Review: Osprey Daylite Expandable Travel Pack 26+6

Longtime readers of this blog know that I have a soft spot that borders on an obsession for travel bags. Researching travel gear–browsing for new designs, checking dimensions against airline restrictions, reading strangers’ packing lists like character studies–has become its own quiet comfort. And while I’m under no illusion that the perfect bag exists, the process of searching for one has become a surprisingly enjoyable part of travel.

Every bag I try teaches me something new: not necessarily about the bag, but about my own habits. How I pack. What I prioritize. What I cling to “just in case.” One such “non-endgame” bag, the Osprey Daylite Expandable 26+6 Travel Pack, really tested me in how little I can bring while still feeling prepared. It nudges me to be intentional: what actually earns space in the bag? What gets left behind without regret?

The Osprey Daylite Expandable 26+6 Travel Pack caught my eye as it’s one of the largest underseat backpacks that easily slides into a bag sizer, which makes it an attractive companion for flying on budget airlines. And if you’ve ever flown a budget airline, you know there is no anxiety quite like the one surrounding bag size. As I had no interest in playing overhead-bin roulette or risking a forced gate-check, I learned quickly to master packing cube Tetris.

To minimize weight and maximize capacity, the Osprey Daylite Expandable 26+6 Travel Pack is designed as a technical box with straps, consciously sacrificing long-haul comfort for compliance and efficiency, ensuring it fits under the seat every single time. And it passes the eyeball test easily: no gate agent, even the mercenary type, has ever pulled me aside to ask me to gate check the bag or use a bag sizer.

SIZE

Unexpanded, the Osprey Daylite Expandable 26+6 Travel Pack measures 17″ H x 13″ W x 6″ D, weighs 1.85 pounds empty, and meets all US airline personal item standards (when not filled to the brim). But it also prepares for when life happens–when I inevitably buy snacks at the airport or need somewhere to stow a fleece; the main compartment can expand by 2″ in width to offer an extra six liters of capacity, a feature typically reserved for roller bags.

CAPACITY + BUILT-IN ORGANIZATION

The Osprey Daylite Expandable 26+6 Travel Pack has a clamshell design with two-way zippers and opens up fully, like a small suitcase, which allows multiple points of entry. There are internal tie-down straps and internal mesh organizers which offer some structure but don’t reduce capacity or add weight. There is also a laptop sleeve, which easily houses my 15″ laptop.

However, while this bag is lightweight, its function-over-comfort design means there are trade-offs. The AirScape back panel and harness keep things stable for my 5’2″ frame on short walks, but the straps may be genuinely problematic for a taller person on extended wear. This is not my top choice for a hiking backpack—it’s not built for comfort or distance; it’s built for flight compliance.

And the features expose the compromises. Take the stretch side pockets: they barely fit a 32oz reusable water bottle when empty, let alone when the main compartment is full. I’ve learned to rely on them, instead, for stowing hand sanitizer and wipes. Similarly, the admin panel in front is a little odd, with the pen slots rendering the wall compartment mostly useless. Like many, I’ll likely modify this area by removing the stitching on the pen slots in order to make the pocket roomier.

PRICE

The $99 price tag is accessible enough that even someone who doesn’t need a designated underseat luggage option might be tempted to get it, as a too-large personal item can sometimes cost that much at the gate in fees. That said, for those with airline status, free checked bags, or who primarily travel on airlines that grant a carry-on as a default, this bag makes less sense.

The Osprey Daylite Expandable Travel Pack 26+6 can be found at Amazon, Backcountry, Nordstrom, and REI.