Distance? Check. Versatility? Check. Pockets? Oh, so many pockets.
The pairing of the Osprey Viva 65 & Daylite 13 Backpacks is perfect for the adventure traveller. Both are practical and very comfortable plus you always have everything right where you need it with all the pocket options. They’ve carried me through Peru, up the West Coast Trail, and somehow even survived the great luggage carousel debacle of Edinburgh. Below, I break down the specs, features, and what it’s really like to live out of these two bags. Spoiler: they still look good and smell fine.
Ads are how we keep our blog free for you to enjoy. We also use affiliate links; if you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you.
Viva 65 Specs
- Women’s-specific fit
- Adjustable shoulder straps (13cm)
- Adjustable “Fit on the Fly” hipbelt (15cm)
- Volume: 65L
- Weight: 3lb 10oz (1.65kg)
- Top loading + bottom access zip
- Pole straps, hipbelt pockets, stretchy front pocket
- Material: 210D nylon double ripstop
Daylite 13 Specs
- Volume: 13L
- Weight: 1lb (0.44kg)
- Breathable mesh back + shoulder straps
- Attaches to Viva 65
Main Features I LOVED!
- Adjustable shoulder harness and hipbelt – precision fit!
- Pole straps – easy to use and very handy.
- Hip pockets – love the accessability!
- Daylite attaches to the Viva 65 – great for travel!
Performance
The Osprey Viva 65 & Daylite Backpacks were first tested on a two-week trip to Peru where I spent 4 days hiking the Inca Trail with Wild Women Expeditions. This pack combination was great for this trip because I was able to carry both on all my flights, the Viva 65 was big enough to handle the Inca Trail 4 day trekking expedition, and the daylite was perfect for site seeing at Macchu Picchu and around Cusco.
First, I have to say the Viva 65 is beautiful AND functional! I love the colour and the sleek lines. With the adjustable shoulder harness and hipbelt, I was able to get a prefect fit while still able to make changes on the fly, adjusting for pack weight and when I had eaten too much. The straps and hip belt are well padded and very comfortable. The left shoulder strap features a loop to secure your hiking poles which works well for trekking poles, but the loop for the baskets won’t accommodate powder baskets. It takes some practice to be able to get your poles in and out of this system with ease.
The Viva 65 has 5 pockets;
- Top Pocket – very roomy, holds a lot of stuff and is easy to access.
- Main Pocket – top load with a fabric divider creating a bottom zone which has it’s own zipper. This is the main area of the pack and it is designed in such a way that it remains sleek even when jammed full. I find it annoying to have to dig through the top all the time to get at things just because I am used to having a side zipper.
- 2 Hipbelt Pockets – big for hip pockets! I could fit my iphone 4 and wallet in one and my passport, lipchap, sunscreen, and headlamp in the other. Easy to access.
- Stretchy Front Pocket – very expandable and works well for wet items or to keep your rain gear easily accessible.
Oh – did I mention the Osprey Viva 65 & Daylite Backpacks attach?! This is great for when I was in the airport for a long layover. I attached the Daylite to the Viva and it was like one pack. With wallet, passport and phone in the Viva’s hip pockets, I had everything I needed on hand.
The Daylite held more than I expected and yet was so light weight. I only found that the plastic adjuster rubbed on my inner arm a bit when I wore a t-shirt or tank top. The straps and back panel are breathable mesh, keeping you cool and reducing weight.
Final Comments
I thoroughly enjoyed using the Osprey Viva 65 & Daylite Backpacks combination for my two-week trip to Peru. It was comfortable the entire time, held everything I needed, was functional day to day, and no matter what I was doing, I had the right sized bag for the job.
Years later, these packs have been on the West Coast Trail, the Cinque Terre, on innumerable day hikes and through 2 moves across Canada. They are both still in great shape (miss one buckle I broke on the Viva in a luggage carousel in Scotland) and are up for many more adventures to come!
🌍 Years Later…
These packs have been through:
- ⛺ The West Coast Trail
- 🍷 The Cinque Terre
- 🏔️Summits of mountains like Mount Baker, WA and a week long mountaineering course at Bow Hut, AB.
- ⛺️ The Laugavgur Trail in Iceland – Part 1 and Part 2
- ✈️ One rogue airport incident on a mom & daughter trip to the UK (RIP to the bottom buckles)
- Multiple backcountry hike in Newfoundland like the Long Range Traverse, Blow Me Down Traverse and North Arm Hills.
…and they’re still going strong. I’d recommend this pairing to any traveler or hiker needing a reliable “main pack + daypack” system that can handle both trekking and travel.
🤔 Got Backpack Questions?
Leave a comment below or hit reply on one of my newsletter emails — I love nerding out about packs, pockets, and pain-free hips.