I was super lucky and won this Marmot Diva daypack on a MatadorNetwork contest! I’ve been using it quite a bit, primarily for long day hikes (including on my 17 hour hike up to the top of Mt. Whitney in the Sierra Nevadas), as well as snowshoe day trips.
Because it is slightly larger than most daypacks (it is 35L vs. 30L), and because it is a top loading daypack, rather than a panel loading daypack, there is plenty of room for lots of gear. It is on the large side for shorter day trips, but it is great for full day hikes and winter travel!
What I particularly like about the Marmot Women’s Diva is:
- It is definitely a woman specific pack – it fits me well because the waistbelt is designed to fit on a woman’s hips, the shoulder straps are contoured and narrow, and the sternum strap is adjustable.
- Great waist belt pocket. I would prefer that it had 2 waistbelt pockets, but on the right side there is a waist rack, which is where you can attach other gear. There are lots of loops and straps, including a specially designed ice axe pocket.
I finally got a chance to test out to convenience of the ice axe pocket, and all I can say is that my mountaineering friends are quite jealous!! 
I took a snow skills course, and now bought my own ice axe and have been using it a lot the last 2 months, including on a recent trip up Mt. Baldy in Southern California (I hiked with friends straight up the Baldy Bowl!)
