Hiking day pack

[craigrh13]

Im looking for a good day pack for hiking. Comfortable, good support, could second as a hunting pack, and preferably $250 and under. There's a ton of options out there.

I have a Badlands Connect as my hunting pack but that stays full of my hunting gear at all times.

 

[TaperPin]

Multipurpose day packs have a wide range of sizes based on personal preferences. I pack more stuff than many so for a number of years a 50 liter pack has been just right. Most times it’s not nearly full, but there’s room to add some bulky fleece, photography gear, fishing stuff, cooking gear, or whatnot. It’s big enough, while being much more comfortable than a full size heavy duty load hauler. Mine stay packed all the time so going out to hike, fish, cross country ski, snowshoe, scout, shoot varmints, deer hunting, or just about anything in the Rocky Mountain states is a simple matter of grabbing it and going.

My bag is the discontinued heavy duty Bomb Pack made with 1000 denier fabric, but it’s similar in size to the Mystery Ranch Bridger. On sale the Bridger is in the price range you mentioned, but I’d look at the used market - many people buy an expensive pack thinking they will use it a lot and it sits in their closet. Over the years I’ve picked up a number of $400 packs on eBay in new condition for under $100, but make double sure it’s the correct size, correct size belt, and correct size shoulder straps, not to mention look over every photo for anything that doesn’t look right.

 

[wh0cansay]

A day pack for hiking should be fairly small as you'll just be carrying the essentials. If you want it to second as a hunting pack, you're probably looking for something with a tall frame and load lifters, which is overkill for a day pack. You won't be packing out elk quarters with a day pack, but then again, I don't know what kind of hunting you do.

Without knowing all the details, and if you're willing to expand your budget by $100 or so, I'd be looking pretty hard at a second-hand Hill People Gear Ute with Prairie Belt for an incredible 'do-it-all' pack - whilst keeping in mind that there really is no pack that can 'do it all'.

Places worth checking for deals: Rokslide classifieds, HPG forum classifieds, HPG Owners Facebook group.

Their suspension is the best on the market, in my opinion.

Hill People Gear | Real use gear for backcountry travelers

Real use gear for backcountry travelers

hillpeoplegear.com

 

[cwesty]

Kuiu Divide packs are money. Lifetime warranty, tons of sizes. Internal frame won't make it look like your trying to hard when you're using it on a short hike

 

[Poser]

Been through a few. I prefer the SG Avail as the shoulder straps are beefy if you end up carrying some weight and the adjustability of velcro system allows for some torso adjustment -more adjustabile than most day packs. There is also some modularity as you can add the SG accessory bag for another 500 CI of storage.
That being said, I just noticed these packs are now $300. You should be able to find one used on Rockslide for $225 or less.

Mystery Ranch and HPG would also be worth considering.

 

[RADunfee]

2 great answers already posted here. The Kuiu Divide 1500 and the SG Avail 2200. I have both and use both for different things. I think I lean towards the Kuiu though.

 

[Speaks]

Most of my daypacks are set up to haul some photography gear and generally from the Shimoda action x series. The 30l is my most used though I do also have a 50.

When you take meat hauling out of the equation and if I am not concerned with photo gear I tend to like Osprey and Myster Ranch packs.

 

[tking]

OP. If you're still looking, the Divide 1500 is on sale at Kuiu now for $135

 

[RADunfee]

OP. If you're still looking, the Divide 1500 is on sale at Kuiu now for $135

Yep and that's a great deal for a great all around day or travel pack.

 

[Piscatory_4]

I just packed out a deer with the Divide 1500, I wouldn't recommend it for that unless just some boned out meat and the head. Should have done that and went back with the frame pack for the quarters. I made it back to the truck but it was a bit of struggle. But for a hunting pack for snacks and extra jacket and a spotter works fine. Good enough belt and shoulder straps for that.

 

[RADunfee]

I just packed out a deer with the Divide 1500, I wouldn't recommend it for that unless just some boned out meat and the head. Should have done that and went back with the frame pack for the quarters. I made it back to the truck but it was a bit of struggle. But for a hunting pack for snacks and extra jacket and a spotter works fine. Good enough belt and shoulder straps for that.

Um yeah. It wasn't made for packing out. But good on you for trying it.

 

[tony]

Man, sky's the limit

You want it to hunt and maybe do a pack out?
Mystery Ranch pop ups, Pintler, small Metcalf

Osprey, Gregory, HPG,
You need to figure what size and features you want.
Hard to beat Osprey for a day hiking only pack.

 

[Decker9]

Iv never used anything but kifaru, but won a kuiu divide 3000 a couple years ago and use it for day trips checking goat cams and hunt/fish trips. Love the organization of it, packed 30-40 pounds comfortably. If I lost it tomorrow I’d buy another one.

 

[NMNomad]

Hill people Gear Junction, Umlindi, or Aston 3 for day packs. All have an excellent harness system. The latter two are belt capable. They do have larger packs as well. You are getting out of day pack territory when you get into packs large enough for load lifters in my opinion. But, they do have those as well, if thats important to you. Worth your time to take a look. Excellent quality, American made gear.