What should you pack in a 20-litre backpack?

Water (one to two litres), a packed lunch and snacks, a fleece, a waterproof jacket, a first-aid kit, a head torch and a map or GPS. Pack the heaviest items close to your back. Our guide to how to pack your hiking backpack properly explains how to arrange your gear.

20 or 30 litres for a day of hiking?

In summer, 20 litres is enough for a day out. Choose 30 litres if you’re carrying warm layers in spring or autumn, or gear for a night in a mountain refuge: see our 30L hiking backpacks and our guide to choosing the ideal size for a hiking backpack.

Which 20L hiking backpack should women choose?

Deuter’s FUTURA SL, with its shorter back and tailored shoulder straps, and Osprey’s SIRRUS are designed for women. Other models in the range, such as the HIKELITE and SPEED LITE, are unisex.

Is a 20-litre backpack waterproof?

Not completely. Osprey’s HIKELITE, STRATOS and SIRRUS have an integrated rain cover stored at the bottom of the pack. For other models, our guide to protecting your backpack from rain sets out the options.

20L Hiking Backpacks

Deuter and Osprey 20L hiking backpacks for day trips: ventilated or close-fitting back panels, women’s or unisex fits, and room for water and a rain jacket.