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Kinds of Day Hikes Packs

Day hiking packs come in a wide variety of styles and sizes any one of which may be suitable for a particular hike. Since gear loads are lighter, and hikers are never far from the end of their hike which pack they choose for a day hike is more a matter of personal taste and less critical.

To choose a pack for your day hiking adventures first decide what kind of hikes you are most likely to take. Then make a gear list of the items you will want to take with you on most of these hikes. And then select a pack that will carry all of your gear and make it easy to find and carry.

• Day packs – the most common type of pack used not only for hiking, but also biking and by students for carrying books. These packs are carried on the shoulders. If they have a waistband, it is generally just for stabilizing the load and not for transferring any of it to the hips. Capacity is generally less than 2000 cubic inches. They are available in a huge variety of shapes and styles.
• Hydration Packs – this type of pack is really just a daypack specifically designed to carry mostly water. The packs main compartment are setup to carry a water bladder from which a hose runs around to the front of the pack so that the wearer can drink at any time without having to remove the pack. This type of pack might be an excellent choice for day hiking in very warm areas like the desert.
• Fanny Packs – these are some of the smallest packs designed for carrying only a few items. They are worn around the waist and are essentially a belt with a pouch attached. For most hiking these packs will not hold enough gear, but they can be useful as a supplemental pack to a day pack or even an overnight pack for carrying items that you want quick access to.
• Lumbar Packs – lumbar packs like fanny packs are supported by a belt that fastens around the waist. They are generally much larger than a fanny pack and have sufficient capacity for most day hiking, but they are typically not as large as daypack. Some people prefer the way a lumbar pack places the load on their back, but they are not suitable for very heavy loads since they tend to work their way down and ride too low when heavily loaded.