Osprey Stratos 24 vs Six Moon Designs Wy'east Daypack
Quick take: The Six Moon Designs Wy'east Daypack costs $15 less; the Six Moon Designs Wy'east Daypack carries more (34 vs 24 liters); the Six Moon Designs Wy'east Daypack is lighter (1.25 vs 2.95 lbs).
Which one to buy
1.7 lbs lighter and 10 L roomier, for $15 less: the Wy'east Daypack wins the spec sheet against the Stratos 24 before you ever put either on. Six Moon Designs' only day pack is 34 L of 210D Robic at 1.25 lbs, and its hydration sleeve and hipbelt both come off. The Stratos weighs 2.95 lbs for 24 L.
What the Stratos spends that weight on is comfort under load. Its LightWire perimeter frame moves 25-30 lb loads onto a padded hipbelt better than any frameless day pack, and its AirSpeed suspended mesh leaves hot-climate hikers with dramatically drier shirts. Osprey rates it to 30 lbs, and its torso adjusts across 17-22 in. The Wy'east has no frame of any kind, a 20 lb ceiling with a recommended 9 lb base weight, an EVA pad that sits against your back, and one size with no torso range to check against. Its hipbelt is a rear-adjusting strap without pockets.
The Stratos includes a raincover; the Wy'east has none and its Robic is not waterproof. The Stratos's mesh does bow into the bag, though, so its real volume runs under 24 L, and the rigid frame is awkward to stuff as a carry-on. The Wy'east is the better tool for light, fast days and summer overnights with a small kit. Once loads climb toward 25 lbs or the day turns hot, its missing frame and foam back are the reason the Stratos costs its extra weight.
Osprey Stratos 24
The better fit for hot-weather day hikers carrying 25-30 lbs who want a ventilated back, an adjustable torso and a raincover in the box.
Six Moon Designs Wy'east Daypack
For light-and-fast hikers with a small kit who want maximum volume per ounce and can stay under its 20 lb ceiling.
| Spec | Osprey Stratos 24 | Six Moon Designs Wy'east Daypack |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $200 | $185 |
| Rating | 4.6★ (109) | — |
| Type | Daypack | Daypack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Frameless |
| Capacity | 24 L | 34 L |
| Weight | 2.95 lbs | 1.25 lbs |
| Max Load | 30 lbs | 20 lbs (9 lb recommended base weight) |
| Torso Fit | 17-22 in adjustable | One size; range not published |
| Material | 100% recycled 100D x 210D nylon honeycomb ripstop with 420D nylon base | 210D Robic nylon (X-Pac VX21 option) |
| Back Panel | AirSpeed suspended mesh over LightWire perimeter frame | Removable EVA foam sit-pad, no frame |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | No |
| Ventilated back | Yes | No |
| Raincover included | Yes | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | No |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | No |
| Warranty | Osprey All Mighty Guarantee (lifetime) | Warranted to the original owner against defects in materials and workmanship (no time limit stated); excludes accidents, wear and tear, rips and tears |
Pros & cons
Osprey Stratos 24
- ✓The suspended mesh back is the whole pitch, and it delivers — hot-climate hikers report dramatically drier shirts than any foam-back pack.
- ✓An included raincover at $200 beats the Talon's bring-your-own approach.
- ✓The perimeter frame transfers 25-30 lb loads to the padded hipbelt better than any frameless daypack.
- ✓The adjustable torso plus fixed frame fits a wide range without feeling vague.
- ✓Thick harness and hipbelt padding make it the comfort pick for all-day carries.
- ✓Trekking pole attachment and multiple organization pockets come standard.
- ✓Owners report years of heavy use with minimal wear on the ripstop body.
- ✓The lifetime warranty applies as always.
- ✗At 2.95 lbs it's heavy for a daypack; owners comparing the two often say the Talon does most of the job at about 80% of the weight.
- ✗The trampoline back bows the packbag, shrinking usable volume noticeably below the stated 24L.
- ✗The rigid frame makes it awkward as a travel/carry-on squish pack.
- ✗The mesh stands the load off your back, which scramblers say hurts balance on technical terrain.
- ✗Bottle pockets angle backward and are hard to reach one-handed.
- ✗The fixed top-zip layout offers less quick outside stash than the Talon's stretch pocket.
- ✗It runs warm everywhere except the back panel itself — the thick padding is a tradeoff.
- ✗Price plus weight make it easy to talk yourself into a full ultralight overnight pack instead.
Six Moon Designs Wy'east Daypack
- ✓34 L at 20 oz is a lot of daypack per ounce; mainstream 30-35 L hiking daypacks are usually 2-3 lb.
- ✓The hydration sleeve and hipbelt are included and both come off, taking the body to 17 oz.
- ✓210D Robic is a tougher body fabric than the 100D on most of Six Moon Designs' hiking packs.
- ✓The EVA back pad pulls out to serve as a sit pad.
- ✓$185 for a cottage-made daypack with a lid pocket undercuts the X-Pac VX21 version by $95.
- ✗One torso size with no published fit range, so tall or short hikers get no guidance.
- ✗A 20 lb ceiling is low for 34 L; the pack will hold far more than its suspension carries.
- ✗The hipbelt is a rear-adjusting strap without pockets.
- ✗No frame of any kind.
- ✗The lid is fixed, so the pack cannot be run as a lighter roll-top.
- ✗No raincover, and Robic is not waterproof.
Osprey Stratos 24 vs Six Moon Designs Wy'east Daypack: common questions
Can the Wy'east Daypack carry as much as the Stratos 24?▾
It holds more volume, but its suspension carries less. Six Moon Designs sets a 20 lb ceiling with no frame, while the Stratos 24 is rated to 30 lbs and its frame handles 25-30 lb loads well.
Which one is better on a hot, humid climb?▾
The Stratos 24. Hot-climate hikers report dramatically drier shirts because its suspended mesh holds the pack off your back. The Wy'east uses an EVA foam pad that sits against you.
Will the one-size Wy'east Daypack fit me?▾
Only by trying it, since it comes in one size and Six Moon Designs gives no torso range to measure against. The Stratos 24 adjusts across 17-22 in, which takes most of the guesswork out of buying online.