Last modified August 13, 2026
A travel backpack with a detachable daypack is one pack that splits into two: a 38-60L main bag you check or stow overhead, and a separate 10-20L daypack you carry on and use at your destination. Five systems publish real numbers and deliver a genuine second backpack: the Osprey Farpoint 55 and its women’s-fit twin the Fairview 55 (40L main + 15L daypack), the Thule Landmark 60L (40L + 20L), the Deuter AViANT Access Pro 60 (10L daypack), the Salkan Backpacker (45L expandable + 20L) and the wheeled Hynes Eagle Duo (38L + 10L). The trap is that half the bags marketed as “2-in-1 detachable daypack” detach a 2-5L crossbody pouch, not a daypack. The litre figure is the tell, and almost nobody prints it.
What actually counts as a detachable daypack?
A detachable daypack is a 10-20 litre backpack with its own shoulder straps and back panel that zips or clips onto a larger travel pack. Anything under about 8 litres is a crossbody pouch, a sling or a phone holder. It will not take a jacket, a one-litre water bottle and a camera at the same time, which is the actual job of a day bag.
Manufacturers publish the split figure. Osprey states 40L main and 15L daypack for both the Farpoint 55 and the Fairview 55. Thule states 40L and 20L for the Landmark 60L. Deuter states 10L for the AViANT Access Pro’s zip-off pack. Retail listings and review roundups almost never carry these numbers, which is why “detachable daypack” ends up describing a Velcro phone pocket and a 20-litre backpack in the same list.
Use the litre figure as the filter. If a product page will not tell you the daypack’s capacity, it is small enough that the brand would rather you did not know.
Which travel backpacks have a genuinely detachable daypack?
Six packs publish a daypack capacity you can actually check. The table below is built from each manufacturer’s own specification page, not from retail copy. Weights are for the combined system where the brand publishes one.
| Pack | Main | Daypack | Total | How the daypack attaches | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osprey Farpoint 55 (men’s) | 40L | 15L | 55L | Zips to the front of the main pack | 4.2 lb / 1.9 kg |
| Osprey Fairview 55 (women’s) | 40L | 15L | 55L | Zips to the front of the main pack | ~4.2 lb / 1.9 kg |
| Thule Landmark 60L | 40L | 20L | 60L | Clips to the front of the shoulder straps | 4.05 lb / 1.84 kg |
| Deuter AViANT Access Pro 60 | 50L (derived) | 10L | 60L | Clips to the shoulder straps | Varies by size (55 SL / 60 / 70) |
| Salkan Backpacker | 45L (expands to 55L) | 20L | 65L+ | Four hooks, rear or front carry | Not published as a system |
| Hynes Eagle Duo 2-in-1 rolling | 38L (wheeled) | 10L | 48L | Separate module, zips on | 3.54 lb / 1.61 kg |
Two things separate these from the rest of the category. First, the daypack has a padded back panel and real shoulder straps, so it works as a standalone bag for a full day. Second, the main pack is designed to be carried without it: Osprey’s harness stows away so nothing snags on a baggage belt, and Thule’s main bag opens suitcase-style rather than top-loading.
The carry-on backpack comparison covers the single-bag alternatives if you would rather not carry a system at all.
Will the daypack actually fly as your personal item?
On most US carriers yes, on Ryanair usually no. This is the part the marketing skips. Osprey’s own wording for the Farpoint 55 is that it “meets most domestic carry-on requirements”: main pack overhead, daypack under the seat. That sentence is doing a lot of work, because European budget-carrier limits are far tighter than US ones and the published daypack dimensions do not always clear them.
| Allowance (2026) | Limit | Salkan daypack 48 x 29 x 18 cm | Hynes Eagle daypack 35 x 26 x 10 cm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair free small bag | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | Over on height by 8 cm | Fits |
| Ryanair priority cabin bag | 55 x 40 x 20 cm, 10 kg | Fits | Fits |
| Frontier personal item | 45.7 x 35.6 x 20.3 cm | Over on height by 2.3 cm | Fits |
The main pack has the same problem in reverse. Osprey lists the Farpoint 55 at 55 x 35 x 23 cm. Ryanair’s priority cabin bag limit is 55 x 40 x 20 cm, so the pack is 3 cm over on depth before you put anything in it. A gate-rejected bag on Ryanair typically costs about EUR 70 to put in the hold. Frontier and Allegiant publish vague “must fit under the seat” language instead of firm numbers, so enforcement varies by gate.
Three of the six brands here do not publish standalone daypack dimensions at all. That is the single most useful missing number in the category, and no amount of reading reviews will produce it. You have to measure the bag yourself once it arrives.
Does the attachment method matter?
Yes, and it changes how the loaded system carries. There are three mechanisms in this category and they are not interchangeable.
- Zip-on to the main pack’s face (Osprey Farpoint and Fairview). The daypack sits behind you with everything else. Nothing hangs off your chest, but you cannot reach it without taking the whole thing off.
- Clip to the front of the shoulder straps (Thule Landmark, Deuter AViANT Access Pro). Front-carry, sometimes called turtle-shell. Weight is balanced front to back and you can open the daypack while walking. It also blocks your view of your feet on stairs.
- Hook or modular attach with both options (Salkan, Hynes Eagle). Salkan uses four hooks and supports rear or front carry, which is the most flexible arrangement of the six.
What does a travel backpack with a detachable daypack cost?
Expect roughly USD 220-250 at list price for the established outdoor brands, and USD 80-150 for the Amazon-native 2-in-1 sets. The Osprey Farpoint 55 and Fairview 55 carry a USD 220 list price and have appeared at REI at USD 240. Thule lists the Landmark 60L at USD 249.95 in both the men’s and women’s fits. Deuter and Salkan sit in the same band; the Hynes Eagle rolling set undercuts all of them.
Prices move constantly on these packs, and the Farpoint in particular is discounted heavily at REI several times a year. Check the current figure before buying rather than trusting any published number, including this one.
Which one should you buy?
- Flying mostly in the US and want the safest all-round pick: the Osprey Farpoint 55, or the Fairview 55 for a women’s torso and harness fit. 40L + 15L, stowaway harness, the widest retail availability and the strongest warranty support of the six.
- Want the largest usable day bag: Thule Landmark 60L. The 20L daypack takes a 15-inch MacBook and front-clips to the straps, which is the best arrangement if you work while travelling.
- Want the lightest daypack for strict personal-item limits: the Deuter AViANT Access Pro’s 10L pack, or the Hynes Eagle’s 10L module at 35 x 26 x 10 cm, which is the only daypack here confirmed to clear Ryanair’s free 40 x 30 x 20 cm slot.
- Long-term travel and want two real backpacks: Salkan Backpacker. 45L expanding to 55L plus a 20L daypack that works as a standalone bag, with rear or front carry.
- Done with carrying anything: the Hynes Eagle Duo rolling set. 38L wheeled main bag plus a 10L daypack, 3.54 lb combined, and the only wheeled option among the true detachable systems.
What about “2-in-1” bags with a detachable crossbody?
They are a different product, and worth buying on their own terms rather than as a daypack. The LOVEVOOK 40L weekender and the Beraliy 2-in-1 both detach a crossbody bag, and both Amazon listings say exactly that. A crossbody pouch holds a wallet, a phone, a passport and sunglasses. It does not hold a packed lunch, a rain shell and a litre of water.
That is genuinely useful for a museum afternoon or a market run, and it is lighter than clipping on a 20L pack. It is just not the thing people are searching for when they type “travel backpack with detachable daypack”, and lists that mix the two categories are the reason the buying decision is confusing.
The clearest line: if the detachable part has two shoulder straps and a padded back panel, it is a daypack. If it has one strap, it is a crossbody. A bag whose detachable element is a phone holder is neither, and an earlier version of this article listed one. It has been removed.
Mistakes that make a detachable daypack useless
- Buying on total litres. A 60L system with a 10L daypack gives you a smaller day bag than a 55L system with a 15L one.
- Assuming “carry-on compatible” is global. Osprey’s own claim is scoped to domestic requirements, and the Farpoint’s 23 cm depth is over Ryanair’s 20 cm limit.
- Packing the main bag to the seams. Every one of these packs gets hard to zip when full, and a bulging pack loses its published dimensions immediately.
- Ignoring where the laptop sleeve lives. On the 2026 Fairview 55 the sleeve is in the daypack, not the main pack, so the laptop leaves with you rather than staying in the hostel.
- Treating a Velcro-attached pouch as secure. Velcro loosens, snags on clothing and is the first attachment to fail.
Corrections and what we did not publish
An earlier version of this page recommended the Tortuga Setout Divide as a detachable-daypack option. That is wrong twice over. Tortuga renamed the Setout Divide the Expandable Backpack in 2024, and the bag is an expandable single pack (34L for travel, compressing to 26L at your destination) rather than a two-piece system. It has been removed.
We have also left out standalone daypack dimensions for Osprey, Thule and Deuter, and a system weight for the Salkan, because none of those brands publishes them. Published sources for Salkan’s total capacity disagree, the brand describes 45L expanding to 55L plus a 20L daypack, while reviewers quote combined figures from 65L to 75L depending on how the expansion is counted. We have printed the component figures rather than picking a total.
Other pages worth reading alongside this one: the main travel backpack guide, lightweight packs, packing cubes compared with compression bags, anti-theft crossbody bags and what to pack for a vacation.
Frequently asked questions
What size should a detachable daypack be?
Between 10 and 20 litres. That range holds a rain layer, a one-litre bottle, a camera and snacks without turning into a second suitcase. The systems here run 10L (Deuter, Hynes Eagle), 15L (Osprey Farpoint and Fairview) and 20L (Thule Landmark, Salkan).
Can the daypack be used as my airline personal item?
Usually on US carriers, often not on Ryanair. Frontier’s personal item is 45.7 x 35.6 x 20.3 cm and Ryanair’s free small bag is 40 x 30 x 20 cm. The Hynes Eagle daypack at 35 x 26 x 10 cm clears both; the Salkan daypack at 48 x 29 x 18 cm clears neither on height.
What is the difference between the Osprey Farpoint and Fairview?
Fit, not features. The Farpoint 55 is the men’s-fit version and the Fairview 55 is the women’s fit, with a shorter torso range and a differently shaped harness and hipbelt. Both are 40L main plus a 15L detachable daypack.
Do any hiking backpacks have a detachable daypack?
Yes. The Deuter AViANT Access Pro is the closest thing here to a trekking-style pack with a zip-off 10L daypack, and it comes in 55 SL, 60 and 70 litre versions. Most true hiking packs instead use a floating lid that converts to a small summit pack, which is a different mechanism.
Is a wheeled backpack with a detachable daypack worth it?
If your trips are city-to-city on paved ground, yes. The Hynes Eagle Duo pairs a 38L wheeled main bag with a 10L daypack at 3.54 lb combined. Wheels and a telescoping handle add weight and eat internal volume, so on cobbles, stairs or unpaved ground a straight backpack still wins.
How does the daypack attach to the main pack?
Three ways. Osprey zips the daypack to the face of the main pack so it rides behind you. Thule and Deuter clip it to the front of the shoulder straps for front carry. Salkan uses four hooks and supports either position.
Are 2-in-1 backpacks with a detachable crossbody the same thing?
No. A detachable crossbody holds a wallet, phone and passport. A detachable daypack has two shoulder straps and a padded back panel and holds a day’s gear. Both are useful; they solve different problems and are frequently listed together as if they did not.
Sources
- Osprey, Farpoint 55 Travel Pack and Fairview 55 Travel Pack, 40L main plus 15L detachable daypack.
- Thule, Landmark 60L, 40L main plus 20L removable daypack with 15-inch laptop storage.
- Deuter, AViANT Access Pro 60, 10L detachable daypack with padded back.
- Salkan, The Daypack, 20L, 48 x 29 x 18 cm.
- Hynes Eagle, Duo 2-in-1 rolling set, 38L plus 10L, daypack 35 x 26 x 10 cm.
- Tortuga, on renaming the Setout line, the Setout Divide became the Expandable Backpack.
Updated 13 August 2026. This rewrite replaced the previous seven-product list after checking each entry against its manufacturer’s own specification page. Three entries detached a crossbody pouch or a phone holder rather than a daypack; one of those was removed and two were reclassified. The Tortuga recommendation was removed because the product had been renamed and is not a two-piece system. Every capacity, dimension and airline limit above was re-verified against a primary source this month.
Disclosure: this article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change which packs we recommend or the specifications we publish.