30-40 Liters (The Weekend Warrior)A down sleeping bag and ultralight sleeping pad are a must if you want to use a pack this size on overnight and weekend trips. Packs this size also tend to have pockets on their hip belts as well, adding a layer of convenience for storing your knife, headlamp, and snacks.
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Some feature extra pockets for staying organized. Their capacity lets you carry an extra layer, food and gear for day trips. 21–35 liters: This is the sweet spot for most hiking and travel daypacks. There's enough capacity to hold food, clothing and some extras, like a camera and a book.
Their capacity lets you carry an extra layer, food and gear for day trips. 21–35 liters: This is the sweet spot for most hiking and travel daypacks. There's enough capacity to hold food, clothing and some extras, like a camera and a book.
The 30L pack is best suited for:1-bag-travel for trips 3 days and under. Day bag use: perfect for exploring, commuting, and working, in a new place, or in your hometown. Your carry-on personal item: fits more easily under airline seats.
40-50 Liters (The Ultralight Thru-Hiker)A pack this size can be used for multi-day backpacking trips and even Continental Trail thru-hikes provided you keep a lightweight and minimalist philosophy.
BACKPACKS BETWEEN 35–50LIf you want to go on an overnight hike you'll need a hiking backpack big enough to see you through the night. If you want to embrace the 'packing light' philosophy on multi-day hikes, this size will still work for you.
MEDIUM BACKPACKS (20 – 35L)This capacity range is considered a medium-size backpack and is probably the most popular bag capacity out there. It's great for taking to school or work, depending on the styling, and can also be a great travel pack for taking on a plane.
Multiday (3-5 nights; 50-80 liters)Packs in the 50- to 80-liter range are also great for shorter trips where you pack a little more luxuriously or multisport activities like backcountry skiing.
I would say 30L is definitely on larger end of what most folks would think is an EDC. Personally, I think a big part of what is too big is how big it looks on you. A 30L bag on some who is 5'1 and 100lbs is very different then on someone that is 6'3 and 230lbs. I've used the TB Synik 30L as an EDC without any concerns.
2-3 Day Packs: 35-50 litersA weekend backpack like a standard 40L backpack is big enough to carry a backpacking sleeping bag, small tent, and pad, as well as extra clothing and layers.
Larger than the 30L Travel Bag, the 40L Travel Bag is designed for longer excursions. Some might say a week, but we think you don't need much more for a month than you do for a week, so we'd definitely take this on a multi-month backpacking trip around Europe or South America (or wherever).
While a smaller-sized 15-25 liter backpack is usually sufficient for 1/2 day hikes, you'll want a larger pack in the 25-30 liter range for all-day hikes or winter so you can carry extra water, food, clothing, and the 10 essentials.