In one of the previous posts, we discussed your travel backpack and what you should consider when choosing one. Today, let’s talk about your smaller daypack.
A daypack serves two important purposes. First, it’s great for walking around cities and various day hikes and trips you will be taking that don’t require too many items to bring.
Secondly, your daypack is your portable safe where you will keep most of your valuables. Your big backpack is for things that are bulky but not necessarily valuable – dirty underwear comes to mind, those weathered boots and so on. Since you will often lose sight of it while on the road, you don’t want to pack your passport, your camera or iPad in your main bag. That’s what your daypack is for, and it is something you should always keep in sight and by your side.
Some big backpacks come with a detachable smaller packs, but I wouldn’t recommend them as a substitute for a good daypack. They are usually designed as an afterthought and are often too small and too uncomfortable for daily use. It is true, however, that you would look like an idiot with your huge backpack behind you and your daypack strapped to your front, but that’s only for moving from point A to B, where B is typically a bus, train or a boat station, or your hotel. Small price to pay for being equipped.
A good daypack should be at least 25 litres in volume, have pockets and compartments, but should not be too “urban”, i.e. designed for couriers or laptops. It needs to be durable enough for nature hikes and have a fully zippered top, not one of those flaps with a plastic fasten. And most importantly, it needs to have side straps for waist support. They don’t have to be thick and padded like in your main backpack, but you should always make sure you use them when carrying your daypack. Your back will thank you (and me) later!
Some people have asked me if I use a moneybelt (even strangers – I wonder why?) A moneybelt may be useful on certain trips, especially in countries where the risk of being robbed is higher. It’s always a good idea to stash your cash in several places, but you have to be always aware of where it is, or it might become counterproductive – you might forget where you stashed it away and eventually lose it. Moneybelts are really there for emergency situations, like robberies or losing your wallet. They should carry some cash and a backup credit or debit card. Basically, you would have to treat it like a piece of garment for daily wear. The moneybelt I would personally recommend is this one by PEAK. It’s relatively inexpensive and has an added feature of RFID block, which won’t allow anyone steal your credit card information.
If your trip involves a lot of water activities, such as boat trips, rafting expeditions, beach time and so on, I would also suggest getting a waterproof bag for the essentials you might want to take with you, especially your camera. They come in various shapes and sizes, and nowadays, you can even buy a small daypack that is virtually waterproof.
Personally, I have 3 or 4 different daypacks for different uses, some cheaper ones, some perhaps too fancy for frequent use. The one I like the most currently is the Osprey Daylight Plus. It is light, durable and surprisingly spacious for the size.
I will also say something shocking to the photographers out there: yes, I travel with some pretty expensive camera gear; and NO, I do not use a photographic backpack. Why? Because I need my camera to be available to me by being by my side, either on a strap or a medium-sized shoulder bag that I like to carry when I walk for up to 3 hours or so. I know, my camera does look pretty beat up, but that’s because I often neglect putting it into its own small case before placing it in my daypack or my shoulder bag. Bottom line – there are plenty of protective gear for your camera that does not impede on your ability to grab it quickly when you need to. A camera backpack is just not one of them.