Helena by Overland Equipment

Sling backpacks are great for day packs. They distribute the weight across your body so that you don’t have as much pressure on your shoulders and back, which turns out to be a great relief if you’re having any back problems. And one of the best we’ve seen is this Helena by Overland Equipment. The size is just right for a day out on the trail, and it has two (yes two) external water bottle pockets and a well-designed set of internal pockets to organize your gear. But since the sling design was our focus, we were especially pleased with the level of comfort with the Helena pack, and that padded strap helped a lot too. There’s also a buckle on the strap so you can disconnect the pack without having to pull it over your head (very smart!). Oh, and for those who want to use this for their commute as well, there’s an interior padded pocket for your laptop. Really, this has everything we could imagine for a day pack (for hikers and commuters), so definitely check it out. Comes in 3 color combinations.