Deuter Speed Lite 23 Review

The Deuter Speed Lite 23 Women’s pack is a fantastic option for hikers who want a versatile, technical option with optimal body support.

Deuter Women's Speed Lite 23 SL, Seagreen-Spearmint, 23L

Good to know: This daypack is a women’s specific fit and offers a shorter back design so is perfect for more petite hikers too. A men’s specific version is available also but increases to a slightly larger 25L.

Pros / Reasons to Buy

  • Reasonably priced for the features
  • Feels comfortable and sits well on the body

Cons / Reasons to Avoid

  • Not the best for hikers wishing to carry heavier loads
  • Isn’t waterproof/water resistant

The Deuter Speed Lite 23 Women’s daypack is well featured and impeccably designed – as you’d likely expect from premium manufacturer Deuter. For the price, it also sits up there with some of the packs that are almost twice the price in terms of features.

Offered in a small range of fun and vibrant colorways, this pack is guaranteed to become your new best friend on the trail. It feels quick, light (680g/1.49lb) and well supported, which is in part due to its styling as a hybrid running/hiking pack.

Don’t let its running focus put you off from using it as a hiking pack too – as it includes plenty of areas to attach specialist equipment and has space for everything you’re likely to need on a day hike. The running specific focuses just help to provide extra support when you want to go fast and have uneven terrain to cover.

Editor’s note: This article is part of our overall guide to the best daypacks, see more in this guide: 

You may also be interested in: Best Waterproof Hiking Backpacks

Compare to Similar Products:

Product
Osprey Talon 22
Deuter Speed Lite 23
Osprey Stratos 24
Gregory Citro 24
Rab Tensor 20
Osprey Daylite/Plus
Mystery Ranch Coulee 30
Black Diamond Distance 15
The North Face Basin 24L
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil 20
Cotopaxi 24L Batac Pack

Granite Gear Dagger Ultralight
Osprey Talon 22L Men's Hiking Backpack with Hipbelt, Ceramic Blue, L/XL
Deuter Women's Speed Lite 23 SL, Seagreen-Spearmint, 23L
Osprey Stratos 24L Men's Hiking Backpack, Tunnel Vision Grey
Gregory Citro 24 Day Hiking Pack, One Size, Ozone Black
Rab Tensor 20L Backpack, Black, One Size
Osprey Daylite Plus Commuter Backpack
Mystery Ranch Women's Coulee 30 Backpack -Lightweight Hiking Daypack, 30L, M/L, Paprika
BLACK DIAMOND Equipment Distance 15 Backpack - Ultra Blue - Medium
THE NORTH FACE Basin 24 Liter Daypack with Rain Cover, Tnf Black/Tnf Black, One Size
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Ultralight Day Pack, 20-Liter, Atoll Blue
Cotopaxi Batac 24L Pack - Random Color - Single - Del Dia - One of a Kind!
Granite Gear Dagger Ultralight Day Pack - Black 22L
Buying Options
Our Award
Best Overall Daypack
Best Daypacks For Women
Best Daypacks For Men
Best Waterproof Hiking Daypack
Best Daypack For Hot Weather
Best Daypack For Travel
Best Hiking Daypack With Hydration
Best Lightweight Daypack
Type and Style
Lightweight all purpose backpack for hiking, climbing and bikepacking
Hybrid trail running/hiking/climbing
Full suspension backpack
Full suspension hiking pack
Lightweight summer pack
Lightweight lifestyle travel/hiking pack
Full suspension backpack/summit pack
Hybrid trail running/hiking/climbing
Hiking and biking
Ultralight daypack
Basic hiking
All round hiking
Material
bluesign®-approved recycled 100D x 210D wave check high-tenacity nylon with a PFC-free DWR coating.
140D and 100D recycled polyamide 

210D recycled nylon body, 420D recycled nylon accents and bottom with a PFC/PFAS-free DWR
210D Honeycomb Cryptorip Nylon and 420D High Density Nylon body. EVA foam straps, alloy steel frame. 135D High Density and 50% recycled polyester lining
100% recycled 420D polyester ripstop
bluesign® approved 300D recycled polyester
210D recycled nylon, DWR
UHMWPE ripstop body fabric and mesh
210D recycled ripstop nylon and 600D recycled polyester also all with non PFC DWR
15D high strength nano nylon fabric with silicon coating for water resistance
Offcut material used from other brands production runs, making a sustainable pack
Nylon (100D and 210D)
Capacity
22 liters
23L
24L
24 liters
20 liters
20 liters
30L
15L
24L
20L
24L
22L
Breathability
Excellent
Excellent
Excellent
Excellent
Excellent
Not as good as some other models
OK
OK
Not as good as some other models
Poor
OK
Good
Pockets
6
9
6
7
7
8
7
11
6
1
6
6/7
Dimensions
48 x 28 x 23 cm
52 x 27 x 18 cm
59 x 34 x 24cm
52 x 28 x 20 cm
50 x 30 x 23cm
43 x 26 x 20 cm
57 x 27 x 24 cm
47 x 32 x 13 cm
50 x 27.9 x 17 cm
48 x 28 x 20 cm
51 x 28 x 18 cm

53.34 x 33.02 x 20.32 cm
Rain Cover
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
Durability
Excellent
Excellent
Excellent
Excellent
Excellent
Excellent
Excellent
Good
Excellent
OK
Good
Excellent

See the Deuter Speed Lite 23 in more detail:

Analysis and Test Results

This pack is by far one of the lightest in our round up at 680g/1.49lb and is well functioned for variable days on the trail. For this reason, we’ve awarded this pack as one of the best daypacks for women.

I loved how it felt on more full on hikes, with the suspension system, the straps and the compression straps holding the pack really well in place against any shock or bounce. This feels like it hugs your body and stays with you when others feel cumbersome and heavy.

It’s also really durable too – showing no signs of abrasions even after heavy test usage and time on the trail. The pockets are well positioned too – and the pocket on the back/shoulder strap was perfect for holding my iPhone for easy access.

Performance Comparison

dueter speed lite 23 daypack

Type and Style

The Deuter Speed Lite 23 daypack is designed for moving quickly on the trail. It is optimized for absorbing shock from faster movements and has less padding in line with the likes of a running harness on the body and back straps.

In this regard it can be seen as a hybrid pack as it also has many of the features you can expect to see on a more technical day pack. This includes attachment points for technical gear and a robust design that is comfortable to wear all day.

Material

This daypack from Deuter uses a combination of 140D and 100D recycled polyamide in its construction. Whilst this is ultimately not as heavy a denier as some of the others in our best daypacks for hiking round up, it feels exceptionally durable and well made in line with Deuter’s other day packs.

I have tested this pack on whole variety of trails, and I have been very happy with how the pack has stayed in place and pretty much perfect for the entire time. It’s really suffered no scuffs or marks at all, even when carrying bulkier or difficult shaped items in it.

Breathability

The back system on the Deuter Speed Lite 23 is well ventilated on both the front facing mesh section as well as the foam molded grill behind it. This allows for ventilation to adequately pass between the back and the pack. Meaning in my tests I never really found my back getting overly sweaty or uncomfortable, even at hotter temperatures.

The shoulder, back and hip belt straps are also very well ventilated which come with an internal honeycomb style mesh and an outer mesh to help with ventilation. Overall, I think the ventilation on this pack has been well designed. Considering it is intended for moving fast and light it’s important that this is taken seriously, and I think Deuter have excelled here.

deuter speed lite 23 breathability

Waterproofing

Deuter don’t market this daypack as waterproof or water resistant. However, in my tests I have found this pack actually handles light to medium rain showers fairly well and has shown no signs of saturation in these kinds of conditions.

If you plan to use this pack in locations where it is more likely to rain and also want to make sure this pack is suitable for all four seasons, I suggest buying a rain cover that you can stow in the pack to keep it fully protected.

You could also look to put a bag liner in before you load your gear in to help with this too. There are plenty of these on offer on the market right now from simple dry bags through to more complex solutions. 

Dimensions

This day pack is 52x27x18 cm/20.5×10.6×7 in. in dimension as the women’s specific variant. This pack is designed specifically for the female or petite frame and has a shorter back than many other due to standard backpacks.

In terms of carrying, this backpack feels like it sits perfectly on your back whilst wearing. It never feels too big or too bulky and is fairly low profile. I really appreciate this for quicker and lighter hikes – it just feels perfect in these scenarios.

Fit

As mentioned above, the Deuter Speed Lite 23 I’ve tested here is offered in a women’s specific variant which is smaller in the back and has adapted carrying system that is developed for the female shape. Aside from this I really liked the fit and feel of the shoulder straps and hip belt which feel very similar to a running harness. This is actually really nice for keeping you feeling secure and ‘strapped in’ so to speak when you want a bit more support on the trail.

I found that when hopping over large rocks or anywhere in fact where there was any kind of expected shock or bounce on the trail that this pack stayed in place really well and never hurt or bounced uncontrollably. This is down to the running style suspension system and the effective side compression straps.

Storage

This pack has 9 storage pockets. This includes one on the hip belt, one on the harness/backstrap system and a pouch inside for a water reservoir (this is also sized well for a laptop).

I found that the storage pockets offered on the Deuter Speed Lite 23 is more than enough for what you could expect to need on a daypack. Deuter recommends that this pack’s optimal carrying range is around 4-7kg, and I’d say that’s pretty accurate. Anything more and the shoulder straps just didn’t feel right.

The pack also offers storage for things like hiking poles, crampons and water bottles. I generally find myself stowing hiking poles in one of the side mesh pockets rather than attachment loops (I just seem to find them more secure). There’s also a security pocket at the top back with a clip for keys.

I also found the zipped pocket on the shoulder strap very useful too. I found it the perfect size for carrying my iPhone 13 Pro, though it may of course be too small for other variants!

storage deuter

Comfort

One thing I think is important to mention is that I don’t think you’ll be able to carry heavier loads in this pack. Deuter recommends between 4-7kg, and I think this is about right. Anything further and the shoulder straps really let down and this pack starts to feel uncomfortable.

If you’re looking for something that is good for carrying heavier loads, you’ll want more robust and padded shoulder straps and a more full on suspension system (The Gregory Citro 24 is a good option). However, for general hiking and lightweight trails, this pack is absolutely amazing at keeping you feeling comfortable.

I did love the fit and feel in terms of comfort offered with the running harness style back and shoulder straps. This feels like it hugs well on the body, and when moving over uneven surfaces, scrambling and jumping, it doesn’t move all that much and feels like it sits rather than bounces. This was an area that really impressed me as it doesn’t have any impact on your balance. 

Features

The Deuter Speed Lite 23 is a well featured pack. It gets a good hybrid between running and hiking with its running harness style back and hip straps. Whilst providing a more technical finish with its attachment points and range of pockets for specialist gear.

The front stash pocket is one of my favorite features too – I love the amount of space this offers for stowing wet items – like a rain jacket or other items to air out. The combination of mesh and body fabric helps this feel extremely well built and durable.

durability

Durability 

This pack feels no different to every other Deuter pack I’ve had my hands on and tested in the past. The brand is well known for producing strong and durable products and they’ve excelled when it comes to the Speed Lite.

I have tested this pack on a number of trails with debris and hazards that could have caused abrasions, but this pack has made it out unscathed every time. The stitching and finish are really second to none too and the plastic attachment clips and fasteners are strong and durable to the touch.

From testing, I’m confident to say that the Deuter Speed Lite 23 will last you a long time if you look after it well. If you add a waterproof cover to this, it should see you through most of your hikes.

Sustainability

This pack uses 100% recycled materials on the body fabric, which is great to see. However, Deuter don’t make it obvious if absolutely everything on this pack is recycled or not, so it would be good to see this made clearer.

However, this pack feels built to last. I think it also looks stylish enough that you could very easily use this pack for everyday wear too. Both of these points help the pack’s sustainability credentials as for many hikers this will likely be the only pack they need.

Conclusion

Deuter are well known for making robust, sturdy and well functioned backpacks. The Speed Lite 23 is no different and I’ve been extremely impressed with it when putting it through its paces on the trail.

If you’re looking for a fast and light pack, you’ll enjoy the running harness style back, shoulder and hip straps and the comfort that they offer with no shock and minimal movement. It’s also very lightweight too, coming in at 680g/1.49lb.

If you’re looking for a pack that will carry heavy loads, then this might not be for you, as the straps do start to feel like they rub with anything over about 7.5kg inside. However, if you want a pack that will take you out on more technical trails with minimal gear, then this pack is pretty much perfect.

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