Reviews > Packs > Frameless Backpacks and Day Packs > Burton Womens Day Hiker Backpack > Owner Review by Kathleen Waters

Backpacking Background: My husband and I started hiking/backpacking about 5 years ago on a gorgeous fall day, starting with Mt. Hahn located just north of Steamboat Springs, CO.

Since then, we have returned to Colorado, mostly to the Vail Valley area twice a year, both summer/early fall and winter to play outdoors - we snowshoe in the winter.

When we are home in Southeast Michigan, we make it a point to hike 2 or 3 weekdays, usually 6 to 8 miles (10 to 13 km) and then one whole weekend day. Our weekday hikes generally take place in the Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, which is a decent mixture of moderately steep hills and flat terrain, heavily wooded. Our weekend hikes can end up being anywhere!

We are planning to start overnight backpacking this spring and have a trip planned to Puerto Rico in May 2004!

Product information

Product Description: The Burton Women's Day Hiker is a fully loaded tri-colored backpack with vertical snowboard (or in my case, snowshoe) carrying straps, ergonomic well-padded shoulder harnesses, adjustable chest and waist straps and sized for a woman's smaller torso. The straps use nylon webbing and PVC toggle quick release buckles. The back is semi-rigid and nicely padded.

My pack is red/black and gray with a discreet Burton Company logo vertically on one side and an even smaller one on the back. It is an aesthetically pleasing design. The 2003/2004 models are a bit different, both color-wise and logo placement.

Storage is generous for day trips including two main compartments, a center-zip accessory pocket, a sound pocket for a CD player and two side zip pockets for a total of 1600 ci (26 l) capacity. Each compartment closes with a two-zipper system and each zipper tab has a short corded "pull" for ease of opening/closing, except for the CD pocket which is totally open - a pouch actually with a Velcro strap closure. The CD pocket has a small mesh zippered pocket inside for storage of things such as a wallet, keys, etc. One of the main compartments has a divider with sewn-in pockets for pens or other narrow utensils.

There are multiple fabric "loops" on the front of the pack, on the shoulder straps and even two "D" rings for additional carrying options.

Hydration compatibility (bladder not included) lets me quench my thirst easily through a top of the pack opening in the largest compartment. I use a 68 oz (2 l) bladder. When not in use, the hydration tube opening closes with a Velcro flap. While the Day Hiker does not have a cover, there is a zipper cover to protect the largest compartment.

The overall workmanship is A+. All stitching is precise, flat and neat. The seams are reinforced with tape where needed. Attachments are carefully tacked on. The materials appear to be very durable.

Field information

Location(s)where used: I purchased the Burton Women's Day Hiker backpack to be used with my Yukon Charlie's Chinook snowshoes in 2002 for a Christmas vacation in Avon, Colorado in the Vail Valley. The Day Hiker was used with and without showshoes attached on 5 different hikes over the course of 10 days in Vail and Beaver Creek. In 2003 and 2004, I've used the Day Hiker countless times with and without snowshoes in Mancelona, Michigan in the northern part of Michigan's lower peninsula and in Waterford, Michigan in the Pontiac State Recreation Area and other local parks in the White Lake, Michigan area. Most of the usage was without the snowshoes attached, of course.

Description of location(s): In Vail and Beaver Creek, the Day Hiker was used primarily on groomed trails throughout McCoy Park in Beaver Creek (a high mountain area) and along the Vail Golf Course in Vail. There was a mixture of steep to medium hills and flat land. The elevation at McCoy Park is 9842' (2999 m) and the elevation in Vail is 8120' (2475 m).

In Michigan, the terrain in Mancelona was very flat and I followed no real trails, just stomped around the Lakes of the North Golf Course perimeter. The terrain at the Pontiac Lake Recreation Area where I spend most of my time varies all over the place from sandy flat lakeshores to wide-open wild meadows to hilly hardwood forests having grades up to 50%. Elevation ranges from 700 to 1000' (213 to 305 m).

Weather conditions: Temperatures ranged from a low of -2 F (-10 C) to a high of 34 F (1 C) in bright sunshine, almost whiteout snow squalls and nighttime conditions. Most of the coldest conditions were late night hikes when the skies were clear. Daytime hikes, particularly in Colorado were usually warmer. The two snowstorms that I got caught in were just before Christmas 2003 in Mancelona.

The Burton Women's Day Hiker is a great all round backpack and a really neat system for packing with or without snowshoes or snowboard. Although I don't snowboard (I plan on keeping my body parts in the places Mother Nature intended!), I tried the pack on with my son's snowboard attached just to see how it worked and not surprisingly, the pack performed perfectly with no slippage and good balance. With snowshoes, the pack works the same only lighter! Just a simple adjustment of the two quick release toggle buckles insured a stable hold. The buckles are easily opened and clipped closed even with my heavy fleece mittens on.

The Women's Day Hiker is smaller than the men's model to accommodate a woman's smaller torso; 12" wide x 19" tall (30 cm x 48 cm) versus 15" wide by 22" tall (38 cm x 56 cm), so it fits nicely on my back. Even though the Women's Day Hiker has a lesser capacity than the men's model; 1600 ci (26 l) versus 1770 ci (29 l), I can still fit my Columbia ski jacket, a wind shirt, a 51 oz (1.5 l) water bottle AND the 68 oz (2 l) hydration pack in the main compartment! The pack weight rests right at my hip level for a really comfortable carry. The chest and waist straps were easily adjusted and those adjustments have remained in place for the 2 dozen or so hikes that I have used the Day Hiker.

The CD accessory pocket is the perfect size for my headlamp power supply. The two side compartments are big enough for snacks, gloves, even my small digital camera, so they are easily accessible without removing the pack.

Without additional insulation, a hydration bladder/feeder tube is useless in the coldest weather, the tube quickly freezes. And since I purchased the Burton Women's Day Hiker backpack specifically for winter excursions (I have another back for warm weather), I guess that I have another goodie to buy!

The zippers on all the compartments are easily opened and closed even when wearing all but my thickest mittens due to the short corded "pull" attached to the zipper tab. While only the main compartment zipper has a flap to cover it, I have had no problems with keeping my stuff dry during snowstorms. I have not had any experience with heavy rain however.

The only drawbacks that I have found with this backpack are two, one minor and one not so minor. The pack has a semi-rigid 5" (13 cm) "handle" at the top of the pack for hand carry or for hanging the pack up for storage. That handle kept rubbing against the back of my neck. This minor annoyance was easily fixed with a bit of Velcro to hold it tight against the pack when the strap was not in use.

The second drawback is more problematic. The Day Hiker's fits squarely against my spine and while it is nice and cozy, it causes me to sweat even in the coldest weather! I have to dress much lighter during active hiking than during rest stops which means quickly adding an extra layer or two as soon as there is a lull. Thank goodness the Day Hiker has so much room for those extra layers!

Summary: For the money, around $55.00, the Burton Women's Day Hiker backpack is an excellent value for snowboarders and snowshoers.

Reviews > Packs > Frameless Backpacks and Day Packs > Burton Womens Day Hiker Backpack > Owner Review by Kathleen Waters