Osprey Hikelite LT 22 vs Exped Summit Hike 25
Quick take: The Exped Summit Hike 25 costs $10 less; the Exped Summit Hike 25 carries more (25 vs 22 liters); the Exped Summit Hike 25 is lighter (1.41 vs 1.69 lbs).
Which one to buy
Toughness or airflow: at $110 for the Osprey and $100 for the Exped, with a raincover in both, that is the trade. The Exped Summit Hike 25 is a frameless sack of 600D Cordura polyester with a 1,500 mm PU coating and a lining, where the Hikelite LT's 600D polyester carries only a DWR finish, and it still weighs 1.41 lbs to the Hikelite LT 22's 1.69 lbs. The Hikelite LT spends its weight on a LightWire frame and AirSpeed suspended mesh, so it rides off your back and carries a load with more structure.
On paper the load limits are close, 5-20 lbs for the Osprey and 22 lbs for the Exped. The Hikelite LT's 20 is a real ceiling, fine for water, food and layers. The Exped's limit has no frame behind it, so it is a ceiling rather than a comfortable carry.
Small details split the rest. The Exped has shoulder-strap pockets for a phone or snacks; the Hikelite LT has no hipbelt or strap pockets but a proper hydration sleeve, where the Exped has only a tube outlet. Fit is one size on both, so try the Hikelite LT on loaded if your torso is unusual. For hot trail days the Hikelite LT is the better carry, and the Exped's coated cloth earns its place mainly on travel days and short, scrappy hikes where abrasion counts for more than ventilation.
Osprey Hikelite LT 22
The better fit for warm-weather hikers who want a ventilated back, a frame and a real hydration sleeve.
Exped Summit Hike 25
For short hikes and travel days where a rugged coated fabric and lighter weight beat suspension.
| Spec | Osprey Hikelite LT 22 | Exped Summit Hike 25 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $110 | $100 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Daypack | Daypack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Frameless |
| Capacity | 22 L | 25 L |
| Weight | 1.69 lbs | 1.41 lbs |
| Max Load | 5-20 lbs | 22 lbs |
| Torso Fit | One size, unisex fixed fit | One size, fixed |
| Material | 100% recycled 600D polyester, PFAS-free DWR | Recycled 600D oxford Cordura polyester, PU coated to 1,500 mm, with 150D lining |
| Back Panel | AirSpeed suspended mesh over LightWire perimeter frame | Air-mesh back pad, no frame |
| Adjustable torso | No | No |
| Ventilated back | Yes | No |
| Raincover included | Yes | Yes |
| Hipbelt pockets | No | No |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | No |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | No |
| Warranty | Osprey All Mighty Guarantee (lifetime) | Exped 5-year warranty on materials and workmanship; wear, negligence and force majeure excluded (repairable for a fee) |
Pros & cons
Osprey Hikelite LT 22
- ✓The Hikelite LT line, from $95 for the 16 L, is the cheapest entry to genuine AirSpeed suspended mesh that Osprey offers.
- ✓1.69 lb for 22 L is light for a framed, ventilated pack -- the Sirrus 24 weighs 2.86 lb for 2 L more.
- ✓A raincover is included at every size in the line, which packs twice the price often omit.
- ✓The stated 5-20 lb load range is honest about what a pack this light should carry.
- ✓Three sizes from 16 to 30 L, with published weights for all three.
- ✓The tensioned mesh panel plus ventilated shoulder straps address the two places day packs get sweaty.
- ✓Simple construction means fewer components to fail than the feature-heavy Talon.
- ✓Osprey's All Mighty Guarantee applies at the cheapest point in the range.
- ✗No torso adjustment at all, unlike the Stratos.
- ✗20 lb is a real ceiling; this is not a pack for winter layers plus camera gear.
- ✗No hipbelt pockets, and the hipbelt itself is minimal at this weight.
- ✗New for 2026, so there is no durability record yet.
- ✗The suspended mesh consumes depth, so usable volume is less than 22 L implies.
Exped Summit Hike 25
- ✓600D Cordura polyester is far tougher than the 210D fabrics on competing sub-1.5 lb daypacks.
- ✓Rain cover included at $100.
- ✓A published 22 lb load limit for a frameless pack.
- ✓Shoulder-strap pockets for a phone or snacks.
- ✓Recycled fabric with a 1,500 mm PU coating.
- ✗No frame or framesheet, so 22 lb is a ceiling, not a comfortable carry.
- ✗Pockets sit on the shoulder straps rather than the hipbelt.
- ✗One size only, with no torso adjustment.
- ✗Exped lists a tube outlet but does not state a reservoir sleeve.
Osprey Hikelite LT 22 vs Exped Summit Hike 25: common questions
Is the Exped Summit Hike 25 more durable than the Hikelite LT 22?▾
Both use 600D polyester, but the Exped's is PU coated to 1,500 mm and lined, where the Hikelite LT's carries only a PFAS-free DWR. The Hikelite LT is new for 2026, so it has no long durability record yet, though it carries Osprey's All Mighty Guarantee.
Can I use a hydration bladder in the Exped Summit Hike 25?▾
The Exped has a hydration tube outlet but no reservoir sleeve, so a bladder rides loose in the main bag. The Hikelite LT 22 has a sleeve, and a bladder lies flat against its curved mesh panel where bottles waste space.
Which carries a full day's load more comfortably?▾
The Hikelite LT 22, because its LightWire frame and suspended mesh spread the load. Water, food and layers sit comfortably up to its 20 lb ceiling. The frameless Exped is rated to 22 lbs, but without a frame that figure is a limit rather than a comfortable carry.