Our Verdict
Perfect first adventure pack for active kids transitioning school to outdoors
Ergonomics
Streamlined, child-friendly design simplifies toddler bag carrying
Water Resistant
DWR coating handles light rain; not waterproof for heavy downpours
Harness
Breathable straps with neat webbing, but minimal padding throughout
Load
Stretchy pockets and organized spaces provide practical daily storage
Our opinion reflects our personal experience with the product. We encourage you to consider our assessment alongside your own research to determine if it's the right fit for you.
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Full Review
For decades, Osprey has earned their stripes crafting dependable, tough-as-nails gear for adventurers of all kind. Their packs, backed by an "All Mighty Guarantee," have conquered everything from mountain summits to morning commutes. With the Daylite Jr—their first kids' offering in the beloved Daylite family—Osprey wades into the equally unpredictable wilderness of childhood adventures.
First Impression
The Daylite Jr's reliability comes from smart material choices. The main body uses 200D recycled polyester, hitting that sweet spot between featherweight comfort and playground toughness, while the bottom section employs beefier 600D recycled polyester to handle countless concrete scrapes and recess tumbles. Both fabrics receive a PFAS-free DWR coating, providing guilt-free water protection that aligns with Osprey's environmental values.
The use of recycled materials aligns with the brand’s commitment to reducing environmental impact.
The pack carries Osprey's signature outdoor DNA, blending real-world function with understated style. The green canopy colorway showcases rich forest tones alongside softer olive accents, punctuated by vibrant orange zipper tracks. The familiar Osprey osprey stands proud on the front, while subtle flowing lines create a contemporary silhouette. Along the flank, a distinctive stretchy mesh pocket offers quick-grab access to whatever treasures young explorers might need within reach.
For kids who prefer a bolder aesthetic, there's the playful Daisy print or the adventurous Space Travel design, each adding a unique twist to the classic look.
Child-Friendliness
The pack sports industry-leading YKK zippers with green plastic pull rings embossed with "OSPREY," adding a touch of brand identity while giving small hands something substantial to grip and tug.
Fresh out of the box, these zippers were surprisingly stiff, demanding more muscle than expected from little fingers. After a few days of backyard missions and classroom deployments, though, the zippers loosened up nicely. The action became noticeably smoother, requiring much less effort to navigate between compartments.
Inside the main compartment, Osprey has thoughtfully included a name tag panel—a small touch that any parent who's ever stood in the lost-and-found pile will immediately appreciate.
The front pocket houses a sturdy key clip, anchored securely to its upper interior. While I'm not handing house keys to my five-year-old anytime soon (let's be real), it's perfect for attaching hand sanitizer, a mini flashlight, or that "special rock" that absolutely must come home from every hike. The clip feels substantial and sits right where little hands can access it easily.
Harness System
The Daylite Jr showcases Osprey's harness expertise in miniature form. The shoulder straps feature mesh covering that, while not plushy padded, follows the natural contours of kids' shoulders. Some parents might wish for more cushioning, but the lightweight approach suits the pack's day-use intentions. The straps include a brilliant feature: velcro tabs at each end allow excess webbing to be rolled and secured, eliminating the dreaded "dangling strap syndrome" during active play—a simple fix to a problem that drives parents crazy.
The pack's dimensions are proportioned specifically for children's bodies to help prevent the bag from interfering with natural movement or balance.
The back panel employs dense foam with horizontal channels to promote airflow—a feature borrowed directly from adult hiking packs. While these ventilation grooves won't completely eliminate sweaty backs during intense playground sessions, they vastly improve breathability compared to standard school backpacks. A simple adjustable chest strap completes the setup, keeping loads stable during tree climbing and school bus racing.
The fully packed backpack consistently tips forward when set down.
One unavoidable design compromise: the cushioned back panel, while comfortable against little bodies, causes the bag to tip forward when set down, preventing it from standing upright regardless of what's inside—a small but persistent annoyance when packing or unpacking, particularly for parents who must constantly open, arrange, and review the contents of their child's bag, turning a simple task into a frustrating balancing act that requires holding the backpack upright with one hand while loading or checking items with the other.
The integrated top handle features a streamlined design that creates a clean profile with minimal protrusions, while also functioning as a convenient pass-through for securing the backpack to rolling luggage. This sleek approach comes with trade-offs—the handle's minimal construction makes quick carries less comfortable, especially for parents with big hands. The single-piece bridged connection at the top also introduces fit considerations, as it prevents adjusting how high the pack sits on smaller backs and establishes a fixed width between shoulder straps. This design requires careful sizing to avoid either loose straps that slide off shoulders or a too-narrow connection that creates discomfort around the neck area.
Storage Capabilities
The Daylite Jr offers thoughtful organization across multiple zones. The front pocket runs nearly the full height of the pack, with a wide-opening zipper that creates easy access even for smaller hands. Inside, two internal pockets sit against the front wall—perfect for corralling small treasures—while the remaining space swallows larger items that need quick access.
During our load test, the bag comfortably fit a set of clothes, a diaper bag, a blanket, a book, a pencil case, napkins, and a 10oz water bottle—all without feeling overstuffed.
The main compartment provides generous room for daily essentials, with a clean layout that makes finding that homework assignment (slightly) less stressful. Against the back panel, a stretchy sleeve serves double duty: it secures folders and school papers on weekdays, or holds a hydration reservoir (sold separately) for weekend trail missions. There's also a hanging loop at the top of the sleeve, designed to keep a water reservoir securely in place—more on the hydration features shortly.
Flanking both sides, stretchy mesh pockets create homes for water bottles. These pockets feature substantial elastic binding at their openings. During our playground testing, a 10oz water bottle nestled in securely with zero wobble or ejection risk. Beyond just bottles, these side sleeves proved perfect for stashing other kid essentials—small toys, snack containers, or that special stick that simply must come home.
Outdoor Features
Despite its primary role as a kids' everyday pack, the Daylite Jr incorporates several true outdoor features that honor Osprey's trail heritage. The chest strap buckle cleverly hides an emergency whistle—a small but potentially crucial safety feature during family wanderings.
The pack's hydration capabilities add versatility for longer outings. The interior sleeve normally holding school supplies transforms into a hydration bladder pocket for weekend adventures. A hanging loop keeps reservoirs properly positioned, and the bag includes thoughtful routing for drinking tubes. Though these might seem advanced features for a kids' pack, they allow the Daylite Jr to transition seamlessly from classroom to trail head without missing a beat.
During our load test, the bag comfortably fit a set of clothes, a diaper bag, a lunchbox, a book, a disposable rain jacket, a bar of chocolate, napkins and a 10oz water bottle.
Tipping the scales at just over a pound empty, the Daylite Jr feels remarkably light in hand. This matters—with such a featherweight starting point, your little one can load up their nature collection and snack stash without the bag itself becoming a burden. Even filled with adventure essentials, the weight distributes beautifully across small shoulders, making those morning school dashes or afternoon trail explorations genuinely comfortable. Osprey's decades of pack-building expertise clearly translates perfectly to smaller frames.
Water Resistance
To gauge the Daylite Jr's performance in wet conditions, we conducted a real-world drench test. After tucking a paper napkin inside the main compartment, we gave the exterior a thorough spray-down, mimicking the kind of sudden downpour that always seems to hit right at school pickup. The results impressed us—the napkin stayed completely dry, confirming that the pack provides solid protection against brief showers and inevitable puddle splashes.
The zippers aren't sealed, and prolonged exposure to heavy rain would eventually result in water penetration.
An unplanned test came courtesy of my son's half-tightened water bottle. While contents did get damp, the synthetic materials handled the spill remarkably well. After emptying everything and propping the bag open, the interior dried surprisingly quickly, leaving no funky dampness behind.
Technical Details
Dimension
13.3 x 8.2 x 6.2 inch
Weight
0.7 lbs
Storage
10 litres
Material
Recycled polyester
Customer Reviews
"Here’s the thing - these are SMALL backpacks. But when I’m out with three young kids, I don’t want them carrying a ton of weight. These are PERFECT for hikes, theme parks, etc. Small enough that my kids have managed them age 4 and up (now with petite 10 year olds) They fit the 1.5 L water bladder, sunscreen, a small long-sleeved layer, a small fan, and some snacks. We’ve had three of them for 4 years now and they are still perfect and look brand new."
"This is a 9 L toddler backpack. If you want this for anyone older than 5 this is not the pack for you. Pack itself looks great."
"This bag fit my 8-year-old son perfectly. Usually when we travel, he gets uncomfortable and “so tired” of wearing his backpack that we end up carrying it. This was the first time ever that didn’t happen and he carried his own pack! It was the perfect size for his iPad, headphones, water bottle, and collection of toys and souvenirs from our trip"
"We were hoping to get a bag for my preschooler. Something they could use for years to come but no. This is not the bag. It doesn’t even fit a standard folder. We love the brand and wanted to love this bag but it’s really just for hiking!"
- Versatile design that works for both school and outdoor activities
- Lightweight design at just over one pound when empty
- Velcro tabs to manage excess strap webbing
- Lifetime guarantee from Osprey
- Minimal padding on shoulder straps cuts into shoulders, causing discomfort during extended wear
- Thin, unpadded handle that can be uncomfortable for parents to carry
- Cannot stand upright on its own due to back panel design
- Premium price point compared to basic school backpacks
Conclusion
The Osprey Daylite Jr proves ideal for kids aged 4-7 who need a versatile companion for both structured school days and weekend explorations. Its 10L capacity hits the sweet spot for preschoolers carrying daily essentials, while the trail-ready features support family nature walks and day hikes. The pack especially shines for active families who bounce between urban living and outdoor adventures with equal enthusiasm.
