Best Daypack?

Another option for an excellent daypack is the Conterra "Crossbow Special Response Pack". I was looking for something that was smaller than my current hiking pack for day carry around the mission area. The Crossbow has two main body pockets which may be opened up into one, has an outside from pocket for the small stuff and has a daisy chain and stretch cord straps on the outside as well. There are a few specialized features that may not be of use such as the two "sheaths" for mantracking sticks, maglites, or ice axes (which is what I would use them for...or perhaps filipino fighting sticks?). There is also a pocket inside which holds a water bladder with an excellent drinking system (you can buy the bladder from Conterra as well as dividers for medical gear which will attach inside the bag). Either way, Conterra is a great maker of gear. Check out their website:

www.conterra-inc.com

On another note, the pack I have been using hiking is also excellent: Vortex Backpacks. They are a small company and therefore a little more expensive, but worth it. They are also a little more "mainstream" than Conterra.

Good luck in your search!
 
Sirius, thanks for that link, that is a very interesting pack! It seems to have all the features I would like, and the emphasis on being able to move without being encumbered by the pack is very interesting. At 1900 ci it's bigger than what I need for much of my daypack use (even my A,T Volt is slightly bigger htan what I need), but if it's that ergonomic, maybe it'll still work out.

I"m currently looking at the picture of that pack... could you answer a few questions? First, where are the "sheaths" you talk about, for sticks, maglights, etc.? I can't make them out in the pic. Are they adjustable? The system looks like it's made up for three main parts, the bottom fanny-pack-lookalike, the main storage, and a hydration sleeve hanging off that, is that right? Is the waist belt removeable, or do you alway have to use it? Are there any cinch straps to cinch down that main compartment?

Thanks!

Joe
 
Joe,
I am looking at my Crossbow right now as I just came back from a run and the 38 degrees Celsius heat requires the hydration! First, the sheaths, or "sleeves", are on either side of the main bag a little to the front. They have an open bottom with an adjustable webbing strap which can be clipped open or closed at the bottom depending how long whatever it is you want to put in there is. The more I use it the more uses I find for it... The hydration system is integral and is INSIDE the main, top pocket above the fanny-pack looking bit. The back padding acts as insulation for the bladder. There are, in fact cinch straps to tighten up the load, particularly two at the bottom. I don't believe that the waist belt is removable, But you could easily strap it around the bag and out of your way (it is not padded and can be easily moved around). The size is deceptive - it may seem big, and it does hold a lot, but it fits SO well and is so streamlined that it seems MUCH smaller. It is incredibly comfortable, so much that it feels like you are not wearing anything. The "division" between the fanny pack looking bit and the top make it flex as you move and fit perfectly to your form. My buddy saw mine and liked it so much that I bought him one for his graduation from Med School and he uses it for mountain response rescue (he puts collapsable ski poles in the "sheaths"). One word of warning - not everything is perfect in the world - I am just over 6 feet and it fits me great. My wife is 5 foot 3 and it is just too long for her to get comfortable...and she REALLY wants one!

Hope this helps - oh, I have their new catalogue and I should mention that there are now three color possibilities (not sure if it is on the net - yellow/black, black with blue Conterra symbol and black with "blacked-out" Conterra symbol - for those of us who need to hide in the dark...)
 
Another option for an excellent daypack is the Conterra
"Crossbow Special Response Pack".
Click to expand...

That's an awesome looking pack. I'd like to have one, especially because it's hydration ready.

JK
 
Thanks Sirius! It sounds like the only caution is that somewhere between 5'3" and 6", there's a cutoff where the pack isn't comfortable. Unfortunately, I fit in there somewhere.

For anyone who gets this pack if you would post your height and how it fit you, that would be great.

Joe
 
I would recommend looking at some Jannd Mountaineering products. Unfortunately their web site sucks (www.jandd.com) and their products are fairly difficult to find on the web at all. Their bike packs seem to be more common on the web.

I like the Jannd stuff because it is extremely well made. All of their stuff used to be made in the US until recently. Apparently a few of their packs are assembled in Mexico now. I couldn't see a real quality difference while looking at them in the store though.

If a store near you carries their line though, they are well worth looking at.
 
Oh yeah, I have a Mountainsmith lumbar day pack that I really like a lot. It functions as my "man purse" ;) a lot of the time. A friend of mine has one that he has carried all over the place for at least 8 years and it is still going strong. He carries it stuffed full too (magazines, knife books, at least 3 or 4 large sheath knives, flashlights, first aid stuff, kitchen sink).
 
Joe,
I spoke to my wife about this question and she feels that it is the fact that she has long legs and a short body that is the problem, not the fact that she is 5'3"... She seems to think that anyone with a "regular" shape would be fine. In her case the pack felt great until she tried to use the waist strap, then the shoulder straps rode too high. She is likely right and I would imagine that for most people the pack would fit fine. It does have "S-curved" shoulder straps and a chest strap, as well as the waist strap so I find you can wear it many different ways for comfort. For example, I wear mine climbing and when I do that I do not wear the waist belt - I fasten it backwards around the pack so it is out of the way. This gives me more freedom of movement and allows me to pull the pack up over my head as a sheild against falling rock. I would suggest ordering one and checking it out. I had great customer assistance when I ordered mine and I ordered it from the East Coast of Canada while home on leave. They managed to get it to me from the West Coast before I left which, considering the time, was very impressive. So, give it a whirl, it is the only way you can be sure for you. If it isn't you - send it back.
 
Thanks for all the great suggestions. Going to REI and EMS to try a bunch on for size this weekend.
 
I just ordered the Crossbow pack in black and will be taking it to Hawaii next week. I'll let you all know how it works out. BTW I'm 5'4"

S.
 
Sidewinder- do keep us posted. I'm quite interested in the Crossbow. If you plan to do any outdoor active type things, like long walks, hiking or touring, why don't you pick up a Camelback or other brand of hydration bladder to go in it, and let us know how well they work in conjunction with one another. Have a good trip.

JK
 
Thanks Jedi,

I'm leaving this weekend and will be doing some extensive hiking. You can buy the pack and the optional hydration system with the Crossbow, but I already have a Camelback Blowfish that I will be taking the bladder out of and seeing if it is going to fit the Crossbow. I tend to like the shut-off valve on the Camelback system and I'm not sure what kind of valve the Crossbow system has.

I'll post an update in about a week.

Aloha,

S.
 
I'm impressed that everyone is showing such an interest in the Crossbow. The more I use mine, the more I like it. I feel it is the perfect size for daily carry - enough room for all the bits and pieces as well as books and documents, etc... If I plan on running after work I often will bring the Crossbow with my sneaks and gear and then just put my work shoes and clothes in it for the run so that I can just go home afterwards. I find the pack fits snug for running - I get no annoying movement - not up-and-down, or side-to-side. The streamlined shape and relative "thinness" of the pack make one almost forget it is there. Conterra sells a hydration system which fits perfectly in the pocket designed for it. The system for drinking is one of the better ones I have used and utilizes a bite valve for getting the water. I prefer this over other types as you can access the water "hands free". The bite valve system also keeps the water in the tube instead of having to suck it from the bladder everytime. In cold weather, just bite and blow and the water will return to the bladder to avoid freezing. I have had no leakage problems at all.

There you go. If anyone has any more questions please ask 'em. I am a big fan of this pack (pretty obvious...) and I will do my best to give any info to anyone else interested.
 
Sirius...how is the durability of the fabric and stitching? Are the interior seems taped and stitched? Is there any ballistic nylon on the pack? Are there enough small pockets inside for do-dads we all enjoy so much? Could the side sleeves be used for a long knife/ machete? It looks very interesting, thanks in advance for the answers...Geoff
 
Sidewinder, any report on this pack? I'm still very interested in it! I'm switching over almost all my bag usages to daypacks, since travelling/hiking/whatever with my family now means my hands are usually taken up (often by a little one), and nothing beats a backpack for hands-free, comfortable long-term carry of even relatively heavy loads.

Does the Crossbow meet carry-on restrictions on airlines? Have any of you guys tried to travel with one? Thanks!

Joe
 
Lots of informative "stuff"...and good links...appreciated!


"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
Joe,

Thanks for the reminder. I've not had a chance to do a write up since coming back from my trip.


S.
 
Hey, have you guys seen the Jansport Tree Frog 30? I saw one today and it's quite a functional pack at about $90, has a hydration pack built in, lightweight and comfortable. Very nice, I've got one on my Christmas list :)
 
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