The Osprey Daylite Duffel mixes gym bag with weekend bag but the most exciting part of the story is its recycled plastic status.
Here’s our inside review of the Osprey Daylite Duffel.
The Osprey Daylite Duffel Review
Hi! So, today I’m going to talk you through the Osprey Daylite Duffel 30 bag.
It’s a surprisingly versatile piece of kit and I’ve got lots of brilliant uses for it.
First, you can squash it down and pack it into a larger suitcase. That way, on your return journey, you have the space for any souvenirs, gifts or other shopping that took place while on your trip.
It’s also great as a weekend bag if you’re used to packing light.
And it also works as an everyday gym and work bag too.
Let’s face it, at 30 Litres, this is not going to be your big main suitcase but it’s still substantial and would also work as carry-on luggage.
You can check the prices and buy the Osprey Daylite Duffel on Amazon here. Or, if you’re in the UK, you may find a better deal for the Osprey Daylite Duffel with Go Outdoors here.
Disclosure: I received a sample bag for review purposes. As ever, as always, I kept the right to write what I like. Otherwise, there’s no point! If you book or buy through a link on this page, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Cheers!
The Osprey Daylite Duffel: Top Features
Backpack and Duffel with a Super-Fast Interchange
Like any good duffel bag, the Osprey Daylite Duffle has a really strong shoulder strap with a padded handle you can velcro into place.
But then it also has a rucksack or backpack option and the interchange is really quick. There’s no fumbling around or getting straps out of hidden compartments.
The backpack straps are the duffel straps and it’s worn like this:
Made from Recycled Fabric
This is the most exciting part of the Osprey Daylite Duffel to me. It’s made from 100% recycled fabric and yet it still looks brand new, tough and gorgeous.
We talked to Osprey over on Instagram Live and they talked us through the process of how waste plastic chips and recycled plastic bottles have been transformed into their 2020 luggage range.
Really inspiring stuff.
Quality Manufacturing
One of the things I really love about all Osprey products – and I’ve tested loads of them by now – is the quality.
The handles are strong, they’re well attached, they’re wide and they’re padded.
Your hands are going to be comfortable if you need to pick up the bag from the side and if anyone’s rough with your luggage during transit, the handles will still be attached by the the time the journey’s over.
Colour Choices
This Osprey Daylite Duffel is Wave Blue, which is not only my favourite colour but also a security feature.
Whenever I can, I opt for an unusual colour for a bag because it makes it a lot harder for people to steal it or pick it up by mistake.
No one’s going to pick it up by accident if it’s a bright colour, whereas when everything’s just black and grey then it’s far more easily done.
That said, you can also buy the Osprey Daylite Duffel in black and Moss Green.
Pockets and Storage
In terms of what you’ve got for pockets, here goes:
You have one small pocket at the end of the duffel. It unzips and is pretty waterproof inside. It’s also quite small, so I’d recommend you put your phone here to avoid it being scratched by keys or anything else. You know exactly where it is and can get in and out of there quickly.
Then there’s a longer size pocket with thinner material and a handy clip for your keys.
And again, I love the attention to detail. The key clip is bright red so it’s easy to spot when you’re flustered or in the dark.
And then you have a pocket that runs for the whole length of the bag. This compartment works well for, say, swimming goggles or a boarding pass or newspaper. It’s really quite spacious, so you can fit a lot in there, including pens and mobile phone chargers.
The Main Panel
The main panel unzips fully, so you have really good access to see what is in your bag. But there isn’t much in the way of dividers or pen holders or anything else like that.
If you want to organise it yourself through packing cubes, then do so. But I found the open plan really convenient for use as a weekend bag or gym bag.
Sizes For the Osprey Daylite Duffel
The Osprey Daylite Duffel comes in 30L, 45 L and 60L. For most average size women, I’d suggest no bigger than the 30L. If you need more than that, then choose a wheelie or a proper rucksack instead. Big strong guys? The 45L bag is probably the right fit for you.
WEIGHT: 0.6KG
DIMENSIONS (CM): 50H / 33W / 24D
FABRIC: 300D RECYCLED PET PACKCLOTH
What Should You Use the Osprey Daylite Duffel For?
The Osprey Daylite Duffel is really for while you’re getting from A to B. The backpack option makes life easier when you need to go hands free, such as when you’re holding your passport and boarding card getting ready to board the plane. Or maybe you’re cycling or you’re picking up coffee after you’ve had your workout – all kinds of different things.
You can quickly switch the bag from duffel to backpack. You can adjust the length of the two shoulder straps but that’s it. You’re not going to get a chest strap and a waist strap and you can’t adjust any kind of harness inside. It’s really for short journeys, not extended backpacking.
What Should You Not Use the Osprey Daylite Duffel For?
I wouldn’t like to wear it on a day long hike. I’ve got specialised hiking bags for that, with a much better fit for prolonged active wear.
In fact, Osprey have better day hike packs as well!
The Downsides of the Osprey Daylite Duffel
The Water Bottle Holder
The Osprey Daylite Duffel has this mesh pocket on the side, which I think they mean for you to use as a water bottle holder. But the only issue is that it’s at a bit of a jaunty angle, which makes the water bottle a bit precarious.
It’s certainly better than nothing and better than just shoving the water bottle into the main compartment. But, just to reiterate: this bag is not the one to take up Mount Kilimanjaro. It’s for low adventure travel around town and between the airport, car and hotel.
Protection For Your Kit
Now, the bag itself is pretty lightweight. It has some padding on the top and at both ends but the sides are pretty thin and flexible.
On the plus side, this means that it will compress down well to fit in your suitcase.
The downside, however, is that you do have to be careful about what you put in it. If you’re going to put something like laptops or cameras in, you’ll need to provide your own padding for them.
The bag won’t be able to protect them, but they will help you carry them.
Other Bags in the Osprey Range
- The Big Daddy – meet the family size Osprey Transporter 120 here
- The Osprey Tote – the 100% recycled city slicker tote bag
- Does a hybrid wheelie and backpack make sense? The Osprey Farpoint 65
- The carry-on wheelie with harness – Osprey Farpoint 36