Gear Review: Hammock Bliss Ultralight Travel Daypack

When the people at Hammock Bliss first contacted me about reviewing their new Ultralight Travel Daypack , I thought here we go with another company using extra material to make a small, packable daypack. How good could it be?

Boy was I surprised. It turned out to be a well made, well thought out bag.

Let’s look at the specs: The Ultralight Travel Daypack weights 6.5 oz/184g, when opened it measures 20 in x 11 in x 7 in/51 cm x 28 cm x 18 cm), and holds 1100 cu in/18 liters of stuff.

It is a top loading draw string bag with two mesh pockets on the outside—good for water bottles, magazines, maps—and one small zippered pocket on the inside. It’s made of water resistant nylon (I could never get Hammock Bliss to tell me the denier) but it’s much heavier and thicker than the key ring folding size bags. It also has two somewhat padded, adjustable shoulder straps. The bag folds neatly into one of the exterior mesh pockets for storage or travel.

In the photos, I have three large, bulky sweaters inside and there is still room for more. The interior pocket is about the size of a large paperback book. 

Now, for it’s usefulness. This is not for the office. It is definitely for leisure travel or light hiking. I probably wouldn’t put any heavy electronics in it or anything of value because a drawstring closure is not as good as a zipper. And it’s a free form bag; No real shape. 

However, if you’re strolling through Paris and you’re only carrying a couple of sweaters, a guidebook, a baguette and morsels for a picnic later, this could be a great bag for that purpose. Or if you’re hitting ‘Disney World with the kids and need to carry jackets for the kids as well as snacks and juice packs, this lightweight daypack may be your answer.

When loaded, it’s fairly comfortable to wear. 

When folded it molds enough to shove into a tight corner of your bag. Great for onebaggers.

The Hammock Bliss Ultralight Travel Daypack come in either black or blue (I ordered black, they sent blue.). It goes for $39.95 from the manufacturer or it’s available on Amazon for $25.50. 

Comments

[Jeremiah]

Looks like a handy bag but looks almost the same as the REI Stuff Travel Pack. I have the REI bag and have used it on a few trips (including a onebagger to Europe) and it works great.

http://www.rei.com/product/809163/rei-stuff-travel-pack

[Andrew]

I agree, it's very similiat to the REI bag, the main difference being that REI has the advantage of a generous round top lid and zippered lid pocket rather than just he drawstring of the HBliss.

I have and like the REI bag, but in this category of pocketable day pack I like the Eastern Mountain Sports " packable day pack" even more--slightly more capacity and larger better designed mesh side pockets plus some other design improvements , $30 at EMS or online.

[Andy]

I too was going to say how much it looked like the REI bag, except for the extra benefits of the REI bag. The only reason I can see going with this is if 3.5 ounces really matter to you.

And for some, it does.