Insights Outdoor Element Day Pack Review

As we age, we begin to notice things that once held no weight on our minds; now start to gnaw at them. For me, that gnawing sensation was brought on by gear organization, specifically my hunting gear. Now, while I care about organizing things like my bow cases and gear storage at home, I have begun to focus more on the equipment I take to the field. And the number one item on my list this year was my hunting backpack.

Being a treestand hunter, I was looking for a pack that was big enough to carry all the gear I needed but was more than just two big compartments where all my equipment was tossed in. I needed a bag that would hold my gear in the same place every time so that I wouldn't be rummaging around in my bag and making unnecessary noise in the dark of the morning. I also wanted a bag that is versatile enough to be used for some future western hunts I plan on taking. After months of searching for what I believed to be the suitable pack for me and my needs, I landed on a day pack by Insights Outdoors.

The Element Day Pack, designed with the whitetail hunter in mind, features a small top pocket, a large middle pocket, two zippered pockets on the sides with mesh pockets on the side of them, standard shoulder straps, a hideaway hip belt, compression molded gear shield, multiple molle attachments, a hidden rain shield, along with the new TS3 front pocket system.

My favorite feature of this pack has to be the TS3 front pocket system, with three different configurations designed for the treestand hunter. The first configuration is the standard front pocket use. With two mesh pockets and one zippered pocket on the inside of the front pocket, it gives you multiple options to keep your gear secured and right where you expect it to be when you need it.

The second configuration is the treestand shelf. Two adjustable straps allow the front pocket to be unzipped and laid flat, creating a shelf to set your binoculars, calls, phone, or anything else you need quick and easy access to while hunting. Multiple times in the woods, I have found myself in a lock-on, wishing for a flat surface to place my gear quickly and quietly, and this pack gives me an easy place for all my needed equipment.

The third configuration is the front pocket that completely unzips, allowing the inner pocket on the panel to be used as a basket system while also providing another zippered compartment, great for a range finder. Like the shelf system, this is another excellent way to allow the hunter quiet and easy access to their most crucial gear while keeping it low profile and tight to the tree.

The sizeable middle pocket features a large mesh pocket, which is excellent for installing a Camelbak Hydration system with the built-in slot for the drinking tube to come out and be attached to the front shoulder strap. The remainder of the pocket is great for holding additional gear, such as extra rope, flashlights, a hand warmer, or a light jacket.

The small top pocket is great for smaller items such as trail markers or the small screw-in tree hooks. There are also two molle attachment points directly below the top pocket, which are great for tying on calls or connecting a Garmin inReach Mini. The two side zippered pockets are the perfect place to store your Thermacell for those early season hunts, and the mesh pockets on the sides are great for water bottles. Another use for this mesh pocket would be to put a tripod for a spotting scope and secure it with the built-in bungee on the side of the pack.

The hideaway hip belt is great for taking some of the pack's weight off your shoulders on those long walks to the stand, and the molle attachment points on the right strap are perfect for attaching a pistol holster. The belt also features a small zippered pocket for your bow release, lightweight gloves, or cell phone. If you don't need the hip belt, it tucks in behind the padding on the back of the pack, allowing you to use it like a regular backpack.

The compression molded gear shield allows the user to use the adjustable straps to secure things like jackets or trekking poles to the front of the pack, and the reinforced padding offers excellent protection. If the weather turns ugly during your hunt, you can deploy the hidden rain shield, which covers the entire pack, keeping your gear completely dry from the elements.

While this backpack is already a complete system, I added a few simple modifications to my pack to tailor it to my needs in the field. First was adding a Bow Spider system, connecting it to the two molle straps at the top of the pack. If you have never heard of the Bow Spider, it is a simple puck that can be strapped, bolted, or connected with molle clips for a hands-free way of carrying your compound bow or crossbow while walking to the treestand or up the mountain. This system uses a metal post attached to your bow that slides into the puck and is held in place by gravity. When you need your bow, you can grab it tilting it slightly towards your head to unlock it, then pull it straight up over your head, and you are ready to go.

I added some small bungee attachments for the molle straps on the back of the pack and on the side of the hip belt to attach things like flashlights or to help hold a tripod or trekking poles securely on the bag. I also added another small bungee on the shoulder strap to hold a flashlight that points straight down to the ground to have hands-free light while tracking a deer or, if I forget, my headlight in the truck.

In the front pocket of the pouch, I put the gear I use the most in a treestand, such as my grunt tube, gloves, rattle call, and headlight. I also found that I could use the open pocket on the TS3 panel as a perfect place to carry my Ozonics system for quick and easy access when getting set up in the stand. This pouch fits the Ozonics perfectly and did not fall out when I went to zip the pocket back up.

In the middle pocket, I utilized the big mesh pouch for things like my cold-weather face mask, gloves, and gear I do not typically use but always like to have on hand. Once I purchase it, I will use the large pocket behind the mesh pocket for a Camelbak hydration bladder.

I used one side pouch for my blood light, and the other was perfect for my Thermacell. I used the small top pocket at the top of the pack to store small clip-on lights for marking blood trails and reflective survey tape for marking walking trails to my stand. The small pocket on the left side of the hip belt is where I put my fingerless gloves for archery, a small hands-free grunt call, and a mesh facemask, all things I use on almost every hunt that I don't want to have to take the pack off my back to access if a potential spot and stalk situation presents itself. I also plan to add a pistol holder to the right side of the hip belt in the future.

Overall this pack stands above the rest in terms of typical treestand hunting. While it may not have all the features one would look for in a western-style pack, with a few modifications, it can be a great day pack for those western hunts. I recommend this pack to any whitetail hunter, not just for its features tailored towards treestand hunting but for the organization and storage the pack provides. Nothing will frustrate you more than blowing a hunt because you were making too much noise digging through the pack, looking for a crucial piece of gear lost somewhere in the mess of a traditional day pack.

This pack won't break the bank as it retails for $99 on the Insights Outdoors website, but it can also be found on Amazon, Dick's Sporting Goods, and many other sportsman websites. Insight Outdoors has multiple other backpacks and bags along with this pack on their website. The Drifter Super Light Day Pack is perfect for scouting or shed hunting. The Vision Bow Pack has a padded area allowing you to carry your bow safely. The Shift Backpack, enabling you to carry a crossbow. The Saddle Stalker and CATs Carry All Strap for your saddle hunting needs. The Bino Harness and Bow Case. They also have two sizes of water-resistant duffle bags to carry all your hunting clothes and remaining gear while traveling.

I can't wait to put this pack through the paces during the 2023 deer season. This pack has not only solved the organization and ease of access to all my essential gear but is also extremely comfortable to wear. I have also noticed how quiet I can be walking to the treestand without all that gear rattling around in the bag. Though it is a simple change to my hunting gear, it is a change that will make me a more effective and efficient deer hunter.

If you are interested in purchasing this pack or want to look into any of Insight Outdoors other packs, I have provided a link to their website below, along with a couple of links to other websites where you can purchase this pack, so be sure to check them out.

Insight Outdoors Website: https://insightsoutdoors.com/

Buy On Amazon

Buy On The Sportsmans Guide

Written by Rick Stewart