So, last summer, on the very day I discovered that I love hiking, I went out and bought a hiking pack. Specifically, I picked up a Kelty Outskirts 50 liter bag at Sierra Trading Post and declared it my go-to pack for all hiking trips forevermore. 

This is what happens when you buy on impulse instead of thinking things through. 

The Kelty is a fine pack indeed, and I have every intention of using it on longer hikes that involve camping for a night or two. 

But for day hikes? 

Forget it, bro. What I needed was a smaller pack for light and fast trips up and down mountains and the like. 

If I told you how many bags I tried out during this phase, you’d wonder how I had the time. But I wanted something perfect; a true Goldilocks hiking backpack that’s both comfortable and big enough to carry just the few things I need for day hikes. 

I ultimately settled on Skysper Bogda pack. It’s not an Osprey, it’s not a Gregory and it’s not from REI. Skysper is a fairly new company and the pack was fairly cheap, but that Bogda checked off so many boxes for me, I stuck with it and came to love it like a brother. 

You know. Like a brother who hangs on my back all day. 

The Bogda is 35 liters, which is bigger than I need, but I don’t care. I cram everything I want into it and with the belt and chest straps in play, it feels like I’m carrying nothing at all. Even with winter gear, like spikes and extra clothing, the pack rarely exceeds 12 pounds. 

What’s in the bag? I’m glad you asked. Let me break down the inventory. 

Water filter: I’ve always been a Sawyer guy when it comes to water filters, but for this pack I went with a Hydroblu Versa because some dude on YouTube recommended it. The Versa is small, cheap at around $20 and rated to filter 100,000 gallons or something crazy like that. It’s a good filter. But it doesn’t have an option to use a sports cap with it, so back to Sawyer I will go. 

Coat: Stuffed down at the bottom of the bag is your standard lightweight, water-resistant packable puffer. It’s not a Patagonia, no, but it does the job. I ordered it off Amazon for about $30 and have been happy with it, despite the fact that it has no cinches to tighten the hood or waist. Which is stupid, now that I think of it. Who makes a puffer coat without drawstring tighteners? And like that, I am once again in the market for a light, packable coat.

Headlamps: I keep two of them in there, with a pack of backup batteries. Nothing fancy here. Just your standard lights for those beautiful long hikes that find me coming out of the woods in the dark. I also have a wool cap with a built-in headlamp. Marden’s, bro. You should have bought it when you sought it.

Hydration: I have a clip to keep a standard water bottle close fastened to my waist strap and honestly, I consider it the best five bucks I ever spent. I keep a second bottle in a mesh pouch, typically one of those tall Smartwater bottles. In various pockets, I have tubes of Gatorade Zero electrolyte tablets — electrolytes always seem to give me a boost while my energy is starting to drag. Unfortunately, they also make me pee a lot. 

First aid: In one of my bag pockets, indicated by a red string on the zipper pull, I keep a standard first aid kit. Bandages, Neosporin, mole skin tape, tweezers and about 10 different types of tick removers. 

Fire kit: Basic stuff here. It’s just a little pouch with a lighter, some fire steel, a magnifying glass, etc. 

Oh, crap, I’m lost kit: In this one pouch, I keep an emergency tent, a thermal blanket and a poncho. Also a compass and any kind of maps I’m bringing along. You might call this overkill for shorter hikes, but all of that weighs less than a pound and I like knowing it’s there.

Seasonal distress kit: Because spring can feel like winter and fall can feel like summer sometimes, I keep a few odds and ends tucked down deep inside the pack. Extra warm under layers, a warm hat, some leather gloves, extra socks, one of those cooling strips you hang around your neck. I have some great mitts from REI that are so warm, I’ve yet to be cold enough to use them. 

Grub: Who knew I’d ever become a guy who digs trail mix? I especially like the mix that has raisins and M&Ms in them. That’s just fine outdoor dining right there. I usually have one or two bags of the stuff on my person when I hike and maybe an energy bar or something gross like that. I’m not a very big eater. For the first couple hikes, I didn’t eat anything at all, and I paid for it. On vigorous hikes, you can actually FEEL the calories being consumed within you. Go figure. My mother was right. I gotta eat. 

Random doohickeys: In various pockets, I keep things like zip ties, plastic bags, those elastic thingies women use to put their hair up, some backup sports caps, a multi-tool . . . Anything else I need on a particular day tends to fall into the cargo pockets of my REI zip-off hiking pants. Which, by the way, are just awesome. 

Boots: I have two pair of hiking boots: The frog-green Teva Geotrecca Rapid Proof (whatever that means) and some Hi-Tec something or others I bought at Marden’s for 20 clams. So far, I prefer the Tevas because when I’m wearing them, I’m not aware of my feet at all and that’s how I like to go. 

Hiking poles: Effekt. They’re hiking poles, what can I say about them? I probably use them on 35 percent of my hikes. Some days, I just want my hands available to high-five trees and such. Don’t judge. Hike your own hike, bro. 

Socks: I never knew that a guy needed special socks for hiking. Now that I’ve become educated on the matter, I have several pair, either merino wool or hemp. I figure if things get really stressful on the trail, I can smoke my socks. Just kidding. Don’t do that.