpicked by the editorial team at Boss Hunting.
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The 9 Best Daypacks For Carrying Your Essentials In 2024
Rimowa Signature Flap Backpack
DETAILS
- 43cm x 32.5cm x 17cm
- Khaki green
- Nylon & leather exterior
- Nylon interior
Backed by a handy two-year guarantee, trust the wunderkinds at Rimowa to build the world’s most over-engineered knapsack.
The brand’s large flap backpack — available in five colourways — features 23 litres of carrying capacity, with an external shell manufactured out of leather and regenerative nylon.
As with all of the brand’s hand-carries, the flap backpack (flapback?) is built with a pass-through allowing you to conveniently affix it to the handle of your check-in luggage.
Wandrd ‘D1’ Fanny Pack
DETAILS
- 13cm x 23cm x 6cm
- Black
- Ballistic nylon exterior (with 5PM coating)
- Ballistic nylon interior
Keep your essentials in check with this 2L “fanny pack” (AKA bumbag) that can be worn on your hip, cross-body style, or carried in the crook of one’s arm.
The body is fashioned from 1680D nylon: a basket-woven military spec textile, originally made to withstand flying debris and shrapnel. Ergo, more than a match for the odd spilled coffee.
Matador SEG28 Travel Pack
DETAILS
- 50.8cm x 30.5cm x 24.1cm
- Black
- 420D Bluesign® nylon exterior
- Recycled nylon interior
Extremely tactical in its aesthetic and built with a cleverly segmented design, the ‘SEG28’ is ideal for elite-tier travellers who wish to avoid the luggage carousel at all costs.
A well-designed clamshell undercarriage allows users to stow away bulky and/or dirty items comfortably; while a top-accessible essentials compartment means you can always reach your travel essentials at a moment’s notice.
Bellroy ‘Venture’ Sling
DETAILS
- 50.8cm x 30.5cm x 24.1cm
- Black
- 420D Bluesign® nylon exterior
- Recycled nylon interior
Made from durable recycled fabric that has been certified 100% leather-free, this ‘Venture’ day bag clocks in with 9 litres of carrying capacity.
Other standout features include the quick-release buckles — which you can detach on either side — in addition to a lined pouch that is constructed with “intelligent pocketing.” There’s even a slip pocket tailormade specifically to fit an AirTag (apologies Android users).
Aer ‘Travel Pack 3’ Backpack
DETAILS
- 54.5cm x 33cm x 21.5cm
- Black
- 1680D Cordura® nylon exterior
- Soft-lined interior
If you buy one backpack from Aer in your lifetime, this should be it. Sporting a 35-litre carrying capacity, thanks to the bag’s 1680D ballistic nylon shell, this is one of the most versatile daypacks to crack our list; with plenty of side pockets, an expanding compartment for your water bottle, and even attachment points if you want to add a hip belt into the mix.
Epperson Mountaineering ‘Bucket’ Backpack
DETAILS
- 47cm x 42cm x 20.3cm
- Midnight
- Urethane-coated nylon exterior
- Snap-button interior
Inspired by the traditional mountain climber’s chalk bag, this compact yet practical design is manufactured in the USA with a distinctive multipaneled construction.
On the material front, Epperson has chosen to make its bucket-shaped backpack in 1000D Cordura nylon. Abrasion and tear-resistant, it is also coated in Urethane to achieve a water-repelling finish.
Porter Yoshida & Co ‘Force’ Daypack
DETAILS
- 41cm x 29.5cm x 13cm
- Black
- Industrial nylon exterior
- Nylon interior
Sporting a clean and discrete aesthetic, Porter’s classic ‘Force’ design is one of the best daypacks for seasoned urban commuters.
Inside you’ll find the usual assortment of intelligent storage (e.g. a dedicated laptop pocket), but better than that, there’s even a detachable sleeve that you can hoof around separately — a signature quirk of this beloved Japanese brand.
Freitag ‘F155 Clapton’ Backpack
DETAILS
- 30cm x 13cm x 42cm
- Blue/white
- Recycled tarpaulin exterior
- Fold ‘n’ rolltop closure
A real palate cleanser if you’d like an alternative to all of this shortlist’s ballistic nylon, this ‘F155 Clapton’ is constructed from recycled tarpaulins and seatbelt fabric.
A unique take on the daily backpack that’s deserving of equally memorable trips.
Alpaka ‘Go’ Sling Mini V2
DETAILS
- 29cm x 19cm x 9.5cm
- Black
- Hybrid sailcloth-nylon exterior
- Ripstop interior
Make your everyday adventures as weather-proof as possible with this compact five-litre sling from Alpaka. The brand has gotten creative on the material front; with this sling bag’s front and side panels made out of recycled sailcloth, and an 840D nylon panel for robustness where it counts.
If you enjoyed this round-up of the best daypacks, backpacks, and hands-free carry options, here are a handful of our other favourite style stories to keep you reading:
