I need some help, can any body tell me what a Daisy Chain is used for(no wise crack from OBG please) on the back of backpacks?

The only time I have ever seen something like that is many many years ago in the Air Force, they were on the insde of the parachute bag to hold the shrod lines for the chute.

Well, I find they hold Roman Candles fairly well...

-Blast

I have fusees on my regular pack "I don't need on stinking roman candles"

As far as I know they are just for attaching more gear to your pack. I hear tell more specifically for climbing gear like cam's, carabiners, quick draws etc.

I do a lot of backpacking and can honestly say I hardly ever see them being used. When I have seen them used it is only for attaching more gear to the outside of the pack.

Because they appear on all size packs. Much larger than you would use for rock climbing. I will go out on a limb and say manufacturers sew them on so consumers "feel" "cool" with the extra doo-dads on there pack.

This has been a long time question for me as well so if I am wrong and they really do have a specific purpose. I would love to know. I will need to hurry up and go get the specific item that I have obviously overlooked and am in dire need of and have overlooked. My gosh I hope I haven?t been doing this whole backpacking thing wrong.

Thanks
Cameron

OK, in all seriousness, what you usually see is a water bottle hung from a daisy chain with a "toy" carabiner, or, if the wearer wants to look really macho, a real live locking 'biner. I think that some people, both manufacturers and consumers, think that daisy chains look cool, or "tactical," which is apparently the newest fad word sweeping the country. Personally, I don't like a bunch of junk swinging from me, or my gear. High and tight is what I like. Hey, I'm a poet and don't know it...

I use it as an attachment point to hold my paracute cord and a carabiner or two. I haven't found much other use for it.

You can kind of see it here on my small pack:




I've seen some guys use it to attach their camera bag or other small bag with stuff they might need to find/access quickly (first aid kit). I've also seen extra-large blades attached there, since they are too long to stick in the pack and too awkward to carry on a belt for a hike.


I believe they are modeled after the military MOLLE/ALICE attachment system that lets troops attach radios or other accessories to the outside of their packs with special clips.

aaaaah..... finally someone asks the question I never dare to ask ....

No, daisy chain has been around a LOT longer than MOLLE, but was probably inspired by it.

MAn, I thought you were talking about the knot!

Yes, ice ase loops are an amusing feature. I recall at college asking someone if they knew what the loops were for (I used to do alpine climbing, and, I was somewhat of a wiseguy, so, I was setting the individual up). He stated that they were ice axe loops. I asked him if he knew what THAT was. He said that they were used by ice fishermen to chop holes. I asked why they couldnt use regular axes. Well, you see where this conversation is going...he didnt talk to me for about a week

Man, and he warns me about no wise crack answers!

I agree with the line of comments - they are a fairly useless archaic feature, especially on packs that have a single vertical row. Parallel rows can come in handy on odd occasions, such as lashing a filthy wet ground cloth to the outside, but there are other ways to skin that cat if no chains are present.

One of my packs intentionally has zero outside pockets (Kelty Slick Rock). Sometimes I find it useful to attach a daypack that is hydration bladder compatible to the daisy chains, but I don't usually carry the full bladder in the day pack when it is attached to the main pack because of weight placement.

You may find the loops a bit more useful if you lace a paracord through them much like a boot lacing - like you see done in elastic cord on many Camel Bak packs. But start the lacing at the bottom and run it up. Load the pack out to full volume first, lace it bottom-to-top, then use the lacing to stow something like a bulky overgarment (parks, perhaps). Trim the ends to that length and carefully fuse ends (keep flame away from pack). Add a cordlock if desired and then knot the two ends together with an overhand knot or a figure 8 knot.

The lacing won't interfere with any other uses of the daisy chains and occasionally comes in useful. Worst case you have an extra length of paracord that you're unlikely to lose or misplace. Figure out how you prefer to stow the excess cord ends to suit yourself.

I believe I would find ALICE or MOLIE attachments more useful if they were thoughtfully placed - simply covering panels with them adds unnecessary weight.

If you want TOTALLY useless, as mentioned previously: Ice Axe Loops. I use ice axes. I've used ice axes for 35 years. I have NEVER used an ice axe loop to stow an axe, even temporarily. [Insert anecdote about clinging to a vertical wall by crampon points and on hammer while screwing in an ice piton with other hand - I have no such stories].

As for attaching climbing gear to daisy chains - I've done that occasionally and every time have been very dissatisfied - YMMV.

I DO carry 4 non-locking 'biners tightly clipped into the loops because they are handy for a variety of uses (bear bags, anyone?) and are readily available on the outside of the pack. Run each thru two loops spaced far enough apart to make them lie flat against the pack and rotate the gates to the inside, open end down. "Toy" 'biners are lighter and cheaper, can serve some of the same uses on the trail, and fit well on daypacks.

My 2 cents.

Tom

Actually, I've found that those are rather nice for holding collapsible trekking poles.

Alex

They don't seem to have a clear function. I have used them to carry small carbiners used to hoist the "bear bag". They don't get lost down in my pack that way, and anyone in my group can find them. I have used them to hang my laundry from to let them air dry while walking on the trail. A double row would have been more functional. That way I could strap longer items such as my ground pad or a dripping ground cloth easier to the outside.

I am so glad you asked that question.

I've been wondering what those little boogers were for a long time and never thought to ask.

(Never asked because never had a use for them).