Need new dad bag

[El Cid]

After a few hours hiking this past week, and several more hours ahead of me, I’m back on the hunt for a new backpack. Basic criteria...

• Under 2 lbs empty
• External water bottle sleeve(s)
• Small, externally accessible, pouch (sunglasses, phone, meds)
• At least some amount of internal compartmentalization (preferably without having to add additional parts)
• Good airflow in the back (new requirement from this week)
• No external mole or other tactical indicators
• detachable/storable waist belt (if it has one at all)

I did a thread search and didn't see KUIU anywhere. I've had my eye on their Divide 1200 for a while in grey. I don't have their packs, but have a good bit of their clothing and it's all very well made and durable. While I don't hunt, I learned a life hack years ago that when I want durable, warm, gear/clothing take a look at what hunters wear and use.

https://www.kuiu.com/divide-1200/980...gid=shop-packs

Since you mention a detachable waist belt: (currently the Vias camo is all they show in stock but there is a grey version listed)
https://www.kuiu.com/divide-1500/980...gid=shop-packs

[rob_s]

I did a thread search and didn't see KUIU anywhere. I've had my eye on their Divide 1200 for a while in grey. I don't have their packs, but have a good bit of their clothing and it's all very well made and durable. While I don't hunt, I learned a life hack years ago that when I want durable, warm, gear/clothing take a look at what hunters wear and use.

https://www.kuiu.com/divide-1200/980...gid=shop-packs

Since you mention a detachable waist belt: (currently the Vias camo is all they show in stock but there is a grey version listed)
https://www.kuiu.com/divide-1500/980...gid=shop-packs

Seems like a pretty neat option. I have really liked those vertical-zipper front pouches on the pack on previous packs I've had. Makes it easy to keep the bag on one shoulder, sling it under the armpit, and access them in front of you.

[Casual Friday]

I forgot I had wanted to come back to this...

Probably the funniest thing is some of the currently-recommended bags were never mentioned before, but also how consistently some bags are insistently recommended despite having been previously, repeatedly, rejected.

One other thing of note is that initially I had a criteria of WANTING a pistol pocket but after having a couple of different pistol-pocket bags now, I’ve realized that:

1. Adding that pocket not only adds the bulk of the pocket, but also the bulk and weight of various stiffeners, etc. around the pocket
2. Companies making bags with dedicated pistol pouches aren’t bag companies, they are legal coma it’s, which means they don’t know Dick about bags and they tend to have other issues making them even more bad as a bag
3. I don’t believe I ever actually wound up putting a pistol in that dedicated space on any of the bags I bought

Took awhile for me to figure all that out.

But, again, this whole comedic journey has probably been somewhat blown out of proportion in the minds of some readers. Understanding that it’s gone on for years should provide at least some context.

at the end of the day, I seem to be arriving at the same thing I usually do, which is that there really isn’t much in my life that I actually need or want to be planning around guns/carrying/gun fighting/etc. in which case suddenly the Gregory or Osprey bags become more valid options.

And I’m betting that eventually I just wind up with the ding dang Tom Binh.

I've enjoyed this more than you'll ever know.

[vcdgrips]

Those KUIU bags look to be quite interesting. The easy Tripod/Spotting Scope/Shooting Sticks/Rifle/Bow etc carry options seem well thought out as a casual observer. The Cordura fabric is nice. I would like to know if the zippers are YKK. If I was a hunter dude, those would get a serious look.


I predict that the Gregory pack will be found to be a bit better the the older REI 25 if for no other reason that it is new, a bit bigger and blackish.

I predict that in the end you will end up with a Tom Bihn Synapse 25 or a Synik 30.

I would note you essentially reached that conclusion on Jan of 2019 and again in August of 2020.

Send the Gregory back and get a refund, sell the Alpha 19er and buy a Tom Bihn.

Actually, given who you are- buy the Synapse 25 and the Synik 30. Load them up in the house for a few days, keep the one you want and sell the other. Given the demand for TB I doubt you will lose a dime to include shipping. Alternatively, send it back to the mothership and get accessories and/or a bag for SWMBO.

Waiting with baited breath.


PS-I would not sell the Eagle Packs but that would also put more money in the TB kitty.

[El Cid]

Those KUIU bags look to be quite interesting. The easy Tripod/Spotting Scope/Shooting Sticks/Rifle/Bow etc carry options seem well thought out as a casual observer. The Cordura fabric is nice. I would like to know if the zippers are YKK. If I was a hunter dude, those would get a serious look.

Knew a guy a few years back who was an avid hunter including trips to AK for bear with a bow. He LOVED the brand and is how I discovered it. They seem very well thought out and if my memory serves, the guy who started KUIU is the same one who started Sitka Gear before selling it. I also want to say he passed a year or two ago.

ETA: https://www.kuiu.com/learn/our-story/our-founder/

To end on a lighter note, the KUIU 1200 comes in P-F colors. lol!

[rob_s]

Knew a guy a few years back who was an avid hunter including trips to AK for bear with a bow. He LOVED the brand and is how I discovered it. They seem very well thought out and if my memory serves, the guy who started KUIU is the same one who started Sitka Gear before selling it. I also want to say he passed a year or two ago.

To end on a lighter note, the KUIU 1200 comes in P-F colors. lol!

And it has a Danzig skull on the back!

[rob_s]

I saw that brand on backcountry or something and wasn't familiar with them. Thanks for the recommendation.

The Exode 26 and Anode 30 look interesting too. Appear to be pretty much the same packs as each other with the Anode being 1" thicker and having a front pouch instead of the front bungies that the Exode has.

Got the Gregory Anode. Has some potential.

Attachment 68231

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Attachment 68233

Wanting not to disappoint my fans...

I got a chance to carry the Anode very, very briefly this past weekend. It’ll certainly do for now. Wish I had, or could have, gotten it in a lighter color. One of the places it got tooken was the beach. Not the end of the world, but black and lots of sun isn’t ideal.

Wife noticed the bag looked different than previous bag(s) and asked “is that a new bag?” To which I of course replied with “what do you mean be ‘new’?” After which i was reminded that I still have several of the previous bags and I should get busy selling at least some of them.

On the "sling bag" side of things, had need for a small "fanny pack" type of bag twice in one weekend, so came home and got one of these. Haven't carried it yet but seems legit so far.
https://www.aersf.com/city-sling-black

This thing is still my favorite. In some rare instances it could stand to be slightly larger, so I’m still kind of on the lookout for something that fits that need, but we spent 10 days trucking all around Southern Utah visiting various national parks, and this thing was awesome, from the flight out, to cruising around the tourist towns, to jeeping around the wilderness, to hiking to Delicate Arch... just amazing. If you scroll back in the thread there’s a post where I link to a bunch of the single-serving items that I filled it with and it was great to have those things with us. I do need to add some stock of those items to the van though as I found myself rationing them out knowing that all I had was what was in there.

I did supplement it with a packable backpack. Reason being that I flew out with one carryon and my Fanny pack, but knew I’d want some sort of pack on some occasions once I got there, but was meeting the wife and kids who were already there in our Class B camper which meant space in the van would be at a premium.


What I got was the MYSTERY RANCH In and Out Backpack - Lightweight Foldable Pack, Black 19L and it worked great for what it is and accepting the limitations of a packable pack. I wound up leaving it behind when I flew home and the wife used it several times after I left as well. I think it’s going to just live in the van as an “emergency” pack for when we’re out and about and realize we should have brought a pack but we didn’t.

[Grouse870]

https://www.mysteryranch.com/gallagator-pack
I picked up one of these a bit ago so far I like it. Good size seems to hold all the stuff I need to and a I like the tri zip. Good price too.

[vcdgrips]

Rob S. I hope you have cracked the code for yourself. I stand by my prediction that you will soon find the Gregory bag wanting.


I put my money where my mouth was and sold a number of packs/pens and other no/little used bric a brac and purchased a Made in the USA Tom Bihn Synik 30 in Black with Grey Interior along with the Freudian Slip and a few "leashes/biners". There is a place for everything and every thing has its place. EDC with my govt issued HP 14.1 Laptop is a breeze with the padded integrated lap top pocket that can be easily accessed from the side.

Did a 4 day/3 night road trip to pick up my son from college. Easy Peasy with a couple of Eagle Creek Specter Packing Cubes.

I was also blessed by a member here who decided that their Synik 30 (Burnt Orange) was not the bag they needed given their biking etc. such that I was able to purchase that as a travel bag for my son's upcoming mission trip.

The fit, function and finish of Tom Bihn bags superlative. With the possible exception of Red Oxx, there is not an equivalently well made/thought out, Made in the USA bag on the market.



https://www.tombihn.com/collections/...15334842400831

https://www.tombihn.com/products/fre...nt=16409089351

https://www.tombihn.com/collections/...31890920341567

https://www.tombihn.com/collections/...nt=30945188359



I am on water's edge re buying a Travel Pro 21 Platinum Elite Spinner and having my carry on travel needs covered for the foreseeable future. The TP has an integrated suiter and is warrantied against damage done by the airlines for life.
https://travelpro.com/products/plati...rry-on-spinner

[rob_s]

for those fans of Binh, that also took the original post to mean "baby bag for dad to carry"...

https://www.tombihn.com/blogs/main/d...ZMNKE48NbuLhHA

https://www.tombihn.com/products/par...nt=19611298247