Thanks for the follow-up report, Matthew. Weird bummer about your pocket zippers but that seems like a problem that shouldn’t be too hard to remedy. Enjoy the pack and your hikes.

I figured I’d give an update on what I have. I ended up getting the Gregory Citro and I really love it. weight distribution is great and barely noticed it was there. The venting system is great and can’t wait to use it in the warmer weather. There was only one downside to the back though. I normally wear tech pants and by chance the pair I usually wear have zippered back pockets. On multiple occasions the zippers got stuck in the mesh paneling and I couldn’t get it off HAHA. Either way, I have to just figure out what I’m going to do about that. Thanks for the great reviews!!

Hi Matthew,

I think (and hope!) you’ll see the differences between the packs detailed in the individual reviews of them. Good luck.

This is exactly the what I was looking for, Thanks Michael. Can I ask specifically what the difference between the two are? Both systems look amazing, just the Citro looks like a mesh suspension versus the Miko special shaped foam. I am concerned with the longevity of the mesh as it’s very unique. I also noticed that marketing on the Citro is better from Gregory, so I assumed it was newer technology.

Either way, I’m hoping that my older son starts carrying his own gear on the longer hikes that way I’m not carrying everything. Especially with the Arrio, he should be more inclined to carry his own stuff.

Hi Matthew,

Thanks for your good words about my blog, I’m glad it’s helpful to you.

With the Wander 70 and Baltoro 65, you’re already telling me that you value support in any kind of pack. Those ultralight daypacks you’ve used are fine for very light loads and short jaunts, but as you say, they fall far short of the support needed to carry what sounds like well over 15 pounds and maybe over 20 pounds on your back (the five liters of water alone weighing about 10.5 pounds).

You already understand the differences between the Miko and Citro, although I would say the latter provides a bit more support. Given all that it sounds like you frequently carry, I would think you’ll be happier with the Citro 24 (and I say that as a fan of the Miko). And frankly, if I’m correctly understanding that you often carry 20 pounds or more on longer dayhikes, I would suggest you take a good look at the Mystery Ranch Coulee 30, which isn’t radically heavier than the Citro 24. Granted, your back might get sweatier, so that’s a tradeoff you must consider. But the adjustable suspension will really help you dial in a nice, comfortable fit, which makes a big difference in comfort.

For your son, the Nano (as the name suggests) is ultralight, probably not comfortable with more than 10 pounds or even less. The Arrio, while still streamlined and not heavy by any stretch, will carry probably 15 pounds, maybe more, comfortably. I would consider the 24L because he’ll grow into being able to carry more long before that pack wears out.

Check the sizing and fit on those packs and your son’s torso size; see the Fit section under my Buying Tips near the top of this story.

I hope that helps. Keep in touch and good luck.

I recently found your blog and enjoying the reads. I wanted your opinion on a couple packs since you’ve personally tried so many. I’ve recently bought my son and I a Gregory Wanderer 70 and Baltoro 65, respectively. I’m very impressed with their build quality, but haven’t been able to put them through their paces yet for backpacking. I’m just needing a better daypack for our long hikes as the large ones are overkill. As a family we get out frequently from two- to 10-mile dayhikes, mostly around Texas. We do get the pleasure of wandering farther north with the cold snow, but only a couple times a year.

First, I keep going back and forth on whether to get the Gregory 24L Miko or 24L Citro for a more technical daypack. They seem very similar other than the support system. I’ve found my back gets really hot with normal packs or not enough support with lightweight packs. I’ve tried the Gregory Nano 14, Sea to Summit 20 L Ultra-Sil Travel Day Pack and Osprey Ultralight 20L Dry Pack. I was obviously trying to get something super lightweight for backpacking to drop into the larger pack, but they don’t give enough support when carrying gear for a family of 4 plus a dog. It gets heavy quickly carrying over 5 L of fluids for everyone plus the essentials.

Second, since my older is getting big enough to carry his own gear as a preteen, I’m wanting to get him a good daypack that won’t break the bank but will last a long time. For him I’ve been looking at the Gregory Arrio 18, 22 or Nano 20. I was originally going to just get a Nano 20, but looking at the suspension the Arrio may be a better fit in this climate for a little more.

Look forward to hearing back.

Hi Adam,

The individual reviews of each daypack in this article get into more detail and greater length about various performance aspects, including durability, generally based on my knowledge of the durability of the materials and construction techniques used for each pack. In some cases, those reviews are based on numerous hikes and months of use. I will honestly likely never report on years of use with any daypack because by then those packs have probably been updated and improved with a newer model or packs from other brands. But again, the materials in a pack are a good indicator of durability and you’ll find that in the individual reviews.

Hi Dwight,

Good question. There are more similarities between the two packs than differences, as you probably noticed. I could see why someone might prefer the Stratos 24. I see it as a bit heavier and the two zippered pockets on top and front strike me as duplicative whereas the Citro offer the larger, stretch-mesh front pocket for quickly stuffing a jacket or other item inside. I think they have similar comfort and weight/load maximums.

Hope that’s helpful.

Yes, Carla, I think you’re on the right track. The Osprey Tempest and Gregory Maya are two great daypacks and similar. (The men’s versions, Talon and Miwok, are two faves of mine.) You might even find a middle size that suits all of your three-season hikes, like the Tempest 18 or Maya 20, which are fairly light and low-profile. If you really need two, the Maya 10 is a nice size when you don’t have to carry much and the Tempest 24 will probably handle any gear-intensive hike you take.

Hi Ken,

Thanks for the question. Sounds like you have a good gig.

I reviewed the Osprey Manta 28 a few years back, I remember it. The Gregory Citro 36 would weight about the same, but of course, it has more capacity. I think that, for your purposes, it may serve you well for its good level of organization and comfort. Not knowing how much volume of gear and other stuff you carry, I have to leave it to you to determine whether it would all fit in a 36-liter pack, but I suspect you know whether it would.

Since you travel with less than 20 pounds, and you mentioned the your old Manta is kind of heavy, you might consider a pack designed for hiking and travel that’s lighter but has more capacity (in case you need it) than the Citro 36: the Gregory Miwok 42. I review a smaller version of the Miwok above, I’ve been a fan of it for years for its simplicity, carrying comfort, and minimalist but adequate degree of organization.

Another daypack I hope to review soon is the Mystery Ranch Coulee 25, which comes in a larger version, the Coulee 40. It’s very well featured and comfortable, but also heavier than the Miwok, Citro, and other daypacks.

It sounds like you’re seeking a balance of versatility, good capacity, and comfort, and you’re trying to decide how heavy a pack you want to carry.

I hope those suggestions are helpful. I would be very curious to hear what you decide on. Thanks again for the question.

Michael

I’m a teacher, guide, student and tourist all in one rather-old, well-traveled body.

I spend a couple months each year traveling and leading tours in some cities, but mostly through the rugged country side of Europe and the Mediterranean Sea..

Sometimes I’m in my hiking gear, and sometimes I have to spiff up. Sometimes I sleep on the ground around a campfire, and sometimes I have a hotel and a shower and I can wash my sox.

I’m carrying an Osprey Manta 28 bought in 2018. It’s too small, kinda heavy, and is quite angular and cumbersome as a carry-on… plus the hip belt is wimpy.

I’ve been looking at a Gregory Citro 36. But before making a purchase, I wondered what you might use if you were in my shoes? I travel with less than 20 pounds – mostly hiking clothes, walking shoes, a sport coat, sandals, writing gear, sleeping bag , a tarp and some camp gear. I don’t carry a lot of guide accessories, except a good first aid kit.and a knife. We stay at 3 different base camps during an 8 day trek through the south of Crete… some places are rugged and some fancy. We are casual, and we honor the old customs. Our Patron Saint is Zorba the Greek.

I am eager to hear from you. And I appreciate the enthusiastic and professional way you scamper into your work…

Ken Plattner

You’re welcome, Eric. I’ve used the Exos 48, it does have the capacity for a relatively short trip when packing ultralight. I find that I used the 58 more (I have both), and for an all-around pack, it will accommodate more trips while weighing and costing just a bit more than the 48. But I’m glad that works out for you.

Thanks Michael. You were right, I tried the Exos38 and it was just a tad too small. I returned it for an Exos48 and managed to fit all that I need for 4 days. I test packed with dehydrated food and an ultralight 2p tent. Everything else are kinda in between bulky and ultralight. Also made sure everything has at least dual purpose so only essentials/minimal.

Hi Eric, whether it’s called a daypack or not is less important than its capacity. A 38-liter pack doesn’t have the capacity for a three-season sleeping bag, a shelter, and clothing, food, and water for 3-4 days of backpacking unless you’re going extremely ultralight, with low-bulk gear and measuring out your food very carefully. The Exos is a good pack. I’d be curious to hear more about what you choose and what works for you.

It doesn’t have to be a daypack specifically. Just any pack that could be used effectively as a daypack and if needed, be used on a 3-4 days of backpacking. I have done a bit more reading on your website and came across your Osprey Exos 48 review. I liked what I read so started looking abit more on the web on the lighter version Osprey Exos 38. Looks possible without the lid, the pack could be used as a daypack plus possibly do 3-4days of backpacking.

Hi Eric,

Is your question whether there’s a daypack that can hold all you need for a four-day backpacking trip? I don’t know how you’d fit even the lightest and least-bulky sleeping bag and shelter in a daypack, never mind four days’ of food and a means to cook it, plus clothing. Clarify your question if I’m misunderstanding it. To your point about pack comfort with weight, daypacks definitely differ in their level of support and fit, as my reviews points out for each daypack covered in this article.

Thanks.

Michael

Is it too much of a dream to have a pack that could be used as a daypack, carrying about 10kg (22lbs) and also used to do a 4day hike? My camelbak 20L daypack could fit all that I need and feels comfortable to do an 8 hours daywalk up and down a mountain but shoulders take a beating (no supportive hipbelt) when doing 3 peaks successively of 20hrs long in total. Trying not to have to buy 2 different packs 🙂

Thanks for the comment and the recommendation.

Michael Alanza

Great reviews. I actually have a Gregory Miwok 18 and a Deuter Trail 30. The more I use my Gregory, the more I like it. For it’s size it works great for me, really like all the compartments. Don’t like the blue color, but when I bought it I needed the pack right then and that was the only color on stock unfortunately. I am on my second Deuter 30 and am real impressed with the pack. Well engineered for sure.. My previous Deuter basically wore out from constant use for a couple of years yet i liked the pack so much I got another! These 2 packs are all I will ever need, no interest or need in anything substantially bigger- been there in the past with BIG loads. Those days are long gone…

Because you are into gear, next time you’re in a Home Depot check out their Husky tool pack. I carry tools around with me daily on my job, this is the pack I use on my job. No, it is not a hiking, climbing back. but ;it has an interesting construction with the durable plastic bottom.

Happy Trails

Hi Dennis, good question, and you’re correct, I do tend to use daypacks in the 15L to 22L range, as evidenced by this review. Even on long dayhikes, when I’m packing clothing for the mountains and enough food for a big day, I’m usually fine with a pack that’s 18L to 20L. Functional capacity can vary a bit with design. For instance, I really like The North Face Chimera 18, but I also pushed the limits of its capacity on a rim-to-rim Grand Canyon dayhike due to its pocket layout and shape (and partly because I also brought a DSLR with two lenses). My dayhikes with these packs are all three-season; in winter, I would need a pack with more capacity, as I would if I was carrying extra stuff for other people (like food for my family).

I concur with your observation that having a larger daypack tempts you to fill it. But even when under-filled, a larger daypack is still more bulk on your back than necessary, and that affects your ease of moving when hiking, as well as comfort and perhaps balance. Like my other gear, my daypacks for three-season hikes have gotten more compact and lighter over the years.

Thanks for asking a good question.

I keep vacillating on what size to go with for a day pack. I see arguments both ways – some say 15 – 25L is optimal vs others who say go a little bigger, say up to 35L or so in case you need the extra space. I’m leaning toward the smaller size (20 – 25L) since I don’t envision doing any winter hiking/snowshoeing, overnights, etc. Also, with a larger pack the temptation is always there to over pack! In the past I’ve gotten by with doing day hikes in Yosemite, Glacier, Denali, and the Grand Canyon with just a Jansport book bag.. After trying a number of packs, I’m thinking of going with the Osprey Stratos 24 as I like the comfort of having the ventilated back and the weight supported on the hips. I get the impression from your reviews that you tend to lean toward the smaller packs as well for day hiking. Am I correct in that assumption?

Hi John,

Your friend is frustrated that I don’t provide links to small retailers like him, but perhaps he hasn’t thought about how self-interested it might sound for me to make the same complaint: that he should use his business to promote my business. That’s not his objective. Part of my site’s revenue is derived from commissions made via gear sales generated through my site, and it’s the larger online retailers who pay those commissions.

I’m all for people purchasing gear from businesses they want to support. If readers of my blog want to support it by clicking links at this site to support my business, they are essentially doing the same thing you are doing: supporting a business they appreciate. It’s all good.

Thanks for writing and continuing to comment on my stories. Safe travels to you.

Hi Sabrina, thanks for the compliments, I’m glad you found The Big Outside. Good luck in finding the right daypack for you.

I had an interesting conversation with a friend last night who owns a store in a relatively small chain of outdoor stores in Western Canada (Valhalla Pure Outfitters) after he went to your sit on my recommendation. He understands your running a business with the Big Outdoors but was frustrated by your readers being directed to big retail outlets at the expense of local shops.

Although I do a lot of online research I will not buy on line unless it is the only option. Firstly, I may be old school, but I like to or need to try clothing or shoes or check out equipment. Secondly or may be firstly, I really value the knowledge and assistance of good owners like my friend. He has given me some amazing support over the years which is any reason I prefer to frequent a good local shop and build a relationship with the key staff.

I know I am a gear freak but I also know that many times my well being and safety depend on the clothing and equipment I am using. To this end working with someone like my friend will result in getting the best piece of equipment. It would be a shame to lose this type of service.

Cheers. Keep up your great work.