Lewis N. Clark Packable Daypack Backpack: Lightweight Backpack for Women + Men, Great for Hiking, Camping + Travel, Ditty Bag, 18in - Red/Gray

I bought an earlier version of this that I found on sale (mine does not have the mesh pouch on the side for a water bottle, which is certainly a useful upgrade) on a lark, and I have found it to be of excellent quality and great utility. I have several reusable grocery bags and the like which sometimes get filled up with random junk that accumulates in my work truck, but this backpack has gone with me on many spontaneous adventures, since it packs down small enough to fit into the glove compartment, and can carry a large selection of the assortment of camping tools which are generally in my truck. When on contracts in far away lands, I sometimes have downtime to explore or hike local parks and trails, and while this is not the pack I would choose to do a multi-day camping trip or hike the AT, I could probably do a very minimalists overnight in fair weather with only this and my typical ultralight gear (I have done so with a 3L fanny pack, so this has room for luxuries like a jungle sleeping bag). You never know when you're gonna be on the road for a couple days longer than you expected, and you need a bag to stuff in your dirty clothes when you bought new duds at the truck stop, and this pack is great for that.

Compacts into its pouch and takes up minimal luggage space. Perfect for city touring. For short trail hiking, you can get by. A waist strap and water bottle holders on both sides would be great for those of us that are “sherpas” for our travel companions...