Daypack
Deuter AC Lite 16
$100, 16L/976 c.i., 1 lb. 14.7 oz./870g
One non-adjustable size in men’s and SL/women’s models
summithut.com
On dayhikes of up to several miles, including a hike up and down the West Rim Trail in Zion National Park and a peak in my local foothills with 2,000 feet of vertical in just over two miles, I found Deuter’s AC Lite 16 quite comfortable with the type of loads that many dayhikers do not exceed. Plus, this daypack has a design and basic feature set that will please many hikers as much as its price.
One of the latest versions in Deuter’s AC Lite series, at under two pounds, the AC Lite 16 is a middleweight among daypacks that offer the support for carrying up to about 15 pounds/6.8 kilos comfortably, thanks to a spring steel perimeter frame that gives the pack some rigidity and helps transfer most of the weight to your hips.
Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-books to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.
The AC Lite packs stand out most distinctively for Deuter’s Aircomfort harness and suspension, which features a pronounced curve that creates enough separation to slip a fist in between the tensioned trampoline-style back panel and the back side of the pack bag. That’s about as much ventilation as you’ll find in a daypack, maximizing air flow over a sweaty back.
Deuter makes each of the AC Lite packs in just one fixed, non-adjustable size, designed to fit torsos measuring 17 to 21 inches/44-54 centimeters, and one size each in the AC Lite SL, built for torsos measuring 15 to 19 inches/38-48 centimeters—ostensibly for women, although some men will find a better fit in an SL and some women will be better off with a standard AC Lite pack. With an 18-inch torso, 38-inch chest, and 30-inch waist, I found the AC Lite 16 fits me well, even though I might wear a small or medium pack from other brands. Short story: The fit is determined by your torso size, not your gender.
Find your next adventure in your Inbox. Sign up now for my FREE email newsletter.
This top-loading pack’s main compartment closes with a drawcord and a one-buckle lid. The tradeoff of daypacks with a curved shaped to the frame is that it takes a bit of a bite out of the interior space. I found that using a two-liter bladder in the AC Lite 16—what it’s designed for—still leaves good space in the main compartment for what most hikers need on most dayhikes: Besides two liters of water, I fit all the food and layers I needed for hiking several miles up and down Zion’s West Rim Trail on a cloudy, cool, windy day, which delivered rain showers (as expected) on my descent, as well as my DSLR camera. But when I squeezed a full three-liter bladder inside—which barely fit in the bladder sleeve—that greatly limited cargo space in the main compartment.
The takeaway: The AC Lite 16 is designed for light outings that do not require a combination of three liters of water plus extra food and clothing or other gear. If you need ample space, size up to Deuter’s AC Lite 24 or AC Lite 22 SL.
The minimalist design features just three exterior pockets: a zippered lid pocket, a stretch-mesh side pocket large enough to fit a liter bottle, plus a zippered pocket on the other side that Deuter calls a cell phone pocket but can obviously be used for other small items. I like that you can reach those side pockets while wearing the pack. There’s another zippered pocket under the lid. But the AC Lite packs lack a front stuff pocket, hipbelt pockets, and side compression straps.
I can help you plan the best backpacking, hiking, or family adventure of your life.
Click here now to learn more.
There are convenient gear loops for attaching trekking poles to the outside of the pack and docking loops on the front to accommodate a mesh helmet holder (sold separately) for cyclists/bike commuters. The included detachable rain cover kept my pack’s contents dry through the rain showers in Zion.
The 210-denier polyamide fabric in the pack body and highly durable 600-denier polyester fabric in the bottom are abrasion-resistant, 50 percent recycled, and Bluesign approved.
Others models in the series are the AC Lite 24, AC Lite 14 SL and 22 SL, and the AC Lite 24 and 22 SL Hydro, which both come with a two-liter bladder.
You live for the outdoors. The Big Outside helps you get out there.
Join now to read ALL stories and get a free e-book!
Deuter AC Lite 16
The Verdict
While there are lighter daypacks that carry as much weight comfortably and have more features, The Deuter AC Lite 16 and AC Lite 14 SL will appeal to many dayhikers who want a pack with quick access, superior ventilation, comfort, and durability, and don’t require high capacity.
BUY IT NOW
You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a Deuter AC Lite 23, AC Lite 21 SL, or another AC Lite model at summithut.com, backcountry.com, or rei.com.
See my picks for “The 10 Best Hiking Daypacks” and my “5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpack” (which includes daypacks) and all reviews of hiking gear at The Big Outside.
You may also be interested in my “8 Pro Tips for Preventing Blisters When Hiking,” my picks for “The Best Trekking Poles,” and my story “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be,” which you can read in its entirety with a paid subscription to The Big Outside or click here to purchase separately.
NOTE: I reviewed gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of all gear reviews and expert buying tips.
—Michael Lanza