Hot weather day pack & socks?- Real world advice

[Wishfulthinker580]

Mystery Ranch is who Sitka uses to make their packs. They are stellar gear. The Apex is a nice size for a day pack.

For warm weather hiking, Smartwool has always been the solution for me… when we lived near the Appalachian trail I did a good bit of spring and summer hiking …and on multiple summer tours in Iraq, smartwool got a lot of miles put on them… never a complaint…

I wear the Smartwool hiking socks all the time. They’re fantastic

 

[Firebird]

Smart wool, Fanny pack and hours on a stair stepper. . .

 

[deewayne2003]

Ok I should have been more specific about the hunt I’m training for…..

I am headed to Australia (Arnhem Land NT) in September of this year for a water Buffalo hunt with an Aussie buddy.

So average daily temp will be 90F(32C) with HIGH humidity and no PH or gun barer to carry anything else so I need to be able to carry enough food and water to sustain myself all day.

Hence why I’m looking for a good pack that will help keep me hydrated and socks that will protect my feet.

@Kevin Peacocke - you are spot on about the podiatrist and custom orthotics, I’ve been wearing them daily for years and encouraged anyone with foot issue to get them as well.

 

[318AE]

Smartwool are merino

Merino 101: What's Merino Wool, Why Choose It | Smartwool®

What is Merino wool? Learn more about the benefits of Merino wool, what Merino is made of, and how it helps you stay comfortable and perform better outdoors.

www.smartwool.com

I prefer Darn Tough. In addition to running, hiking, etc the have a category of sock specific to hunting. Are those better for “hunting”? Who knows. At least they overtly support hunters, and that alone is rare there days.

Smartwool makes great products; I used them for years. They also come across pretty “woke“ to me. I actually like the comfort and durability of the Darn Tough socks better.

Good luck on your hunt. Sounds like a great challenge. A second, dry pair of socks packs pretty light. So do some electrolyte tablets. I’ve found almost any soft sided water bladder in a pack that fits well works, provided I actually stop to drink etc. Having done the whole Ironman thing etc, I also recommend hydrating deliberately, days in advance.

 

[Dewald]

I have a Camelback HAWK daypack that I use when on a dayhike or hunting. The hydration system that comes with it works well, and its big enough to fit everything you need on a hunt. The one thing that is frustrating when hunting with a daypack, is that its not that comfortable to wear a bino-harness with it. Given my old Geovids way a ton, so maybe a lighter pair of binos will wrk better.

Ditto for wool socks with Courteneys. I would love to do a NT hunt.

 

[Dinsdale]

Ok I should have been more specific about the hunt I’m training for…..

I am headed to Australia (Arnhem Land NT) in September of this year for a water Buffalo hunt with an Aussie buddy.

So average daily temp will be 90F(32C) with HIGH humidity and no PH or gun barer to carry anything else so I need to be able to carry enough food and water to sustain myself all day.

Hence why I’m looking for a good pack that will help keep me hydrated and socks that will protect my feet.

@Kevin Peacocke - you are spot on about the podiatrist and custom orthotics, I’ve been wearing them daily for years and encouraged anyone with foot issue to get them as well.

I hike in similar conditions and have a couple Osprey packs that have what I find to be the best mesh back panels that vent. I’m also partial to their smaller packs having a wider/padded hip belt instead of just a waist strap. Covering distance a pack with just shoulder straps moves to much I like something that stops bounce and side to side sway.

Generally just some rain gear/ food/water I use around a 22L bag. I carry water filtration if I know I have sources along the way (MSR brand)

If I needed all water for a full day in warm, I’d opt for more like a 30L. And a couple of bladder style bags for bulk water; I do this in New Mexico as the is not a lot of water to find where I go along the way. I’m not a fan of hard water nalgene bottles (heavy and pack poorly)

Most of my choices are to minimize weight, so all synthetic type constructions. Canvas and heavy Cordura suck in heat when hiking, and old school ruck sacks are a joke; heavy and hot against your back.

I also favor taller and narrower profiles as they carry better is thicker brush, less snags; thats usually a top loading bag. Panel loading bags like those marketed for carry ones are not my choice as they tend to be wide/short designs.

Big fan of hydration electrolyte mixes in water. But not excess sugar like gatorade, more like mixes/tablets drinks runners/cyclists use.(I happen to use Scratch brand as I like the flavors and no aftertaste, but theres a ton of choices. I dont like Nuun, as its tastes off to me)

I have been doing late season Zimbabwe hunts where its well over 100*F and I can keep right up by staying hydrated.

You can get bino set up that can use packs shoulder straps on a qd system too. I always carry glass for birds.

 

[PARA45]

Checkout the Badlands packs. They have different sizes to suit your trip and hunting styles.

 

[The Engineer]

Everybody is a little different but what I have found works for me is the heaviest high grade merino wool socks I could find with hunting shoes that were sized to properly fit with that sock. To me they are not hot, keep the moisture away from the foot, and provide very good cushioning without rubbing.

Unfortunately, the socks I had been using were a Cabela's product that was much thicker than any of the other brands. I say unfortunately because Cabela's still carries the same stock number socks but they have obviously changed manufacture as the ones I originally bought were very soft and went through the camp laundry without shrinking. The current ones are a bit coarser and shrink from an adult size to a child size in one laundry cycle. I guess I could hand wash in my socks in cold water but if they happened to get into the camp laundry, I would be SOL. Fortunately I have several pair of the original socks so it has not become an issue so far.

The above story reminds me of the admonition, NEVER take something on a hunt until you have tried it through at least one cycle of what it will be exposed to on the hunt.

 

[Jäger_Ivo]

Never tried in Africa, but I have been hunting with only Vorn backpack for several years. Especially if I have to walk more kilometers in bad terrain.

 

[Scott CWO]

Checkout the Badlands packs. They have different sizes to suit your trip and hunting styles.

Yes, I use the Badlands 2200. It’s decent sized but narrow so it doesn’t hang up on brush too much and it has a water bladder system, if desired. It’s also big enough to use as my carry-on on the plane to hold all my optics, batteries, papers, baby wipes and anything else I need.

 

[jpr9954]

I have had Smartwool socks wear out on me but never Darn Tough. I wear Darn Tough hikers year-round. Even if the Darn Tough wear out, they will replace them for free.

I do have a couple of pairs of these Legend socks with compression. I haven't worn them for lots of hiking but will wear them when flying or driving long distances. They are wool as well.

https://soldiersystems.net/2022/02/02/legend-compression-wear-tactical-boot-socks/

 

[meigsbucks]

I’ve used Cabela’s mid weight crew length hiking socks. They are merino wool and give some cushioning.
On a tracking hunt, unlike some others, I use a day pack, mainly for the hydration bladder. For a day pack, I use a small Badlands (Can’t remember the model). It has a hydration bladder and a couple of exterior pockets.

 

[USN]

Darn tough period. Once you try them you will also be posting here, Darn Tough.

 

[SFRanger7GP]

I walk 20+ miles a week in the mountains of the Eje Cafetero (Coffee Axis) of Colombia. I wear Merrel hiking boots with Powerstep inserts. I only wear wool or wool blend socks and prefer Darn Tough, Farm to Feet or Danish Endurance. I wear the same type day pack that I use for hunting (when I use one) which is an old Boyt pack or a Swiss Gear pack.

For hydration, I just carry a 1L (or 2) bottle of water. The plastic bottle of store-bought water is perfect, and I just refill it in the kitchen as needed. I am not a fan of the tubed hydration systems as they are breeding grounds for bacteria and mold unless cleaned regularly.

Safe hunting

 

[Garrett89]

Don't know if it's already been suggested but Darn Tough wool socks are my favorite socks of all time. I work in them, go hiking, hunting, fishing, everything. By far the best in hot or cold weather.

 

[IvW]

Wool socks, spare pair is always advisable when going out as a sock swop after a rest and giving your feet a breather works wonders. Re hydrate or similar in water is also champion...the tracker can carry the pack dont make it too big a smaller day pack is more than enough. Add what you need sun screen, white gold, headache tabs, baby whipes etc....just keep to essensials..

 

[Switup]

I always wear my polypropylene liner socks under merino wool socks if I'm hunting regardless of the temps. All that changes is the thickness of the merino socks. I normally wear Smartwool Classics from summer through archery elk season.

 

[Andrew62]

Warrior socks are made from alpaca wool, simply amazing socks. I wear them in hot or cold weather.

 

[spike.t]

Smartwool socks ...back pack haven't a clue

 

[Philip Glass]

I’m training for an upcoming hunt where I will be walking 10km+ daily so I’m needing to equip accordingly.

For those of you that trek distances I’m looking for advice on an average/large size day pack.

Must carry a decent load, not sweat my back and preferably have a hydration system.

Also I’ve got my Courtney’s all set but advice on brands of socks that will let my feet breath and prevent blisters?

Where are you hunting? what are you hunting? Is the pack for the hunt or just for training? You rarely need a pack of any kind in Africa However the camelback style is the exception to consider.
You must use wool socks. I like the Kuiu midweight socks, Darn Tough, and Boyt (merino/mohair/bamboo blend). Blisters come from ill fitting boots and the wrong socks.
I recommend Lowa and Kenetrek boots If you need an option.
Also you may need insoles. (The insole store.com)
Keep training!