Light & compressible daypack

[krojemann]

I'm looking for a good, lightweight daypack to use on elk hunts from a spike camp. I don't need to be able to haul meat with it, just my daily essentials.

I'd like to be able to roll it up and/or cram it in the bottom of my frame pack for the hike in. Then break it out once I get to camp.

I was thinking around the 1000 CI range. My searching so far has led me to something like the Badlands Reactor hydration pack or the Alps Outdoorz Willow Creek pack. I've used a fanny pack in the past and found that I tend to load them a little past their comfortable point and feel a small daypack would ride better.

Any suggestions?

 

[colonel00]

Kifaru Guide lid?

 

[mrbillbrown]

Yep. Guide lid all the the way. Pulls double duty as lid and the UL day pack you've described.


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[krojemann]

Thanks. I've looked a little at the guide lid. While I wouldn't use it as a lid, the pack fits mostly what I'm looking for. The thing that slightly concerned me though was no waist or sternum straps. How comfy would this pack be 7 straight days of dark to dark hunting? Occasional scouts or short trips I wouldn't think wild be a big deal. But I would likely be wearing this pack all day, every day of the hunt.

 

[mtwarden]

I carry too much stuff for a small, light day hunting pack, but when quick bagging peaks out of a backpacking base camp- I've had good luck with the Marmot Kompressor- rolls up to nothing and weighs 10 oz

Enough room to carry a hardshell, water, snacks, emergency bits

Kompressor | Marmot

 

[mrbillbrown]

Depends on what you're carrying. Just a few small day items and it's not bad. Done it several times.

If you're talking about wanting a smallish day pack big enough to need "real straps and waist belt" then you're carrying more than what I'd read into your first post.


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[krojemann]

I'm thinking big enough to stuff a vest or puffy, food for the day, phone, delorme, water filter, nalgene, small first aid & survival, stick my bugle tube...kinda thing.

 

[JFK]

I have an Alpz pack that I use for day/truck hunting. Nice pack for what you describe. Go for it. No need to spend big bucks to carry around less than 10# all day.

 

[mrbillbrown]

I'm thinking big enough to stuff a vest or puffy, food for the day, phone, delorme, water filter, nalgene, small first aid & survival, stick my bugle tube...kinda thing.

Sounds like a camelback might work pretty well for that application.


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[mtwarden]

also look at REI's Flash 22- rolls up small, light

with the lighter daypacks I like to add a small section of ccf pad to help slightly stiffen the pack, it also does double duty as a sitpad

 

[justinspicher]

I've used a mountainsmith summit bag for this before. It's about 1300 cubic inches and two long water bottle pockets on each side. The best part is that it stuffs into its own pocket when not in use.

 

[luke moffat]

I have and still use this style pack sometimes when hiking in somewhere I might want a simple day pack for just like you described.

Its a roll top 100% waterproof pack so it use it to hold my puffy gear and sleeping pad and bag/quilt on the way in to keep everything dry especially while packrafting and such. Then when camp is set up I use it to haul my day gear around. The waistbelt & sternum strap helps hold everything close to my body and keeps it from flopping around like the Kifaru guide lid does.

Of course if I am hiking in and using a Kifaru packbag anyways I suck it up and deal with the floppy guide lid as my daypack.

Anyways, for 12 oz you get a good sized stout dry bag that doubles as a daypack.

Amazon.com : Outdoor Research Drycomp Summit Sack, Pewter/Lemongrass : Sleeping Bag Stuff Sacks : Sports & Outdoors

 

[Desk Jockey]

Just another thought.

FIGHT LIGHT REMOVABLE OPERATOR PACK BY TACTICAL TAILOR

Fight Light Removable Operator Pack

 

[Jeff Martin]

This might tickle your fancy. See link.

Versipack® - MAXPEDITION

Also,
If you have a frame (like a Kifaru) you can run a "Grab it" and a Sea to Summit roll top compression bag. Sounds like exactly what you are looking for.

 

[Mossy]

I've been using the badlands reactor for a few years and it's been just about perfect for my situation. Hunting partner liked it enough that he purchased one this season. Quiet, don't know it's on your back. I'm with you, I prefer chest straps no matter what and they now come with the straps. I had to get my wife to make me one when I got mine.

 

[krojemann]

I've been using the badlands reactor for a few years and it's been just about perfect for my situation. Hunting partner liked it enough that he purchased one this season. Quiet, don't know it's on your back. I'm with you, I prefer chest straps no matter what and they now come with the straps. I had to get my wife to make me one when I got mine.

In your opinion, could you roll it up or cram it in a frame pack pretty easily with it taking up only a small amount of space?

 

[rbljack]

Ive been through a handful of daypacks, and I have really come to love the Badlands Superday Pack. Might be a bit big and heavy for your purpose, but I can hold plenty of gear for a whole day to include my 65MM Razor angled spotter and tripod. The only negative I have about this pack is that the belt pockets aren't easy to get in while wearing the pack. I usually pull one shoulder strap off to get entry into these pockets. Ive used this pack in the mountains of NM for numerous day outings, and its been relatively comfortable. Even worked great on a daylong scout trip on horseback. Now on the flip side, if I am having to carry the spotter and tripod anyways, I hope to someday have a reckoning or EMR2 in the future....LOL. If carrying meat is not needed, I really like the Badlands superday pack so far for plenty of essentials and THEN some.

 

[Mossy]

In your opinion, could you roll it up or cram it in a frame pack pretty easily with it taking up only a small amount of space?

I suppose you could roll it up but the padding on the back is a little stiff. I just emptied it and decided against trying it but it is pretty thin if you could flatten it out.

 

[E in CO]

I agree with the recommendation above to check out REI daypacks. I have one that is 20 some liters and no frame. I'm not looking at it but it may be called "Flash" as noted previously. Usually you have a few color choices so your desire for non-camo should be met. I mainly use it for skiing but also for running around with daily essentials. The good thing with REI is it won't break the bank and if anything happens you get a decent warranty. It will roll up small and doesn't weight much of anything.

 

[endorice]

I'm thinking big enough to stuff a vest or puffy, food for the day, phone, delorme, water filter, nalgene, small first aid & survival, stick my bugle tube...kinda thing.

I've used a couple of small packs for this purpose. I've settled on this one. Less than 10 ounces, and it's a dry bag.