Osprey Daylite Sling Review – Crash Tested Slingbag?

Disclaimer: The Osprey Daylite Sling was purchased by the author for testing and evaluation.

Osprey Daylite 6L Featured Image

I’m a fanny pack enjoyer. I have been for the better part of the last decade, but I’ve really put more thought into them since COVID happened. Why? Well, it’s simple. I’ve been at the gym a lot since COVID started, and I’ve needed a way to carry my EDC stuff. I’ve experimented with different fanny packs over the years (linked at the end of the article), but I wanted to try out something a little different. Well, that lead me to Osprey, and the Daylite Sling.

Who is Osprey, & What is the Daylite Sling?

Osprey is a 50 year old company, that got their start with making hiking packs. As time went on, they’ve expanded into EDC items, and have facilities all over the world. They primarily make bags in Vietnam, but have their HQ in Colorado, where they work with Navajo sewers to repair packs. Fortunately for me, Osprey also has a big distribution hub out in UT, so a lot of stores stock their bags. I’ve got friends who swear by their packs, so I wanted to try something out.

Well, come early Spring 2024, I wanted to swap my fanny pack. However, I wanted something that was less fanny pack, and more chest slingbag. Well, I was at the local Scheels one day, and spotted the Daylite Sling. It had a feature set that looked like it would work, so I decided to buy it.

The Daylite Sling is a simple slingbag. It can be worn across the back, or on the chest. It is manufactured in Vietnam, and generally runs between $45 and $50, depending on color or pattern. Mine is a simple purple color, and was $45 at Scheels. Size-wise, it’s a 6 liter bag, which is a little on the large side compared to a fanny pack, but smaller for a sling bag. Hey, perfect size to have on all day!

The bag is made from a mix of 200D, 300D, and 600D nylon, which leads to a lighter bag, but still pretty durable for the rigors of the regular day. The empty bag weighs 8.5 ounces on my scale.

What are the features of the Daylite Sling?

Daylite Sling Features – The Front

The Daylite is a pretty simple bag, but it serves a lot of utility.

Daylite 6L Front Large

First and foremost, the Sling is pretty trendy looking. I like that they come in a wide range of colors, as I can pick one that isn’t “tactical” looking. I thought that the purple looked good, and I still dig the look 9 months later.

Daylite 6L Front Pocket

The front-most pocket is medium sized, and has no internal pockets or dividers. I really like this one for holding spare ammo for my carry pistol, or snacks when I’m out hiking. It opens via a single zipper, located on the right side of the pack.

Daylite 6L Main Pocket

The main compartment has a deep, big pocket, and two smaller internal pockets. The mesh pocket has a keyring loop in it, and the other pocket has an elastic strap to keep it cinched. I generally keep most of my “pocket stuff in here”. While a different bag, my older EDC article is still pretty close to what I carry today. The main compartment is large enough to fit a 1L Nalgene, which is very appreciated on hikes.

Osprey Daylite 6L Zippers

The zippers have rainflies, and the zipper pulls themselves have big pull tabs. The bag is not waterproofed, but the rainfly will help against rain and spills. The zippers and pulls are nice too, and have not broken nor come off in my time with the Sling.

Daylite Sling Features – The Back

Osprey Daylite 6L Back

The back of the bag and the strap are both padded with a soft foam. It is very comfortable, albeit that it can pool sweat in the hot season. You can get some airflow through the foam, but that requires wearing the bag a little loose.

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The strap is quite long, and has a small elastic pocket on it. It is retained to the bag via stitching at the top of the strap, and a buckle at the bottom. It is quite adjustable, which is very nice.

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The strap attaches to the bottom of the bag via a plastic hook, and can be moved from side to side. This feature makes it quite easy to get the Daylite fitted to anyone.

So the bag is a simple, two pocket arrangement. How did it fit into my EDC?

EDC

Well, it slotted in rather nicely. What I carry does not generally change much, which makes it pretty easy for me to pick out new bags. I wanted something that could hold all of my stuff, and maybe have a little more room for a bottle of water, or some snacks. The Daylite Sling suits that very well.

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I’ve also recently made an updated video, in which I cover my EDC.

With wearing gym clothes quite often right now, the Daylite has come in quite handy to haul my things. It has been a bit more comfortable than a fanny pack, and hasn’t impeded my ability to really do much. I’m a big proponent of practicing with the clothing and gear that you actually use, so I’ve done a few shooting trips while wearing the Daylite Sling. It never got in the way of my ability to draw and shoot, so I’ll call that a win.

I’m seldom wearing the Sling in anything but gym clothing. If I’ve got normal pants on, they’ve got pockets for all of my gear, so I don’t have a slingbag nor a fanny pack on.

The Daylite Sling compares favorably to the fanny packs that I’ve worn in the past. Comfort is important, and it really is a comfortable bag. How does it do when hiking?

On the Trail

2024 Was a big year for hiking for me. I spent a lot of time on the trails around SLC, and to the northern reaches of Utah. My Daylite joined me for all but one of those trips.

Daylite & Kit October Hike
The Daylite and some other gear from a hike in October 2024.

The Daylite did great as a companion for short dayhikes. Since there isn’t a ton of expansion space for extra things, it was never my “solo” choice for longer trips. That being said, I did get to some interesting places with it.

Contemplation
Daylite on, view of the entire Salt Lake Valley.

I really like to pair the Daylite Sling with a larger bag. I can rock the Sling on the chest, and not have it impede my backpack.

Ya Boy
A photo of me, mid-hike in May of 2024.

With the ability to drop the “second line” backpack, and have the ability to still retain the “first line” Sling, I really felt prepared for most of my dayhiking trips.

Any gripes with the Daylite Sling for hiking? Well, I’ve got two.

One is that I don’t really trust the clip/loop on the strap to support any weight. By this, I mean external, not-inside the bag weight. I like to clip a bottle onto a pack, and that really doesn’t work here. Secondly, the strap can rub the neck a little if worn across the chest. It’s nothing major, but a slight annoyance nonetheless.

Overall, the Daylite Sling is a pretty great slingbag for dayhiking, or as an additional bag for more extended hiking. However, it’s also quite durable…

A Hit, A Roll, and A Flip

Back in September, I was t-boned while driving home. My truck got flipped over, and I was upside down for a little bit. I managed to undo my seatbelt, but I needed to cut my way through the side airbags, to crawl through a window. Well, I had my Daylite Sling on my chest, so I had quick access to my pocketknife to cut my way out. The other driver was totally fine, but I’ve got some spine and neck problems, and totaled my truck.

I got pretty lucky from the accident. Sure, I’ve got 8 slipped vertebrae in my spine and a dislocated bone in my neck, but it could have been worse. The Daylite Sling actually probably prevented my injuries from being worse, as my seatbelt pushed it against my body, and the padded foam on the Sling absorbed some of that blow. On top of that, I had quick, ready access to my pocketknife, which I needed to use to get out of the car.

I did get some glass in my hands and arm, and bled like a stuck pig. Nothing life threatening, but it did leave some permanent marks on me, and the bag.

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I can remember the era of “needing” to have everything made of 1000D nylon, because anything less was not durable. Well, this lightweight bag held up pretty good during a rollover accident, and as such, I’ve really built even more appreciation for it.

The Verdict

Pack + Water + 5610
One of my earliest hikes with the Daylite Sling.

I really like the Osprey Daylite Sling. It holds a lot of stuff, is comfortable, comes in a wide range of colors, slots well into a hiking bag system, and held up well in the worst experience I’ve had in a number of years. I can really quite easily recommend this bag for anyone looking for a quality sling bag. Osprey knows how to make a good bag, and I’ll probably buy another one to replace my bloodied bag.

Further Reading & Patreon Link

If you are looking at fanny packs or similar bags, check out our reviews here:

If you’d like to support me on Patreon, I’ve got the link for that here. Nearly everything that I do on Primer Peak is paid for out of my own pocket, and my content is not shilled or driven by manufacturers or companies. If you decide to donate, I’d really appreciate it, as it would allow for me to continue to bring you quality work.

About Paul Whaley 215 Articles
Paul Whaley is a guy with an interest in practical and defensive pistol shooting techniques with an eye for quality gear. He has received training from Holistic Solutions Group, John Johnston of Citizens Defense Research, Darryl Bolke, Cecil Birch, and Chuck Haggard. When not trying to become a better shooter, he can be found enjoying a Resident Evil game or listening to Warren Zevon.

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