Day Owl Backpack vs Day Owl Slim - Ultimate Comparison
Which Day Owl backpack is best for daily carry? Is the Day Owl Slim too small? We answer these questions and more in this side-by-side Day Owl comparison.
We have had the privilege of using both backpacks for two years at the time of this comparison and have some great insights on both. Our real life takeaway is that we love the Day Owl Slim as a personal item backpack for airline travel and the Day Owl Backpack more for everyday carry but we will let you be the judge on which backpack is best for your needs by comparing the pockets, main compartments overall functionality.
Video Review
Quick Specs
 |
 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Volume | 21L | 13L |
| Materials | Recycled waxed canvas | Recycled waxed canvas |
| Dimensions | 17” (H) x 12” (W) x 5” (D) | 15.5” (H) x 11” (W) x 3.5” (D) |
| Weight | 2.4lbs | 2lbs |
| Laptop Compartment | Up to 16" | Up to 14" |
| Water Bottle Pocket | Yes | Yes |
| Chest Strap | No | No |
| Price |
Size: Day Owl Backpack vs Day Owl Slim
Size and Fit: Day Owl Backpack vs Day Owl Slim
Exterior Dimensions:
Day Owl Backpack: 17" x 12" x 5” (up to 6.5” fully packed)
Day Owl Slim: 15.5" x 11" x 3.5” (up to 5” fully packed)
We should start out by pointing out that the regular Day Owl Backpack is not a bulky backpack to begin with. Its slim profile is a hallmark its minimalist look. With that being said, the regular Day Owl should fit most people just fine.
As the name implies, the Day Owl Slim is, you guessed it, slimmer! We found that the regular Day Owl gives you almost 6.5-inches in depth while the Slim comes in at 5-inches. Note: these measurements were taken when both backpacks were fully packed out with a laptop, full main compartment and a notebook in the front pocket. You’re actual depth measurements depends on what you pack inside!
Day Owl Backpack vs Day Owl Slim side by side
In addition to being slimmer, the Day Owl Slim will give you an overall smaller height and is slightly narrower in width. Overall, the Day Owl Slim will better suit people who usually find most backpacks too bulky on the back or those with shorter torsos who worry about the Day Owl Backpack being too long.
The shoulder straps on the Day Owl Slim are also going to be slightly narrower and overall smaller. So those with wider shoulders or a bulkier frame may find the Day Owl more accommodating overall.
Materials and Construction
Both the Day Owl Backpack and the Slim offer a near-identical construction. The bags are crafted with the same First Mile recycled wax canvas material, complemented by metal zippers and hardware.
We've had the opportunity to use these backpacks for two years leading up to this comparison, which should give the you some added insight into how the waxed canvas ages.
The full-sized Day Owl Backpack is in the Pale Olive color while the Day Owl Slim is Dawn Grey. The way that waxed canvas ages is unlike other fabrics; the more the bag is used, the more of a unique patina develops.
You can see how the Pale Olive color has visible patina marks while the light Dawn Grey color does a better job at hiding any marks that have developed on the wax canvas.
Day Owl vs Slim: Exterior Pockets
The first thing you should know is that although the Day Owl Backpack and Slim share most of the same pockets, the pockets on the Slim are much smaller.
Day Owl Backpack vs Day Owl Slim: Both have most of the same exterior pockets.
The size difference can be best seen in the spill-resistant water bottle pockets. While both models can fit a wine bottle, the Day Owl Slim is restricted to slimmer water bottles, such as the 24oz Hydroflask bottle show in the photos. The full-size Day Owl Backpack however, can fit larger 32oz or 40oz bottles inside the water bottle pocket just fine.
Both the Day Owl and the Slim feature a flat front pocket and a top pocket but the Slim is missing the hidden side pocket.
Day Owl Backpack vs Day Owl Slim: The Slim is missing the hidden side pocket
A huge difference worth noting is that the Day Owl Backpack has two different spots for storing phone: the top pocket and the hidden side pocket. Unfortunately, the Day Owl Slim is missing the side pocket and the top pocket is too small to fit a phone. This is where the smaller pockets on the Day Owl Slim starts to feel like a downgrade. Aside from the front pocket, items like a phone, passport or portable power bank don’t really have a home on the outside of the bag and as a result you have less quick-access to these items when compared to the original Day Owl Backpack.
Laptop Compartments
For many, the real deciding factor will be the size of the laptop compartment in each backpack. The original Day Owl Backpack can fit a laptop up to a 16-inch Macbook while the Day Owl Slim is limited to a laptop up to 14-inches.
The Day Owl can fit up to a 16-inch laptop while the Slim can fit up to a 14-inch laptop.
In our testing we found that although the Day Owl Slim can fit a 14-inch PC, it’s a tight fit with the corners of the laptop coming uncomfortably close to the top of the pocket. For extra peace of mind, we do recommend just upgrading to the full-sized Day Owl Backpack if you have a 14-inch PC for that extra protection. The Day Owl Slim is really ideal for 13-inch laptops and tablets (in fact, it’s one of our favorite tablet backpacks), since these smaller devices comfortably fit inside.
It’s worth noting that both laptop compartments are well-padded. Although neither provide a raised false-bottom, there is a thick piece of foam at the bottom of each laptop pocket to protect your device from bumps and drops. In our two years of using these backpacks for travel and daily carry, the laptop protection has always been reliable.
What Fits Inside Each Backpack?
Day Owl Capacity:
Day Owl Backpack: 21L
Day Owl Slim: 13L
The Day Owl Backpack offers a capacity of 21L, significantly more than the 13L of the Day Owl Slim. What we have always loved about both backpacks is that the main compartment has a clamshell design for easy packing and unpacking.
Both backpacks can fit a change of clothes but the Day Owl Backpack can hold an extra pair of sneakers.
The most important fact to know here is that both the water bottle and top pocket take up room on the inside of the main compartments when they are packed. This isn’t a big deal with the larger Day Owl Backpack but with the Slim it starts to really effect the already limited packing space.
Both backpacks can fit items like folder, binders and notebooks but the Day Owl Slim won’t fit these items if you have a water bottle inside the pocket.
Notebooks and folders fit inside the Day Owl Slim as long as you don’t use the side water bottle pocket.
This difference impacts what you can carry. The Day Owl Backpack can handle bulkier items like lunch boxes, large notebooks, or even a camera cube, while the Slim is more suited for smaller items small notebooks, pouches and tech accessories.
Which Day Owl Size Should You Buy?
Day Owl Backpack
Day Owl Slim
Choose the Day Owl Backpack if… you need more space for larger items such as a lunch box, camera cube or large binders and notebooks. We prefer the Day Owl Backpack as a school and overnight travel bag for its roomy interior and exterior pockets. You should go with the Day Owl if you have a laptop larger than 14-inches or if you carry larger water bottles.
Choose the Day Owl Slim if… you only need a small daypack for essentials. The compact size makes it great for people with shorter torsos who find many other backpacks too bulky. We also love the Day Owl Slim as a travel backpack! It’s great for carrying in-flight essentials and has been small enough to be used as an underseat personal item on on every flight we have taken it on.
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