Day Owl Backpack Review - Stylish Grown Up Backpack for Work and Weekends

A backpack with dangling straps, cheap materials and obnoxious branding doesn’t exactly scream sophistication. And while many backpacks have exactly all of the pockets you need, they really leave a lot to be desired in terms of style. Luckily Day Owl offers a stylish alternative with their flagship backpack that is every bit as mature in design as it is functional.

In this hands-on Day Owl backpack review we take a closer look at all of the features and design details that really make the Day Owl the perfect backpack for adults who need a mature yet versatile backpack for work, weekends and travel.

Update: Day Owl has updated a few things about the Day Owl Backpack since this review has been published. Check out our Day Owl Backpack vs Day Owl Slim comparison for what’s new!

Table of contents

• Video Review
• Materials and Construction
• Pockets and Compartments
• What Fits inside the Day Owl?
• Fit and Comfort Features
• Final Thoughts

Video Review

Materials and Construction

Our first impression of the Day Owl backpack was “Wow, this is a well made bag!”

The materials feel robust and solid. Nothing feels cheap. And we can tell that the waxed canvas and leather will wear very well over time. Waxed canvas is a very hardwearing fabric and one of the few materials that actually looks better over time as it develops a rugged patina.

When it comes to materials Day Owl prides itself in sourcing only ethically conscious materials that serve a greater purpose. The brand is very transparent with how they source the materials to make each Day Owl backpack. Below is a brief overview.

First Mile Waxed Canvas - First Mile supports micro-economies in underdeveloped communities by offering materials from ethically sourced supply chains. It’s a people-first approach to traditional sourcing.

100% Recycled Polyester - The lining, zipper tape and thread are all made out of recycled plastic bottles. This eliminates environmental waste in a huge way.

LWG Certified Leather - All of the leather accents are made out of LWG certified leather. LWG is a group that focuses on compliance for eco-friendly and ethical sourcing of leather materials.

Along with the above materials, Day Owl also ditches cheap plastic hardware for metal ones. Everything from the zipper pulls, snaps on the top handle and shoulder strap buckles are made out of metal. Metal is more robust and long-lasting than plastic pieces and this significantly adds to the durability of the bag over time.

Free Repairs For Life

An underrated feature of the Day Owl backpack is that the brand offers free repairs for life! The bag is constructed to be repaired and not thrown away. This really shows when you look closely at the shoulder strap and body construction.

So few brands offer a warranty like this and we think it’s pretty special.

Pockets and Compartments

Outside Pockets

One of the reasons we call the Day Owl a “backpack for adults” is because of its minimalist design that hides many of the pockets and compartments from view. This gives you a clean profile on the outside of the bag without skimping on organization.

On the front you will find a zippered stash pocket that covers most of the front panel. This is just one big open pocket that is great for bulkier items like large headphones, glasses cases and tech accessories.

On the top of the backpack you will find a small pocket that is perfect for sunglasses or a phone.

On the one side of the bag there is another small pocket that can fit a pair of sunglasses, a phone or a wallet.

But the best pocket is the hidden chimney pocket that can fit long items like a water bottle or small umbrella. This chimney pocket is lined with neoprene - a water resistant fabric that prevents leaks from soaking into the bag.

Day Owl claims that an entire bottle of wine can fit into the chimney pocket so we decided to test it ourselves…

Along with a wine bottle, the chimney pocket can fit most slim water bottles but we found that large diameter bottles (i.e. a Nalgene 32 oz.) will be too wide to fit into this pocket.

The last exterior pocket on the Day Owl backpack is the laptop compartment that is located against the back panel. This laptop compartment is padded on all sides and can fit either a 14” laptop (Smaller version) or up to a 15” laptop (Larger version).

One minor complaint is that the laptop compartment does not have a false bottom. This means that the laptop compartment reaches all the way down to the bottom of the bag with little padding between your laptop and the ground. With a false bottom, there is room between the your laptop and the bottom of your bag for extra protection against drops. 

Main Compartment

The Day Owl offers a mostly clamshell zipper design that allows for open access to the items inside. Clamshell backpacks are some of our favorites as they offer full access to the entirety of the main compartment. They make packing and retrieving items a lot easier since you can lay the bag almost flat for easy access.

When it comes to internal organization Day Owl has kept it simple by offering just two slip pockets in the back. These pockets are pretty slim and don’t offer much room for carrying bulkier items. For example, a slim external hard drive may fit in the larger pocket but anything bulkier may not fit.

These pockets are one of the rare cons of the Day Owl backpack since they are simply too narrow and too deep to be very useful. Very small items (chapstick, makeup, Airpods) will sink to the bottom of the pocket and it isn’t fun trying to cram your hand in that narrow pocket to reach for it.

Another small feature is the webbing on the one side of the main compartment. This allows for attaching of keys and other accessories.

What Fits Inside the Day Owl?

The Day Owl comes in two size options: Smaller (16 liters) and Larger (21 liters). Both versions are compact enough to use as everyday carry but may be too small to use as a serious travel bag (longer than an overnight stay).

If packing for a gym workout the main compartment on the regular Day Owl can fit:

• A water bottle 

• Change of clothes

• Toiletries Bag

While the main compartment in the Larger Day Owl can fit the same plus a pair of running shoes.

As a backpack for work or college we found that both the Smaller and Larger versions can comfortably fit large binders, textbooks and notebooks. You also have the separate compartment for your laptop carry.

There is also still room for things small such as glasses, tech accessories and personal items on the outside pockets while the main compartment is full.

Comfort and Fit Features

Day Owl has decided to keep thing simple when it comes to comfort features. The back panel shares its padding with the laptop compartment and the shoulder straps are also padded for added comfort.

When fully loaded the Day Owl comfortable and we found no pinching or digging with the shoulder strap design. A lot of that has to do with the small form factor of the Day Owl that just doesn’t warrant the level of padding you would find in a larger backpack.

One of the best design features on the Day Owl is their “no slack straps” which eliminates dangling straps by using a closed loop design. This is one of those small design details that makes the Day Owl look a little bit more grown up and sophisticated than your average backpack and it’s one of our favorite features.

The only other backpack we have reviewed with similar shoulder straps is the Black Ember Citadel R2 and we wish more backpack brands would incorporate this kind of shoulder strap design.

How comfortable you find the Day Owl relies on picking out the proper size. The difference between the Smaller and Larger version is in the width and height of the bag and the shoulder strap positioning.

The shoulder straps on the Smaller version are a little under 2-inches apart at the very top. Where as the Larger version’s shoulder straps are about 2 1/4 inches apart.

The best size for you really depends on your body type. You should choose the Smaller version if you have smaller shoulders and a shorter torso. Taller people or those with broader shoulders will find the Larger size to be a better fit.

You can tell Day Owl wanted to keep this backpack as simple possible. Not only does a simple construction allow for a light weight backpack but it also makes it easier to repair in the future.

Final Thoughts

Overall our Day Owl experience has been an overwhelmingly positive one.

The clean minimalist design and the awesome features like the chimney pocket and no slack straps really make the Day Owl a true “grown up backpack” that can be worn just about anywhere. 

And let’s not forget about the top notch materials and construction. In addition to looking good, the Day Owl feels like a nice backpack. The wax canvas and leather accents are expected to wear very well over time and the metal hardware is a nice touch. The fact that Day Owl offers free repairs for the life of the bag also brings in some serious peace of mind. 

---