The 10 litres holds the essentials: a wallet, a water bottle, a folded jacket, and a book. It's the compact size for outings, cycling, and kids. Our category includes small backpacks.
A backpack 10 litres can hold a water bottle, a wallet, a light jacket, and a small book, nothing more. It's the right size for outings, bike rides, and kids, and shouldn't be confused with a school bag. A laptop almost never fits in it; you'd need 20 litres for that.
The capacity is better understood by what it excludes. No upright A4 folders, no rigid toiletry bags, no shoes. However, a 10-litre backpack stays snug against your back when you run or pedal, which is exactly its purpose. A small 10-litre backpack is mainly distinguished by the length of the straps and the height of the back.
At this size, stability is more important than volume. A chest strap is enough to stop the straps from slipping, a zipped pocket on the front replaces the secondary compartment, and a water-repellent fabric avoids the need to get out a rain cover. A 10-litre backpack sits high on the back and never at the level of the hips. Dakine, adidas, and Nike provide the essentials of this capacity, while Loungefly and Karactermania add licensed models.
Three markers are better than a stated size: the width of the back, which should not exceed the shoulders, the padding of the straps, and the empty weight. A 10-litre city backpack is suitable for a child who only carries a snack and a water bottle; as soon as a large notebook comes into play, the capacity becomes insufficient. Safta and Karactermania cover this need well.
A 10-litre insulated backpack serves a different purpose: the thermal lining takes up space and reduces the useful volume.