basic daypack question

OTOneH, I think every pound counts, even in a daypack with a total weight of 5 pounds.

OTEPOTH: It only starts to limit my mileage after 35 miles, so I could chalk up any “extra” weight as better training / conditioning.

So, if you’re happy with it as a daypack, use it.  HYOH.  But on a backpacking trip, when you are only using it to take a side trip, peak bag and maybe as an organizer stuff sack and/or bear bag, it’s extra weight for every single mile, including the ones when it’s stuffed in your main pack.

So I’d get a 2.6 to 3.2-ounce sil-nylon minimalist daypack for that packs down to the size of a lemon and use that for all those tasks.  Sea-to-Summit has one for $30-ish, available anywhere.  Some options on eBay are around $10, but always a bit of crap shoot. Then on a side trip, I use my sleeping pad or some clothing to add padding.

But that’s me who is not a photographer.  I know those lenses and camera bodies are really pointy against your back.  If you use a CCF pad under your bag, you could potentially cut it to fit an otherwise unpadded daypack and attach velcro so you can reassemble it for sleeping use.  Or cut a custom daypack pad / sit pad that might also be part of your sleep sleep under your head or hips.

Also, anything you can do to make the lenses less loose in the day pack will help a lot.  A piece of 3-ply 1/8″ plywood with velcro straps to secure each lens and body in a particular spot?  That could be pretty light.  Or similarly but with a double-layer of those corrugated political campaign and “Lose 40 pounds in 30 days” signs you see on power poles.

I have to ask, What main pack are you carrying that justifies also carrying a day pack that weighs more than a 62-liter Arc Haul???

Definitely go with David’s suggestion and do some mods with that S2S ultra sil day pack so that stuff doesn’t poke your back.

Or forgo the day pack idea altogether and get a good UL pack with side compression cords or straps that snug everything down for side trips without full kit. I do this with my Arc Haul in the winter.

cool, thanks guys

Hey S

you could try a Ribz type front pack. Just got one and have yet to put it through the paces, but initially liking it.

Rod