Top 5 Lightweight Hiking Backpacks for Women (20-30 Liters) in Canada 2026

• “There's a lot to love about this daypack that packs a punch. The Osprey Tempest 20 is comfortable to wear and has some great, easy-to-use features. It's on the smaller end of packs, but we think its design ingenuity makes up for that.”

• “Osprey’s Talon and Tempest hit a sweet spot for features, comfort, organization, and low weight that ranks them among the most versatile, multi-sport daypacks on the market today—at a competitive price for this level of quality.”

• “Best Hiking Pack Under $100”

• “The Osprey Tempest 20 women’s hiking backpack is an incredible hiking backpack that our readers adore. This backpack is functional, versatile, and adventure-ready. I also used it on a two-week camping and hiking trip through Utah’s national parks!”

• “The Osprey Tempest 20 has captured the attention of outdoor enthusiasts seeking a durable pack with features designed for versatility. This hiking backpack is a testament to Osprey’s commitment to crafting top-notch gear for adventurers.”

• “What felt like days of research, I finally came across the Osprey Hiking Packs. At first, I was unsure whether they’d be suitable for everyday use (I use my rucksack for literally anything) but upon reading their reviews, I found many women who were praising them for...”

• “The shoulder straps are attached to the back of the pack with velcro. To adjust the torso length, you “unstick” them to raise (lengthen) or lower (shorten) the torso length. Once “restuck”, they’ll be locked in place and won’t budge, no matter how much you pack in the backpack.”

• “Lots of pockets to keep your gear organized”

• “It’s lightweight, has a supportive internal frame, offers multiple external attachment options, and can hold up to 3 liters of water in an external bladder sleeve.”

Loved14

• +

  The Tempest is packed with many features that are all surprisingly easy to use. The main compartment zipper has the ability to zip quite far down the sides, making it easy to pack full and find what you need without pulling everything out.

  — GearLab
• +

  This pack earned a great score for construction quality. We didn't experience any issues with this pack during our field testing and couldn't find any durability complaints in online user reviews.

  — GearLab
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  It also features two hip belt pockets and a great commuter feature: the helmet LidLock. This is our favorite feature on this pack, as it's a quick and easy way to secure a bike helmet without having it bang all over the place.

  — GearLab
• +

  An external sleeve for the hydration bladder—slotted between the framesheet and main compartment—adds the convenience of not having to empty the pack to refill water.

  — The Big Outside
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  Updated for 2021, the men’s Talon and women’s Tempest suspension is constructed around a flexible, lightweight, plastic framesheet.

  — The Big Outside
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  The Air — Scape back panel and perforated foam padding in the hipbelt and shoulder straps create excellent ventilation, which kept my back cool in the smothering heat and humidity of Costa Rica.

  — The Big Outside
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  A small, stretch-mesh pocket on the left shoulder strap holds a couple gel packets, and there are attachments on the front for a bike helmet and a light and an emergency whistle in the sternum strap.

  — The Big Outside
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  Good external attachment points

  — Expert World Travel
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  Comes with Osprey’s lifetime warranty

  — Expert World Travel
• +

  Versatile for daily use and hiking

  — Expert World Travel
• +

  Super adjustable for a comfy fit

  — Expert World Travel
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  Lightweight compared to competitors

  — Mountain IQ
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  More comfortable for shorter people than the Talon 22

  — Mountain IQ
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  Hipbelt has two pockets (perfectly sized to carry a smartphone, a small camera or a GPS device)

  — Mountain IQ

Criticised5

• −

  The last main downside to this pack is its capacity. This isn't the pack for you if you plan to go on winter adventures where you might bring a ton of extra layers and food. That said, our testers think that 20L is still a very solid size daypack for the needs of most day hikers.

  — GearLab
• −

  One feature we wish was better is the front expandable pocket. It's narrow compared to other daypacks, and we prefer a little extra room to jam a whole puffy and snacks in there if we want.

  — GearLab
• −

  Won’t fit every woman or smaller person well

  — Mountain IQ
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  20L is a bit small for some full day activities

  — Mountain IQ
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  Not the most breathable design

  — Mountain IQ

Buyer voices1

• “I found the hip belt comfortable. The belt is wide, lightly padded, and covered with a single piece of mesh. Attached to the backpack and mesh on the back of your pack, the belt wraps around your hips and holds the pack firmly in place with the oversized buckle on the front...”

  averagehiker— Average Hiker

• “While the Jade is a versatile bag, its large capacity makes it easy to overstuff. Schlepping around more gear than you need on a day hike could lead to being less comfortable.”

• “I was also considering the Osprey Tempest 24 and the Deuter Trail 26 SL. Ultimately, the Gregory Jade 28 FreeFloat Daypack won me over due to its emphasis on ventilation and its specific design for the female form, promising a more comfortable and stable carry.”

• “This is supported by a flexible 4 mm spring steel peripheral frame which is partly visible from outside. There is also a fiberglass anti-barreling stay for some extra stability and rigidity in the case of a heavy load, plus a lightweight HDPE frame sheet.”

Loved7

• +

  The Jade 28 received one of our top scores for comfort. Out of the many packs in our review, it is one of the most comfortable when loaded down, thanks to the suspension.

  — GearLab
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  There are often tradeoffs when selecting outdoor gear: if you're looking for something lightweight, it might be made of thinner, less durable materials. In our minds, the Jade strikes a good compromise between weight and durability.

  — GearLab
• +

  The Jade 28 is one of the easiest, most intuitive packs to use during a hike.

  — GearLab
• +

  It has a large, U-zip opening that made grabbing that hidden jacket at the bottom a cinch. The large, meshy pouch on the outside is perfect for stashing a map or extra layer.

  — GearLab
• +

  The two side pockets were also updated in the newest version of this pack and were some of our favorites out of many packs — they were deep enough that our water bottles and bear spray didn't fall out when we bent over and included a webbing strap, to further secure unruly items.

  — GearLab
• +

  The hipbelt pockets are large enough to put essentials in and out without hassle. The pack is also adjustable in several helpful ways.

  — GearLab
• +

  We are impressed with the construction of this pack, which earned it high marks for durability. We could find little in the way of durability complaints online and didn't experience any firsthand during our testing.

  — GearLab

Criticised4

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  That being said, we found that the sizing runs a bit small. One of our testers, who is 5 foot, 4-inch with a 17-inch torso, had to return the XS/S size (16 to 18-inch claimed torso range) for the S/MD size instead (18 to 20-inch claimed torso range).

  — GearLab
• −

  Also, our petite, 5'1" tester found that the hip belt of the XS was very close to not cinching tight enough for her unless she had on layers. For this reason, we think it's important that you try this pack on for size before committing.

  — GearLab
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  This daypack weighs 41 ounces in the size we tested (42 ounces in the bigger size), making it one of the heavier bags. That's not totally surprising, considering that it also boasts one of the largest volumes (28 liters) and a hefty wireframe suspension system.

  — GearLab
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  The bottom has a double layer of nylon, which will help with longevity, and that's a good thing because after a couple of months' use, it is looking a little scuffed.

  — GearLab