The Hikelite 26 is part of Osprey’s more budget-friendly pared down range. The £100 price point of the Hikelite 26 presents good value for a pack with the Osprey pedigree behind it. It lives up to its name and is incredibly light, yet has all the features you could wish for from a daypack. At 26 litres in capacity it can carry most of what would be needed for a day out in the hills, but perversely isn’t quite as spacious as the on-paper smaller capacity Vaude Skomer 24. It shares the other pack’s single compartment with hydration pocket design, although this pack uses a zip-top opening rather than a lid and clip closure.
Lara Dunn’s verdict
The Hikelite 26 is a budget-friendly unisex pack from Osprey, priced at £100. It offers numerous features for a daypack, including a zipped valuables/sunglasses pocket, stretch mesh side pocket.- Light
- Stable
- Comfortable
- Short waist strap
- Zip-top opening makes rain cover crucial in bad weather
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price | £100 |
| Weight | 823g (including optional waterproof cover)/761g (without cover) |
| Materials | Bluesign approved 100% recycled 100D high tenacity bird-eye nylon; PFC-free DWR |
| Features | Walking pole attachments, hydration bladder compatible, sternum strap with whistle, padded straps, detachable rain cover. |
| Sizes | 24 litres |
| Version | Unisex |
| Brand site | www.osprey.com/gb |
There are a huge number of pockets on the Osprey, with a zipped valuables/sunglasses pocket at the top, two huge stretch mesh side pockets for whatever you want to stick in them, plus a roomy and versatile front patch pocket which fastens with the pack’s upper compression straps, making it ideal for storage of all sorts of bits and pieces like a waterproof jacket or fleece when not in use. Two trekking pole loops secure poles well and easily, although you do have to take the pack off to get them out/put them back. The removable rain cover fits neatly into a zipped pocket at the bottom and uses an environmentally friendly treatment for its water repellency.
The shoulder straps are broad, soft and well-enough cushioned to not dig into soft bust tissue, and the shape neatly sits outside the breasts rather than across. The ventilated back system works well at keeping the wearer from overheating, but is sufficiently low profile that it doesn’t interfere with the overall balance of the pack. It’s very stable in wear, which is helped by the addition of a pair of compression straps. If I have a couple of niggles, it’s a – albeit detachable- waist strap that’s not very long, making it unsuitable for larger hikers, and the zipped access at the top does make it easier for rain to get in if there’s a sudden downpour. It’s a comfortable and very capable pack, though.
This review was originally published in January 2024.
