Day Pack and Fanny Pack Choices

Selecting the Right Day Bag

Day pack and fanny pack choices confuse many hikers.
It’s easy to choose a backpack. All sorts of information abounds. And the clerk in the outdoor store will be happy
to fit you perfectly. When it comes to day-use bags,
however, things aren’t so simple. There are innumerable
choices, but little attention paid to choosing the best
one. The fact is, however, you should choose fanny packs
and day bags as carefully as you pick a new backpack.

Whether your favorite outdoor adventure means floating the Salmon River, day hiking the Adirondacks, camping the wild beaches of the Pacific Northwest, or trail running arch-to-arch in the Daniel Boone National Forest you need something to hold all those essentials that help make your trip enjoyable.

You could carry them in your hands or stuff them in your pockets, but that’s just not practical. Instead, you need a day pack or fanny pack. But it’s a long way between a slap-dash third-world-made book bag and a quality day-use pack.

To help you make the right choice when selecting a day pack or fanny pack, I talked to several manufacturers. Here are some of the tips they provided.

Almost universally, the experts agree you should fit the day pack to your sport. “Decide what sort of activity you’ll be engaging in before you buy anything,” stresses a spokesperson for Dana Designs. This was echoed by a top executive at Rocky Mountain Outfitters, who gives some examples. “If trail running is your favorite sport you want a small, lightweight fanny pack to hold your keys and some money. If you’re into short hikes of a couple of hours, a slightly larger fanny is what you need. Longer day treckers want a bag large enough to carry snacks, water, and maybe a raincoat.

“When buying a day pack or fanny pack, look at the construction details,” says a spokesman for Camp Trails. “Examine inside seams carefully. Quality packs and bags will be bound with seam tape to prevent unraveling.

“And you want a bag or pack made with a durable fabric,” he adds. “Anything less that 400 denier material probably won’t wear very well.”

Some other things to watch for:

• Zippers. Quality bags come with heavy-duty, coated nylon zippers. A day pack with a flimsy zipper won’t last the first season.



• Manufacturer guarantees. Virtually every high quality bag comes with a 100% lifetime guarantee. If a seam separates or a zipper breaks the maker will repair or replace it. If you don’t see such a guarantee you might question the quality.



• Try it on. Take along the items you’re likely to put in a new bag when you go shopping. There’s a world of difference between an empty bag and a full one. A day pack that rides on your shoulders well when empty might not once there’s some weight and bulk in it. Make sure the bag really fits! Don’t just waltz around the store. Stoop and bend, twist and turn.



• Added features. Outside pockets can be a real benefit. You can stow lip balm, sunscreen and snacks in them, for instance, and not have to rummage around the main compartment. Water bottle pockets and built-in water systems are another feature to look for. You’ll drink more if water is readily at hand, and won’t if you have to fumble for a water bottle inside the pack.
  
  Outside straps let you carry things without using up the inside capacity. Shirts or jackets can be lashed to the top of the fanny pack, for instance, leaving your hands free. But too many straps, or ones that are too long, can catch and snag. So check them carefully.



• Suspension systems. Make sure the suspension system is adequate to ensure it rides comfortably. A larger bag, especially, should have a system that takes the weight off your shoulders and distributes it. A quality fanny pack should have compression straps to snug the bag close to your waist.