How to Choose a Daypack

For many people, daypacks are synonymous and interchangeable with ordinary, light backpacks. However, for outdoor sporting enthusiasts, picking a daypack requires a little more thought and research. If you're a serious mountain climber, day hiker or mountain biker, you may need more from your daypack than someone going for a stroll in the park will.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step 1

Messenger bag.

Consider how secure your pack needs to be. Some activities require or are simply more fun with a well-secured pack. Bike messengers, for example, use a specialized messenger bag. If you want a backpack that won't slide around or come loose, you may need a messenger-style pack, a buttpack with a webbing harness or a backpack with a belt strap.

Step 2

Factor in if your pack needs to be discrete. A daypack for caving should be small if it has to be removed for a belly crawl. A smaller pack won't block your down-tunnel view or get snagged on a tow rope.

Step 3

Military buttpack

Determine the load you expect to carry most of the time. For a caver, a small buttpack can be used to carry a water bottle, spare batteries, glow sticks and an extra flashlight. It won't, however, provide the support that a backpack used to haul picnic lunches or camera equipment on day-long hike will. For big loads, a belt strap can help distribute some of the weight off your back and onto your hips.

Step 4

Choose a pack with enough rings and loops to tie and latch stuff onto. Clipping and tying extra gear to a pack expands its volume in a pinch.

Step 5

A hydration pack.

Choose a pack with water-bottle pockets. Pockets help keep the rest of your stuff dry and make the bottles easier to get at. If you need a lot of water, consider getting something with hydration-pack capability.

Article Written By Edwin Thomas

Edwin Thomas has been writing since 1997. His work has appeared in various online publications, including The Black Table, Proboxing-Fans and others. A travel blogger, editor and writer, Thomas has traveled from Argentina to Vietnam in pursuit of stories. He holds a Master of Arts in international affairs from American University.

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