Exped Skyline 20 Review: Impressive Newcomer
The Exped Skyline 20 ($160) is a well-engineered daypack with smart organization, impressive water resistance, and solid durability—all while offering a comfortable carry. While it’s not the lightest option on the market, its slim, body-hugging profile keeps it feeling manageable on your back, even when fully loaded. It’s a great choice for those who want a thoughtfully built, comfortable pack without the bulk of models with more rigid, heavy-duty harness systems.
Comfort & Support
Organization
Weight
Durability
Water Resistance
Sustainability
Weight
2 lb.
Hipbelt
Mesh
Suspension
Framesheet
Fabric
450D & 300D Polyester
Capacities
12, 20, 30, 45L
Pros
Cons
Exped Skyline 20
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Hiking Daypacks.
The Exped Skyline 20 strikes a nice balance between support and not feeling overly built or bulky, making it one of the more comfortable daypacks I’ve used for long trail days. The shoulder straps are relatively thin, with about a third of an inch of padding, but they felt sufficient for a pack this size. The hipbelt follows a similarly pared-down approach. It’s made from unstructured mesh and doesn’t offer as much load transfer compared to more padded options like those on the Gregory Zulu 24 LT, but I still found it useful for stabilizing the pack. Contrasting that is the backpanel, which features a thick polyethylene foam board paired with a framesheet across the upper portion. Even when packed to the gills, that pack felt well-supported, and I didn’t experience any pressure points or barreling.
The Exped Skyline 20 lists a 20-pound load limit, and that felt accurate in my testing. On a 12-mile hike with 2,400 feet of elevation gain up Mount Pacifico along the Pacific Crest Trail, I was carrying roughly that amount (water, snacks, layers, camera, and more) and started to feel some mid-back soreness toward the end. Luckily, adjusting the load lifters and sternum strap helped ease some of that discomfort, but I wouldn’t want to push much beyond that weight. Still, compared to other packs I’ve used, like the REI Co-op Trail 25, the Skyline 20 moves with me better and feels more like a natural extension of my body.
Ventilation is another highlight. The Skyline 20’s Air Flow back system incorporates channels into the backpanel to promote airflow, and while I still worked up a sweat on hot Southern California hikes, it was noticeably better than with packs featuring flat, unventilated pieces of fabric. As long as you keep loads within its comfort range, it delivers continued comfort, even on long, all-day trails.
The Skyline 20 has one of the most thoughtfully designed layouts I’ve used, offering ample storage without overdoing it. That starts with access to the main compartment: its zipper runs the full length of one side, making it easy to grab gear buried deep in the pack without digging through everything. Inside, there’s also a zippered mesh pocket where I stored small items like my wallet and sunglasses case, along with an elastic sleeve along the side that worked well for bulkier items like a larger tube of sunscreen.
On the outside, there’s a dorsal shove-it pocket that worked well for quick-access items like my wind jacket or a guidebook. I also liked the elastic pocket on the left shoulder strap, which fit my iPhone 13 Pro perfectly, and the zippered hipbelt pocket for easy access to my lip balm. Up top is a zippered mesh pocket with a key clip for quick-access essentials—I kept snacks and hand sanitizer there. Plus, there’s a bottom pocket that houses the rain cover, an external sleeve with a hook-and-loop fastener for a hydration reservoir, and trekking pole attachments. The only minor gripe I have is with the two elastic side pockets. While they fit my 1.18L Hydro Flask easily, I couldn’t reach the bottle while hiking, so I had to take the pack off whenever I wanted a drink.
Beyond the pockets, there are a couple of smaller details worth pointing out. The hook-and-loop strap keepers are a nice touch that helps manage any excess webbing, but you have to undo them when making major adjustments. I also appreciated the ability to tuck the hipbelt away when not in use, which helped streamline the pack on shorter hikes. Overall, I was a big fan of the layout: it has a place for everything without ever feeling cluttered or bulky.
I tested the Skyline 20 in size S/M, which weighs 2 pounds (or 1 lb. 11.9 oz. without its removable components). That puts it squarely in the average range for hiking daypacks. I’ve used much lighter packs like the REI Co-op Flash 18 (9.5 oz.), but that comes at the cost of structure, support, and overall organization. On the flip side, there are heavier, more padded options like the Zulu 24 LT (2 lb. 4.8 oz.), but those also come with a bulkier frame. Even something like the REI Co-op Trail 25, while 3 ounces lighter, feels heftier on the back, which speaks to how streamlined the Skyline 20 feels in use. While it’s not feather-light, the weight feels well justified. Between the supportive backpanel, useful feature set, and overall comfort, I never found its weight burdensome on trail—even on long, all-day hikes.
The Exped Skyline 20 stands out as a notably durable pack, thanks in large part to its use of 450-denier and 300-denier PU-coated polyester fabrics. That puts it among the most rugged options in this category, including packs like the Zulu 24 LT (400-denier polyester and 420-denier nylon) and the Osprey Sportlite 25 (210- and 420-denier nylon), which use similarly robust materials.
Beyond the fabric, the overall build quality feels high-end. From the stitching to the zippers, buckles, and clips, everything felt solid right out of the gate and built to withstand regular use. Over roughly 100 miles of hiking and three months of use—including well-maintained trails, rougher overgrown routes, and even some light off-trail travel—the pack has held up without issue. I’ve used it across a range of environments, from mountain hikes to desert trails, coastal outings, and even a weekend of snowboarding, and it’s handled it all with only minor dirt scuffs. It’s clear that this pack can take its fair share of punches.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the Skyline 20 also excels in water resistance. Between its PU-coated, thick polyester fabric and included rain cover, you get a reliable level of protection, and I never felt concerned about my gear getting soaked. Should the weather turn unexpectedly, the rain cover is easy to access in its dedicated pocket at the base of the pack.
Most of my testing took place in typical Southern California conditions—sunny, dry, and occasionally windy—but I did get a chance to really push it on a snowboarding trip to Mammoth Mountain. Over that weekend, I dealt with snowfall and strong winds, with gusts reaching around 35 mph. The pack was consistently exposed to snow that eventually melted, but everything inside stayed dry. All told, the Skyline 20 offers a reassuring level of weather resistance that should hold up well in rain, snow, or anything in between.
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Longevity
Choosing durable outdoor gear and keeping it in use for longer is one of the best ways to reduce environmental impact. Our proprietary longevity rating assesses factors like overall build quality, materials, fabric denier, component durability, and real-world performance. A green check indicates that we expect the product to be long-lasting relative to its peers, a yellow check mark indicates average longevity, and a red X indicates a product that may have a limited lifespan.
PFAS-Free DWR
Durable water-repellent (DWR) finishes can contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These highly persistent “forever chemicals” are used in outdoor gear for their strong resistance to water, oil, and heat, but are linked to environmental contamination and a range of health concerns. A green check mark indicates the product uses a PFAS-free DWR, while a red X means the DWR contains PFAS.
Recycled Materials
Recycled materials are prevalent in outdoor gear, with nylon, polyester, wool, and down among the most common, but the composition varies widely. A green check mark indicates the product is made with a substantial amount of recycled materials (100% recycled or the core fabric that makes up most of the product is recycled), a yellow check means it contains a moderate to small amount of recycled materials, while a red X means there are no recycled materials in the product.
Bluesign Approved
Bluesign Technologies, based in Switzerland, operates a third-party textile management system that ensures materials are manufactured to strict environmental, chemical, and worker safety standards. A green check mark indicates a product is either a Bluesign Product (contains at least 90% Bluesign-approved fabrics and 20-30% Bluesign-approved accessories) or features a significant amount of Bluesign-approved materials. A yellow check mark means it uses some Bluesign-approved materials but less than the aforementioned category, and a red X means there are no Bluesign-approved materials in the product.
Responsible Manufacturing
This criterion evaluates a brand’s commitment to fair wages, safe working conditions, and reducing environmental impact through certifications and programs like Fair Trade Certified, Fair Wear Foundation, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), and the Fair Labor Association, while also recognizing brands that manufacture primarily in the U.S. or Europe under strict labor and environmental regulations. A green check mark indicates a brand meets our responsible manufacturing criteria, while a red X means it does not.
Recycled and/or Reduced Packaging
Packaging can add significant waste to outdoor gear purchases, so many brands work to reduce its impact by using recycled materials, incorporating Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper products, and minimizing plastic and paper use. A green check mark indicates a brand uses recycled or reduced materials across all of its packaging, a yellow check indicates moderate or limited use of recycled or reduced packaging, and a red X indicates the brand does not make either of these efforts.
Repair Services
Repair services extend the lifespan of outdoor gear and reduce overall consumption, though programs vary widely. Some brands offer comprehensive repairs for a range of issues, while others provide limited or no repair support. A green check mark indicates a robust repair program, a yellow check mark indicates limited repair services, and a red X indicates the brand does not offer repair services.
Resale and/or Recycling Services
Resale and recycling programs help keep outdoor gear in circulation longer and out of landfills, ranging from trade-in resale platforms that offer store credit to take-back initiatives that recycle products at the end of their usable life. A green check mark indicates a brand offers both resale and recycling programs, a yellow check mark indicates it offers one or the two, and a red X indicates it offers neither.
Carbon Footprint Tracking
This criterion evaluates whether a brand measures, reports, and works to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions using established frameworks such as the Higg Index, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or The Change Climate Project. A green check mark indicates a brand publicly reports greenhouse gas emissions data, sets clearly defined reduction targets, and uses established tracking frameworks such as Higg or The Change Climate Project. A yellow check mark indicates the brand tracks emissions and outlines reduction goals but provides limited data, lacks science-based verification, or does not clearly report progress. A red X indicates the brand does not appear to track greenhouse gas emissions or provides so little information that its efforts cannot be verified.
Annual Impact Report
Annual impact reports provide transparency and accountability by outlining a brand’s sustainability efforts across areas such as material sourcing, greenhouse gas emissions, waste, water use, supply chains, and packaging. A green check mark indicates a brand publishes a detailed, brand-specific impact report that closely aligns with our sustainability criteria and leaves little room for ambiguity. A yellow check indicates a brand provides some relevant sustainability reporting but lacks detail in key areas or is covered only briefly within a parent company report. A red X indicates a brand does not regularly publish an impact report.
The Exped Skyline 20 in size S/M that I tested is designed for torso lengths between 16.9 and 20.1 inches. With my roughly 19.5-inch torso, the pack fit well overall. The shoulder straps and backpanel hugged my body nicely and stayed in place while hiking. The only minor fit issue I noticed was with the hipbelt, which sat slightly higher on my waist than I would have preferred. It wasn’t a major problem—especially since I often tucked it away on shorter hikes—but it was noticeable on longer outings. Exped also offers the pack in size M/L (19.3 to 22.4 inches), which I suspect would have positioned the hipbelt a bit better for me.
While the pack doesn’t feature adjustable torso length, dialing in the fit is still straightforward. The shoulder straps and hipbelt adjust easily via pull straps, and you can fine-tune the sternum strap height along rails on both shoulder straps.
Osprey Talon 22 ($175): A More Structured Design
If you’re looking for another versatile daypack with a bit more structure, consider spending the extra $10 on the Osprey Talon 22. Its suspension system—complete with a padded hipbelt rather than the Skyline 20’s unstructured mesh—offers better load transfer and can comfortably handle heavier weights. In terms of organization, both packs offer plenty of pockets, though each has a unique feature: the Talon 22 has a helmet carry system, while the Skyline features a shoulder-strap mesh sleeve. The Talon lacks a rain cover, and its 100-denier nylon body isn’t as durable as the Skyline. A decision between the two should come down to whether or not the Talon’s extra padding and structure are worth the added cost and weight. For more, read our review of the Osprey Talon 22.
Gregory Miko 20 ($160): From the Sidewalk to the Trail
Like the Skyline, the Gregory Miko 20 (women’s Maya) appeals to those looking for a well-organized daypack without the bulk of a fully built-out suspension system. You’ll find plenty of pockets and sleeves on each, though the Miko 20’s hydration sleeve does a better job doubling as a laptop compartment, making it slightly better suited for frontcountry use. When it comes to the rigors of the outdoors, though, the Skyline 20 should hold up longer, thanks to its thicker fabrics. The Miko also doesn’t include a rain cover, leaving you more vulnerable in wet weather. With identical $160 price tags, the Skyline 20 is the better pick if you plan to use it primarily in the backcountry, while the Miko 20 makes more sense if you expect to mix in urban travel. For more, check out our review of the women’s Maya 20.
The Skyline 20 combines smart organization, a body-conforming backpanel, and impressive durability and stormworthiness into a sleek package. The padding is on the minimalist side, but as long as you don’t overload it, this pack is an excellent hiking all-rounder.
Comfort & Support
Organization
Weight
Durability
Water Resistance
Sustainability
The Talon 22 is a do-all pack, up for everything from summit scrambles to biking around town. It offers both reliable comfort and versatile organization. While there are lighter, more supportive, and more specialized models, this is a great all-rounder for general outdoor use.
Comfort & Support
Organization
Weight
Durability
Water Resistance
Sustainability
The Miko is a simple yet technical daypack done right. It hits all the right notes for light-load hiking, and it’s versatile enough for backcountry and commuting use. However, other packs offer more impressive features for about the same price.
Comfort & Support
Organization
Weight
Durability
Water Resistance
Sustainability
Is the Skyline 20 for You?
The Exped Skyline 20 has wide appeal for day hikers, thanks to its close-fitting, comfortable design, standout organization, and ample ventilation. For anything from half-day trips to extended and more ambitious adventures, the pack has proven to be a great match. If you like a lot of padding and structure, we’d steer you elsewhere; otherwise, the Skyline 20 deserves a spot on your short list as a do-it-all option.
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