WATERFLY 20L Packable Hiking Backpack Review
A 20-litre daypack that weighs under a pound and folds into its own pouch for day hikes and travel.
| Brand | WATERFLY |
|---|---|
| Type | Packable hiking daypack |
| Capacity | 20 litres |
| Weight | About 0.83 lb |
| Folded size | About 4.3 x 4.3 x 8.3 in |
| Laptop | Fits up to 16 inch |
| Best for | Day hikes, travel and a spare bag that packs to nothing |
Product Overview
The WATERFLY Packable Hiking Backpack is a 20-litre daypack that weighs well under a pound and folds into its own small pouch. It suits day hikes, theme-park visits and travel, carrying water, snacks and a few essentials. Think ultralight companion, not a rugged expedition bag. The best bag for those days is often not the big rugged one. A light pack you barely notice until you need it wins. This one lives in a suitcase or handbag, then springs into a proper backpack whenever you want it.
Judge a packable daypack on four things. How light and compact is it really? How comfortable and organised once loaded? How durable is the thin fabric? And remember a foldable 20-litre pack is a day companion, not a rugged expedition bag. Fold-away design handles portability. Pockets and straps handle everyday carrying. Water-repellent fabric handles light weather. This is an ultralight companion for day trips and travel rather than a heavy-duty trekking pack, which shapes what to expect.
Score Breakdown
This verdict is based on the manufacturer's stated specifications, the current Amazon listing and its product images, the confirmed materials and design, real buyer ratings, and our research into the product category. Scores are consistent editorial judgments, not laboratory measurements, and we did not receive a paid sample.
Key Features
Packs into its own pouch in three steps, tucking into any bag.
About 0.83 pounds, so you barely notice carrying it folded.
A 16-inch laptop pocket, three zippered and two side pockets.
Breathable back pad, mesh ergonomic straps and a chest strap.
Holds a 6.7-inch phone for quick access on the move.
Design and Build Quality
The point is that it vanishes when unused. Capacity runs to 20 litres, yet it weighs only about 0.83 pounds. Three steps fold it into a small pouch measuring roughly 4.3 by 4.3 by 8.3 inches, and a storage bag is included. It then tucks into a suitcase, a handbag or a larger pack and takes up almost no room. Unfolded, it becomes a genuine backpack for a day out, ideal for one to two day hikes and outdoor activities. Real usable capacity plus near-nothing folded size is what makes a packable pack so useful for travel and days out.
For a light pack it is well thought out. The main pocket takes up to a 16-inch laptop. Three zippered pockets and two side pockets hold a 1-litre water bottle, keeping gear organised rather than jumbled. Two-way smooth zippers open and close easily. Comfort gets attention too. A breathable back pad cuts sweat and keeps your back cooler. Mesh shoulder straps are breathable and ergonomically shaped to spread pressure. An adjustable chest strap steadies the load. One handy detail sits on the shoulder strap: a phone pocket that fits up to a 6.7-inch phone plus snacks or keys, for quick access on the move. Water-repellent, tear-resistant fabric shrugs off light rain and splashes.
Performance in Everyday Use
As a day and travel pack it does exactly what you want. Because it is so light and folds to almost nothing, you can bring it on any trip and deploy it only when needed. Use it for a day hike, a theme-park walk, a shopping run or an impromptu picnic. That flexibility is why packable bags are so popular. Loaded up, it carries more sensibly than its tiny folded size suggests. The 20 litres and range of pockets swallow water, snacks, a layer and daily essentials in an organised way. Breathable back and straps keep it comfortable in warm weather. That shoulder-strap phone pocket is genuinely handy for grabbing your phone without stopping. Water-repellent fabric copes with a light shower, and the whole thing packs away again in seconds. For travellers and casual day-hikers, it offers a lot of practical use for very little weight and space.
A few honest points concern what a light, foldable pack is and is not. It is a 20-litre daypack, so it suits day hikes, travel and everyday carrying, not multi-day treks that need 40 litres and a proper hip belt. No substantial padded waist belt features here, so very heavy loads sit on your shoulders. Being ultralight and packable means thinner fabric than a rugged mountaineering pack. It resists tears in normal use, but it is not built for dragging over sharp rock day after day. And water-repellent is not waterproof. It handles light rain and splashes, yet a real downpour calls for a cover or a dry bag for valuables. Judged as the light, packable day companion it is, it is comfortable, organised and genuinely useful, and it earns its tiny footprint in your luggage.
How It Performs: The Evidence
| Decision factor | What we found | Evidence and measurement | Score | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portability | Packs to nothing | Manufacturer: 0.83 lb, folds to pouch | 9.4 | Lives in your luggage effortlessly |
| Organisation | Everything sorted | Listing: laptop, zip and side pockets | 8.6 | Holds day gear neatly |
| Comfort | Cool and steady | Listing: breathable back, chest strap | 8.6 | Comfortable for day loads |
| Weather | Light rain ok | Listing: water-repellent fabric | 8.2 | Handles showers, not downpours |
| Type | Daypack | 20L, no hip belt | 8.2 | Not for multi-day heavy loads |
Who Should Buy It
- Day hikes
- Travel and as a spare bag
- Theme parks and sightseeing
- Everyday shopping
- Anyone who wants a bag that packs away
- Multi-day treks with heavy loads, or heavy rain without a cover
- A 20L daypack, not a multi-day trekking pack
- No heavy-load padded hip belt
- Packable fabric is thinner than rugged packs
- Water-repellent, not fully waterproof
Full Specifications
How It Compares
| Feature | WATERFLY | Typical option | Higher-tier option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | Ultralight | Heavy | Light |
| Packs away | Into pouch | No | Bulky |
| Capacity | 20 litres | Small | 40L+ |
| Organisation | Many pockets | One pocket | Some |
| Weather | Water-repellent | None | Waterproof |
Alternatives Worth a Look
A brilliantly practical little pack that earns its place by taking up almost none. It weighs under a pound and folds into a small pouch, so it lives in your luggage and becomes a proper 20-litre daypack whenever you need one, for a day hike, a theme park, shopping or a picnic. Loaded up it is comfortable and organised, with a breathable back, sensible pockets and a handy shoulder-strap phone pocket, and the water-repellent fabric handles a light shower. Just remember the type: it is a day and travel pack, not a multi-day trekking bag with a hip belt, the packable fabric is thinner than a rugged expedition pack, and water-repellent is not fully waterproof. As a light, foldable day companion, it is an easy recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How small does it fold?
It folds in three steps into an included pouch of about 4.3 by 4.3 by 8.3 inches and weighs only around 0.83 pounds, so it tucks into a suitcase, handbag or larger pack and takes up almost no space until you need it.
How much does it hold?
It has a 20-litre capacity with a main pocket that fits up to a 16-inch laptop, three zippered pockets and two side pockets for a 1-litre water bottle, which is plenty for a day hike or day out with water, snacks, a layer and essentials.
Is it comfortable to wear loaded?
For day loads, yes. It has a breathable back pad, breathable mesh ergonomic shoulder straps and an adjustable chest strap. Note there is no heavy-duty padded hip belt, so very heavy loads will rest on your shoulders, which is normal for a light daypack.
Is it waterproof?
It is water-repellent and tear-resistant, so it shrugs off light rain and splashes, but it is not fully waterproof. In a real downpour you would want a rain cover or to keep valuables in a dry bag.
Is it suitable for multi-day trekking?
Not really. At 20 litres and without a load-bearing hip belt, it is designed for day hikes, travel and everyday use rather than multi-day treks, which need larger packs built to carry heavy loads. As a light day and travel pack, though, it is excellent.
This review is based on the manufacturer's stated features, the current Amazon listing and its images, and our research into packable daypacks as a category. Details such as the 20-litre capacity, the roughly 0.83 pound weight, the three-step fold into a pouch of about 4.3 by 4.3 by 8.3 inches with an included storage bag, the main pocket fitting a 16-inch laptop, the three zippered and two side pockets holding a 1-litre bottle, the breathable back pad and mesh straps, the adjustable chest strap, the shoulder-strap phone pocket for a 6.7-inch phone, and the water-repellent, tear-resistant fabric with two-way zippers are as stated by the manufacturer. The general points that a 20-litre foldable pack is a day and travel bag rather than a multi-day trekking pack, that it lacks a heavy-load hip belt, that packable fabric is thinner than rugged expedition material, and that water-repellent is not fully waterproof reflect how these packs are used. Scores are editorial judgments, not laboratory tests. Confirm the current capacity, weight and pocket layout on the live listing before buying.