It was pretty easy to make adjustments from the side door access. End-door access would have made it more difficult. I have noticed that when I fill the bag up full or close to full it puts stress on the stitching.
If you need a good cheap bag you need to see if the Ozark Trail Back Packs will work for your needs. I checked all the hook and loop connections, ozark trail backpack the straps, the plastic clips. Get Backpacking Light news, updates, gear info, skills, and commentary delivered into your inbox 1-2x/week.
As always, make sure to bring the “Ten Essentials”, extra food and water, sunscreen etc. Be aware, this is a daypack, intended for lighter loads and shorter distances. It isn’t built to be on your back 8 hours a day, and it won’t support 25 pounds.
If you need a large pack, or are heading on a days-long adventure, this pack won’t work for you. My favorite way to keep kids happy on hikes is to invite their friends. It’s amazing how much complaining happens on a hike with only one family. But if you add another family with at least one kid in roughly the same age range, like magic the hike seems to get shorter and the climbs easier for everyone involved.
I did some quick adjustments and gave the bag a try. It was heavier than the premium brands but still light enough for our needs. Once I got home my wife helped me fit the bag to my size and shape. We loaded the bag up with everything we might need for a 10-to-12-hour day out on the trails. The stitching wasn’t as good as the premium brand but, it was still a well-built bag that should last if I didn’t over stuff it. (This is not sarcasm.) When I was a new mom a hike with my baby on my back was a wonderful antidote to the feeling of being overwhelmed by this huge life change.
While the Ozark Trail doesn’t run directly through any towns, hikers may access options for resupply and services along the way, including the locales below. Please be aware that we make an effort to keep this information current. However, businesses and business conditions change, thus the information contained here is subject to change without the knowledge of the Ozark Trail Association. Walmart has up to 50% off select Ozark Backpacks and Daypacks! Grab a hydration compatible backpack for $13.96 or Go Bag for $15.53. Overall, it could have been roomier, but the weight savings were attractive to me with only one spar instead of two.