Small pack for the trail

[silenthunterstudios]

I thought I had MY small pack for the trail. Something I could toss a water bottle, pack lunch and camera/small sketchbook into, and go, requisite knife overkill too . Short hikes, which seems to be the MO for me and my bad knees. A couple miles.

I first bought a used Maxpedition Devildog, that wasn't the answer. Then, I got a brand new Remora in a trade a couple months ago. That wasn't the answer either. Had a chance to go for a short hike a couple weeks ago, and decided to take some crap along. All I had was my EDC bag, a jumbo, or a plastic bag. I dumped a lot of the contents of the Jumbo into the plastic bag, kept what I thought I would need, and went on my way.

The Jumbo is too big for small hikes, but I like the idea of it. The Fatboy looks to be about the right size. Should I take a look at anything else? I had an extra Jumbo, but traded that. I also have an M4 pack, but that is too small for what I am looking for. I also have a Pygmy Falcon II, but that is way too big for what I am looking for. This is not going to be the pack to save me from Armageddon , just something to carry lunch and something to remember the trip.

 

[MidwestDave]

I like to use a simple military buttpack and web belt. Something like the EOD Utility pack from www.countycomm.com.



Dave

 

[tonym]

You should look at the 10x4 bottle holders. That is all Marcelo brings on hikes and it seams to work well. I know it is easy to mod to allow you to carry more.

I use a pygmy falcon which I love. But I like to have alot of room to carry stuff in and out of the woods on my hikes.

 

[wildmike]

I picked up a Maxpedition Typhoon a while back and it works great as both as an EDC bag and as a bag for short hikes. I need to get a bottleholder for it as the weight of my two qt military canteen is uncomfortable off the side.

 

[j williams]

Been using a Lunada as EDC and woodsbummin bag...

Cant say enough about it. Great bag.

 

[LMT66]

I think I just found my perfect mini trail bag. It arrived just a few days ago.
Kifaru E&E G2 ($100). (Has a Kifaru GPS pouch and Organizer attached which are not included in the price) Tested it out yesterday and carried it for about 4 hours hiking. Most comfy small pack I have worn yet and I was down to a t-shirt only.
Surprisingly, the stock straps felt just fine with 2 nalgenes inside along with 2 knives, camera, snacks and the Kifaru Organizer stuffed full with odds and ends. I like this little pack alot!

 

[mtwarden]

Granite Gear (Chilaca 22), Osprey (Talon 22) and Gregory (Z22) all make nice little packs in the 20-22 liter range

I've recently gone to a Marmot Kompressor, it's pretty small @ 1000 cu in (~16 liters), but I can fit everything I need for a day hike into it. It's made to do double duty as a sleeping bag stuff sack which gives me a summit bag when backpacking if we want to do some exploring/peak bagging out of camp

 

[munckmb]

I've been reading a lot of good things about the e&e and could not resist anymore, I ordered a foliage e&e G2. Thank you for the pictures, it confirms my idea about the pack.

Oh, and not a small pack, but last week I also ordered a Mystery Ranch Dragon Slayer in foliage. http://www.mysteryranch.com/s.nl/it.A/id.3290/.f?sc=8&category=1970
For those trips when the wife and daughter come along for the ride and I'm the one carrying all their stuff
Now the wait begins...

 

[matthewdanger]

I love my Kifaru E&E. It is big enough without being too big, extremely well made, and it easily attaches to several of my other packs to expand their capacity. It is extremely versatile.

 

[myright]

I use a Military Camelback MULE without the bladder and it works really well for me.

 

[caine]

I agree the Kifaru E&E is awesome. I have a G1 but have the G2 on my wish list

 

[LMT66]

The E&E has a pouch on the strap side for a bladder. Haven't tried one in it yet but others have in the kifaru forums and said it works.
You can also order straps from the X-Ray pack to put on the E&E. They are $36.
The E&E comes with 1 zippered chamber pocket to hold your EDC stuff. It'll hold a wallet, cell, keys, Ipod with much room to spare.
They still have some black G1 E&E's for $65.
Mine is the E&E G2.
Pictures to guage size and see stock straps. Stuffed inside the pack is a XL, Double thickness, long sleeve collared MH fleece. The pack is strapped to a case of soda (24cns-12oz). The SS Guyot is standard nalgene size and the tall white bottle is the 48oz size.

 

[pitdog]

I thought I had MY small pack for the trail. Something I could toss a water bottle, pack lunch and camera/small sketchbook into, and go, requisite knife overkill too . Short hikes, which seems to be the MO for me and my bad knees. A couple miles.

I first bought a used Maxpedition Devildog, that wasn't the answer. Then, I got a brand new Remora in a trade a couple months ago. That wasn't the answer either. Had a chance to go for a short hike a couple weeks ago, and decided to take some crap along. All I had was my EDC bag, a jumbo, or a plastic bag. I dumped a lot of the contents of the Jumbo into the plastic bag, kept what I thought I would need, and went on my way.

The Jumbo is too big for small hikes, but I like the idea of it. The Fatboy looks to be about the right size. Should I take a look at anything else? I had an extra Jumbo, but traded that. I also have an M4 pack, but that is too small for what I am looking for. I also have a Pygmy Falcon II, but that is way too big for what I am looking for. This is not going to be the pack to save me from Armageddon , just something to carry lunch and something to remember the trip.

What's wrong with the Remora?

I've been thinking of getting either one of those or a Fatboy !

 

[HikingMano]

Yeah, for short hikes, I use my 10x4 maxped bottle holder with a couple of pouches attached. Works great for me. For longer dayhikes, I use my Camelbak HAWG. Overnighters, long all-day hikes, or hikes requiring more clothing or gear get the Osprey Kestrel 38. :thumbup:

 

[mneedham]

What's wrong with the Remora?

I've been thinking of getting either one of those or a Fatboy !

I have a Fatboy and a Remora, I don't really use the Fatboy, but I EDC the Remora. I like it a lot. I just got a Condor II, which is my current woods bag, and I carry a 10 X 4 Water bottle carrier for shorter hikes:

Old pic of the Remora:

Condor II:

 

[brians]

I'd really like to try this Granite Gear Vapor Day for day hikes, especially in winter. A little bigger than most here at 2000cu in, but a light bag with a good hipbelt/suspension and good reviews:

 

[bulgron]

For my short training hikes that I've been taking in the hills around my house, I've been using a Maxped Proteus + a North Face thresher hydration pack. When I get to the point where I want to carry more gear (for making lunch, for example) I'll ditch the Thresher in favor of my Condor II, but keep the proteus because that's where my maps/camera/monocular ride.

 

[EmsRescueGuy]

I have jumbo which is nice for hikes when you want lunch or a rain jacket, field guides, etc. but for just a few miles where I just want water and a basic PSK + camera, I use the maxpedition water bottle holder, with a few different pouch configurations depending on the gear I bring

 

[Mannlicher]

I keep a CamelBak HAWG loaded and ready to go. I often take it on a day hike. It has everything I need for two to three days, and its good exercise to wear it as often as I can.
Along with the 3 ltr bladder, there are a couple of MH meals, the little Pocket Rocket stove and fuel, tarp, para cord, knives, ax, a S&W .22 Kit gun and a FAK and a whole lot more.

 

[roar-k]

This is the pack I take for long day hikes:

It's the REI Traverse Pack. rei-outlet.com has them on sale for about $45 atm.