I use a Leeds Millennium pack. I received it from a friend who got it at a sales meeting (it has her company's logo on it), so I don't know if it's available commercially or not. Here’s a web page that ha a small photo. http://www.copshop.com/leeds/catalog/packs.htm Here’s the link to Leeds home page, but I don’t think they sell retail. http://www.leedsworld.com/ as they have a min. order of 12 required.<br><br>It has two large main compartments and one external compartment on the outside, as well as a separate zipper pouch along the bottom front.<br><br>The outside compartment has two valcro straps for securing the laptop and a nylon zipper bag that stick to the side with valcro. The bag is similar to a toiletry bag. I use it for PC cards, phone cord, external mouse, screwdriver, etc.<br><br>The inside compartment has a vertical divider to help separate papers. I also carry my umbrella, Palm Pilot, Palm Keyboard, books, etc. I also have a piece of hardboard that I cut to size to match the compartment's dimensions. This board is not too heavy and it actually makes the pack more comfortable against the back, instead of the miss-mash edges of whatever I end up tossing into the compartment. It also doubles as a lap desk for my palm keyboard on the train.<br><br>The small outer compartment has the routine assortment of pockets for pens, business cards, etc. Also an inside zipper pouch. This is where I have some meds, cough drops, tissue, etc..<br><br>The zipper compartment on the outside bottom edge is nice for items you might want to get at without opening the pack up. This is where I’ll store my PSK when it’s assembled (I only need one more item!).<br><br>My only complaint, and this has been true of any laptop backpack, is that the stitching for the straps always work free. These started to pull away from the pack after a few weeks. So I removed them and sewed on some thin black leather tabs on the ends. I then tacked them on the pack again and then secured them with several pop rivets. That approach is holding well so far.<br><br>The Leeds site does have a closeout item that you can order Qt.1 of for $23.80, it’s not as nice as what I’ve just described. http://www.leedsworld.com/searchResults.asp?category=CLOSEOUTS&product_id=5800-99<br>

I am currently in the market for a new pack for my Urban Survival kit. I am thinking of getting a Balckhawk force 5.<br>It will hold about 2200 cubic inches of gear as well as 100 0z of water in a hydration system.

I looked into this recently and I found that Jansport has a model called the Big Student which is about 2200 cubic inches and has three compartments. Its rugged and can be had for about $20-25 on Ebay. It lists for $50 or $60. I also have an Eagle A-III which is definitely overkill. Its about 2400 cubic inches, a million straps, plumbed for a water bladder and everything is double stitched. I think it might be military issue. It costs about $100 or less on Ebay. Look hard at the Jansport.

For a little stuff, how about a NewSun gear Expedition Liberty pouch? For a lot of stuff, how about a SpecOps Design Packrat? Both are for sale at www.actiongear.com and also have their own websites. These things have loads of pockets, loops, and pouches for little stuff like knives, tools, food bars, lighters, compasses, keys and other pocket junk. I have used both brands and they are nice. I currently use a New Sun and another small generic pouch to carry stuff in my schnazzy leather attache (for the office), then I can just take them out and put them in cargo pockets, on my belt, in another backpack or my shooting bag, or whatever when it's time to bum around. Nice setup in my opinion.

I've used the Victorinox daypacks. I got them on sale at REI. They look "normal" and they have nice compartments in the front. I use the daypack from this set:
http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductD...gory_rn=4501712

my friends have used the St.Moritz or the Geneva, also from REI and on sale for about 30. I've found these packs are more padded than I really like. These bags seem to do great even with heavy use (I took mine to Europe and abused it, came home, washed it, and it looked new again). They scream "student" not "survival".

I've got the same problem trying to organize my stuuf so it's accessible. I've gone through probably 8 packs trying to find one a little better.
Right now I'm eyeing one that Cabelas sells for about 50$. It's got 4 zippered pockets around the main compartment, a rain cover, and a bladder pocket as well as a "framesheet"
JB

I have experienced great success with the Camelbak products.

This model has plenty of little pockes, lashing points, and compression straps. Oh, and it holds water. <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

If you want less conspicuous it is available in black

For complete "innocents" try one of these Although I do not have personal experience with this model so I don't know about pockets.

Along the same lines, I use a jansport backpack for school and weekend trips and have used it every day for about 4 years now, and it's almost as good as new. It has an outside storage space to stuff a jacket, and I have clipped a waist pack to that, along with a jacket if I'm wearing short sleeves. The waistpack is the same color blue as my backpack, (actually, so is the jacket, I guess i like that color)so if you don't look too closely it appears to be part of the pack. I'm still working on the kit, and when I have it to where I'm happy with it I plan to post the contents here for review, but i was suprised at how much I could fit in there. It has a small outside pocket where I keep a few things I could need in a non emergency. When I'm not taking my pack, I unclip the waistpack and throw it in my Jeep to augment that kit.
Hope this helps,

Chris.

Finding a tailor/seamstress/sewer who can work with nylon packs and gear isn't so easy. I have an old, well-worn Eagle 3-day assault pack that was not Camelbak compatible. I went to Specialty Outdoors and contacted Penny Schwyn ( info@specialtyoutdoors.com) regarding modifying the pack so that I could use a hydration system with the pack. Penny did a fabulous job, took a few weeks, and charged me very little money. There are folks out there who do the work, and if you are clear in your instructions you will get good work.

atty_guy

I use a camelbak mule, the old model. I took the bladder out and have a platypus in it's place, plus a prybar and other essentials. I have a camelbak trailblazer ordered, we'll see how that works. I like the narrow light profile of the mule, I think the trailblazer will be even better, I will have the new omega bladder, plus room for my other stuff. I think camelbaks are the perfect urban survial pak.