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This is the packable backpack you did not know you needed until the moment you do. It folds down to the size of a sandwich and weighs about twelve ounces, so it lives in a corner of your checked bag and comes out when you want a daypack for a hike, a beach afternoon, or hauling home the things you bought. At this price it will not replace your main pack, and it does not pretend to. Here is where it fits.

What it is, in plain terms

A 30-litre foldable daypack made of water-resistant nylon that packs into its own pocket, down to roughly the size of a sandwich, and weighs about 0.74 pounds. It has a main compartment with an inner divider, two front pockets, two side pockets with retention straps for a bottle or umbrella, and a small privacy pocket. On top of that, there is a chest buckle with a built-in whistle, reflective strips on the front, and Zomake offers it in around a dozen colours.

Why it works for travel

The whole point is that it takes up almost no room and no weight until you need it. Fold it flat in your suitcase and you always have a second bag for day trips without packing a bulky backpack from home. The water-resistant nylon shrugs off a light shower, the bottle pockets and chest strap keep things steady on a walk, and if it gets trashed on the trip you are not out much money.

Who the packable backpack is for

Pack it as your second bag, the one you bring out for a day hike, a market run, or a beach trip, not as the pack you carry all day under a heavy load. If you want a structured backpack that carries weight comfortably or protects a laptop, spend more and buy for that job instead.