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| KS ultralight gear daypack packed up and ready to go |
Few months ago I got mail from KS Ultralight with their sweet little daypack included. I was surprised how tiny the parcel was and upon opening I recognized
that the daypack is not that very small as I thought it was. According
to the web page the pack holds 16L and its made from lightweight PU coated ripstop nylon which my non scientific eye can confirm. The weight is scant 140g and when you pack it into its own back mash pocket it takes the size of a soft ball.
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| Stuffed into its own mesh pocket |
But don't let this small size frameless daypack fool you as its not just "the sack". It's packed with tons of features such as waterproof YKK zipper which runs vertically, the feature you don't see that very often on day/summit pack of the same size (GG Riksak, Sea to Summit Ultrasil Daypack etc.), two side pockets that can easily hold 1L water bottle, mesh back pocket big enough to hold your windshirt/rain jacket which also serves as backpacks own stuff sack when you don't need it.
Six "strategically" placed webbing loops offer lot of different shockcord setup points so you can add more stability and compression to the pack if needed. Vertical zipper runs smooth and once the main compartment opens up there's inner pocket in A4 format that holds your water bladder or piece of extra foam to add some back support to the otherway frameless pack. Inner mitten hook holds your keys safe and secure. Shoulder straps are made out of 3D mesh padding and fabric and are easily adjustable.
I have used daypack on numerous days over the last few months as my commute, trailrunning, cycling, dayhiking pack and my observations are.
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| Daypack used as cycling pack |
Its very light, feels nice against the back and the vertical zipper is super easy to use. With zipper open all the way down you get nice access to all the stuff you carry. Side water bottle pockets hold nice and firm and are accesible with the pack on your shoulders, the shoulder straps are easy adjustable and with very light loads there's no need for extra chest or waist strap. The waterproof zipper adds more confidence when its raining and it has
proved to keep the water out. I've used the pack in some heavy rain and
there was no leaking from the zipper. Mind you the packs seams are not
sealed nor the fabric is 100% waterproof but the waterproof zipper and
PU coated packs fabric offer some protection from the water. Mesh pocket holds items you need on the go and offers good option to hold your wet waterproofs.
While the pack is very light and frameless which is a bonus if you are counting every gram it is limited in the weight you can comfortably carry. Load it up too much and you'll be in pain with underfed shoulder straps cutting into your shoulders. The lack of bladder hose opening means you need to pack your water into one of the side or back mesh pockets, but once pack is fully loaded its hard to slide 1L water bottle back into the pocket. I think bigger size pockets are needed. Since there's no back mesh or suspension that keeps the daypack off your back it can get clammy but that's normal with most frameless packs of the same built.
To sum it up. KS Ultralight gear daypack offers nice balance between volume and weight for a daypack with so many features. If you are aware of its weight carrying limitations it is indeed very price affordable and nice daypack. Due to its short back size, narrow shoulder straps, vertical waterproof zipper and all the outside pockets there's lots of potential as Kids daypack when they carry almost "no" weight.
If you are on the lookout for a new daypack that is packed with features and its reasonably priced you should throw KS Ultralight gear into the mix. To get more specifications about the daypack simply visit KS Ultralight gear web page http://www.ks-ultralightgear.com/
Enjoy!
