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GEAR
Picking a Technical Daypack
Daypack Basics
By Annie Getchell
When is a pack just a whisper? The GoLite Gust lets you forget it's there.
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Daypack basics round up as follows:
Size: Roughly 2,000 cubic inches. Dads will probably end up carrying everybody else's stuff, and so might want a daypack in the 2,500-cube range.
Suspension: Generally, simple is good—two well-padded shoulder straps, a simple web waist strap, and a shaped, padded back. Metal frame stays, molded hip belts, and interchangeable shoulder straps verge on daypack overkill.
Bag design: Panel loaders zip open and tend to be a bit shapelier than the more traditional top-loading rucksacks. Zipped compartments offer easy access, though they're a bit of a pain to close when the pack is stuffed to the max.
Compartments:"Having all those compartments forces you to be organized," says my brother Brad, a surgeon who's always so thoroughly prepared it's a miracle he is punctual. But beware the Dreaded Pocket Population Explosion—if some pockets are good, more are not necessarily better.
Extras: Look for a few well-chosen details, rather than strap-n-buckle pandemonium. You'll want a sternum strap to hold the shoulder straps together over your chest during active sessions like skiing. Big-busted babes should probably look for a women's pack, which usually feature more sinuously curved shoulder straps. Exterior water-bottle pockets make so much sense they've become virtually universal. Compression straps on the sides cinch unruly loads into shape. Look for a stout, ample grab loop on top; it's amazing how otherwise well-intentioned packmakers skimp on this utterly useful item.
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Photo © Annie Getchell.
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