need advice buying a good backpack

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sams

Joined
Apr 21, 2001
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I'm looking for suggestions on a good day bag/pack.

My "mad dog" backpack webbing is fraying. The stiching is fine but the straps are deteorating. I have 2 of the same bags and this is the only one that exhibits this problem. Perhaps it is dry rot, but only one is effected. The good one is set up with hunting "stuff" and I hate to remove them, I like having a designated bag for certian gear.

So I looked at Blackhawk and Maxepedition and they are $120 to $200, way too expensive for an old guy living on social security. I like to have something sturdy to carry my survival, & day items. I put a .44 revolver, and ammo in there too.
I mainly carry it on the jon boat and camp overnight on the "spoil" islands on the Indian River.


Any good quality DAY backpacks out there for $50 - $75 ?
 
sams said:
I'm looking for suggestions on a good day bag/pack.

My "mad dog" backpack webbing is fraying. The stiching is fine but the straps are deteorating. I have 2 of the same bags and this is the only one that exhibits this problem. Perhaps it is dry rot, but only one is effected. The good one is set up with hunting "stuff" and I hate to remove them, I like having a designated bag for certian gear.

So I looked at Blackhawk and Maxepedition and they are $120 to $200, way too expensive for an old guy living on social security. I like to have something sturdy to carry my survival, & day items. I put a .44 revolver, and ammo in there too.
I mainly carry it on the jon boat and camp overnight on the "spoil" islands on the Indian River.


Any good quality DAY backpacks out there for $50 - $75 ?
Click to expand...

Keep an eye on SpecOps brand, they have some good sales on bags from time to time around the upper end of your pricerange, But they are USA made unlike Maxpedition and Blackhawk.
 
How about a us army assault pack, cheap, tough and pretty versatile. You can get the marine 3 day pack for about 30 bucks.
 
cricketdave said:
How about a us army assault pack, cheap, tough and pretty versatile. You can get the marine 3 day pack for about 30 bucks.
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Thanks for the idea, I do look, but prices are ridiculous in the Army surplus. I will keep searching though.
 
Look on ebay just type in us army assault pack, or marine assault pack they both come up in several patterns for about 25 to 40 bucks. I've used them as 3 day packs in the past and they work well and are tough. My daughter has to use one every week in the field and likes it. I did get her to ditch the old alice pack she was issued and replaced it with a current army ruck.
 
Moutainsmith, Gregory, Kelty, Mountain Hardwear, Da Kine, Mammut are all excellent brands. More for backpacking/climbing but would definitely work. The trick is knowing where to look. If you want you can email me and I can give you some good websites to look on. Id tell ya here but I think that would be considered deal spotting since they are not paying members of bladeforums(correct me if im wrong). Cheers, Chad
 
if the straps are the only part that's dying, why not just pick up some replacement straps for an alice pack and do whatever it takes to make them work?
 
1066vik said:
if the straps are the only part that's dying, why not just pick up some replacement straps for an alice pack and do whatever it takes to make them work?
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That is exactly what I did, but used nylon strap / webbing. It is functional but the needle and thread sewing I did leaves allot to be desired. I'm afraid when I need it the most, the stitching is going to fail. I think a good used pack is what I need.
 
mymindisamob said:
Kelty makes some great packs.
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Kelty Redwing 50 for about $100
(eBay last years model for about $75)
50 liters in two sizes small and large, with a very good load bearing hip belt
Panel opening for ease of access to gear
It has 1 liter outside side pockets for bottles and an inner sleeve for a hydration bladder
The side pockets have a sleeve behind then for long object
The pack has webbing at the bottom for pads or sleeping bags
The side straps cintches down to make the pack quite small and the load close to your back
So it goes from a comfortable three day pack to a day pack without any squeeze for space
It is a self contained neat and tidy pack (without hanging molle straps)
Also goes in overhead

One minor lack for me is that there no webbing on the top of the pack to tie on a tent or a poncho/tarp, but I could sew those on myself

Superb quality at a very reasonable price
I highly recommend this pack


Added:
Also they come in tan and green which are very good colors for the field
Or black which is luggage colored
 
Last edited:
neeman said:
Kelty Redwing 50 for about $100
(eBay last years model for about $75)
50 liters in two sizes small and large, with a very good load bearing hip belt
Panel opening for ease of access to gear
It has 1 liter outside side pockets for bottles and an inner sleeve for a hydration bladder
The side pockets have a sleeve behind then for long object
The pack has webbing at the bottom for pads or sleeping bags
The side straps cintches down to make the pack quite small and the load close to your back
So it goes from a comfortable three day pack to a day pack without any squeeze for space
It is a self contained neat and tidy pack (without hanging molle straps)
Also goes in overhead

One minor lack for me is that there no webbing on the top of the pack to tie on a tent or a poncho/tarp, but I could sew those on myself

Superb quality at a very reasonable price
I highly recommend this pack
Click to expand...

This!
 
Just another endorsement for the redwing 50. That's my go to pack for anything more than a day hike. Also' it does have some webbing on the bottom for strapping gear
 
My hard use day pack is a Jannd Zoor Alpinist, which is about $125, out of your price range. Insanely tough, made in the US and top loading design with zippers to fail.

The Kelty Redwing is a super safe choice. We have 2 in the family and it's more versatile as luggage. Panel loader so be easy on the zippers.

A budget brand worth considering is Outdoor Products. As a company, they've been in the mix since the backpacking boom in the 70s. US designs made off shore, which is very, very common. Lifetime warranty. They cut costs a bit with materials. A half step down from Kelty at a 2 to 3 step in price - so high value. Available at the arkansas mart. We have several in the mix with the kids and they're holding up well.

Last thing... blowing out shoulder straps is usually associated from picking up a fully loaded pack by the shoulder strap. Less expensive packs are more prone to this as it takes a fair bit of work to beef up that seam and even if you do (e.g. Jannd), it remains a weak point on all packs. The way to minimize damage (on cheap and expensive packs), is to be super dedicated to picking it up from the haul loop. I'm sure you know this. More of my own reflection on all of the packs I've wrecked this way.

Good luck
 
The ILBE and Molle II Assault packs can be had for $60 or less online. Got my Molle II Assault pack new in the bag for $40 delivered last spring. It holds everything that I need for a day out in the woods. Capacity is around 1,500 cubic inches and they have Pals webbing in case you need to add more pouches. My two liter bladder fits nicely into the frame sheet/radio pocket.

The Alps Solitude Plus can be had locally and online for $89.99. It's 3,100 Cubic inches and was my first choice until I found my assault pack for $40.

Alps, Kelty, JanSport and others make some good day packs in your price range.
 
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