Hiking Accessory: Patagonia Daypack

I just used the Patagonia Anacapa 20L Daypack on a hike at Lewis River Falls in Cougar, WA.

PROS

COMFORT
I wore the pack comfortably for about 3.5 hours. I could fill the backpack up, and it still closed easily without looking bulky. It maintains a nice streamlined appearance, and the back is padded to protect your spine from jab-by contents. The straps are easily adjustable even while you are wearing it. They are also padded and can be buckled together at the chest.

CONSTRUCTION
The zippers are very sturdy and glide easily. There's a small zippered compartment on the top front of the bag, which is useful, but my Galaxy S6 doesn't fit. It would've been nice to have more easy access to my phone, but there was no service where I was hiking anyway so it wasn't a big issue for me. The material is made of polyester with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish, and it feels durable and well-made.

SIZE
This is the best size for me. I'm 5'4" and a size 2 or 4. I wanted a backpack that was smaller than the standard "school size" bags, which are inconvenient for me to use. The Anacapa is doubling as my daily use diaper bag so I like that it can hold enough supplies for a preschooler and a toddler while being compact enough to easily carry while chasing after active little children.

For people who are looking to use this daypack for school, it does fit a macbook and a 2-inch 3-ring binder. Also, there are pen/pencil pockets and a velcro pocket for um, erasers? a calculator?

PRICE
The Patagonia Daypack retails for $59, but I found a discount code for 20% at BackCountry plus free shipping. That sale isn't going on right now, but I imagine another deal will pop up again.

CONS

NON-ADJUSTABLE SIDE POCKETS
I carried a 28oz bottle of water in one of the mesh side pockets, but it fell out when I bent over to reach for things I dropped. A 1L bottle would fit better and more snugly in the mesh pocket.

FEW COMPARTMENTS
The front pocket doesn't have a zipper so I didn't end up using it at all. Also, the interior of the pack doesn't have a zippered compartment. Adding these two features alone would make the daypack perfect.

Happy Hiking! Or whatever you choose to do while wearing a backpack!