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Malham Cove is a fantastic place to visit and there is no doubt that it’s one of the best things to do in Yorkshire Dales National Park. Living in Kendal, we are so fortunate to be right between two National Parks and have been lucky enough to spend quite a lot of time exploring this area and scouting out the best Malham Cove walk options.

This article will go through the different options for seeing Malham Cove and the many other highlights along the way, such as Janet’s Foss and Gordale Scar. We include easy to follow instructions for walks we’ve walked with reference pictures as well as downloadable Malham Cove walk maps to get you on your way.

There are also easier route options from Malham to Malham Cove which makes this route shorter and more accessible as well as ways to extend your walk and other things to do in Malham. So, whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find it below!

Table of Contents

• Where is Malham Cove Located?
• How to Get to Malham Cove
• Best Time to Visit
• Where to Park for the Malham Cove and Janet’s Foss Walk
• The Best Malham Cove Walks
  • Malham Cove Walk via Janet’s Foss
  • Malham to Malham Cove Walk 
• See Malham Cove in Motion
• Ways to Extend Your Malham Cove Walk
  • Swim at Janet’s Foss Waterfall
  • Visit Gordale Scar
  • Look Around the Quaint Village of Malham
• What to Bring with You for the Malham Cove Walk
• Leave No Trace
• Enjoy the Malham Cove Walk
• FAQ
  • Can You Swim at Janet’s Foss?
  • How Long is the Malham Cove Walk?
  • What Facilities Are There in Malham?
  • Is Malham Cove Accessible?
  • Is the Malham Cove Walk Easy?

• Malham Cove Walk via Janet’s Foss
• Malham to Malham Cove Walk 

• Swim at Janet’s Foss Waterfall
• Visit Gordale Scar
• Look Around the Quaint Village of Malham

• Can You Swim at Janet’s Foss?
• How Long is the Malham Cove Walk?
• What Facilities Are There in Malham?
• Is Malham Cove Accessible?
• Is the Malham Cove Walk Easy?

Where is Malham Cove Located?

Malham Cove is in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The cove itself is located a relatively short walk from the centre of the village of Malham. There are various ways to get to it from the village itself that we’ll outline in our Malham Cove walk maps below.

Depending on which way you drive in from (our favourite route is from Ingleton and Kirkby Lonsdale) you will actually see Malham Cove from above. This drive in is stunning, and you’ll also see Malham Tarn (another great walk in the area- route map for this here) from this higher viewpoint too. Here is a map of the location of Malham Cove from Malham itself.

How to Get to Malham Cove

At present, the best way to get to Malham for the Malham Cove walk is to drive. It would be great to see some more useable and accessible options provided aside from driving, but the closest train station is 7 miles away (Gargrave) with more useable services available from Skipton roughly 11 miles away.

If you are visiting the UK from overseas, and are adding the Yorkshire Dales National Park into a bigger UK road trip itinerary, then you can easily rent a car from nearby airports like Leeds Bradford, Manchester and Liverpool.

If you’re not used to driving in the UK countryside, then you should keep in mind that between areas like Settle and Malham, you will drive in on Cove Road. The roads are narrower here (and incredibly scenic). This is always a drive we love but be mindful that you will likely need to use passing places to get by other cars. There are no real drop offs though, so this isn’t something to concern you.

In order to get public transport, you can arrive at Gargrave, Settle or Skipton by train. From there, you will either need to get a taxi (which will add expense) or you can get a bus. This is pretty infrequent, so you will need to know you can absolutely make the return time, so plan accordingly! Here’s the Dales Bus timetable for that.

Best Time to Visit

The wonderful thing about this area of England is that the weather is unpredictable, but this is something we’ve grown to love in our time living close by. You get these incredible skies and small pockets of weather that can be absolutely beautiful. So there really is no wrong time to visit.

The spring and summer months are some of the nicest to go and do the Malham Cove walk, however these are the busiest too. That said, there are some areas that are likely to be busier than others. For example, on a sunny and warm day, we’ve never had Janet’s Foss to ourselves, but in winter, there’s a good chance you can.

Likewise, you may not get Malham Cove to yourself if you choose to go in the school summer holidays, but it’s also pretty big at the top, so we’ve never found this too bad. For the rest of the main walk we’ve listed below, you will find yourself alone for good chunks of it (mostly past Janet’s Foss and up to the top of Malham Cove).

If it’s been raining, some of the paths at the top of Malham Cove can be a bit slippery, but not unmanageable with good, grippy hiking shoes or boots on. However, there is something about a clear sky day here that just feels magical! We don’t think you need to be too bothered about starting early, either, apart from in really busy times. It’s more for car parking than anything. We also think sometimes heading there in the evening (especially if staying in the area) can be especially nice too.

Where to Park for the Malham Cove and Janet’s Foss Walk

There are a number of car parking options for the Malham Cove walk, the Janet’s Foss walk and also the Gordale Scar walk. The good news is, and to make things easier, that the parking for all of these walks is the same place, in the village of Malham. One of the best options in our opinion is the Yorkshire Dales National Park car park which is at the bottom end of the village after the pubs and tea rooms that make up the small village.

It can be located by using the postcode BD23 4DA. What 3 words location: ///strumming.offers.selects. This car park has toilets (which stay open 24 hours a day) and has accessible toilets, a visitor centre and electric charging points. It currently costs £3.50 for two hours and £5.50 for over two hours which you can pay either by cash or card. Though you should check pricing in advance.

There are also often privately run car parks open really close to this on busy days and in the summer months. These are usually just past the visitor centre on the other side of the road and take card payments or cash. This is usually £5 for the whole day and are open until 8pm – a great option on busier days when the other car parks may be busy.

Tip: Make sure you only park in marked parking locations. The roads in this area are narrow, and parking on roadsides can impact emergency vehicle access if needed.

The Best Malham Cove Walks

There are several ways to get to Malham Cove – there’s a shorter route and a longer route. If you have the time and energy, we would whole heartedly recommend the first walk below, as it means you get to see some truly breathtaking sights whilst also enjoying the same views as walk two toward the end. The Janet’s Foss Malham Cove Walk is without a doubt one of our favourites in the area.

Malham Cove Walk via Janet’s Foss

Starting point: Malham village (parking options listed above)
Difficulty: Easier to moderate – some uphill and downhill on uneven paths. Some hopping over rocks on the top of the cove and steep staircase down from the cove.
Length:  6.5km circular walk  
Ascent/descent: 154m ascent and descent
When to do it: All year round, best when not raining
AllTrails Map Alternative: Janet’s Foss, Gordale Scar and Malham Cove

1. Starting at the parking in Malham, take a left out of here and you’ll walk past the signs for the Janet’s Foss walk and over the small bridge across the beck. The water here is stunningly clear and a sign of things to come. Then you’ll take a right onto the path which is covered with whitish gravel.
2. After following this for a few hundred metres, you’ll take a left and start to follow this path along a well graded trail for about 1km. On your left you will have views of the surrounding moors and hills and on your right, trees and farmland.

3. You’ll know you are approaching Janet’s Foss when you see woodland ahead of you and a National Trust sign for Janet’s Foss. Walk through this gate.

4. Once through the gate, you will walk through a pretty woodland, which, on a hot day we find to be a real relief as it’s shaded. You will be able to hear the starts of water and just keep walking on and following the path through here. This is one of our favourite sections of this walk!

5. You will shortly reach a path to the left which goes uphill slightly, and a small path (which isn’t really meant to be a path) to the right. Take the left as this will lead you to Janet’s Foss and the rest of your trail.

6. You’ll know you’ve reached Janet’s Foss when you see the impressive waterfall in front of you, and usually you’ll see other people there too. If you want to swim, we use the bank side to the left to get changed and enter from there or the front looking to the waterfall (depending on how busy it is) as we feel these give the best entry spots that feel the most secure.

7. Once you’ve finished here take the path back up that you were walking on before and follow it up a short, slight scramble to the top. You can also take a short detour here to the right to see the waterfall from above.

8. This path will then bring you out at the road, and you need to go through the gate and take a right.

9. When you reach Gordale Bridge on your left a short distance from the road you came out on from point 8, you can choose to either extend your walk to Gordale Scar (more on that below) or keep going on the trail to Malham Cove. You will likely see a refreshment stand here on warmer days, so perfect for drinks or similar.

10. If continuing to Malham Cove take the gate (there is a sign that says to Malham Cove) and you will start following this trail along the grassy hill up to Malham Cove.

11. At this point, the trail keeps undulating up and down hill (but mostly uphill) though never too steep, along the Dales Highway for just over a km. This is a particularly lovely part of the walk with some stunning views out over the surrounding landscape.

12. You will then reach a cross section with a small road, which you’ll need to cross to continue over to Malham cove itself. You need to climb over the stile and down the other side, then cross the road and rejoin the path on the other side of the road.

13. From here, you will continue to walk along for about a km until you reach the top of Malham Cove.

14. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see the unusual rocks in front of you, which you need to make your way along to the other side. There isn’t really a path as such, just make your way across, as you will want to take the staircase to descend. Don’t let this worry you, it’s pretty easy to find.

15. Once you find the staircase, take this down. It is pretty steep for a few minutes, but once you’ve reached Malham Beck, you’ve done it.

16. From here, there is a wide path back to Malham, which is very obvious, and you can follow this until it intersects with Cove Road to take you the final part into Malham.

Additional Extra: Gordale Scar Walk

It’s entirely possible if you want to make your walk longer, to add in Gordale Scar too. We think it’s well worth it, and adds an extra 1.6km, which makes the whole Janet’s Foss and Malham Cove walk 8.1km. Below are the instructions to add this additional section.

1. Follow instructions 1-9 from the walk above.
2. From Gordale Bridge, take the path on your right for about 500m or so until you reach Gordale Scar. You can decide how high up you go on the ravine or simply just enjoy from below.
3. Once finished, retrace your steps and continue with the walk above from point 10.

Malham to Malham Cove Walk 

Starting point: Malham
Difficulty: Easily accessible path (including wheelchairs) up to the steps. From here it becomes steep and uneven to the top. Well graded and looked after.
Length: 3.9km to the top of the cove in total, as a linear walk, 3km if stopping at Malham Beck.
Ascent/descent: 115m ascent and descent to the top of the cove, 50m ascent and descent if stopping at Malham Beck.
When to do it: Can be attempted all year, but best to avoid when heavily raining as rocks can be slippery. The section to Malham Beck can be completed in any weather.
AllTrails Map Alternative: Malham to Malham Cove

1. From the parking in Malham, take a left and walk up through the village, taking Cove Road for just under a km, you’ll pass some really pretty houses on your way here!
2. Here you will reach a fork off from Cove Road. Take the right fork and this gets you onto the trail for Malham Cove.

3. From here you can follow the trail all the way up to Malham Beck, which is particularly picturesque and has stunning views of Malham Cove.

4. You can either stop here or take the steps up to the left to get to the top of Malham Cove, these are steep but it’s only for about 1/200m, and you can take plenty of stops along the way to enjoy the view.

5. When you’re on the top, make sure you stop and take in the views for a while as they’re stunning.

6. When you’ve finished, you can return exactly the same way back into Malham.

See Malham Cove in Motion

Our video below shows what it’s like to walk the longer, circular walk taking in Janet’s Foss and Malham Cove on a stunning, sunny day.

Ways to Extend Your Malham Cove Walk

The great thing about Malham and the Malham Cove walk is there are lots of options for extending. If you do the longer walk we’ve outlined above, you can look to spend about 4 or 5 hours exploring. So, there is plenty of time to explore other things to do in the Yorkshire Dales too.

Below, we’ve outlined some of our favourite things to do before, including or after we’ve finished a walk at Malham Cove, which are pretty much guaranteed to give you a memorable day and see just how vast this area is.

Swim at Janet’s Foss Waterfall

If you do our first Malham Cove walk option above, you will walk pass Janet’s Foss, but even if you don’t and do the shorter version, visiting Janet’s Foss is well worth the effort. It’s a stunning waterfall set in what feels like fairytale woodland. You can use our instructions in the first walk above (points 1-6) to find its location and the route to it.

The water is always cold, and if like us, you love a swim walk, then you should absolutely add this in. We love swimming throughout the year even when its colder, and it’s absolutely swimmable all year. However, if you’re not used to it, you may find the summer months more fun. These will also be the busiest, so on a sunny weekend or in a school holiday, don’t expect to have it to yourself as the Janet’s Foss walk is one of the most popular in the area.

One thing to be aware of is that it can be a bit slippery getting in and there are some rocks you’ll need to navigate. We would advise bringing water shoes or wetsuit boots with a sole as this makes getting in with some traction so much easier. If it’s been raining, it can also be deep and fast flowing, so just be mindful and swim within your limits!

Visit Gordale Scar

If you follow our first walk option for Malham Cove above, you will see that we’ve added an additional extra to go on to the Gordale Scar walk from Janet’s Foss. If you have the time and energy, we’d say this is well worth doing. If you’re in the area for any amount of time, you could also do the first walk one day and a walk to Gordale Scar and then perhaps up to Malham Tarn as an alternate the next day.

Gordale Scar is a pretty incredible looking limestone ravine just up from Janet’s Foss and we always find it breathtaking to visit. There are majestic waterfalls, which can be pretty powerful after rain (which, we do get quite a lot of around here).

We love the fact that when you walk along the path to Gordale Scar, you just see the towering rock walls opening up which are truly stunning. Once you reach the end of the waterfall mouth, you can scramble up the rocks to explore further which is fun. We think Gordale Scar is well worth a visit!

Look Around the Quaint Village of Malham

The village of Malham might be small, but there are some beautiful little pubs, places to eat and tea rooms situated along the main road. These are great for getting refreshments from when you’ve finished exploring and relaxing at the end of the day. In summer these are particularly picturesque.

On a recent visit, we checked out Beck Hall before heading home for food and it was unexpectedly incredible. It was just good pub food but with a gourmet feel made with great ingredients. The thing that makes this pub even more stunning is it’s set on the side of the beck. So, you can eat in the most lovely setting – certainly an amazing memory and somewhere we’d really recommend.

What to Bring with You for the Malham Cove Walk

Whilst the Malham Cove walk is relatively well looked after in terms of trail maintenance, it is still a wild and fragile place and there are a number of key items you should bring with you and wear to make your walk more enjoyable. These are as follows:

Good hiking shoes or boots: Whilst the trails in the Malham area and the Yorkshire Dales National Park in general are in good condition, there are some steep sections, loose rocks, and you will almost always find some patches of mud. Likewise, at the top of Malham Cove, the rocks across it have fairly deep ravines that you’ll need to hop over, so we’d always recommend something to support. We feel that the best hiking boots or the best hiking shoes for the job here are ones that will support your ankles and keep your feet dry. So, opt for something waterproof and with a sturdy ankle.

Waterproof hiking gear: Be sure to bring waterproof layers – as there is a good chance that you will experience rain at some point whilst walking in the area. We think that the best waterproof rain jackets for hiking are ones that use Gore-Tex or similar and provide a lightweight option that can be stowed away, even in summer. Likewise, the best waterproof rain pants will be packable so you can just get them out if you need them.

Downloaded or paper map: There is very little signal when you hike around Malham so you will need to make sure you have your walking map downloaded onto your device to follow when you arrive. The signage is dotted around but it isn’t completely obvious at times. It’s also a good idea to bring a printed map, compass and know how to use it. The best hiking compasses don’t need to be complicated, or heavy and can just stay in your pack in case you should ever need it.

Daypack: The best daypacks for hiking will be about 18-23 litres and will give you enough room to stow everything you need and more. It’ll also give you space for your hiking poles if you want to bring them, swimming stuff, your water and things like sunscreen, bug spray and a hat.

Swimming gear: If you plan to swim in Janet’s Foss, we’d recommend swimwear, swimming boots to help with getting in and a changing towel that can be easily stowed inside your daypack. We have a whole guide to essential gear for cold water swimming which you might want to read if you plan to swim here, especially if you don’t swim in cold water very regularly.

You may also find it useful to read our guides on what to wear hiking and our day hiking checklist. These go into more detail of exactly how to pack your daypack and what to bring with you dependent on the season or the length of hike you plan to do.

Leave No Trace

Whilst Malham Cove, Janet’s Foss and Gordale Scar experience a lot of visitors, particularly in summer, they are wild and fragile places. Whilst visiting, there are a few easy things you can do to keep these places looking and being their best for years to come.

Park only in designated areas: Whilst it can be frustrating when busy and you can’t get parking where you want, you should only park in marked bays. The roads around here are narrow and parking where you’re not meant to can create obstructions which prevent emergency vehicles from getting by.

Take your litter home with you: This one is fairly obvious, but make sure when you’ve stopped, or opened your bag, that everything you came with is going with you, especially in areas like Janet’s Foss, where rubbish can wash downstream.

Go earlier, later or around shoulder season if you can: It can get very busy in high summer and at weekends, so if you want to visit in full sunshine on a hot day, we’d recommend arriving earlier or later in the day.

Stick to the trails: This helps to keep the land around the trails looking it’s best, and over time, creating extra trails can lead to confusing instructions and people getting lost.

Wear biodegradable sunscreen: If you plan to swim in Janet’s Foss, we’d recommend using biodegradable sunscreen or an ocean safe sunscreen, to prevent potential microplastics and harmful chemicals entering the water. It’s well researched that this can have an impact on biodiversity and river health.

Enjoy the Malham Cove Walk

The Malham Cove walk is without a doubt one of our favourite things to do in the Yorkshire Dales National Park – it’s pretty iconic! It doesn’t matter how many times we’ve been; it still has the same appeal and it’s just so picturesque and combined with Malham, it’s utterly gorgeous.

We hope our guide has helped you find out everything you need to know to enjoy these walks. Whether it’s the Malham to Malham Cove walk, the longer walk taking in Gordale Scar and Janet’s Foss, or the other things you can do in the area, we know you’ll have a wonderful time and make some great memories!

FAQ

Can You Swim at Janet’s Foss?

Yes, you can swim at Janet’s Foss. Depending on your swimming already, you can swim here all year, which we do. However, if you’re not used to cold water you may prefer to swim here in the summer months. Our guide above tells you more about Janet’s Foss. Be mindful if it has just rained heavily that the waterfall can be very powerful and the water deep right under it.

How Long is the Malham Cove Walk?

This really depends on which walk you do, if you walk to the top of Malham Cove from Malham, the walk is just under 4km, whereas the walk that takes in Janet’s Foss and Malham Cove as a circular is 6.5km. If you want to add on Gordale Scar too, this will add 1.6km to the Janet’s Foss and Malham Cove walk, taking it to roughly 8.1km as an entire trip.

The time it takes to do the Malham Cove walk will really depend on your fitness and the amount of stops you do along the way. We can usually do the full circular in between 3 and 5 hours, depending on how long we stop to swim at Janet’s Foss and at the top of Malham Cove.

What Facilities Are There in Malham?

In Malham, you will find several pubs and small hotels that serve sit down meals. There are also a number of smaller shops that sell a few sandwiches, cakes and pastries as well as a tea room. You won’t find a decent sized supermarket here though. In the main National Park car park, there are also public toilets.

Is Malham Cove Accessible?

The path to Malham Cove from Malham is relatively well graded all the way up to the steps which would take you up to the top of the cove. You would be able to access the bottom of Malham Cove around Malham Beck in a wheelchair.

The longer walk is also pretty well graded from Malham up to just before Janet’s Foss. Then there are some steps and the walk over the hills to Malham Cove from there does become more undulating on less well graded paths.

Is the Malham Cove Walk Easy?

Whether a walking route is easy or not is a relative thing and depends entirely on you. It also depends on the weather – if it is hot, there is very little shade, and you will feel that. If it’s pounding down with rain, the walk along the top of the cove can feel pretty treacherous. However, we find the longer walk to be easier to moderate if done on a mild, rain free day. We’d say it’s best to base whether you think it’s easier or not on the descriptions and photos above as well as the distance and height gain.

Disclaimer: This article contains Affiliate Links. You won’t pay any more for buying through these links, but we may receive a commission from any purchases made through them. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you choose to support us by buying through our links, we thank you as it helps us to continue providing the resources we do to help you enjoy the outdoors more!

This comparison table lines up all of the packs in our best daypacks for hiking round up and provides the most vital information for you to compare them against each other. You may want to pay specific attention to weight, carrying capacity, as well as dimensions. There is also other information included such as whether the pack in question is waterproof and if a rain cover is included.

If you’re ready to buy, you can also use the buying links to check up to date prices for each product – this will take you directly through to some trusted retailers, such as Amazon and REI, amongst others who have competitive pricing and often offer deals on shipping.

Table of Contents

• Conclusion

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

• Best Daypacks for Hiking
• How to Choose The Right Daypack For Your Hike
• How We Tested Hiking Daypacks

You may also be interested in: Best Waterproof Hiking Backpacks

Product

Osprey Talon 22

Gregory Maya 25

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

Rab Adrift 24L

Adidas Terrex Climacool Daypack

Cotopaxi Luzon Del Dia 24L

Helly Hansen Generator Backpack

Buying Options

Buy Now – Amazon Buy Now – REI Buy Now – Ellis Brigham

Buy Now – Amazon Buy Now – REI

Buy Now – Amazon Buy Now – REI

Buy Now – Amazon Buy Now – REI

Buy Now – Amazon Buy Now – REI

Buy Now – Amazon

Buy Now – Amazon Buy Now – REI

Buy Now – Amazon

Buy Now – Amazon Buy Now – REI Buy Now – Black Diamond

Buy Now – Amazon

Buy Now – Amazon Buy Now – REI

Buy Now – Amazon Buy Now – REI

Buy Now – Amazon

Buy Now – Amazon

Buy Now – Amazon

Buy Now – Amazon Buy Now – REI

Buy Now – Amazon

Our Award

Best Overall Daypack

Best Overall Daypack – runner up

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

Active hikes, longer trails, climbing

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

Fully waterproof hiking

Basic hiking, travel and general day to day use

Basic hiking, general everyday use, travel

Basic hiking, general everyday use, travel

Material

bluesign®-approved recycled 100D x 210D wave check high-tenacity nylon with a PFC-free DWR coating.

100D 30% recycled high density nylon, 200D 45% recycled high density nylon

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)

PFAS Free ripstop nylon

100% recycled polyester

Offcut material used from other brands production runs, making a sustainable pack

Information not available from manufacturer. But feels very durable.

Capacity

22 liters

25

23L

24L

24 liters

20 liters

20 liters

30L

15L

24L

20L

24L

22L

24L

32L

24L

20L

Breathability

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Not as good as some other models

OK

OK

Not as good as some other models

Poor

OK

Good

OK

OK

OK

Excellent

Pockets

6

9

9

6

7

7

8

7

11

6

1

6

6/7

7

6

5

4

Dimensions

48 x 28 x 23 cm

50.8 x 28.4 x 23.3 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

52 x 30 x 25 cm

50 x 26.5 x 17 cm

60 x 30 x 17 cm

49.5 x 28 x 16 cm

Rain Cover

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

No

No – but the daypack is already waterproof

No

No

No

Durability

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Good

Excellent

OK

Good

Excellent

Excellent

Good

Good

Excellent

Conclusion

There is a lot to consider when buying a new daypack – where you plan to use it, what kind of hiking you plan to do, the kind of load you need to carry. So, getting it right can be the difference between enjoying your hike and feeling comfortable and feeling in pain with rubbing in all the wrong places or feeling dwarfed by a huge pack.

We hope that our comparison table above has made it easier for you to put all of the daypacks in our main reviews side by side to work out which is the best for your needs. For further help and advice, be sure to check out our daypacks buying advice article, which goes into more detail about which category of pack is most suitable for different types of hiking and the kind of capacity you’ll need. For more information on our testing process, be sure to also check out our how we test daypacks article, so you can see what kind of metrics we consider.

Disclaimer: This article contains Affiliate Links. You won’t pay any more for buying through these links, but we may receive a commission from any purchases made through them. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you choose to support us by buying through our links, we thank you as it helps us to continue providing the resources we do to help you enjoy the outdoors more!

The Granite Gear Dagger Ultralight Day Pack gets a stunning balance of lightweight construction with load carrying capability for a well-rounded pack suitable for all types of hiking.

Table of Contents

• Analysis and Test Results
• Performance Comparison
  • Type and Style
  • Material
  • Breathability
  • Waterproofing
  • Dimensions
  • Fit
  • Storage
  • Comfort
  • Features
  • Durability
  • Sustainability
• Conclusion

• Type and Style
• Material
• Breathability
• Waterproofing
• Dimensions
• Fit
• Storage
• Comfort
• Features
• Durability
• Sustainability

Good to know: This daypack is offered as unisex

Pros / Reasons to Buy

• Lightweight yet heavy load capacity
• Solid and strong construction

Cons / Reasons to Avoid

• Isn’t waterproof or water repellent
• Feels quite big on smaller and more petite hikers

The Granite Gear Dagger Ultralight Day Pack gets a lot right. The brand is well known for their backpacking range and they’ve managed to take the technology that makes their backpacking packs special and turn it into a daypack. One area where this excels is the lightweight feel, coming in at 680g/1.5lbs.

A lot of other daypacks at this weight category have a maximum load a lot lower than the Dagger, but this pack allows a carry capacity of around 11kg. That’s pretty exceptional – as it means the versatility of this pack is vast. It’s suitable for lightweight day missions as much as it is tailored for heavier loads and specialist equipment.

This is all made possible by a well thought out weight distribution system that the brand has developed. Meaning the weight is distributed to a thin frame and the waist belt. Overall, this pack has a lot going for it!

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

• Best Daypacks for Hiking
• How to Choose The Right Daypack For Your Hike
• How We Tested Hiking Daypacks
• Compare Hiking Daypacks

You may also be interested in: Best Waterproof Hiking Backpacks

Compare to Similar Products:

Product

Osprey Talon 22

Gregory Maya 25

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

Rab Adrift 24L

Adidas Terrex Climacool Daypack

Cotopaxi Luzon Del Dia 24L

Helly Hansen Generator Backpack

Buying Options

Buy Now – Amazon Buy Now – REI Buy Now – Ellis Brigham

Buy Now – Amazon Buy Now – REI

Buy Now – Amazon Buy Now – REI

Buy Now – Amazon Buy Now – REI

Buy Now – Amazon Buy Now – REI

Buy Now – Amazon

Buy Now – Amazon Buy Now – REI

Buy Now – Amazon

Buy Now – Amazon Buy Now – REI Buy Now – Black Diamond

Buy Now – Amazon

Buy Now – Amazon Buy Now – REI

Buy Now – Amazon Buy Now – REI

Buy Now – Amazon

Buy Now – Amazon

Buy Now – Amazon

Buy Now – Amazon Buy Now – REI

Buy Now – Amazon

Our Award

Best Overall Daypack

Best Overall Daypack – runner up

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

Active hikes, longer trails, climbing

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

Fully waterproof hiking

Basic hiking, travel and general day to day use

Basic hiking, general everyday use, travel

Basic hiking, general everyday use, travel

Material

bluesign®-approved recycled 100D x 210D wave check high-tenacity nylon with a PFC-free DWR coating.

100D 30% recycled high density nylon, 200D 45% recycled high density nylon

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)

PFAS Free ripstop nylon

100% recycled polyester

Offcut material used from other brands production runs, making a sustainable pack

Information not available from manufacturer. But feels very durable.

Capacity

22 liters

25

23L

24L

24 liters

20 liters

20 liters

30L

15L

24L

20L

24L

22L

24L

32L

24L

20L

Breathability

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Not as good as some other models

OK

OK

Not as good as some other models

Poor

OK

Good

OK

OK

OK

Excellent

Pockets

6

9

9

6

7

7

8

7

11

6

1

6

6/7

7

6

5

4

Dimensions

48 x 28 x 23 cm

50.8 x 28.4 x 23.3 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

52 x 30 x 25 cm

50 x 26.5 x 17 cm

60 x 30 x 17 cm

49.5 x 28 x 16 cm

Rain Cover

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

No

No – but the daypack is already waterproof

No

No

No

Durability

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Good

Excellent

OK

Good

Excellent

Excellent

Good

Good

Excellent

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.

Disclaimer: This article contains Affiliate Links. You won’t pay any more for buying through these links, but we may receive a commission from any purchases made through them. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you choose to support us by buying through our links, we thank you as it helps us to continue providing the resources we do to help you enjoy the outdoors more!

Where We Test

We believe it’s important to get hands on experience in the locations you’ll be using products in order for us to make informed recommendations to you. Our reputation and your trust means everything to us.

We try to test in as many outdoors scenarios as possible – from hot heat to heavy rain. We will try to make note of any conditions we’ve tested in, and if there are certain scenarios that we haven’t been able to, we will make you aware.

We want you to feel confident in our recommendations, and we live and breathe hiking and the outdoors here. Our team is constantly out hiking, and we always comment and review honestly!

Table of Contents

• Where We Test
• Testing Metrics
  • Materials
  • Breathability
  • Water Resistance
  • Dimensions
  • Fit
  • Storage
  • Comfort
  • Features
  • Durability
  • Price

• Materials
• Breathability
• Water Resistance
• Dimensions
• Fit
• Storage
• Comfort
• Features
• Durability
• Price

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

• Best Daypacks for Hiking
• How to Choose The Right Daypack For Your Hike
• Compare Hiking Daypacks

You may also be interested in: Best Waterproof Hiking Backpacks

Testing Metrics

A daypack is one of your most important pieces of gear- it is what will allow you to bring everything you need to keep yourself safe. The locations you’re using the pack are important too. When testing, we pay great attention to how all of the elements below play into each other and what that means when it comes to the wearability and comfort of any given pack.

An important thing to note is that we don’t treat every pack as equal. Of course, some packs are intended for carrying heavy loads whereas others are more intended for lightweight, and even ultralightweight adventures.

We also take into consideration how a pack feels when it’s being worn full to the brim, and what packing structure is possible within it. These are all areas that are important considerations when it comes to choosing a daypack that is right for your needs.

Materials

We like to look at real world metrics when testing the materials used in a backpack for our overall best hiking daypacks round up. Yes, you can of course get the material metrics from the brand (and we of course supply these to you too in our reviews). But this doesn’t really give the whole picture.

We put all packs we tested for this review through harsh conditions and gave them a pretty hard time when it comes to fabric and materials. We want to be sure that any fabric or materials used are sturdy enough for the job at hand.

Of course, some packs are intended for different conditions and applications than others, and we always make this obvious. If a pack is ultralight weight and quite thin in terms of fabric use, we will make this clear – not every pack should and will be used by the same hiker. We all have different needs and uses out on the trail.

Breathability

You are likely to become sweatier when wearing a backpack – that is just a given, as there can be a lack of airspace between the back and the backpack. Though some backpacks do a better job of creating airflow than others.

We’ve tested the breathability of the backpacks in this review by testing in hotter temperatures and more full on ascents where you would expect sweat to naturally be more of a problem. This allowed us to get a full sense of the level of breathability any given pack in our round up gives to allow you to make the right decision for your needs.

Water Resistance

Not every daypack is built the same when it comes to water resistance and there is a big difference between waterproof and water resistant. Whilst these terms seem to be bounded around quite freely, they have significant impact on the useability of a given pack.

First of all, we look at what the backpack’s claims are in terms of water resistance. If it is a DWR coating only, then we’ll test in as heavy rain as we can to see where its saturation point is. If it comes with a fully waterproof cover, we will also test in heavy rain to make sure that this is working properly. We’ll also make sure there are no areas where water can get into the main pack body.

Dimensions

The dimensions of the pack you buy are pretty important. It can be the difference between enjoying wearing your pack and feeling like it is too big, and too cumbersome for the task at hand. This is especially important when it comes to more petite frames, and if a pack is offered in different versions (for example if it is unisex or gender orientated) we will make you aware of that.

We also like to assess what the pack offers in terms of useability for things like travel, biking and trail running. This can make a big difference if you don’t need to buy a different pack for different applications.

Fit

You’ll notice that pretty much all daypacks fit a little bit different. This can be down to the cut of the design and various different elements that the manufacturer has added which bulk out the shape. We have tested the fit and feel (and how that translates to comfort) on a variety of length hikes in a range of different conditions outdoors to allow us to comment fairly on how a fit feels. Where possible, and especially where a pack is marketed as unisex, we’ve tested on a number of our team to make sure that they hit the mark.

Storage

Depending on what you want your daypack for specifically, storage may be really important. When testing, we’re looking at the different ways you might use your pack. For example, if you need to carry a lot of specialist gear, we’re looking to see what areas can be used for this and any attachment points that are included.

We also take into consideration how the position of storage areas and pockets impacts the overall comfort of wearing the pack. We also like to look at how a pack copes with different levels of being packed and whether this has an impact on its overall performance.

Comfort

We believe comfort is a pretty personal thing when it comes to your daypack. This is determined mostly by what you need to bring with you and will be different for everyone. For example, if you know you’ll need to carry a lot of heavy equipment, such as camera gear or similar, then a pack with stronger and more heavy duty suspension and shoulder straps is going to be more important to you.

This is why when testing we look at each pack holistically to work out what it really is built to carry and make this very clear through our recommendations.  Some packs really are more intended as fast and light and shouldn’t be marked down next to something much more full on. It’s not a fair comparison.

In other areas of comfort, we also like to consider how wearable a pack is, or isn’t. How does the product feels over a prolonged period of wear? Are there any rough or rubbing areas? How does it feel on a hot day? These all allow us to decide where a pack fits in terms of the comfort it’ll offer you on the trail. 

Features

Every pack we test has something unique about it. What you decide is important to you on a daypack will really depend on how you plan to use it. However, we’re always on the lookout for helpful aids and additions that make your life easier when out on the trail. Things like hydration systems and how these separate (or don’t) from the main section of your pack are important. These features are great, but we need to make sure that this is protected from leakages.

Another area we like to pay special attention to are the fabrics used. We look at how the cushioning will help or hinder any missions you’ll use them on and how well they keep the pack in place. We also look at other areas such as mesh pouches, any straps and stow areas too, to give a rounded idea of the pack’s application and usage.

Durability

Naturally, the durability of your pack is important so we give all the daypacks we test a pretty solid run for their money!  We believe it’s only through wear and tear and real world use that you can get a true idea of how well a certain pack is going to keep going over time.

We test in all weathers to get a strong understanding of just what the water resistant claims actually mean of each pack all the way through to how a pack withstands the pressure of a hot day and the sweat wicking it has to contend with.

We also cram each and every pack we test to the brim with hard and bulky items to make sure there are no areas where the pack may have a weak spot. Any scuffs are tested in detail as well as ripstop fabrics.

Price

There are so many barriers to the outdoors for a lot of people and one area that stops many is the price of gear. You do not need the most high end gear in order to get outside. There is nothing wrong with buying what you can afford, and we always treat each product where it’s at rather than comparing to something outside it’s remit.

When testing, we look at what truly gives value for money at the price point offered. Will you need another pack to fit another purpose? Will this keep you going as you grow with your adventures? We want you to feel confident that you’re buying better with your budget and that it’ll last the test of time!

Disclaimer: This article contains Affiliate Links. You won’t pay any more for buying through these links, but we may receive a commission from any purchases made through them. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you choose to support us by buying through our links, we thank you as it helps us to continue providing the resources we do to help you enjoy the outdoors more!

There is a lot to consider when it comes to choosing your new daypack. If you buy a pack that is fit for purpose and will grow with you as your adventures do, you could be set for the next decade or so. Get it wrong and you’ll have an uncomfortable pack that you won’t want to wear.

What makes a good daypack though? The answer really depends on the kind of hiking you plan to do. The good news is that due to the fact there are so many options out there, you can find a pack that fits your specific needs.

Our guide below will take you through some of the most important things you need to consider when about to purchase your new hiking backpack. This, used in combination with our best daypacks for hiking guide will give you everything you need to know to make a confident decision.

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

• Best Daypacks for Hiking
• How We Tested Hiking Daypacks
• Compare Hiking Daypacks

You may also be interested in: Best Waterproof Hiking Backpacks

Table of Contents

• Types of Daypacks
  • Daypack Materials
  • Weather Protection
  • Breathability
  • Fit and Adjustability
  • Pack Weight
  • Storage Options and Ease of Access
  • Straps
  • Comfort
  • Features
  • Durability
  • Sustainability
  • Cost
• What Are the Different Styles of Daypacks?
  • Short Day Hikes
  • Everyday Use
  • Ultralight
  • Summit Packs
  • Commuter Daypacks
• Tips for Packing Your Daypack
  • Main Compartment
  • Hip Belt Pockets
  • The Lid
  • Stash Pockets
  • Using Straps
• Conclusion

• Daypack Materials
• Weather Protection
• Breathability
• Fit and Adjustability
• Pack Weight
• Storage Options and Ease of Access
• Straps
• Comfort
• Features
• Durability
• Sustainability
• Cost

• Short Day Hikes
• Everyday Use
• Ultralight
• Summit Packs
• Commuter Daypacks

• Main Compartment
• Hip Belt Pockets
• The Lid
• Stash Pockets
• Using Straps

Types of Daypacks

There are seemingly endless options for daypacks, and so it can of course be confusing as to which to choose. This will largely be determined by how you plan to use your pack and the kind of hiking you do. When making your purchasing decision this should be at the forefront.

Are you planning to go alpine hiking, explore the desert, alternate between commuter/office use and the outdoors? Or is it to also give you a pack that works well for hiking on vacation? We’d advise to forward think as well. As buying a daypack that will grow with you as your goals develop will allow you to get a pack that may well last you over a decade or more.

If you know that you are going to be using your daypack for lighter trips and don’t need a lot of support or a hefty suspension system, you will be able to make use of some of the more streamlined packs on the market. Something like the Rab Tensor 20 or The North Face Basin 24L will work perfectly for you.  These both make use of an air ventilated back system for general use and have some padding on the straps for comfort. They do also have a fairly adjustable fit.

Many of the packs in this area are also suitable for everyday use or for causal and travel too. With one particular stand out in this area being the Osprey Daylite Plus – the perfect pack for travel to day hiking.

However, if you are going to be taking on more hefty missions, or need to carry heavy loads, a full on pack is going to be a good bet. With this, the pack will be heavier, but prioritizes a more rigid frame and suspension system to provide a more stabilized experience on the trail. They will of course offer a better comfort experience. Some good options in this category are the Osprey Talon 22 and the Gregory Citro 24.

In terms of size and capacity, you can expect to see a few variances here, with daypacks typically carrying anywhere from 10 liters to a much bigger 35-40 liters. If you know that you will be carrying little to nothing with you on the trail then go for a lighter, smaller pack.

However, in reality, and to keep yourself safe in changing weather and climate scenarios, a pack that is around 18-25 liters is going to be most ideal. This should give you adequate space for everything you’re likely to need from your day hike checklist.

At around 20+ liters, you find that the options for additional features increases, and you will have more space to fit everything you need. You will also have more options in terms of pockets that will let you keep your gear organized well and easy to reach. Whether you should go for a more fully featured pack or something more lightweight and minimalist will again be determined by the kind of hiking you intend to do and what kind of features and access you need.

You should also consider the kind of comfort you need – if carrying a heavier load, go for something with better back suspension. If you’re going on lightweight missions, go for something more streamlined. If you want a balance, go for a hybrid pack like the Osprey Talon 22.

In a nutshell, here is what we would suggest in terms of capacity and size depending on your hike:

• Day hiking and everyday use: 10-24 liters
• Summit hiking: 15-30 liters
• Long hikes and short backpacking trips: 24-40 liters

Daypack Materials

Most backpacks on the market right now generally make use of either polyester or nylon in their construction. Polyester, whilst it does have some good water resistance qualities, does lack longer term durability.

Nylon is often favored as it is more durable and when including a DWR coating, can be excellent for water resistance. You’ll also see that some manufacturers are using a combination of nylon and polyester. This allows them to get a good balance: the durability of nylon with the water resistance of polyester.

Weather Protection

Most daypacks on the market right now offer some kind of protection against water and this is usually in the form of a DWR coating. However, there is no real standard DWR coating so this can vary a lot between different models, price points and manufacturers.

If weather protection is important to you, this is something to seriously consider. In our reviews, we’ve stipulated what kind of water protection each pack has. Some packs are more suited to three season hiking, which means anything other than heavy rain.

However, heavy rain can hit at any time of the year and if you know you’ll be hiking somewhere where rain is a given, then a rain cover and some extra protection will set you up well. This will protect your belongings from heavier downpours. A DWR coating alone will likely not protect you from heavy showers.

Some daypacks come with a rain cover (such as the Gregory Citro 24 and The North Face Basin 24L) included. However, most manufacturers do offer a rain cover that will fit your chosen pack, and if not, a similar size can be bought from most online retailers like Amazon.

Breathability

Due to the fact that when hiking, you build up a sweat, the breathability provided by your daypack is important. If a daypack gets it right, it can make a big difference to your overall comfort on the trail.

The areas to consider when looking at breathability is if there is a full suspension or part suspension system offered on the back. Does the back have mesh panels and breathable strips to allow air flow? How close does the backpack sit on the back? Are the straps breathable too?

Normally, rigid packs will offer more in terms of breathability due to a hardier back suspension system. However, these may not always be what you need, so it’s important to get the balance between how lightweight you want your pack to be and the level of breathability you need for the adventures you plan to go on.

Fit and Adjustability

You’ll notice from our main reviews that we’ve divided up the daypacks by unisex, men’s and women’s. Some manufacturers in recent years have started to make different fits for various genders, but this is more in relation to your frame.

For example, the Osprey Talon 22 is technically a men’s pack, with the Tempest being offered as a women’s specific variant. If you’re more petite, you may find the Tempest a better pack overall. So, it really is about seeing what is right for you. You can do this by looking at the body length, width dimensions and measuring against your back.

Some manufacturers are also offering redesigned packs now to fit different frames and extended sizes. Osprey are a great example of this, with the Talon/Tempest range being offered with redesigned elements that will fit different body shapes better. Aside from this, most packs come with a great amount of adjustability to get the perfect fit. Some manufacturers have much more simplistic systems on their packs for adjusting, whilst others are more advanced.

Areas to pay special attention to when setting up your pack are the load lifters, which are at the top of the pack and can help you find the correct angle or placement as to where your pack sits. You will likely also be able to adjust the stabilizer straps on the hip and shoulder straps. You should usually do this once the pack is in place and any clips fastened. 

Pack Weight

It’s probably not surprising to hear that daypacks are offered in a whole variety of different weights. This provides great options for those looking for a daypack for ultralightweight, fast missions and those looking for something more supportive for carrying heavier loads. There are of course packs that sit in the middle too, for general day to day hiking.

It’s a good idea to think about what you want your daypack for before purchasing. If you’re looking for something that will carry a heavier load, then you will likely want to look at a heavier pack to start with. This is because heavier packs make use of more substantial suspension systems and heavier padding. Whereas general, day to day packs and also fast and light packs cut down on materials where possible.

Storage Options and Ease of Access

Most daypacks offer a variety of storage options within your pack. This can be divided into different areas that allow you to stow your belongings in areas that are easy to access. You’ll generally find a main compartment, a front storage section (which can either be zipped or mesh for ventilation and storing layers on the go), and a security section at the top of front of the pack which is zipped. Of course, there are variations to this depending on the look and feel of the pack.

The other areas outside these basic pockets and storage sections that you might find useful are water reservoir storage pouches, areas (usually mesh) to keep a water bottle, attachment points for things like helmets, hiking poles, and ice axes. On some more supportive packs you can also expect to find pockets on the hip belt.

Straps

Straps are one of the most important areas to consider when it comes to your new daypack. You should decide which pack to buy based on how much weight you intend to carry at most times. If this will vary, go for the most supported and cushioned you can to allow you ease of use in all scenarios.

It isn’t all about the cushioning offered though, it’s about the positioning too. For example, even though the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil 20 offers no real cushioning at all on the straps, the position of the straps and wider cut of the fabric does actually make this pack more comfortable to wear.

This is such an important decision, because if you get it wrong, it can mean that you will experience rubbing and chaffing. Even worse, cause damage to your shoulders. It can make such a difference to your enjoyment and overall comfort.

Other straps you will often find on daypacks will be used to control areas such as the suspension system, the hip belt and hold the pack as compressed as possible. You will also likely find straps used to hold in place things like crampons, ice axes and sometimes hiking poles.

Comfort

Comfort is such a personal thing, so it’s important when your pack arrives to try it on, fit the sizing correctly for your frame and fill it up to see how it feels. If it doesn’t feel right, and you can’t get used to it, then you should return it and look for another option that is better suited to your needs. This may even just be a variant by the same brand.

The amount of comfort you need from your daypack will be determined by how much weight you’ll be carrying. As if you’re carrying too much weight for that particular pack, it may rub and not provide adequate ventilation.

If you know you’ll be carrying heavier loads or hiking over extended periods, always go for a pack with a better suspension system and air vents. Always look for padded straps and support around the hip.

Features

The features you need from your daypack will really depend on how you plan to use your pack and the kind of loads you wish to carry. For some hikers, a really basic pack with a main compartment, mesh section and safety pocket will be all that’s needed.

For other hikers, a hydration sleeve, suspension and straps to attach hiking poles, and other specialist equipment will be more important. We’d advise that you think in detail, and future plan about your hiking goals as much as possible when making your decision. This will allow you to get a pack that will grow with you over time and give you everything you need.

Durability

Not all daypacks are created equal, and you’ll generally find that a backpack that is intended for more full-on missions and carrying heavier loads will be more durable than an ultralight weight pack that is designed for very quick and fast hikes.

This is generally down to the material decisions – with lightweight packs using thinner materials with lightweight denier ratings. It’s also worth thinking about any weak points too – for example if you know you’ll be carrying bulky gear, area there any areas where this may cause abrasions?

Sustainability

One of the most important ways we can improve sustainability when it comes to daypacks is by making sure that the pack you buy is going to be fit for where you plan to use it and for your growing needs. For example, if you’re carrying heavy loads, go for something with a better suspension system. If you know it will rain a lot, make sure you get a rain cover. Buying less is a great way to improve wastage and overall consumption.

Aside from this, many manufacturers are making greater use of recycled synthetics in the construction of daypacks. You can also look out for things like Bluesign approval (which usually is a good sign of a brands commitment to sustainability).

Cost

As you’ll see from our reviews, the price of daypacks can vary greatly, and we’ve made sure to provide options that will suit all budgets. One of the biggest barriers to the outdoors is cost, and we believe that you don’t need the most expensive kit in order to get out and enjoy nature.

Our advice is to always buy the most well featured pack you can with the budget you have available that will grow with you as your adventures do. This investment could likely last you years if you choose correctly!

What Are the Different Styles of Daypacks?

Depending on the type of hiking you plan to do, you would be better served by buying a daypack that fits this. As such, there are a whole variety of different styles of backpacks that are more suited to one style of hiking than another.

You can also find hybrid daypacks that get a good balance and are a great option if you plan on varying your adventures. Below, we’ve outlined some of the different pack styles you can expect to see on the market.

Short Day Hikes

A short day hike pack will generally be a little bit lighter and more streamlined than something intended as a summit pack. This will usually be intended to carry basic hiking gear, layers and water.

Therefore, the back system will generally involve air ventilation technology, but it may not use a full back suspension. The back system will offer some support and you will likely see some padding on the straps. They are generally anywhere from 16L up to 24L roughly in size, on the whole. A pack that suits this category is the Rab Tensor 20.

Everyday Use

An everyday use pack is one that, you’ve guessed it, can be used just as much for hiking as it can for your day-to-day office use. This type of daypack will generally be fairly streamlined and focus on style as well as function for hiking.

You can expect to see a pack in this category be able to switch out the water reservoir for a laptop. You can also expect to see some padding and some use of back air ventilation. A good example of a daypack in this category is The North Face Basin 24L.

Ultralight

Ultralight daypacks prioritize streamlined, lightweight performance over anything else. This usually comes at the expense of padding, protection and suspension as most lightweight packs will make use of very thin fabrics to meet their lightweight requirements.  

An ultralight pack can be a great option if you’re backpacking. They generally stash down really small and can be stowed in your larger backpacking pack for day missions from camp to the summit.

It’s important to keep in mind that they are only really intended to carry a few lightweight layers and basic gear and as such offer no real support whilst wearing. A good example of an ultralight daypack is the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil 20.

Summit Packs

A summit pack is similar to a day hiking pack with a few exceptions. A summit pack will usually have various compression straps and attachment points that can be used for specialist gear such as hiking poles, crampons, ice axes and helmets.

Due to the fact that the load you’ll be carrying will likely be heavier, they also often use a full back suspension system which is better supportive and also can offer better ventilation. You can also expect hip belts which can offer a better distribution system on the back.

Summit packs don’t have to be reserved for this use only though, the more technical packs can still be better suited to your day hikes depending on the kind of hiking you do. They’re also great if you know you’ll be carrying heavier loads too (such as camera gear). A good example of a summit pack is the Black Diamond Distance 15 or the Gregory Citro 24.

Commuter Daypacks

A commuter daypack is a bag that you will be able to use for multiple purposes and will take you from home to the office and onto the trail as well. Packs in this category can also be referred to as travel packs too.

Many of the packs in the category of commuter daypacks are designed to also be combined with a wider set of luggage systems too and are intended to be used as a daypack lite for hiking and also whilst traveling through the airport.

Osprey’s Daylite/Plus pack is a good example of this – it has attachment points that can be used within some of their travel systems (Fairview wheeled travel pack) and is (though you should check with your airline first) the right size for cabin baggage. 

Tips for Packing Your Daypack

A good way to ensure the maximum comfort whilst wearing your daypack is to make sure that it’s packed correctly. There is no art or science to this, it’s just common sense really. However, packing it correctly can be the difference between not really even noticing your daypack is there half the time and being really uncomfortable. Here are some of our key suggestions for how to pack each area of your pack to make wearing it as comfortable as possible.

Main Compartment

You should aim to put the majority of your heavier items at the bottom of your pack. This doesn’t always work perfectly, especially on more ‘coffin’ shaped backpacks. However, this is a great place to put spare clothes, any specialist gear like extra photographic lenses or similar.

If possible, it’s a good idea to put your extra clothes into a plastic bag that can be sealed, your mid layer, a hat etc. If your backpack isn’t fully waterproof, this can help protect your spare layers against heavy rain. Next, consider how far you’ll be hiking and what your needs are for hydration. If using a water reservoir, add this in next whilst there is still some room in your pack so it can seat correctly.

At the top, put the items you’ll need quicker – waterproof layers, snacks, hat, waterproof rain cover, socks, small first aid kit and sunscreen are all good here. Also, your camera can fit pretty well in this area, but be mindful of making sure your lunch is well sealed to prevent any spillages.

Hip Belt Pockets

Your hip belt pockets, depending on their positioning and size can be a good place to keep things like snacks, sunscreen lip balm, hand sanitizer and sunglasses as well as your phone. Try not to overload the hip belt pockets so that whilst you’re wearing and you unzip, items fall out.

The Lid

Depending on the size of your backpack, you will either have a lid or a zipped pocket near the top. This is a great place to keep your valuables, like your keys, your wallet and other personal items you want to bring with you. Most daypacks will come with a clip in the lid, which is a good place to attach your keys, but you could also add a carabiner for extra safety. This will give you a pretty bullet proof solution to never losing your keys!

Stash Pockets

The stash pockets on your daypack are generally the ones made of mesh and will sit on both sides and also on the front. If you don’t have these, they will often be made of ripstop nylon but we personally prefer mesh ones as they offer more stretch and useability on the trail.

You can use the side mesh pockets for water bottles, but we also usually find that they’re better for attaching hiking poles than the attachment straps provided may be. They are also good if you don’t have attachment points for this. We’d recommend adding hiking poles foot first into your pack with the handles sticking out the top.

You can also use the front stash pocket for any wet layers, or extra layers too if it’s a hot day. They can also be a good place to keep anything like wet wipes or a pee cloth you may need in a hurry.

Using Straps

You’ll notice on most hiking packs that there are straps placed at different angles on the bags surface. These are generally referred to as compression straps and they can be used to tension your pack and keep it feeling comfortable on the trail. Straps can also be there to hold things like ice axes and crampons.

They’re also handy for holding your water bottle in place too. For example, most packs will have a clasp and strap that will sit over the body and go round to the back. These are handy for putting through the handle (if it has one) of your water bottle and just keeps it secure should it slip out.

Conclusion

As you can see, there is a lot to consider when it comes to buying a new daypack and with the seemingly endless options out there, it can be hard to choose. However, you should always go for a pack that suits the kind of hiking you do and future plan so that your pack grows with you as your adventures develop.

Given that there are options for technical alpine hiking, heavier loads, day hiking, commuters, traveling and ultralight (with many options in-between and hybrid models) there really is something for everyone out there. We hope this guide has made it easier to make the decision of which daypack is right for you! Be sure to also read our best daypacks for hiking guide to help you find your perfect pack.

Disclaimer: This article contains Affiliate Links. You won’t pay any more for buying through these links, but we may receive a commission from any purchases made through them. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you choose to support us by buying through our links, we thank you as it helps us to continue providing the resources we do to help you enjoy the outdoors more!

Tarn Hows is by far one of the most stunning tarns in the Lake District. It’s manmade, but don’t let that fool you – with breath taking views of the iconic Langdales and surrounding mountains in the background and the mysterious dark, sometimes mirror-like water hugged by trees – this walk is a must do.

It’s fairly short, and the Tarn Hows walk itself is relatively accessible, with undulating but never steep inclines over well graded paths. It is even possible to rent Trampers from the National Trust office at the main car park, making this a walk for most if not all.

There are also plenty of options from the Tarn Hows walk itself to head off to other crags and fells – the main one being Black Crag or Fell which, if added to the Tarn Hows walk allows you to get in a Wainwright – and is classed as one of the easier Wainwrights.

The area itself has quite a bit of history surrounding it – the tarn itself was created in Victorian times, so it is man-made. It was once three smaller pools which in the 1800’s was dammed and turned into the one tarn you’ll experience today. It is now owned by the National Trust and was sold by Beatrix Potter.

Table of Contents

• Tarn Hows Walk
  • Walking Route Description
• Useful Information About the Tarn Hows Circular Walk
  • How to Get There
  • Parking
  • Accessibility
  • Facilities
• Optional Black Crag Wainwright Walk From Tarn Hows
  • Black Crag from Tarn Hows Walking Route
    • Route Description
  • Tarn Hows and Black Crag video guide
• FAQ’s
  • Is there free parking at Tarn Hows?
  • Can you walk from Coniston to Tarn Hows?
  • How do you get from Ambleside to Tarn Hows?
  • Can you swim at Tarn Hows?

• Walking Route Description

• How to Get There
• Parking
• Accessibility
• Facilities

• Black Crag from Tarn Hows Walking Route
  • Route Description
• Tarn Hows and Black Crag video guide

• Route Description

• Is there free parking at Tarn Hows?
• Can you walk from Coniston to Tarn Hows?
• How do you get from Ambleside to Tarn Hows?
• Can you swim at Tarn Hows?

Tarn Hows Walk

AllTrails map alternative: The AllTrails Map available adds a section for a different starting point, but you can just follow the loop around the lake only and still park in the same National Trust car park.
Difficulty: Easy/for most. Some slight gradients and undulating terrain, but never steep and extremely well graded/surfaced throughout. Suitable for pushchairs and strollers. Trampers can be rented from the National Trust and can be picked up from the main car park kiosk. You’ll need to pre-book one using the National Trust information page here.
Distance: 3km/1.86miles
Elevation: 23m/75 ft. ascent and descent
When to do it: Accessible all year round (except for after heavy snowfall, the road to reach the car park may not be accessible).

About our walking maps: We use Outdooractive to provide real time views of our walks. You can download the route or print it out by clicking on the map which will open directly in Outdooractive. They offer a free plan which allows you to save offline maps. You should always download your route first to prevent problems when loss of signal occurs on the trail. 

Walking Route Description

1. Once you’ve parked up in the National Trust car park for Tarn Hows, follow the sign out of the car park for the tarn. You’ll cross the road that you drove in on, down a graded path. You’ll soon see the fantastic view of the tarn with the mountains in the background. It’s absolutely breath taking!
2. At this point, yield to the left and go through the gate – at this point you can start following the path around the tarn.
3. Shortly after entering the main trail from the gate, you’ll see a sign to the left for waterfalls – this is for Tom Gill waterfall. It’s a short detour (a few hundred metres there and back and is well worth the extra effort. Take care when it’s been raining as the rocky path can be slippery underfoot.
4. As you walk around, you’ll see a number of tree stumps with coins in them, and if you go at the right time, you may also see frogs in the stream beds that feed the tarn.
5. Keep walking around on the well graded path and you’ll keep turning right as it follows the shore of the tarn.
6. At the top of the lake, there is the option to turn off and continue straight on to reach Black Crag (which we give directions for later on in this article). If doing the Tarn Hows circular alone, keep bearing right along the well graded path.
7. You’ll come to a gate at the very top of the lake, go through it and keep bearing right.
8. At this stage, you will be on the other side of the lake, keep following this straight on all the way back to the car park. If you want a truly spectacular view of Tarn Hows from higher up, at about 3/4 of the way around the lake and shortly before the path joins the main road, you’ll come to a sign on the left with a gate for a viewpoint and also for Rose Castle Cottage. It’s well worth taking this upper path back (which joins the road just a little further on from the main path. As the views you get from this viewpoint are stunning.
9. Depending on which path you took, you can either exit a little further up the road and walk back or head back down on the main path and exit via the gate you entered the tarn walk from.

Useful Information About the Tarn Hows Circular Walk

How to Get There

Car: The postcode for Tarn Hows is roughly LA22 0PP. If you type National Trust – Tarn Hows park into your sat nav, then you should have no trouble finding it. Do keep in mind there isn’t much phone reception around there. The walk is about a 10 minute drive from Coniston via the B5285 or about 16 minute’s drive from Ambleside via the B5286. In both directions, you will see signs for Tarn Hows.

Bus: It isn’t well served with buses and there is no direct way to reach Tarn Hows via public transport. The closest bus stop is at Hawkshead Hill which adds about 1.5km to the start (and end) of the walk, and is up and down hill, so keep that in mind. You can catch the 505 bus between Ambleside and Coniston.

Parking

There is a relatively large car park at the bottom end of the lake from the road – this is a National Trust car park, so there is a fee to park. You can pay contactless or by card. Contact the National Trust for up to date information and pricing. This is free to National Trust members. It does fill up quickly on busier periods and holidays, so keep this in mind when planning your visit. The postcode is LA22 0PP or use ‘National Trust – Tarn Hows’ on your sat nav.

Accessibility

The Tarn Hows walk is relatively accessible to all – meaning it has no steep inclines and the path is well graded the whole way round. It is suitable for strollers and push chairs too, as well as wheelchair users. It is also possible to rent a tramper for your time at Tarn Hows – this can be done in advance via the National Trust and it can be collected during their kiosk opening hours in the main car park (you can collect between 9:30am and 1:30pm). A tramper can be reserved for 1.5 hours at a time. At present, they are free to use and you do not need to be registered as disabled or have a Blue Badge to be able to reserve one. You can find out how to reserve one through their website here.

Facilities

There are toilets available at the Tarn Hows National Trust car park which are free to use. The car park is also open 24 hours a day but it is not allowed for overnight stays or campers. Dogs are also welcome on the trail.

Optional Black Crag Wainwright Walk From Tarn Hows

A great option to extend the Tarn Hows walk is to add on the route up to Black Crag or Black Fell as it’s also sometimes named. Whether you’re new to the Lake District or not, Black Crag is quite significant as it is noted as one of the easier Wainwright’s in the National Park. This walk offers some truly stunning views of the surrounding mountains and it’s elevated view point also offers wonderful views back over Tarn Hows from the summit. It is well worth doing!

Black Crag from Tarn Hows Walking Route

AllTrails map alternative: Black Crag and Tarn Hows
Difficulty: Easy to moderate – easy around the tarn with well graded paths all around. Up to Black Crag, some steeper sections, with loose, uneven terrain.
Distance: 6.2km/3.72miles
Elevation: 143m/469ft. ascent and descent
When to do it: Trail should be accessible all year round except after heavy snowfall, the path to Black Crag may be inaccessible and the road to reach the car park may also be inaccessible.

Route Description

1. Meeting up at point 5 on the Tarn Hows Walk listed above, rather than following the top of the tarn round to the left, keep going straight on along the Cumbria way. Many people take a slightly different route, but we prefer this option as we feel the views that you gain on this slight detour are well worth it (and don’t add any extra incline or distance either).
2. After you’ve followed the Cumbria way, you’ll come to a gate, go through and take a right up the gravelly hill. The views of the Langdales become breath taking as you get higher and higher on the trail.
3. At the top of the hill, you’ll take a left through the beautiful Iron Keld Plantation – a forested section which takes you most of the way up to the final push before the Black Crag summit. You may even see some cows (generally Belted Galloway’s) on this section – they’re gentle giants but treat them with caution and calmness as you pass them.
4. When you come out from the woodland, take a right up the hill – this is the last section up to the top of Black Fell. If you want a little detour, keep walking straight on for a few hundred metres until you reach the rocks – you’ll have fabulous views over the mountains and it’s a nice quiet spot for a break, or even lunch on the route. You just need to backtrack to the turn off to complete Black Crag.
5. When taking the right up the hill, the path does become a little indistinct in places, but there are numerous little paths that head up to the top.
6. The last section needs you to walk up a small steep section to reach the cairn.
7. Retrace your steps back down the way you came and continue the Tarn Hows walk listed above from point 5.

Tarn Hows and Black Crag video guide

Use our video guide to get a feel for what you’ll see on the Black Crag walk from Tarn Hows:

FAQ’s

Is there free parking at Tarn Hows?

There is sadly no free parking in or around Tarn Hows. The car park at Tarn Hows itself is National Trust and requires a fee to park. As do the other car parks in the area, wherever you walk in from. It is important to remember that whilst there may be various small laybys on the way, these are passing places and are intended for cars to use to get past each other along the narrow roads. These roads are used by emergency vehicles too and blocking them can prevent access where there are no other roads to get to them.

Can you walk from Coniston to Tarn Hows?

It is possible to walk to Tarn Hows from Coniston. It does make the route longer and does include more incline, but it makes a great way to see more of the Lake District. There are also several main car parks in Coniston which can, if you’re up for it, offer an alternative to the National Trust car park at the tarn when it’s full. We’ve included an alternative Tarn Hows walk route below from Coniston which you can download. Once you’ve completed a loop of the tarn, you can either retrace your steps back down to Coniston or take our slight different return for varying views.

How do you get from Ambleside to Tarn Hows?

You can easily reach the Tarn Hows walk from Ambleside via several options. To drive, it’s about 16 minute’s from Ambleside and you’ll take the B5286. Once you’re closer, the road to the tarn is signposted. To get the bus, you’ll need to take the 505 toward Coniston. It doesn’t stop at Tarn Hows itself, but you can get off at Hawkshead Hill. It is roughly 1.5km extra walk (there and back) with some up and downhill – so keep that in mind. 

You might also enjoy the Rydal Cave hike if you’re in the Ambleside area, too. Just off from Rydal, it is a great, short addition that you won’t want to miss and if you have a little more time to spare, check out our guide on the best things to do in Kendal too, which is well worth a visit! 

Can you swim at Tarn Hows?

Whilst swimming at Tarn Hows may look tempting, swimming isn’t currently allowed in the tarn. The tarn is of scientific interest, and as such this important habitat is protected from all water sports. If you fancy a swim, nearby Coniston Water is a great alternative. From Monk Coniston car park, there is easy lake access. For other swimming spots and inspiration, be sure to read our guide: 22 Best Places for Wild Swimming.If you fancy going further afield, we’d recommend you check out our Buttermere Infinity Pools guide too. 

Want to get a handle on how the different hiking shoes in our guide compare in terms of weight, sizes offered, protection, waterproofing and more? Use our comparison table to look at all of the information you need side by side to make an informed decision about the best pair of hiking shoes for your needs. To check up to date prices, click through our buying links to compare prices next to each other.

Editor’s note: This article is part of our guide to the best hiking shoes, be sure to check out the rest of this guide for our top buying tips:

• 28 Best Hiking Shoes
• How to Choose The Right Hiking Shoes
• How We Tested Hiking Shoes
• Related content: How to Re-lace Your Hiking Shoes for Better Comfort
• Also in this series: 20 Best Waterproof Hiking Shoes
• 20 Best Hiking Boots

Table of Contents

• Men’s:
• Women’s: 
• Conclusion

• Men’s:
• Women’s: 

Men’s:

Salomon Men’s X Ultra 4 GTX Hiking

Columbia Facet 75 Outdry

Adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2 GTX

KEEN Targhee 3 Waterproof

Hoka Men’s Anacapa Aero Low

La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX Hiking Boots

Nike Pegasus Trail 3

Danner Panorama Mid

Black Diamond Mens Mission Leather Low Waterproof Approach Shoes

Lowa Renegade GTX LO

Regatta Vendeavour Pro

Merrell Moab 3 Waterproof Hiking Shoe

La Sportiva Mens TX Hike GTX Hiking Shoes

The North Face Men’s Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight Track Shoe

Vasque Men’s Juxt Hiking Shoe

Buying Options

Buy now – Amazon Buy now – REI Buy now – Ellis Brigham

Buy now – Amazon

Buy now – Amazon Buy now – REI

Buy now – Amazon

Buy now – Amazon Buy now – REI

Buy now – Amazon Buy now – REI

Buy now – Amazon

Buy now – Amazon Buy now – REI

Buy now – Amazon

Buy now – Amazon Buy now – REI

Buy now – Amazon

Buy now – Amazon Buy now – REI

Buy now – Amazon Buy now – REI

Buy now – Amazon

Buy now – Amazon

Our Ratings

Best Overall Men’s

Best Budget

Most Versatile

Most Comfortable

Best for Summer

Best for Technical Trails

Best Appearance

Pros

Robust whilst feeling light and aerodynamic, excellent traction

Great value. Breathable and water resistant

Striking Design. Makes use of recycled material

Comfortable. Very durable

Light weight. Extremely comfortable and quick to bed in

Relatively lightweight. Good support

Very lightweight. Very comfortable

Rugged build. Clean, minimal sytling

Very low weight. They look great!

short break in, comofrtable, tread grip is substantial

Bargain price. Well made

Reputaton for comfort. Resaonably priced

Relatively light weight. They Look Good

Very comfortable. Low weight

Durable build. Extremely comfortable

Cons

Fast lacing system won’t be for everyone

Not the lightest. They might look a little plain for some

Pricey. Sole material can look tatty with time

Dated design. Pricey

Not as water resistant as some competitors. Divisive Styling

Styling may not be to eveyone’s taste. Pricey

Not as durable as some competitors. Not suitable for very cold or wet conditions

Took a little while to break in. We wish there was a little more ankle support

Pricey. Soft rubber sole may wear quickly

Limited range of colors. Long term durability concerns

Limited Color choices. Not the Lightest

No the lightest design and color choices may seem dated to some

Slightly vague sustainability credentials. Sizing guidance is confusing

Limited choice of colors. Potential long-term durability issues

No waterproofing. Limited color choice

Traction

Very good

Good

Continental outsole with medium/deep thread pattern

Full rubber outsole with deep thread pattern

Very Good

Full rubber outsole with medium/deep thread pattern

Very Good

Full rubber sole with medium/deep thread pattern

Rubber outsole with deep thread pattern. Uses ‘Black Label’ Sticky rubber for better grip.

Vibram outsole with medium/deep thread pattern.

Full rubber outsole with medium/deep thread pattern

Vibram outsole with medium/deep thread pattern.

Very Good

Very Good

Very Good

Breathability

Very good

Good

Fine mesh upper with Gore-Tex membrane

Mesh sections on upper backed with waterproof membrane

Very Good

Breathable mesh upper with Gore-Tex

Very good

Minimal use of mesh, and unvented leather in main body of shoe but there is a Gore-tex membrane the boot is not insulated.

Breathable ‘BD.dry’ waterproof lining with some mesh sections. However unperforated leather will limit breathability.

Mesh lining backed with Gore Tex membrande

Breathable mesh upper with ‘Isotex’ waterproof membrane.

Breathable mesh upper with waterproof membrane

Good

Good

Very Good

Ankle Support

Minimal but feels supported

Minimal

Medium – Mid height boot. Support can be adjusted via lacing

Minimal – Low top shoe with minimal ankle support

Minimal

Good – Mid height design with adjustable tensioning via laces

Minimal

Medium – Mid height boot. Support can be adjusted via lacing

Minimal – Low top shoe with minimal ankle support

Minimal – Low top shoe with minimal ankle support

Good – Mid-height design with ankle collar adjustment via laces.

Minimal – Low top shoe with minimal ankle support

Minimal

Minimal

Minimal

Arch support

Regular

Regular

Gently moulded arch support in insoles

Subtle arch support

Very good

Subtle arch support

Regular

Subtly shaped inner section offers gentle arch support

Subtle arch support

Subtle arch support

Moulded nylon arch shank

Regular

Regular, but rocker-style sole may help comfort for some wearers

Regular

Fit

Fits true to size – regular

Regular – can run slightly large

Available in sizes from US 6/UK 5.5/ EU 38.6 up to US 15/UK 14.5/EU 50.6. Suitable for normal to wide feet. Runs small, so recommended to buy a slightly larger than normal size.

Meant to be very comfortable for a slighhtly wider foot – with lots of toe room. Available in sizes from US 7/uk 6/EU 39.5 up to US 16/UK 16/EU 49

Regular

Availalble in standard and wide versions. Available in sizes from US 5.5/UK 5 /EU 38 up to US 14/UK 13.5/ EU 49.5

Regular

Available in standard and wide fit. Standard is good for narrow/normal width feet. Available in sizes from US 7/ UK 6.5/EU 40 up to US 15/UK 14.5/ EU 50.6

Typically suitable for normal width feet. Some reports indicate it’s wise to size up a little. Availalble in sizes from US 6/UK 5/EU 38 to US 14/ UK 13/ EU 48.5

Santadard – nothing to note, can be good for wide feet and standard feet may be a bit wide for narrow feet. Available in sizes from US7.5/UK 6.5/EU40 to US 16/UK 15/ EU 51

Suitable for normal to wide feet. Available in sizes from US6.5/UK 6/EU 39.3 to US 12.5/UK 12/EU 48

Suitable for normal width feet – have a reputation for out-of-the-box comfort. Also available in a wide version. Available in sizes from US 7/UK 6.5/ EU 40 up to US 16/ UK 15/EU 51

Regular – can run a little small

Regular to narrow fit

Regular and Wide versions available

Materials

Synthetic

Fully synthetic

Fully synthetic with Gore-Tex membrane. Minimum of 50% recycled material used in upper. High density foam sole can degrade with time.

Nubuck Leather and synthetic upper with Waterproof Membrane

Synthetic and nubuck leather

Fully synthetic with Gore-Tex membrane

Fully synthetic

Suede and synthetic with Gore-Tex membrane

Nubuck leather and synthetic

Nubuck Leather and synthetic upper with Gore-Tex Membrane

Fully synthetic with waterproof Isotex membrane

Pig suede and synthetic. Mesh lining, laces and webbing are made from 100% recycled materials.

Fully synthetic

Fully Synthetic

Suede leather and synthetic

Appearance

Modern, grippy hiking shoe

Modern hiking shoe

Ultra-contemporary style with a wide range of colour ways – many are quite vivid

Slightly dated styling compared some newer designs

Modern hiking shoe with oversized sole

Contemporary styling. Available in a number of colour ways ranging from neutral to very striking.

Modern running shoe

The sytling is reminiscent of a hi-top basketball boot, but with with a clear modern interpretation.

Contemporary styling referencing classic sports shoe. Available in two colour ways

Design inspired by traditional hiking shoes. Limited color choices

Unintrusive styling. Available in a range of colours – some with vivid colour accents.

Unintrusive styling. Available in a range of colour options – mostly muted, ‘earthy’ colours.

Modern hiking shoe

Modern hiking shoe with oversized sole

Modern hiking shoe in earthy colors

Durability

Very good

Good

Medium to high

High

Good

Medium to high

Good

High

High

Medium to high

Medium to high

Medium to high

Very good

Good

Excellent

Weight (pair)

800g/1lb 11.2oz (pair)

833g/1lb 14oz (pair)

910g/2lb

861g/1lb.14.8oz

706g/1lb 9oz (pair)

940g/2lb 1oz

642.8g/1lb 7oz (pair)

1048g/2lb 5oz

666g/1lb 7oz

950g/2lb 1.5oz

1080g/2lb 6oz

900g/2lb

790g/1lb 12oz (pair)

646g/1lb 7oz

822g/1lb 13oz (pair)

Insoles

Padded removable insole

Padded removable insole

Removable insoles

Removable, dual-density EVA footbeds cushion your stride

Padded removable insole

Removable insoles

Padded removable insole

Removable three-layer cushioned insoles

Removable insoles

Removable insoles

Removable foam insoles

Removable insoles

Padded removable insole

Padded removable insole

Padded removable insole

Break-in Period

Minimal

Minimal

Minimal

Straight away

Minimal

Minimal

Minimal

Medium

Minimal

Meant to be able to wear straight out the box

Minimal to medium

Minimal

Minimal

Minimal

Minimal

Lacing system

Quick lacing system

Regular laces

Standard laces

Standard laces

Regular laces

Multizone lacing system allows control over fit

Regular laces

Standard laces

Standard laces

Standard laces

Multizone lacing system allows for precise fit control

Standard Laces

Regular laces

Regular laces

Regular laces

Toe Protection

Reinforced rubber rand on toe

Reinforced rubber cap on toe

Hardened rubber toe cap and thin but full boot rand.

Hardened rubber toe cap

Reinforced rubber cap on toe

Hardened rubber toe cap

Reinforced rubber cap on toe

Hardened rubber toe cap and full boot rand.

Hardened rubber toe cap

Hardened rubber toe cap

Hardened rubber toe cap and rand on front section

Hardened rubber toe cap and rand on front section

Reinforced rubber rand at front

Reinforced rubber cap on toe

Reinforced rubber rand and toe cap

Women’s: 

Product

Danner Womens Trail 2650

Adidas Terrex Tracerocker 2

Columbia Women’s Trailstorm

Hoka Speedgoat 5

Adidas Terrex Swift R3 Gore-Tex

Keen Zionic Speed

Altra Lone Peak 7

Adidas Terrex AX4 Gore-Tex Hiking Shoes

Keen NXIS EVO Low Height Waterproof Hiking Shoe

La Sportiva Spire GTX

Merrell Moab Speed

Oboz Sawtooth X Low Waterproof

On Cloudwander Waterproof

Merrell Siren Edge 3

Helly Hansen Women’s Skyhawk Trail Running Shoes

Buying Options

Buy now – Amazon Buy now – REI

Buy now – Amazon

Buy now – Amazon

Buy now – Amazon Buy now – REI

Buy now – Amazon

Buy now – Amazon Buy now – REI

Buy now – Amazon Buy now – REI

Buy now – Amazon

Buy now – Amazon

Buy now – Amazon

Buy now – Amazon

Buy now – Amazon Buy now – REI

Buy now – Amazon

Buy now – Amazon

Buy now – Amazon

Our Ratings

Best Overall Women’s

Best Stylish and Versatile

Best Budget

Best Lightweight

Best for Winter

Best for Long Distances

Best for Trail Running

Pros

Durable build. Extremely comfortable

Looks Stylish. Well built

Exceptionally good hiking shoe for the price point. Clever traction design in the lugs

Extremely well cushioned and comfortable fit. Deep lugs offer good traction on slippery surfaces

Well protected and durable. Great traction and feels very grippy

A great fast and light shoe. Roomy toe box, and comfortable for wider feet

Roomy toe box. Excellent traction.

Striking design. Makes use of recycled material

Light weight. Good environmental credentials

Light Weight. Ultra breathable

Lightweight. Iconic Moab fit and comfort

Durable build. Good water resistance

Excellent balance of weight and waterproofing. Stiffer design gives a more technical feel

Very light. Often very reasonably priced

Very cool design. Very breathable and comfortable

Cons

Not the cheapest. We found they didn’t keep our feet warm in wet conditions

Hikers with wider feet will struggle. Very rigid

Breathability concerns in warmer temperatures

Colorways are divisive. lacking in stiffness between outsole and midsole

Pretty rigid – not the most fast and light shoe on the market, can feel a little big

Not waterproof. Durability concerns on the sole

Less durable. Pricey

Looks may be too much for some. Slightly narrow fit may be unsuitalbe for wider feet.

May not be best fit for narrower feet. A bit pricey

Pricey. Some may prefer a more rigid shoe

Not most supportive. More expensive than the regular Moab

Heavy. Longer break-in period

Some may find them too stiff. Can be pricey.

Not Waterproof. Some durability concerns

Not Waterproof. Their looks won’t be to all tastes.

Traction

Vibram outsole with medium/deep thread pattern

Medium thread

Extremely good

Very good

Extremely good

Average

Full rubber outsole with medium/deep thread pattern

Continental outsole with medium deep thread depth

Full rubber outsole with medium thread depth

Vibram outsole with deep thread pattern

Vibram outsole with medium/deep thread pattern.

Very good

Very good

Good

Good

Breathability

Perforated suede outer with breathable mesh inner

Good

Not so great

Good

Good, but Gore-Tex membrane does play in here

Excellent

Full mesh upper

Breathable mesh upper with Core-Tex membrane

Breathable mesh upper and lining with anti-odor treatment

Breathable mesh upper with Gore-Tex

Full mesh upper

Average

Good

Very good

Exceptionally good

Ankle Support

Minimal – Low top shoe with minimal ankle support

Minimal

Minimal

Minimal

Minimal

Minimal

Minimal – Low top shoe with minimal ankle support

Minimal – Low top shoe with minimal ankle support

Minimal – Low top shoe with minimal ankle support

Minimal – Low top shoe with minimal ankle support

Minimal – Low top shoe with minimal ankle support

Minimal

Minimal

Minimal

Minimal

Arch support

Gentle arch support

Gentle

Regular

Regular

Regular

Minimal

Gentle

Subtle arch support

Gentle arch support

Gentle arch support

Gentle

Good

Regular

Regular

Regular

Fit

Available in medium width and in sizes from US 5/ UK 3.5/ EU 36 up to US 11/ UK 9.5/ EU 44

Not suited for wider feet. True to size

Regular

Standard/slightly wide

Regular/wide

Standard/slightly wide

Roomy and good for wider feet with natural movement. Available in sizes from US 5.5/UK 3.5/EU 36 to US 12/UK 10/EU 44.5

Available in sizes from US 5/ UK 3.5 /EU 36 up to US 12/ UK 10.5/ EU 45.3

Iconic Keen fit’ – Wider fit with extra space at forefoot. Available in sizes from US 5/ UK 3.5/ EU 36 up to US 12/ UK 9/ EU 43

Fits true. Typically suitable for normal to narrow feet. Available in sizes from US 5/ UK 3/EU 36 up to US 11/ UK 9/ EU 42

Similar to the Moab 3 – but a little more narrow but still suitable for most hikers. Available in sizes from US 5/UK 2.5/EU 35 to US 11.5/UK 9/EU 43

Normal and wide verisons available

Standard/slightly narrow

Normal and wide versions available

Standard – suitable for wider feet

Materials

Suede and synthetic

50% recycled material. EVA midsole

Synthetic

Synthetic

Synthetic with 50% recycled upper

Synthetic

Fully synthetic

Fully synthetic with Gore-Tex membrane. Adidas claims upper contains a minimum of 50% recycled material

Fully synthetic with waterproof ‘KEEN.DRY’ membrane

Fully synthetic with Gore-Tex membrane

Fully synthetic. Merrell claim these sheos are vegan.

Synthetic and leather

Synthetic

Synthetic

Synthetic

Appearance

Modern design with classic elements and materials. Available in a wide range of colour ways.

Trail runner/hiker hybrid

Modern cross between hiking shoe and trail runner

Trail running shoe

Modern hiking shoe

Trail running shoe

A really nice looking shoe that could work well for multiple purposes such as hiking and trail running – with a variety of striking color designs

Striking angluar design available in a wide rang eof colour ways

Distinctive good looks available in multiple colour ways

Available in multiple colour ways with striking styling, typical of La Sportiva.

Does something inbetween a hiking shoe and trail runner and comes in a variety of striking colourways

Modern hiking shoe

Modern hiking shoe

Modern hiking shoe

Modern trail runner

Durability

Very high

High

Considering the price point, seems durable

Average

Rip resistant synethetic finish with durable Continental sole

Longer term durability concerns

Medium to high

Medium to high

Medium to high

Medium to high

Medium to high

Excellent

Good

Some durability concerns

Good

Weight (pair)

680g/1lb 08oz

748g/1.6lb

500g/1lb 3oz

460g/1lb

700g/1lb 7oz

544g/1lb 2oz

635g/1lb 4.5oz

758g/1lb 11oz

644g/1lb 6oz

740g/1lb 10oz

640g/1lb5oz

800g/1lb 12oz

640g/1lb 7oz

560g/1lb 4oz

N/A

Insoles

Removable three-layer cushioned insoles

Standard insole

Standard insole

Standard insole

Standard insole

Standard insole

Removable padded insole

Removable insoles

Removable padded insole

Removable padded insole

Removable padded insole

Paded, shaped ‘O FIT’ insole

Standard insole

Standard insole

Standard insole

Break-in Period

Minimal

Minimal

Minimal break in

Minimal

Minimal break in

Minimal break in

Very minimal

Minimal

Minimal

Minimal

Very minimal

Short break in period

Short break in period

Very minimal

Very minimal

Lacing system

Standard laces

Standard laces

Ghillie lacing

Standard lacing system

Traditional laces

Traditional laces

Standard laces

Standard laces

Standard laces

Standard laces

Standard laces

Standard laces

Standard laces

Standard laces

Standard laces

Toe Protection

Rubeerized, semi-rigid toe cap with rubber rand around front section of shoe

Rubber toe rand

Rubber toe rand

Rubber toe rand

Rubber toe rand

Minimal rubber toe rand

Hard but not solid

Rubberized, reinforced, but non-rigid toe and front section

Hard, but not solid, rubber toe cap.

Non-rigid PU ‘TechLite’ toe cap

Hardened rubber toe cap

Reinforced toe

Rubber toe rand and small toe cap

Reinforced toe

Reinforced toe

Conclusion

As you can see, there is a lot to consider when buying hiking shoes and choosing a model that is right for your needs outdoors. Ultimately this is personal choice and you should consider your terrain, your confidence and the type of hiking you do when making your decision. Use our overall guide to the best hiking shoes and also our buying guide to hiking shoes to help you know what to look out for.

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