Building your own 72 hour pack has these advantages:
1. Almost always a better, bigger pack
Bigger? Definitely. Better? That would depend on the definition of "better."
2. You can personalize the gear for your situation
3. Most pre-stuffed packs have little room for anything else. Wanna bring a jacket and your laptop...then you're out of luck.
True.
4. You can avoid toting cheap, heavy gear by not adding it.
That statement sounds subjective.
5. It'll force you to think...
Comparing and researching commercial kits has challenged me to think.
Jeanette Isabelle