Bushwalk Australia

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good daypack to carry the basics that isn't overly priced (I'm a student) that would be good for a walk on the South Cape? (Ive heard that's a full day walk, if i'm wrong, correct me) That is currently the next walk that I have planned to do later in the year.

Links would be much appreciated.

Cheers;
Aaron

Welcome aboard Aaron - good to see another Gen Y'er on here!

Well there are so many options and so much is personal preference.
I've personally got a day pack extremely similar to this http://www.tahoemountainsports.com/store/mammut-energise30.shtml but I think mine's the old model. I picked it up for $99 at Mountain Designs on special. The thing I love about it is the excellent harness to transfer weight to your hips unlike many day packs (good if you're carrying lots of water or something heavy), it's also designed so that it sits about 25mm off your back so you get airflow between your back and the pack, which is fantastic in hot weather. When looking for it I searched high and low just for this feature because my old one had it and I think it's the best thing since.... ah...um zips instead of buckles? Others might see it as a gimmick but have they tried it on a hot day! Also it looks like a normal backpack so you can wear it in town and not look like a bush hick! (Or onto a plane and not look like an Afgahni terrorist!) The hip pockets are handy also for stuff you want to get at regularly.

The one mistake I made with my first day pack was getting one too small. I think it's worth having a bit of extra space for a small weight gain. My old day pack was a Roman one that was also good but just a tad small for when I was doing longer highlands walks when I really wanted to pack my proper wet weather gear, warm wear and the usual. I tended to end up carrying nothing but M&M's to eat because it was all I could fit! Oh and a chest strap is good to - my old one omitted that and the straps were always falling from my shoulders because most of the weight was on my hips.

I also have one of these Pocket V2 packs http://www.kathmandu.com.au/14.html?category=travelcargo&id=1484433528 that I carry in conjunction with a "bum bag" on overnighters for short side trips instead of carrying the whole overnight pack. Weighs next to nothing and is very handy.

Wow, very informative, thanks sthughes.

Would love to get the one from tahoemountainsports....but the price for postage alone is around $115, shame, cause the pack seems very well priced, and I havent heard of that brand down here.
I do like the look of the Pocket V2....but at 15L, doesn't seem all that large.
Oh well, will go into a few camping stores tomorrow and see what I can find.

Would size would you recommend for a daypack? Would 30L be enough, or would I need to go a bit bigger?

sthughes wrote:Also it looks like a normal backpack so you can wear it in town and not look like a bush hick! (Or onto a plane and not look like an Afgahni terrorist!) .

Always a plus.

Yeah I reckon 30L suits me - I'll just check mine tonight to see - I thought it was 35 but given it looks almost identical to the one I mentioned above then perhaps it's only 30 as well. Honestly I think these measurements can be a bit misleading - I'll swear different companies measure a litre differently! Also with the rigid back it doesn't deform uncomfortably if you really stuff things in it like most day packs do, which is an advantage.
Also I should mention plenty of others will swear by top opening day packs with a drawstring or something under a top flap for waterproofness (like a mini proper pack). Personally I use a pack cover and Sea 2 Summit lightweight drybag in wet weather in case the zips leak.
Yeah the little V2 is only for short sidetrips.

Well bugger me - mine's only a 25 litre. Guess 25 is about the mark I like in that case! Tad bigger wouldnt hurt though.

Yea, I was thinking somewhere between 30-40L just to be on the safe side.

To be honest I'm surprised you could fit a days worth of gear into a 25L pack, but I suppose all you need is lunch, snacks and drink...correct?
(Yes, I'm very inexperienced when it comes to hiking....)

Whos_asking99 wrote:Yea, I was thinking somewhere between 30-40L just to be on the safe side.

To be honest I'm surprised you could fit a days worth of gear into a 25L pack, but I suppose all you need is lunch, snacks and drink...correct?
(Yes, I'm very inexperienced when it comes to hiking....)

...and a raincoat and a warm jacket and a first aid kit.

That'd be a minimum kit for day walks, which some would be happy with, but others might suggest you'd need more. There's a list of standard day walk gear on our wiki.

Yeah I reckon the Wiki list is good - only things I don't take from that are the snowshoes (would if I needed but either way they'd strap on outside), the toilet paper/trowel (I can go without for a day) and the cold protection shell (whatever that is).

sthughes wrote:Yeah I reckon the Wiki list is good - only things I don't take from that are the snowshoes (would if I needed but either way they'd strap on outside), the toilet paper/trowel (I can go without for a day) and the cold protection shell (whatever that is).

Both the snowshoes and the extra cold protection layer (down filled jacket or the like) are dependent on the conditions and the area you are walking into. You might take shoeshoes if you were likely to be walking on deep snow. It is easier to walk on top of the snow than to plough through the snow.

You would take an extra cold protection layer if you were likely to encounter temperatures close to or below 5 degrees C (ie. most winter walks). It depends a little on how warm your other clothing is, but a light weight rain coat or thin polar-fleece are not sufficient. It also depends on the wind chill factor. In very cold (below zero) and wet conditions, or in strong cold winds, you need a good wind-stop waterproof shell on the outside. Hypothermia is a proven killer. You risk hypothermia if the body temperature drops by 2 degrees or more (either longer period of feeling cold, or shorter period of extreme cold). You need to be able to maintain core temperature by wearing warm clothing (so you don't feel cold) and by eating, so your body can turn food into energy to keep you warm.

For the sake of the environment and for the comfort of others, you should always carry a trowel and TP.

Always plan for the worst conditions. In Tasmanian highlands the weather can change fairly suddenly and you can quickly find yourself in bad or even severe conditions.

Very wise advice, walkintas.
On winter walks (and some summer ones too), we also take a stove so we can have hot food and drinks for lunch and we take a light shelter tarpie thingy as I'm sick of drips in my cuppa burning my face when it splashes!
Actually eating in the pouring rain has lost its appeal - soggy food and wet hands makes for a slightly unpleasant lunch whereas a light shelter gives pleasure and rest to the lunch experience.
Having broken my leg on a day walk the tarp also comes in handy as an emergency shelter - one should be prepared enough to survive if the s@#%&t hits the fan - don't think it won't happen to you - Stuff happens.
So we actually take a large day pack (Black Wolf) or sometimes even a 65litre? pack (macpac Cascade) and put everyone's gear in one- then share the carrying.
i.e.the men carry it up the hills and we carry it down (: works for me!

Really if you're not carrying much weight (i.e. under 5kg) any daypack with a good hipbelt and for me a chest strap would do - I use a Mountain Designs Gecko when I only take coat and small stuff - e.g. shorter walks (say under three hours, when the needs are more predictable)

OMG - A stove, shelter etc on a DAY WALK! Crikey perhaps I am an ultra lightweight walker afterall!
Don't worry Whiskeylover I'm not bagging you out - if you like long stops and a warm cuppa then why not take the exta stuff.

For the sake of the environment and for the comfort of others, you should always carry a trowel and TP.

Perhaps if you're walking with young childeren or people who don't have such equipment then you should carry it - I do. However I find it difficult to see how carrying TP and a trowel will help the environment simply by carrying it, or how it will make others more comfortable when they have their own perfectly good gear. I guess if they really need to go in a hurry then being able to borrow a second trowel to dig faster might help.

sthughes wrote:However I find it difficult to see how carrying TP and a trowel will help the environment simply by carrying it, or how it will make others more comfortable when they have their own perfectly good gear.

The 'comfort of others' refers to what you leave behind when you don't carry a trowel. And I don't share your confidence that you will never need a toilet break on a day trip. I have had an upset stomach on more than one walk despite feeling perfectly alright when I left home. So therefore I believe a trowel, TP and hand wash are essential. Sure, you may only use them on one in ten walks, but when you need them they are essential.

Off track from day packs I think.
I did mention that I only take a very small pack for less than three hour walks.
If you're not stopping long enough to make a cuppa and enjoy the scenery then why are you walking? I hope you're not one of 'those' peak baggers - to me the walk and enjoyment is more important than the destination.
And as walkintas says, I hope you're not relying on your stool solidity and super sphincter to save you from an unfortunate situation - at least take the paper and dig a hole with a stick! I am sick of being bothered by stinky human smells and flies at nice lookout points, because people can't get far enough away from the track and water sources to do their business. Being a health professional i can also suggest that ambulation will help your bowels to work more and possibly send you a message at unexpected times.

i once stopped to look at Winterbrook falls only to find a still steaming pile ON THE TRACK!! - hello - did they not think anyone else might happen along soon??? Unfortunately I didn't catch up with the filthy so and so.

Methinks sthughes may be inserting the spoon on this thread, as in past Day and Overnight walks with him he always had the right gear (must admit did not check out his "Jobby Wheeker" ) however we always had three or four IPOOD's with us that he could borrow so no problem with the environment there

Sorry sthughes I didn't mean to sound offended or get on my high horse I know you were only stirring, but as you can probably tell it's a bugbear of mine.
Hope I didn't sound like I was lecturing, 'again'. Only one trowel and role of TP should be required per party - unless the food's too rich or the hygiene lacking! Then the long handled shovel may be a better choice - particularly in some places where the digging is difficult.

whiskeylover , ambulation is that what causes me to poo... in the woods ,here is me thinking it was Red Wine and a good feed of Bacon and Eggs gees I am so glad that its only ambulation whew!! and glad my sphincter stays shut when I go swimming or I would drown.
Sorry for the *&^%$#! take wl but the BWT Strollers (sthughes founding member)really do take conservation and sound walking practices on board in a big way and in now way would he or we leave calling cards on the trail.

Sorry this topic ABOUT DAY PACKS is quickly degenerating into a squabble about poo... (literally).
In ten years I've never needed a trowel on a day walk. If I ever do then I'll either borrow a companion's (who do sometimes use them and hence carry them) or I will very discreetly and a long way from any normal human activity make my deposit and cover it up as best I can. The statistical likelyhood of making this deposit is very low so the liklyhood of someone coming across this deposit in a remote location, well off track and suitably covered before it degrades to undetectable levels would have to be astronomically low. Besides, if you've seen how many dirty rotten no good animals have been 'unloading' on the bare ground I hardly think my one deposit in a lifetime is likley to end the world as we know it!

I'm not into hot drinks at anytime so I'll be damned if I'm carrying a stove just so I can have something I don't like anyway! Like I said - if you like it - you carry it - I won't bag you out if you don't. BTW - No I'm no peak bagger - couldn't give a damn in fact, I only like peaks because generally they have a good view.

What did I say - all of a sudden I'm a villan and having to defend myself just because I can hold a number two for 18 hours without ill effect, have four layers of clothes that are plenty warm enough for me even in cold wet conditions and I don't carry a 65l pack with enough gear to sit down and sip tea for 6 weeks while my broken leg heals! Get real people if you're after a fight start a new topic called "I want to argue about something" and I'll be happy to argue. If not just keep somewhere near the topic ABOUT DAY PACKS!

No I'm not offended - just annoyed at having to defend myself over poo...!

End rant.

sthughes wrote:I guess if they really need to go in a hurry then being able to borrow a second trowel to dig faster might help.

My new motto is 'if you really need to go in a hurry, then you'd better hope it's been snowing!'

Why not take a plastic bag? If the chances are you dont need the tp and shovel?

and a smaller daypack...

Nuts wrote:and a smaller daypack...

Depends how much you're gonna fill up that plastic bag, eh?

I'd double bag if I were you - just in case of 'leakage'.

Son of a Beach wrote:

Nuts wrote:and a smaller daypack...

Depends how much you're gonna fill up that plastic bag, eh?

Oh, no prob's there, I'm historically heading over Ducane gap before I feel the urge
And that's some harrrd diggin up there..

there are however some who need a 65L daypack for just these very reasons

What I want to know is who's digging and who's bagging. No poo..., a big day pack comes in handy!

Well this topic turned a bit ******....HAHA, hehe...uhh sorry.

Anyway, to comment back...

Son of a Beach wrote:...and a raincoat and a warm jacket and a first aid kit.

First aid kit...now officially on the shopping list, thanks SOAB.

whiskeylover wrote:If you're not stopping long enough to make a cuppa and enjoy the scenery then why are you walking? I hope you're not one of 'those' peak baggers - to me the walk and enjoyment is more important than the destination.

i once stopped to look at Winterbrook falls only to find a still steaming pile ON THE TRACK!! - hello - did they not think anyone else might happen along soon??? Unfortunately I didn't catch up with the filthy so and so.

I prefer the walk more than the destination, good thing to because out of the 3 walks (2 daywalks and one 2 nighter) been on, I've only reached the destination once (Bishop and Clarke)

OK, now that's just disturbing, some people obviously don't have the brain power to understand.


Sthughes I didnt get to any camping stores like I said I would, have to wait another 2 weeks, hopefullly in that time I can do some more searching around on the net and make a desiciosn on what be the best choice.

OK, I finally got a daypack. Its a Deuter Futura 26L pack, seems to be well built and designed, big enough to take the necessities (hopefully).

Bit more than I would have liked, it was $180 but I got it for just under $150 (Back to mowing lawns...). I'm happy with it for the price, but its killing me not being able to give it a test run for a few weeks

Does anyone else have a pack similar to this one? and if so, how is it?

if your interested, here is a link to a similar pack: http://www.deuterusa.com/products/produ ... ert=futura

Thanks for all the advice.

Looks good to me - nice harness.

(Of course not having enough room for a long handled shovel, 12 pack of Sorbent, stove, shelter stretcher and pet hippopotamus might be an issue. )

Good to know it has the official sthughes nod.

sthughes wrote:pet hippopotamus might be an issue.

Damn, knew I forgot to allow for something....