GORP - Picking a Technical Daypack

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GEAR

Picking a Technical Daypack
What You Need—And What You Don't
By Annie Getchell

From fanny pack to bookbag, there's a daypack out there for you

What makes a daypack technical? It depends on who you are and what you need it to do—a pack tailored for your purpose. If you're eight, this means the proverbial book bag in Barbie or Pokimon colors, with lots of zippers. If you're a climber, you need full freedom of motion and places to strap axes, crampons, and other gear. Shredders want a secure board carrier and powder-proof storage. Technical for an ice fisherman is a classic ash-pack basket, into which are hurled tipups, auger, thermos, and a bucket of bait.

The daypack's job is to carry your sweater, raingear, water, essentials like a first-aid kit, and a modest selection of what-have-you: camera, guidebook, bouldering shoes. If it does its job well, like a highly trained caddy or a crack Sherpa, you'll hardly know it's there.

Size-wise, it's really a matter of how big your day is. Tidy types in balmy climes can squeak by with a fanny or lumbar pack in the 1,000-cubic-inch range. Cyclists, bladers, and trailrunners often go this route. But if you've got toys and plans to use them, you're in backpack territory—say 2,000-2,500 cubes. Any bigger and you're carrying too much stuff. A smaller pack enforces a modicum of restraint on what you bring. (Call it the"couplittlextra" syndrome.)

If you're a generalist like me, you'll gravitate toward a compact, multipurpose load carrier. You'll want a pack that fits comfortably, with clean lines—not too frilly, but with a few key features that allow you to switch sports as smoothly as you change your windbreaker.

The trouble with choosing the perfect daypack is the sheer plethora of darned good options. When I went shopping for this story, I was quickly overwhelmed by an avalanche of terrific daypacks. Standards are high, quality is pretty consistent, and competition helps keep prices in check. A peek at the details makes you wonder about the people who make this stuff up.

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