19 Rare Features I Crave in a Crossover Daypack

I have looked at a lot of crossover daypacks over the past couple of years.  Some packs have rare features that I wish all packs had. This list is less about a set of features that I look for before I purchase a pack and more about the rare cool things that I have seen when reviewing packs. If a company included all these things into one pack, I might pass out with joy.  

One of the problems is that some rare features are mutually exclusive.  You cannot reasonably expect to have a trampoline back and also have a TSA friendly computer compartment, for example. However, I often dream about a super crossover daypack with all these features.

So here is the list of rare features in order of what I consider to my most desirable. The most desirable rare feature is listed first.

Also, because some features are more rare than others, I have also included a "rarity index." A rarity index (RI) of 10 means that I have never seen it but I dream that someday it will exist, while an RI of 1 means that every pack on earth has this feature (e.g., shoulder straps).  One feature does rate as a 10 and one feature rates as low as a 3. The average RI on this list is 7.4.

1. A tension wire internal frame that extends from the suspension system through the base of pack. This would give the pack structure, make it able to comfortably carry the load no matter how light or heavy, and, if designed properly, would allow the pack to stand stably on its bottom. There are technical packs that have this, but no crossover daypack has it yet.  (RI: 10)

2. An adjustable sternum strap and a waist belt. There are times when you need to stabilize the load and nothing does it better than these two simple features. (RI: 6)



3. A trampoline suspension system. The ultimate in air circulation and comfort! Gregory does this on their Z series technical packs (image below). Osprey brought a simplified form of it to their Radial 26L crossover daypack (see here.) (RI: 9)

4. Open center channel on back for spine relief. (RI: 5 - becoming more and more common.  Last year, this had an RI of 8!)

5. Zippers that all open and close smoothly while one hand is on the steering wheel and the other hand is fishing for a quarter in the bottom of your pack. You might be surprised to find that there are a lot of balky zippers that get stuck moving around a bag's corners. In fact, this is the case more often than it is not. Hence its rarity. (RI: 8)



6. A fleece-lined sunglasses pocket on the top of the pack. More and more packs have a sunglasses pocket, but few have a fleece-lined pocket. (RI: 8)

7. An externally accessible laptop compartment that is TSA friendly. I considered merely making this: "Having a computer compartment that is separate from the main compartment" but I think we need to drive this discussion to the next level. (RI: 8)

 

8. An organizer panel with vertical slots for at least 3 pens. Frankly, if a pack has an organizer panel, then this is not rare.  However, I have reviewed packs with what the manufacturer claims to be an "organizer panel" yet lacks pen slots. I don't think you can call it an organizer panel without pen slots!  (RI: 3)

9. An organizer panel in a pocket on the outside, front of the pack. (Not in the main compartment.) (RI: 6)

10. The 270 degree zipper opening as offered by the Dakine Gemini (reviewed here). Absolutely the most versatile design I have seen. No one else does this.  (RI: 9)

11. An ‘unzip to access’ water bottle pocket on the side of the pack. (See the ECBC Lance reviewed here.) (RI: 8)



12. Accessory loops on the shoulder straps. This is disarmingly simple, wildly useful, yet often absent. I use it as an anchor point for my key card lanyard, but you can also use this to hold your hydration reservoir tube. (RI: 6)



13. The combination of a water bottle pocket on one side and a small zippered pocket on the other side. Have the zipper facing your back to make it a more secure pocket for my wallet, mobile phone, or car keys. (See the OGIO Ascent reviewed here.) (RI: 8)



14. Bright yellow lining throughout the bag's interior for maximum ability to see the contents of your pack. (See the Gregory Sketch reviewed here. The outside of the Sketch is a more subtle blue color.) (RI: 8)



15. A tuck-away waist belt with wings to maximize comfort and stability. (See the North Face Surge reviewed here.) (RI: 8)



16. Zippers - No zipper covers, large zipper pulls, and waterproof reverse zippers. (RI: 9)



17. Waterproof fabric. Preferably a heavyweight polyester weave instead of nylon. (See the Patagonia Blackhole reviewed here.) (RI: 9)



18. At least four zippered mesh pockets in the main compartment.  (RI: 9)



19. A look that is more subtle and professional rather than sporty. (RI: 6)

It is interesting to note how the desirability of the features sorted themselves into particular categories:

Note 1:  Items 1-4 are about the suspension system.  After all, you can have the best bag in the world, but if it has an uncomfortable suspension system, you will eventually hate the bag.  It is akin to having an Alfa Romeo 4C with a rusty lawn chair for a seat. 

Keep in mind that the first item I listed is a total pipe dream.  I would happily settle for a suspension system like the one on the Osprey Radial (mentioned already above) or the Burton Bravo 29L (reviewed here).

Note 2: Items 5-10 are about organization and accessibility.  Your crossover daypack is like a traveling desk.  Imagine if you had a desk with one wooden drawer with everything tossed into it willy-nilly and it always jammed when you tried to open or close it.  Now imagine a desk with many labeled drawers of various sizes each on ball-bearing tracks.  Ahhh...feed my OCD tendencies.

Note 3: Items 11-14 are about convenience. Having them really does improve your quality of life and makes you a better spouse, son/daughter, and father/mother.

Note 4: Items 15-19 are things that are more cherry than sundae. I can live without them, but the pack I dream about (and know that I do dream about packs a lot) has these features.