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Product Description
A favorite of hikers and travelers for the past 35 years, the Mountainsmith Day pack is now more durable and versatile than ever. Recently updated with 610d Cordura HP fabric and a bright yellow 210d nylon liner, it can be used as a hiking pack, messenger bag, low-key briefcase, carry-on, diaper bag—and really, just about anything you can imagine Read More
Well built, nice size for day trip. Would be better with strappettes.
I have used this for day hikes all fall. Very happy with size and quality. The pack came with cross body strap which is a must otherwise the pack is top heavy and falls away from your back. I would like to order the (sold seperately) strapppettes to see if it is more comfortable than the cross body. Otherwise, rides nicely with 2-3 bottles, extra layers and snacks with some room to spare. It is very well built.
This thing arrived without shoulder straps. Can't seem to get anyone to answer my emails. Whats up with this, sell stuff but no customer service, or is this the new American way ?
The convertibility of thise bag is what I was looking for. A small messenger-style shoulder bag for work, a waist-pack for hiking & biking. Solid quality construction with great zippers. I'm still perfecting my EDC load-out distribution, but so far, so good.
Here is my review of this bag from a Bushcrafter’s point of view.
This is my primary pack for bushcrafting, whether going out for the day, or up to a three days trip
This bag would be perfect AS IS for Every Day Carry; however, after using this bag for a couple years, there are a few improvements I could make to it for bushcrafting use:
1) Make the main compartment about two inches deeper from front to back, and make it compressable—the current depth limits your gear choices for Bushcrafting;
2) Split the front compartment into two compartments and make it extend a couple inches outward to save space on the inside (because the more you put in the front compartment the more room it takes away from the main compartment). To compensate for this I added two small pouches onto the webbing on the front of the bag;
3) Make the bottle holders a little deeper to compensate larger nalgine bottles; but optionally you can add some shock cord to go around the lid of larger bottles to hold then secure;
4) I would also like to see them make a bag that can be added onto the top that attaches to the harness, for carrying additional food and gear for longer trips (this one improvement would transform the lumbar pack into a long duration bag)—as the bag is now, I always have to carry an additional bag for food on trips longer than one day;
5) A lot of people complain that one of the hip supports doesn’t have a compartment on it. However I found a better solution by sewing some molly webbing onto the empty unused space, which I can use to attach a dump pouch, or any other pouch I wish.
This bag has room for improvements; however I still haven’t found a Bushcrafting bag that I like as much as this. I literally take it out in the woods at least once every two weeks. It has held up very well, and it holds all of my primary bushcraft gear.
—Rx
Here is everything I take bushcrafting on a regular basis. Not everything goes into the Lumbar Pack. What doesn’t go into the pack goes in my vest, on my waist, or around my neck. If I carried everything in the pack it would be far too heavy. Food gets carried in a separate bag slung over my shoulder.
VEST & PANTS
On Waist
Bark River Bushcrafter (bushcraft knife)
Around Neck
Featherweight Hunter (food/skinning knife)
Duluth Workingman’s Vest
Compass
Eating Utensils
Toilet Paper
2x Whistles
P-51 Can Opener
Fire Kit
Ferrocerium Rod
Exotac Titan-Light Lighter
Bic Lighter
Pocket Bellows
Fatwood
LUMBAR PACK
Vargo Titanium Water Bottle
Wood Knot Titanium French Press
Kieth 450 Cup
Sawyer Micro Squeeze (water filter)
Titanium Cooking Grill
Miscellaneous Cooking Utensils
2x 100% Cotton Bandanas
Pathfinder 1600ml Bush Pot
Cooking Oil
Salt & Spices
Honey
Pre-cut Paracord Lengths
Bamboo Cutting Board
Spare AAA Batteries
Small Wash Kit
Soap & Shanpoo
Wash Cloth
Toothbrush
First Aid Kit
MISCELLANEOUS(Some of the things I take sometimes)
Wool Blanket
Inflatable Sleeping Pad
Agawa Boreal-21 Saw
Gränsfors Bruk Scandinavian Forest Axe
Bark River Grizzly (knife)
1” Scotch Eyed Auger
Flexicut Carvin' Jack
Porlex Mini Coffee Grinder
More thoughts on what the lumbar pack needs for improvement. . .Instead of having bottle pouches on the sides, there should be two square bags, one on each side, hugging your waist - this would put all of the weight close to your body. Having to connect pouches to the webbing on the back causes the weight to pull outward, which causes lower back and shoulder pain.
Having water bottle pouches on the sides is useless as you can not access a water bottle if it’s on the side (I have to take the bag off, or have a buddy hand me my bottle). The water bottle pouch should be on the front where you can actually access it while hiking.
These two improvements would add to the capacity, while at the same time make it more comfortable (less painful).
I’m actually going to switch all my gear over to my Mystery Ranch SATL this weekend, because the small amount of gear that I carry is pulling at my lower back and shoulders in the Mountain Smith. The SATL is designed to carry up to 100lbs of gear and weapons, so it will easily handle my bushcraft gear - and food.
I still say the Mountain Smith is good for someone more minimalist than myself. It is perfect for someone who just needs to hike with a couple water bottles, some trail food, and a rain coat. But it could also be improved to suit the needs of bushcrafters.
—Rx
MrUndertowFunny you should mention the MR SATL...I was reading you list and thinking that's what you need. I have one too and use it as my SAR pack. Treat your back right! Nice job with the Porlex, also one of my guilty pleasures for backpacking and man does it piss off my weight weenie pals. Cool list, I really appreciate you putting it together. Thanks.
I've gone through a series of MS Lumbar packs over about 30yrs and really only use them for longer MTB rides now. Full packs have got so good in the last 5 years...
SUPERLATIVE as a modern take on the physicians Medical Bag.
Far more roomy than it looks from the outside.
I have successfully transferred ALL of the gear from my Timberland full sized roll-top into this thing, and still have room for my bento-box lunch kit and a water bottle.
Scrubs, steth, trauma shears, pen-light, pens, pencils, sharpener, toiletries, spare eyeglasses in case, wallet, 12.9" iPad Pro in a Logitech keyboard cover,(JUST squeaked that into the compartment, 4mm more room would have been GEM)... and I LOVE the over-the-shoulder with waist-belt style of carry, so much more ergonomic than the big ol' Timberland backpack hanging off my shoulder. AND IT HAS ALL THESE LOOPY PLACES TO HOOK CARABINERS TO!!!!! How can you not love that???
Lots of pockets and zip compartments and excellent bungie closures. Not as heavy as the big bag, so it's just plain better. For the longest time, I was like, "why is my STUFF so heavy, it's not like I have a plumbers kit in here!", not really giving credit to the BAG itself as a weight factor..(BUH! When I'm camping I know this.....)
Anyway.
I can see this as being marvellous as a photography gear bag too.
I found a set of strapettes on Amazon that I can attach if I want to go full-on backpacker, but now, after trying this out as is, I may not feel it all that necessary.
Less likely to whack others when turning around on mass transit......
Where has this been all my life???
Seriously.
This will be one of those, "and he never looked back", dealie-ohs.
I'll be down for another, if this ever drops again.
Bought this pack for my husband. He says he loves the pack, and the shoulder straps (extra), like the color options, design and durability. I love I can add the shoulder strapettes when carrying heavier loads, it gives more support and comfort. I would like if it had better attachment points for the shoulder straps, and more adjustment for the straps.
I bought this specifically for bike commuting, but it has also (mostly) replaced my Timbuk2 messenger bag for when I drive to work. The waist straps and compression straps keep it secure to my lower back, and the shoulder strap adds an extra layer of security while I'm riding. This edition (2018) doesn't offer much in terms of organization, but that hasn't been a dealbreaker. I may consider buying the strappettes if I ever start carrying heavier loads in it, but for now, the included shoulder strap is sufficient.
I haven't taken it on longer rides yet, nor dayhikes, but so far it's been comfortable for riding and walking. I'm also planning to use it to supplement my bikepacking setup. I very much recommend this pack!