Choosing a Daypack: 5 Tips
When it comes to shopping for a day-pack, there are a ton of different options with different features depending on the type of activities that you plan use it for.
In this article I’ll give you the five main criteria I used to select my daypack in addition to a few BONUS features to look for so you can decide what’s right for you.
When you start researching online it's easy to get overwhelmed, especially if you don't have a solid understanding of what your options are. There are a few determining factors that I used to narrow down my options before I bought my daypack:
1. Sternum Strap
This feature helps with stability and weight distribution, and can be adjusted to match your comfort level. When I am hiking downhill I often loosen my shoulder straps to keep my center of gravity further back, but since I don't want the pack to flop around, I find that tightening the sternum strap really helps prevent the pack from shifting around too much.
2. Hip-Belt
The second feature I look for in a pack is a hip-belt. This is especially important for larger packs but it applies to daypacks as well. Like the sternum strap, a hip-belt does help keep the pack close to your body but that’s not it's primary purpose. If you tighten the hip belt just above your hip bone and loosen the shoulder straps, you’ll notice that most of the pack’s weight is resting on your hips, not your back. When you do this the shoulder straps transition to the secondary role of keeping the pack up against your back instead of forcing you to carry all the weight on your shoulders and back. This way you save energy by using your legs to carry most of the weight.
Some hip belts offer more comfort and support than others. Their construction ranges from simple nylon straps to more elaborate padded support systems, usually depending on the size and intended purpose of the pack.
3. Hydration Bladder compatibility
The third feature to look for in a daypack is hydration bladder compatibility. Even though most packs have side pockets for water bottles, many have additional features that support the use of a hydration bladder like this one from CamelBak.
This feature shouldn't be a dealbreaker if you prefer using a bottle to a bladder. I tend to prefer bottles for overnight excursions since I’ll usually need to collect and filter water a couple times per day and it's a lot easier to filter water into a bottle that can stand up on it's own as opposed to a bladder that's harder to hold open with one hand. But for shorter day-hikes, I prefer to just fill up either my two or three liter bladder in the morning so I don't have to refill as often.
Packs with bladder compatibility usually come with three elements.
A pocket for the bladder, that keeps it separate from the rest of your pack so it's out of the way if you need to look for something. A full water bladder is often going to be the heaviest thing in your pack, the pocket helps you keep that weight close to your body so it's easier to carry.
A hole that you can thread the hose through, which wont wear it down as fast as it would if it was rubbing on a zipper.
And last, a loop or strap to secure the hose to your shoulder strap so it doesn't flop around.
4. Pack-Frame
The fourth feature to look for is a pack frame. Pack frames date way back through history. There are a few different classifications of pack-frames in modern backpacks but for the purposes of this review all you need to know is that backpacks that have frames are able to support and distribute weight much more effectively than backpacks with no frame.
5. Suspended Mesh Back Panel
The fifth feature you should look for is a suspended mesh back panel. This feature allows air to circulate between the pack and your back so you don't get as sweaty. I gotta say that if I had to give up all these features but one, this is the one I would keep. I can’t say I don’t sweat as much, but at least I don’t soak everything inside the pack anymore.
Truth be told, most of the time I’m out hiking I’d rather not wear a pack at all. Packs are uncomfortable, they weigh you down and gnaw at your back and shoulders. Unfortunately, the nature of venturing out to do the things we like to do come with certain necessary evils that we just have to deal with, like carrying food and water, carrying dry clothes to change into, carrying an extra layer or two. For me that also means carrying camera gear. And the best way to do all this is to put it all in a sack and throw it over your shoulder. The point is that I will take any and every opportunity I can to make that process more comfortable for myself. And so far, the suspended mesh back is the feature that contributed most to that goal.
This feature is only present in packs that have frames, but keep in mind that not all packs with frames have a suspended mesh back. So even if you get a pack with an internal frame that doesn't do as much to increase the airflow, the support and weight distribution that the frame provides, helps you conserve energy and is therefore still better than a pack with no frame.
BONUS TIPS:
So now that you know my quote-unquote “dealbreaker features” I want to talk about a few other BONUS features to look for to help you narrow down your options even further.
Starting with…
6. Hip-Belt Pockets
Keeping stuff in your pants pockets can get really annoying and decrease your range of motion when hiking, climbing or biking. So pockets on a hip belt become pretty useful for keeping the stuff you need quick access to close-at-hand while keeping them out of the way so you can maintain a consistent, unrestricted stride.
When I hike I like to keep a snack in one side and this phone lens (Moment Lens) and a small lighter on the other side. But when I’m in town I keep my phone charger and headphones on one side and some double and AAA batteries on the other, but they can really be used for anything, and they’re especially useful for storing the smaller items you want access to without having to take off the pack.
The only time I’d advise against getting a pack with hip-belt pockets is if you ride a bike more than you hike, especially those hard core racing bikes where your knees get close to your chest. First, when you race bikes the idea is to be as streamlined as possible and the hipbelt pockets will create a bit of drag. And second, if your doubled over, repeatedly pounding your knees into your chest, you won’t want anything inhibiting that range of motion.
7. Rain Cover
As we know from the bit about sweating through my backpack, most of the materials are not waterproof. So my next feature to look for in a day-pack is a rain cover. They do sell these separately, so I don’t think this should be a dealbreaker feature. But I will say that buying a pack with a built-in rainfly is often more convenient. First, it’s just less work. If you don't have to find a rain fly that fits your pack, that's just one one less thing… (forrest Gump). Second, a rain fly that's designed to fit your specific pack is going to stay on more securely than one made by a third party company. And third, when a pack comes with a rainfly it often has its own storage space so you are less likely to forget it at home, and you’ll never have to stuff a wet rain cover in with all the stuff you want to keep dry.
8. Load Lifters
The last BONUS feature to look for in a pack are load lifters. These are typically found on larger packs and are used to help distribute weight. When I do overnight hikes with my Osprey Exos 58 I notice the load lifter’s benefit most when hiking either up or down a steep hill. Similar to what I mentioned in the section about sternum straps, when I am ascending, I tighten them so the weight is closer to my back. This drives my center of gravity forward. And I loosen the straps when I descend which drives my center of gravity backwards. I do this so that my default lean, so to speak, is always pulling me towards the hill. This way if I fall or lose my balance, I’m less likely to injure myself.
Think about a staircase. If you're walking up, it's much safer to fall forward onto the steps than it is to fall backwards off the steps. Similarly if you're walking down the stairs, it's much safer to fall back on the stairs than to fall forward off the stairs.
That’s really all there is to it.
I want to wish a very warm welcome to those of you who are new to the site. If this is the first article of mine that you’ve read, I just want to let you know that I also make travel guides in addition to gear guides like this one.
I just wrapped up a video series on a ten-day, car-camping, road-trip around the ring road in Iceland. The reason I bring this up is because I used my Deuter Airlite 22 every day of that trip. So if you’d like some examples of situations that this pack has had to endure, or you just wanna learn about exciting new places, via your’s truly, then that Iceland Travel Guide should suit you quite nicely.
If you’re looking for new gear
Don't let the small details stress you out.
Remember, life’s an adventure.
So relax, breathe in the outdoors, and don't forget to appreciate the finer things in life.
See you out there, people.
Peace.