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Hello, I am looking to get a daypack to use when travelling the world later this year, and am after some recommendations in terms of features to look for. I am a novice traveller/trekker, so please feel free to state the obvious!
In terms of comfort, I'm guessing adaptability is a key, but what's the best system to ensure good-fit (feel free to name brands).
If you are travelling the best feature in a daypack is the ability to stick it easily inside your other luggage. For this reason I've given up on things with built in padding, structs, frames, mesh air-flo whathaveyous.
A light bag with shoulder straps and a waist belt is all you need. A lid pocket may be handy. You can cut out an old section of sleeping mat if you want to stop books and things from digging into your back.
Sadly, none of the manufacturers agree with me. This is the kind of thing I'm talking about, but it's only available in Canada :-(.
The Aplkit Gourdon is close, although possibly bit wierd and specialist for general travelling.
Crux make an excellent rucksack called the AK30, which is very cool, made of kevlar, and far too expensive. But, like, *kevlar*. Whooaaa.
If you're packing to go around the world, I'm assuming you'll have big kitbags with your gear. If this is the case I would carry an OMM classic 32 or 25 as they weigh nothing and pack flat inside your other luggage, and are great sacks.
If you want a do-it-all, there are many huge rucksacks that compress down when partially empty, but I wouldn't recommend this as I hate big rucksacks.
Karrimor do the Global series which are huge rucksacks for travelling with a detachable daysack. It's neat the way it's done, the straps are hidden and it's all securely attached.
Deuter make a good set of daysacks in the Speed Lite range.(10-30litres) I use the 15ltr size as my summer hillwalking daypack. It only weighs 350g and can be folded/flattened to fit into a bigger travel pack.
I recently bought a 35 Litre Lowe Alpine Rush and I've been pleasantly surprised. It's lightweight and packs up small when empty, but it's also got a few features that I think are well thought out and work for me. I have narrow shoulders, so a chest strap is essential and although as a rule I'm not that much into pockets, I've found the ones on this very useful. It has a small one on the lid which is handy for the usual odd things that I might want to get to easily. It also has a handy sized pocket on the back which is the right size for maps, guidebooks etc and also good if you prefer to keep your water bottle separate. But the thing I like best is that it's got two small pockets on the front of the waist belt that are big enough for things that you might need to get out on the hoof; like compass, wallet, notepad and pencil and small-sized reference books (birds, wildflowers etc).
Another fan of the OMM Jirishanca 35RL, I've been using it for ages now and use it on every trip, it packs down tiny so when your not using it you can just put it away in your backpacking sack. Jon's first line sums it up really, you want something made of strong material but also something without a proper back system or anything else that won't pack it down small.
Don't think that just because a pack doesn't have a back system doesn't mean its comfy, try one of the OMM sacks on and you'll see how a good fit and design works just aswell for daypacks.
I'll agree with a Jirishanca as I've just bought the 30l from http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product195.asp I have not used it yet but it looks excellent, feels excellent and weighs next to nothing.
Especially as if you ring Bob he had some going for £30 not £40. (sales plug maybe)
ptc by the way I also bought the omm chest pouch, wonderful idea.
Next to nothing? It weights nearly double what my current daysack weighs. I find this genuinely surprising as I'm not really into the whole ultralight movement, and wouldn't particularly care if my daysack *did* weigh a whopping 600+ grammes.
Either boring mainstream stuff is getting lighter, or ultralight stuff now comes in special heavy versions for people who occassionaly need to place their gear on slightly abrasive surfaces without damaging it.
Now, the Gossamer Gear Whisper, is only 105gm. That's a very light daysack. But not as light as the one I just made from a sainsbury's carrier bag and some sellotape. So I win. Yay!!
Just got a Berghaus Twentyfourseven 20L. Light, removable waist belt, low tech, reliable so far and above all cheap. It also has a lightly padded back that is remarkably good. You might be pleasantly surprised.
Mind you that carrier bag idea sounds promising.....
the omm sacks are good. usable waist belt pockets, side pockets for a drink and back mesh/pocket for just stuffing something into. light, pack into a larger bag easily (you can roll it up). comfy waist belt and harness.
What is the day pack for? You are travelling round the world, but what will you be doing for the day(s) on which you would want to carry your day pack? Do you want carrying capacity, light weight, funky colours, or what?
Hopefully you have time to consider these things (or have you already gone?). I went out in two cities inthe midlands recently to replace my day pack, but the shops I found had woefully little stock. However, I do not want to buy online without testing/trying on first. Also I am up against time pressure, because I want it NOW!!! (I am more than three years old, honest! It's just that I am going away this weekend)
I wanted to look at the Osprey packs, but very few retailers carry much Osprey stock. I looked at a few others, including Berghaus Freeflow, but again, very little choice. I ended up with a "The North Face" 24 litre pack. Seems like a decent pack, butI will know more after the weekend.
The only real lesson I can draw from it all at the moment is that one should start researching/shopping quite a long time before the item is needed. Which I did not do!
