Backpacker Magazine – Holiday Gift Guide 2011

Holiday Gift Guide 2011: Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Packable Day Pack

Ultralight stuff sack and daypack

by: Dan Larson

Tags:
• Gear
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• Daypack
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• Ultralight
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Combination stuff sack/daypacks are nothing new, but few weigh less than the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Packable Day Pack. At less than three ounces, this daypack weighs the same as an ultralight stuff sack. Made from siliconized Cordura nylon, it’s strong and tear-resistant enough for most day hiking needs. The shoulder straps are thin—just two layers of nylon sewn together, but wide enough (two inches) to help distribute the weight.

Don’t put too much weight in this pack, though. Five pounds seems about right. Ten feels like a stretch. The 20-liter capacity (is it only available in one size?—Yes, for this pack) is good for a layer or two, food, water, and essentials. I like to use a foam sit pad as a frame, which fits the 11 x 19-in. bag snugly and stabilizes the load. As a stuff sack, it holds all my clothes or summer-weight sleeping bag. All in all, this is the most useful, ultralight, dual-purpose stuff sack I’ve found.

The Specs
Cost: $30
Weight: 2.4 oz.
Capacity: 20 liters
seatosummit.com

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