Top 5 Women's Hiking Backpacks with Hydration Reservoirs for Day Trips in Canada, 2026

• “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

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

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

  — GearLab
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  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
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  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