Thrifty Hiker

Best Cheap Hiking Day Packs, Part 1: Berghaus Twenty Four Seven

Howdy folks. So, the question on our mind today is – what makes a good hiking day pack? We’ve already covered some of our favourite trail backpacks before, but we also wanted to take a look at the best smaller rucksacks currently on the market.

Whether you’re taking a short day trip on a lengthier expedition, or you fancy walking into the woods for a few hours at short notice, or just need something sturdy for the shopping run, there are a lot of times when day packs just make a lot more sense than your hefty 65 litre+. That’s why over the next few weeks on the blog, we’re going to be taking an in depth look at several of the best bargain small rucksacks out there. We’ve drawn up a shortlist of 3 packs: a best quality pick, a best bargain pick, and a best all-rounder pick.

So, first up this week, we’re looking at our best quality pick: the Berghaus Twenty Four Seven 20 Litre Rucksack.

Berghaus Twenty Four Seven Backpack Review

Berghaus Twenty Four Seven backpack
The Berghaus Twenty Four Seven 20l, from the back

Size

The Berghaus Twenty Four Seven measures 21 x 25 x 44 cm, but is surprisingly tardis-like when you open it up. As much as I crammed into it, there always seemed to be room for a little more. While it won’t fit a tent, sleeping bag or other bulky items, it’s got more than enough space for everything you need on a day-hike.

Weight

This pack comes in at 410 grams which, as you’ll see later on, is definitely the meatiest backpack out of our 3 reviews. Nonetheless, given Berghaus’ reputation as a very well made and sturdy brand, the weight penalty may be worth it for those who want piece of mind on a solidly made pack.

Materials and design

Berghaus Twenty Four Seven backpack
Decent organisation options for such a small pack!

This pack is made of 600D Polyester, and comes with 4 main compartments to organise your gear. Inside, you’ll find a sleeve / pouch at the back which could easily house maps or a small tablet. Besides that and the main compartment, there is also a small zip pocket attached to both the inside and outside of the bag. These zip pockets are perfect for your small everyday stuff – phone, mutli-tool, snack bars etc.

There are also two external bottle holder pockets on the outside of the bag, one of which can be used to house a trekking pole thanks to a built-in velcro loop just above it. All in all, it seems like a very well thought out design, packing a decent amount of organisation into a small pack.

Like pretty much all Berghaus bags this one is also compatible with a hydration pack, with a small hole near the side of the zip allowing you to poke through the bite valve from your favoured water bladder.

One thing to note on this pack is that there is no waist strap (it’s just too dang small), although there is one across the chest. This might not be a deal breaker if you’re only using it for a few hours at a time, but on much longer hikes the bag might get a little uncomfortable.

Berghaus Twenty Four Seven backpack

Comfort

So, having said that, what is this thing like to actually wear? Having loaded it up with some test weight and walked it around for a few hours, I can honestly say I hardly noticed it was there. The straps have a decent width to them, and won’t start digging into your shoulders. And while there isn’t a ‘back gap’ air flow design (a-la Berghaus’ “Freeflow” models) on this pack, I didn’t find back sweat to be a huge issue.

Verdict

Was this backpack the comfiest thing I’ve ever worn on my back? No (although thinking about it, I’d be hard-pressed to tell you what was!)

Nevertheless, this pack is comfortable, rock solidly made, with decent storage and a well thought-out design. All in all, a well-deserved winner of our ‘best quality’ budget day pack.

Well folks, hope you enjoyed this review of the Berghaus Twenty Four Seven 20l day pack. Make sure you stay tuned for part 2 in this series, where we will be looking at our ‘best bargain’ day pack. And in the meantime, check out the rest of our blog for more ultralight hiking tips, tricks and gear reviews.

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