Granite Gear Dagger 22 Backpack Review
The Granite Gear Dagger 22 is a technical daypack that’s equally at home on the trail, for traveling, or on the campus. It’s organized like Granite Gear’s multi-day backpacks with a long front stretch pocket, side water bottle pockets, and compression straps, only with much less volume. The top opens wide a U-shaped zipper that proves easy access to contents without a lot of searching. If you want a no-fuss backpack for day hiking that can be also be used for more urban pursuits, the Dagger is sure to please.
Granite Gear Dagger 22 Backpack
Comfort
Weight
Suspension
Features
Adjustability
Sizing
Durability
Do-it-all Daypack
The Granite Gear Dagger 22 is a lightweight daypack that's good for carrying your 10 essentials on day hikes. Three deep stretch mesh pockets on the sides and front are good for carrying water bottles or stuffing extra clothes, while compression straps on the exterior let you carry bulky items like snowshoes or trekking poles with ease.
Specs at a Glance
- Volume: 22L
- Weigh: 1 lb 8 oz
- Pockets: 4
- Torso length: 16″-21″
- Type: Panel Loader
- Frame: Plastic Framesheet
- Hip belt: Yes, removable webbing strap
- Hydration compatible: Yes
- Max recommended load: 20 pounds
The Granite Gear Dagger 22 is a lightweight daypack that’s good for carrying your 10 essentials on day hikes. Three deep stretch mesh pockets on the sides and front are good for carrying water bottles or stuffing extra clothes, while compression straps on the exterior let you carry bulky items like snowshoes or trekking poles with ease. The main access point is a U-shaped zipper that opens wide so you can easily find items inside. There’s also a small wallet-sized zippered top pocket accessible from the top of the back behind the shoulder straps. It that’s handy for storing personal items like cards or keys, although a key fob is not supplied.
The Dagger has a webbing style hip belt that is not load-bearing but is designed to hold the pack close to your back so it doesn’t bounce around. The hip belt can be removed if you prefer to hike without one or to use the pack while wearing a climbing harness, while two ice ax loops on the front of the pack can be used to hold ice axes or poles when you want your hands free.
The back panel is lightly padded for comfort while a flexible internal framesheet helps prevent sharp-corner items inside the pack from poking you in the back. The framesheet is accessible from inside the pack and can be removed if you want. I like keeping it in because it makes the backpack easier to pack, especially when I carry a heavy laptop for air and train travel.
The shoulder straps are padded with the same polyethylene foam use to cover the back of the pack. They’re S-shaped with soft interior edges, making the Dagger a good pack for women and men. The shoulder straps are covered with daisy chains, making it easy to hang accessory pockets from them. Long load lifters, which are rare on packs of this volume are also included, which can be useful if you have to overload the pack and need to pull it forward and closer to your torso so it doesn’t pull you backward and off-balance.
Comparable Hiking Daypacks
| Men's Model | Sizing | Women's Model |
|---|---|---|
| Osprey Talon 22 | Adjustable Torso | Osprey Tempest 20 |
| REI Flash 18 | Fixed Length | REI Flash 18 |
| Cotopaxi Batac 24 Del Dia | Fixed Length | Cotopaxi Batac 24 Del Dia |
| TNF Borealis 28 | Fixed Length | TNF Borealis 27 |
| Osprey Stratos 24 | Adjustable Torso | Osprey Sirrus 24 |
| Deuter Speed Lite 21 | Fixed Length | Deuter Speed Lite 21 |
| REI Trail 25 | Fixed Length | REI Trail 25 |
| Gregory Zulu 30 | Adjustable Torso | Gregory Jade 28 |
| Mountainsmith Zerk 25 | Fixed Length | Mountainsmith Zerk 25 |
| Osprey Daylite Plus | Fixed Length | Osprey Daylite Plus |
Recommendation
The Granite Gear Dagger 22 is a great little pack that has the same layout as a multi-day ultralight-style backpack but is lower volume and more convenient to use than a roll-top or a pack with a top lid. The features I like the best are the removable hip belt and the daisy chains on the shoulder straps, which are features you don’t find on a lot of daypacks. I also like how well the pack expands when you fill it up with extra clothes and compress it back again when you pull the side compression straps closed. If you’re used using a larger backpack on weekends but want something smaller for day hikes and commuting, I think you’ll appreciate the Granite Gear Dagger 22 Backpack.
Disclosure: Granite Gear provided the author with a backpack for this review.
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Nice to see a review of this, thanks! I’ve been waiting a while since Granite Gear announced these day packs. Do you happen to have any experience with the roll-top day pack, the Scurry? I’m glad you showed this one with snowshoes on the side as I really want something bigger than my tiny summer day pack for use in the winter.
Not yet. I was surprised by how much the Dagger can carry in terms of external gear, like those snowshoes. I’ve even carried snowshoes and crampons with it at the same time, in addition to all my layers inside.
It can be a challenge finding a good daypack for a long torso. In your opinion, would it be a good fit for someone on the high end of the torso length? I’ve looked at adjustable torso length daypacks but like Granite Gear design.
Torso range doesn’t really matter that much on a pack like this because it doesn’t have a load-bearing hip belt. So yes.
Good size for spring hiking in WMNF when you still need most of your winter gear. Spring 2021, that is. :(
Is this pack compatible with using a hydration bladder?
See the specs at a glance:
->Hydration compatible: Yes
What size reservoir can it fit.
2, 3L
I see you’ve answered this above. Guess I need to read more carefully.
Can you provide a little more detail on the top zipper compartment? Is it the size of the Osprey lined pockets or smaller?
Slightly smaller.
This pack is nice, but literally the after the first few uses the water bottle pocket in mine has torn. I contacted granite gear and they won’t cover because they said it’s not a material defect. I had a 1 liter smart water bottle in there and must’ve set the pack up against a tree or something. Would expect a pack for hiking to have better durability or expect a company like granite gear to back it up. With so many options out there I would recommend going with a different pack. I’m bummed too, granite gear is kind of a MN company and I’m from there
Yeah. I feel your pain. Wrecked my car and Ford won’t replace it! I’ll never buy a Ford again.
Like if your ford just fell apart driving on a normal road would be a better analogy.
Hi Phillip can you tell me what pocket your using on the straps please
https://www.hyperlitemountaingear.com/collections/accessories/products/shoulder-pocket
Thanks