Osprey Europe Hikelite 26

Product Information

Shell started the Camping with Style blog after a serious snowboarding accident which left her with a broken back. To be fair, with the top straps done up, it keeps the front pocket closed, but each time I take out my water bottle, I have to un-clip the top straps, and unless the backpack is upright, anything in the front pocket would likely fall out without the straps in place. Rather than a webbed pouch or zipped compartment, this is a pocket which is held in place by two compression straps.

The shoulder straps are broad, soft and well-enough cushioned to not dig into soft bust tissue, and the shape neatly sits outside the breasts rather than across.Osprey's Hike lite 26 is an unassuming technical pack that is perfect for day hikes and everyday use.

The slim profile makes it suitable for city / commuting use and the integrated rain cover and hydration support are welcome in such a lightweight pack.The side pockets are large enough to accommodate a large bottle of water without worrying about it falling out and are positioned as such that you can reach for them without taking the pack off, provided you have decent shoulder mobility. It’s nowhere near as luxurious as the memory foam you see on heavier load luggers, but this pack isn’t meant to be carrying that kind of weight. Whether you like rain covers is a matter of personal preference – in this case, whilst the cover itself is robust it’s just held in place by an elasticated cord which can be tightened but I found it inadequate to hold the cover in place in the windiest conditions; it really needs a small buckle at the back to hold it in place. Hikelite 26 features an AirSpeed™ suspended mesh backpanel, helping to keep you cool and comfortable when you’re out for a hike.

The ventilated back system works well at keeping the wearer from overheating, but is sufficiently low profile that it doesn’t interfere with the overall balance of the pack. It's a 26-litre backpack for done-in-a-day adventures, whether hiking, hill walking or rambling at the weekend with friends and family.I’ve brought my 90 litre pack on commutes before I had a car, when I was camping straight after work. Both of these materials are treated with PFAS-free DWR (durable water repellent) to encourage water to bead off the fabric and provide reliable water resistance for unpredictable weather; however, please be aware that this doesn't make it fully waterproof!

The outer material of the Osprey Hikelite 26 is made from a mix of 100 D Mini Diamond Shadow Nylon and 500 D Packcloth Nylon and impresses with its water-repellent character. With plenty of pockets, there is room for a map, your phone and wallet, and everything else you could need for day out and about. As the leader in custom-fit backpacks, out pack-fitting technique ensures a properly fitting pack that maximise efficiency, comfort and safety both on and off the trail. A removable hipbelt with 25mm webbing enhances load stability to keep you balanced and comfy when moving over uneven terrain.Osprey describe it as a pared-down pack; as someone who feels their packs tend to have too many features, complicated closing mechanisms etc this can only be a good thing. Small and light comes with limitations and this is not a pack you would want to overload due to the lack of weight transfer to the hip belt. bluesign® approval ensures strict pollution control and consumer safety standards are met through manufacturing. If you reject certain cookies or similar technologies, this may result in the display of less relevant content or some functions of our services may not be available. It's lightweight and designed for use in wet conditions where you need complete waterproof protection.