Da Kine Drafter Pack
By Cori Jones

Da Kine is a small company located in Oregon that has been making accessories and packs for the action sports markets for over 20 year now and it is fair to say that they know what they are doing. Da Kine makes excellent quality packs using only the best materials and they never forget the little extras that really make the difference.

This certainly holds true for their new multi season, multi sport pack called the Drafter. In fact, over the last year the one backpack that I have used more than any other is the versatile Drafter pack from Da Kine. It is mainly a hydration pack but has quite a bit of carry space (450 cu. In.).

The Drafter has highly adjustable waist and chest belts for a tight fit that even holds snug when running. The waist belt is removable for the times when it is not needed. It has an insulated compartment to hold your favorite hydration bladder, an external fleece lined sunglass pouch, and an external net pocket with a bungie-x system for extra storage. Inside the Drafter has one main compartment that open clamshell style and has two elastic straps and three mesh pouches to help organize your stuff. The Drafter also features a breathable mesh padded back and shoulder straps to help keep you ventilated.

I said I have used this pack more than any other and this is why, it is extremely versatile, I have used it all winter when snowboarding at resorts and this summer for mountain biking, trail running, adventure racing, and even family outings. For snowboarding I throw in a few snacks, an extra stocking cap and a multi tool. For mountain biking I carry an extra tube, a CO2 tire pump, snacks and sometimes a camera. For Trail running or adventure racing I take some snacks, minimal first aid supplies, minimal extra clothing (hat, windbreaker) and sunscreen. For family outings we have crammed a ton of stuff into this pack, anything from sweatshirts and baby bottles to the usual snacks, books, camera, etc. By the way my kids love to drink from the platypus hydration packs drinking hose, which is great because I know they will stay hydrated when we are out on family activities.

There are only a few drawbacks to the Drafter. One is that because of all the little extra features it is a little heavier than you might like. Another thing is that when running with the pack on my shirt will slowly creep up my back. This can be quite annoying.

Like most Da Kine products the Drafter is a great value at a very reasonable price. The Drafter with included 70 oz. Platypus hydration system sells for about $70 and I believe it is well worth that price. When looking for a hydration pack or a good daypack be sure and check out the Da Kine Drafter Pack.

Cori Jones is a new contributor to GearReview.com and specializes in snownboarding and mountain biking.

For more information, contact:
www.dakine.com
408 Columbia Ave. Hood River, Oregon 97031
dakine@dakine.com