At first selecting a daypack for hiking doesn’t seem like a big deal. You’re only carrying a few pounds of gear and probably not hiking very far, and in fact if you go no more than a mile or two a fanny pack may be more than enough (but the bears will laugh at you). If you plan on hiking more than a few miles you’ll want to select a pack that is comfortable, durable, adjustable, has side pockets, and has the ability to hold a hydration bag and tube.

I’ve had several daypacks and after knocking out 20 plus miles on a few day hikes I found that a cheap daypack isn’t worth the savings. Even ten pounds can get very heavy after a few switchbacks.

The most important thing to me when picking a daypack is the waist belt. The pack can have the greatest pockets in the world and a solar panel to recharge my GPS, but if it doesn’t have a great hipbelt I’m moving to the next pack. The hipbelt on a good daypack works the same as your overnight backpacking pack. It shifts weight from your shoulders to your legs where you’re much stronger. A chest strap that pulls the pack toward your center of gravity is a must have too for me. During a long hike I’ll usually hook and unhook the chest strap several times to give different parts of my back and shoulders a rest.

My favorite daypack (pictured in this post) is the Kelty Redwing. There are newer versions available now, and I’m sure they are even better than mine. I’ve taken my Redwing to the top of Half Dome, to the tip of the Florida Keys in a kayak, and on airplanes as my carry-on. It’s a versatile pack that also looks great.
Whatever pack you choose just make sure it’s comfortable, that it will hold the load you put in it, and note the following:

• Adjustable Hipbelt – should be padded and sit comfortably on your hips
• Ability to secure hydration bladder and drinking tube
• Easy to access side pockets
• Average size: 1800 cubic inches – Go smaller or larger depending on your needs

Women hikers will want to look for daypacks made specifically for them, especially petite female hikers like my wife. A pack with shoulder straps too far apart can ruin your back.

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