Holiday Gift Guide: Classic Day and Weekend Packs
“Generic” doesn’t cut it for experienced outdoor lovers. And urban denizens who need to make the most of every square inch of storage. These day packs earn a place in your life and closet with outsized performance cloaked in enduring style. And, yes, our agenda includes getting you to rethink two classic brands.
Mountainsmith Wizard
Active Junky slung this Mountainsmith backpack on with great enthusiasm. Not only does the 1770 cu in of useful space provide enough buffer for “worst case” weather scenarios, but the pack itself jams the features that testers covet into the steel-like 610D Cordura HP exoskeleton, with a 210D nylon lining that’s anything but cream puff. Wizard takes the hill for balancing the lines and look of a European alpine rucksack with an EVA framesheet, Airmesh back panel and proportional shoulder straps (along with a removable, tactical-type waistbelt). In fact, the Barley colorway harkens back to climbing packs that sustained mountain troops in their struggles for freedom from oppression. Now, the ability to climb, scramble, hike and explore is the mission thanks to features that include a detachable Dopp kit for toiletries, side compression straps and pockets that all do triple duty.
Best For: City, weekend, backcountry and climbing as the “specialty” here is quiver-of-one utility
Mountainsmith Grand Tour Daypack
Warning: This isn’t about records on Dawn Wall, skiing down Everest or clawing your way to jungle-defended first ascents in Borneo. Grand Tour is about going through life with your essentials, grabbing the same style that’s commanding big dollars for verified vintage day packs and jackets. Yes, there’s an internal hydration sleeve and side access to a generous padded laptop compartment (fits most screens up to 15.4”). But the bold, toothy 610D Cordura fabric that wraps the 1160 cu in gem in durability is what makes the throwback profile a keeper. Internal organization, well-conceived shoulder straps, waistbelt and a padded, breathable back panel add up to all-day comfort. No wonder this ski-inspired Mountainsmith backpack really never went away. Or should, for that matter.
Best For: Urban, weekend and travel duty in combination with a higher-capacity duffel
Mountain Khakis Rucksack Bag
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