The humble daybag, is often an afterthought in the whole “choosing the right travel gear” process. When you think about it, in the course of your travels, you’ll spend many hours each day lugging around your daybag but only a few hours, or maybe only minutes carrying your main, large backpack .
It’s pays to actually think through how and in what you’ll carry around all your daily essentials such like camera, water, guidebook, and other gear. Your daybag will be your constant companion, choose it well.
What type daybag suits your travel style?
My daybag: needs a good clean, but it's comfortable.
Do you prefer a small backpack, a shoulder bag, or one of those kidney shaped sling bag that are kind of a cross between the two?
What kind of activities will you be doing: lots of hiking in remote areas or mainly urban exploring?
Backpacks are probably the most ergonomic and practical if you’re carrying a heavy load during the day or doing a lot of hiking. The downside is a sweaty back in hot climates and having to take the backpack off completely every time you need to access the contents. I’m also not a fan of the double backpack look: the small backpack strapped on front while wearing the main pack on your back.
A shoulder bag or messenger style bag (cult of travel’s choice!) is easy to access without taking it off and more discrete; some would say less touristy. A shoulder bag is also more convenient when you’re wearing both it and your main backpack.
Most importantly, think comfort when picking a daybag!
Bring your day gear to the store and try the bag on fully loaded. Walk around the store for a bit. Is the bag comfortable, straps easy to adjust? If the bag is the least bit uncomfortable, try another one. Trust me, it won’t get more comfortable once you hit the road.
Choosing the right size…
Not too big or too small; you’ll want room to stash a few extras. A good rule of thumb is to allow for 20% extra space on top of what you need. That’ll leave room for some food, rain or beach gear.
Bigger isn’t always better. A partially filled bag will be floppy and as awkward to carry as an overweight bag. Too small and, well, finding something in an overstuffed bag can be a pain.
A few other tips when choosing a travel daybag:
- Having a daybag suitable to use for short side trips is handy. Leave your main backpack in storage and travel light for a few days with just your daybag.
- Can it be secured: does it zip close? Can you lock up the main compartment with a small padlock?
- Are there enough pockets and compartments to organize your small items and keep them from falling out or ending up at the bottom of your bag?
- If you’re planning to stash you daybag inside you main backpack when moving around, make sure it’s light and easy to compress.
- Pick a neutral colour that doesn’t stand out. Nothing says “Hi, I’d like some unwanted attention” like a neon orange or bright yellow bag.
- Check the store’s return policy. Many retailers like MEC and REI have no hassle return policies, you can return or exchange the bag if need be.
What kind of daybag do you use when traveling? We’d love to hear your thoughts on travel daybag and daybag tips below. 
Great point! In my eyes, this is the most important item that you could carry with you as it is most likely to carry your most valuable belongings and is constantly exposed to folks trying to steal it.
A fan of Eagle Creek, huh? I spent an summer interning there. Love the gear!
Exactly, your daybag will be “worn” way more than your main backpack. So important that it’s comfortable and suits your travel style.
Must have been interesting working for a travel gear company. Lucky you!
I only own a couple of Eagle Creek products, but that messenger bag was worth every penny. Practically indestructible and it zips completely closed which is important for me.
You are so right about how important a day bag is and it’s true that most people don’t think much about it. As a guidebook writer I always have to have my guidebook and notepad on my person but hate lugging around a big bag. I have a bag I love – Eagle Creek (about 1/3 the size as yours) with tons of zip pockets (even a semi-secret one to stash valuables), a cell-phone slot, coin pocket etc and it’s just big enough to fit a big guidebook, notepad and a collapsable umbrella. My only peeve is that if I take a camera I have to hang that around my neck which makes me feel like a dweeb.
I had wanted to try a messenger bag for this trip, but failed to find one that I liked. I wanted it to zip shut (relatively rare in messengers) and I didn’t want it to be too huge or too small. They all seemed to gravitate to tiny or gargantuan. I eventually gave up and just used the day pack off my old Eagle Creek travel pack. I had to travel one day so far with it out of my main pack, and it was super annoying. I also don’t like carrying a second backpack at the same time.
I like the looks of that Eagle Creek jobby you have pictured. I’ve never seen one like that in stores.
My messenger style bag has been a godsend…like you I wanted a shoulder bag that zipped shut & not too big (it’s about 20 litres) which is rare in messenger bags. Best part is that it still carries well when it’s almost empty.
Eagle Creek doesn’t make that particular model anymore, but they just came out with this http://www.eaglecreek.com/bags_luggage/day_travelers_series/cicada_series/Cicada-Messenger-60192/ . Looks like the new & improved (and more $$$) version of mine.
Nice post! I had to change my day bag few times to get what I like, and might still be different in the future. I first used a messenger/lady bag from REI. It can fit small water bottle, netbook, and a guide book, tightly, plus a few small things. Soon enough though I said goodbye to it. It’s nice, but I don’t want to carry even those things, because I like to be light. I sent it to a relative back home (don’t want to carry extra stuff in my backpack). Now when I need to carry quite a bunch of stuffs, I’m using my Eagle Creek’s Woman Explorer Day Pack (a combo from the backpack). However, most of the time I’m only carrying a tiny Eagle Creek black pouch instead (shoulder strap style), slightly larger than 10 x 20 cm, very thin. Only to carry my emergency meds, sunglasses, and few other tiny stuff. Tiny sweater/windbreakers or umbrella can be hang outside it. Everything else goes to my pockets. Very light, like it that way! ….at least for now
Just checked the Eagle Creek website, I like the messenger one you gave the link. Mine apparently is not even in the bag section. It’s a (mine look just slightly different than it).