Urban Daypacks: A Look at the Jansport Odyssey 39

There are many daypacks to choose from. I purchased the Jansport Odyssey 39 and here are is my review of this excellent backpack. The Jansport daypack is fairly big. Not what you expect in the old days of the simple two pocket school backpacks. This daypack has 39 liters or storage (hence the name Odyssey 39). There's different style of daypacks. I would consider this an "urban" daypack because it functions as a camping daypack yet it is very stylish and it can be worn by a college student and not look like he/she is going to attack the trails. Basically, a daypack is a large bookbag that can store things that would last you a day in the wilderness. Let's talk about some features you would expect.

The Odyssey features 5 main compartments. 2 main compartments, 2 mid-size compartments, 1 small compartment, and 1 hydration compartment. The back of the daypack has a ventilation system that reduces sweat and allows some air to flow between your back and the daypack. This uban daypack is equipped with a sternum strap that is adjustable. My Jansport Odyssey is also equipped with a nice waist strap. What's nice about this daypack, you can tuck the waist straps into little pockets so they would be out of sight and out of mind if you don't like them. It's a pretty neat feature. The hydration compartment is big enough to fit my Camelbak 100oz Unbottle when it's slightly tilted. The shoulder straps have elatic tie downs that help keep the water hose from my Camelbak secure and in place. There are 2 water bottle holders on both sides which is nice. 39 liters of space is huge. If you are a college student or just someone looking for a nice daypack, there is more then enough room for your laptop, water bottles, a few books and maybe some snacks.

Price and Competition

I purchased my Odyssey for about $120 which is the going price for a good daypack. I was looking at some other daypack before I committed to the Jansport. One of my prospects was a North Face Recon. I loved the looks but I did not dig the cheaper quality waist straps. It wasn't as nice as the Odyssey's. The Jansport Odyssey also had more room than the Recon. Ultimately, these 2 differences was the deciding factor for me. The price was right and Jansport offers a lifetime warranty! Sounds good right?

"Our warranty applies when the product is used for the purpose intended, under normal conditions, and does not apply to damages caused by typical wear and tear over time, unreasonable use, accidents or neglect."

Hmm. That warranty sounds a bit vague but okay. I don't see my urban daypack failing me any time soon. In fact, I think it will last me a good 5 years depending on how well I take care of it.

The shoulder straps have to be adjusted often as they tend to slip. This is somwhat annoying. I also notice that theback frame tends to flex on heavy loads. Maybe this is part of the ventilation design, letting more air in. I am not sure. Doesn't bother me as much. Overall, I am very happy with this urban daypack. It has tons of space, it's stylish, and it performs it's function very well. I can see it holding a laptop, some books, a water bottle and some snacks with no problem. For me, I carry some extra clothes, extra socks, a water bottle, a dry bottle for snacks. my flashlight, my multitools, pens, rain pants, etc and so on. The list goes on. For me, the Jansport Odyssey daypack is perfect. It does everything I expect from a backpack and it goes beyond my expectations. I paid around $120 for this. It was $120 well spent!