Mountainsmith Day Lumbar Pack :: Drive By

This review was written by Greg Davis, epic bag collector and outdoorsman. 

The classic Mountainsmith Day Lumbar Pack has offered innovative versatility for over 35 years. I  flash back to early 90’s, living in Boulder, Colorado and being introduced to the Mountainsmith brand. It seemed most every hip, outdoorsy person had been issued one of these unusual bags adorned with distinct yellow bungees. This bag was everywhere; mountain biking, hiking, climbing, school and shopping at any number of the readily available natural foods markets.

For Spring 2016, Mountainsmith tastefully updates most of its line, including the Day and its smaller sibling the Tour. New color configurations, a nod to a military aesthetic, and a return to Cordura branded materials bring a fresh look to a classic design.

Who It Suits

Someone looking for a multi-use, everyday bag that handles the urban environment as well as weekend day hikes. The capacity of the Day pack is large enough for daily needs, but not too bulky to move through crowds or fit under the seat of an airplane. The bag’s ability to easily swing around from back to front makes it great as a camera bag or even a fly-fishing setup (the water bottle pockets hold beers quite well!).

“The capacity of the Day pack is large enough for daily needs, but not too bulky to move through crowds or fit under the seat of an airplane.“

Who It Doesn’t

Those who don’t like a technical look, as this bag is loaded with straps, webbing, zippers and the like. All of these serve a purpose, but it doesn’t make for a clean look. Not for the suit and tie set. The Day pack better suits a minimalist who doesn’t require a lot of gear or a change of clothes to get through the day. It will not accommodate most laptops either.

“The bag’s ability to easily swing around from back to front makes it great as a camera bag or even a fly-fishing setup…”

The Good

The bag’s versatility begins with a clever waist belt system, which allows the load to be carried comfortably on the hips, snugged up comfortably against the lower back. A heavier load can be accommodated by attaching the included shoulder strap, or an optional (sold separately) set of shoulder straps turning it into a backpack. Tuck away the nicely padded waist belt in its convenient stash sleeve, just use the shoulder strap, and the bag turns into a messenger-style bag for around town and the office.

“The Day pack better suits a minimalist who doesn’t require a lot of gear or a change of clothes to get through the day. It will not accommodate most laptops either.“

Other cool features that enhance the versatility of the Day pack: Dual bottle pockets, a carry handle, additional MOLLE-style webbing attachment points, a padded tablet sleeve, a headphone port, interior and exterior organizer pockets, a breathable padded back panel, a smartphone-sized waist belt pocket and a yellow-colored interior lining that makes it easy to locate contents. The signature yellow zip pulls and bungee are still in place (though yellow hits turn into a tonal color to blend in with the more military-inspired colorways). Eight colors to choose from! Plus an unusual version built from hemp fabric.

“The bag’s versatility begins with a clever waist belt system, which allows the load to be carried comfortably on the hips, snugged up comfortably against the lower back.“

“Tuck away the nicely padded waist belt in its convenient stash sleeve, just use the shoulder strap, and the bag turns into a messenger-style bag for around town and the office.“

The Not So Good

While feature-rich, the Day pack can be intimidating to someone not familiar with all the bells and whistles built into it. I would suggest a new owner of this bag spends some time getting familiar with what all these straps and zippers do. Though some of the straps on the bag are part of the suspension system, they may just get in the way when not wearing the bag cinched up tight on the back. I like how the waist belt can be tucked away when not in use, but I wish it was completely removable for those times when it is unnecessary. It would also be nice if the removable shoulder strap was a bit wider, or had more padding, to even out the weight when fully loaded.

“Though some of the straps on the bag are part of the suspension system, they may just get in the way when not wearing the bag cinched up tight on the back.“

Others to Consider

Being such a unique bag, it’s tough to find something else like it. The Topo Designs Field Bag comes to mind. Also maybe check out the Jandd Hermon Monster Pack, which has a similar feature set, and add-on shoulder harness option. The Timbuk2 Especial Cycling Messenger bag is another sound choice for a cleaner look and waterproof design.

“I like how the waist belt can be tucked away when not in use, but I wish it was completely removable for those times when it is unnecessary.“

Verdict

The Mountainsmith Day Lumbar Pack is a versatile bag for outdoor, everyday and travel carry. While it may take some initial getting used to, it’s comfortable to wear, includes a variety of useful features, and is well worth considering if you want a bag that can carry diverse smaller loads.