Granite Gear Dagger Ultralight Day Pack Review

Analysis and Test Results

This daypack from Granite Gear is an impressive contender in our main round up and performs exceptionally well in tests, especially so with heavier loads due to its ability to carry around 11kg. However, unlike some other packs in this category, due to its lightweight feel, it adapts very well to carrying lighter loads too. So, it feels very versatile on the trail and doesn’t feel like overkill on lighter days.

It’s built to last with a sturdy construction and well thought out storage solutions. However, it isn’t waterproof or water repellent, and whilst it can handle some rain, you’ll need to buy a rain cover if you want to use this daypack for all four seasons or in heavy rain.

Performance Comparison

Type and Style

This pack is a full, technical day hiking pack. It also fits into the lightweight/ultralightweight category. It is well built, durable and has plenty of attachment points for alpine and more technical hiking. The brands iconic arch system allows weight to be distributed evenly, making this a good pack for carrying mid weight loads.

Material

The Granite Gear Dagger Ultralight Day Pack uses a nylon (100D and custom 210D) for its body fabric, making it really robust and hard wearing. The brand also mentions that the fabric they use is undyed on the undyed colorway (98%) which helps to reduce water waste in manufacturing by 55%.

Apparently, this can mean that there can be a yellowing appearance to the material over time. However, anything that is seen is likely to be longer term by a period of years – so this is well worth the trade-off for the environmental impact. This is only on the undyed colorway, so if you buy something like the black, then this won’t be used and wouldn’t be an issue.  Overall, I don’t see this as a bad point, and you can expect any pack may change color slightly as it ages – it’s just Granite Gear are being upfront about it from the start! I’d love to see this production method rolled out to the whole range. 

Breathability

One area I was unsure of at the start was just how breathable the back system and the shoulder straps offered on the Granite Gear Dagger Ultralight Day Pack would be. However, the dual density padded back panel and shoulder straps do offer breathability and with a mid-weight load, don’t create too much back sweating.

This system is not as breathable as the likes of the Mystery Ranch Coulee 30, Osprey Stratos 24 and the Gregory Citro 24, with their more webbed and/or harnessed style backs, but the padding is built with breathability in mind. It’s also important to keep in mind that Granite Gear are well known, loved and respected for their backpacking packs, so they certainly know a thing or two about carrying more structured loads that can lead to sweating.

Waterproofing

Granite Gear make no real claims at all that this daypack is waterproof or even water resistant, and there is no information at all available as to whether this pack includes a DWR coating or not. This is of course fine if you know you will be hiking in more fair weather climates, and places where it doesn’t rain very much.

In reality though, this pack is good at warding off mild to moderate rain with no real saturation at all. If you know you will be hiking in intermittent or inclement weather or want to make sure this pack is suitable for all seasons, then it would be a good idea to get a rain cover (this can easily be picked up from somewhere like Amazon) and keep it stashed in the pack. You could also look at lining the pack with a waterproof liner too.

Dimensions

The Granite Gear Dagger Ultralight Day Pack is roughly 21 X 13 X 8 in / 53.34 x 33.02 x 20.32 cm in size. Unfortunately, this makes it a little too big to work as carry on baggage for most airlines. However, as a daypack, this does feel pretty roomy.

There is only one fit offered, and this is unisex, so for hikers who do have a more petite or short back, this may feel a little like it engulfs you and feels a little big. For hikers who average height or taller, this pack will likely feel like it fits really nicely. Check the measurements against your back before buying.

Fit

It feels like Granite Gear have taken everything that is good about their backpacking packs and made it work for the Dagger – as it feels like a backpacking pack, just made daypack size to wear. It also has a waist belt section and uses an arched compression strap system which is all aimed to keep the pack close to the back.

The frame sheet takes the brunt of the weight, as does the waist belt – much the same as on some of their backpacking packs. As also said above, this pack will feel best on average to taller hikers due to its size.

Storage

The Dagger Ultralight has a capacity of 22 liters, which sits it firmly amongst a lot of its competitors in our best hiking daypacks round up. The shape and size of this pack makes it feel very roomy and easy to load in the perfect way for optimal comfort. When using, it feels like it has enough space for everything you’ll need to bring on a day hike and is actually well geared up for carrying heavier loads too – such as camera gear or specialist mountaineering gear.

There’s a front mesh pocket, great for stowing wet layers or things to air. This is furthered by a stretchy cord system on the front that you can add another layer into, increasing the capacity. There are two side mesh pockets, a main compartment, space for a water reservoir and a top, zipped pocket near the back. This provides more than enough areas for storage and keeping things organized on the trail.

Comfort

One area where the Granite Gear Dagger Ultralight Day Pack excels is in the comfort it offers. Granite Gear are well known for their backpacking packs, and so comfort, especially for carrying heavier loads (they say that you can carry up to around 25lb/11kg comfortably in this pack) is paramount – and this is clear from the well thought out weight distribution system.

The pack uses an ‘iconic Granite Gear arch system’ the weight is distributed to a frame sheet and also the waist belt. The padding offered on the shoulder straps and the back, as well as the waist belt is really comfortable. This makes it a great pack if you need to carry specialist gear over a longer period of time.

Features

Aside from the iconic arch system mentioned above which helps massively with comfort, this pack has a number of attachment points that are suitable for carrying specialist gear such as hiking poles, ice axes and crampons. The bungee cord system on the front also provides extra storage that can be used in front of the front mesh pouch for lashing on extra layers, increasing its capacity. It also includes a hydration reservoir pouch, with the capacity for a 2/3 liter pouch easily. You’ll also find a sternum strap which further positions this pack comfortably when wearing.

Durability

Overall, this daypack feels built to last, it is made of tough, high tenacity nylon (100D and 210D) and there are no areas on this pack that pose any weak points. It really is well made and feels like a hard wearing backpacking pack turned daypack. This makes it suitable for pretty much all types of hiking, and the fact that it is built to carry heavier loads means it handles carrying bulky and often awkwardly shaped items really well.

One area to keep in mind is that it isn’t waterproof or really water repellent as such. So, to maintain the durability of the fabric in top shape, I’d recommend adding a waterproof cover that can be used in the rain, and this will also prolong the seasonal use of it too.

Sustainability

It’s great that Granite Gear use a 98% undyed fabric on the undyed colorway. This reduces water waste by 55%. This is obviously good to see, but this is only on the undyed colorway, and not on the whole range. It would be great to see something like this extended out to the whole range, or more of a use of recycled materials.

However, this pack does feel very much built to last. This is obviously a great thing in terms of sustainability, because I’m pretty confident to say that if you give this pack your trust, it will last you a long time. Buying less is of course one of the best ways we can improve sustainability.

Conclusion

The Granite Gear Dagger Ultralight Day Pack marries all that is good with Granite Gear’s well known backpacking packs and shrinks it down into a lightweight (1.5lbs / 0.68kg) daypack. However, the thing that sets this daypack apart from some of the others in our overall roundup is the combination of its lightweight construction with its load carrying capacity (25lb/11kg).

This is pretty exceptional, because unlike some of the other lightweight packs in our reviews, you get the best of both worlds – a lightweight pack with ample padding and support to be able to carry a heavier load. This is excellent for varied use. Especially if you know the weight you plan to carry will differ on your hikes.

Overall, I’ve been very impressed with this pack, and feel confident it is built to last and gets comfort just right with its specialist weight distribution system. I think if you decide to give this option your money and trust (and comes at a good price point) you won’t be disappointed.