Interesting timing, for me. I spent 2 full hours looking at every pack in a very large, good store today, and walked out empty handed, having walking in prepared to spend around $150-200 if I liked what I found.

I saw some great packs -- they had the entire Dana line, among many, many others. But they were traditional/conventional backpacker packs or days packs cum book bags. I am looking to replace my MaxPed Condor, which was criminally removed from my possesion.

Right now, I have bulky gear stashed in a ALICE medium on a frame (re. external frames, Don't, unless you need to haul out quarters of elk) and my grab and go stuff in a light commercial bag that is little more than a book bag.

This store is going to get in for me the 2 largest Cameback packs (2000 and 2500 cubes or so) and if I don't like them, I'm just going to go back to a MaxPed Condor which was entirely satisfactory. Without being presumptuous, I think that where we (this forum and like minded individuals) are coming from is best served by paramilitary' tactica' or 'assault' packs. That's why I will probably go back to another Condor. Oh -- the other thing -- my EDC outdoor kit is carried in a Max Ped Fat Boy -- and the Fat Boy and Condor straps do not conflict, at least on my body (6' 1", 145#, 29" waist)

Right now, I am re-doing my bug out bag and moving everything into a Blackhawk Hydrastorm Matrix Pack

http://www.blackhawkindustries.com/product_detail.asp?product_id=1840&d=

I think this will hold all I need except for my huge separate fak

"at least on my body (6' 1", 145#, 29" waist)"

Wow! You could hide behind a piece of rebar! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

And have! At my size, I've got to either hide, or fight real dirty. I'm pretty good at both.

Not sure if thats another name or not, I see a lot of references and debates on internal vs external frame backpacks and I wondered if anyone though of using an external, that way I could tie on a few differet configurations. Have a basic bob on the main pack then if I had to leave on foot I could stap the small bob from my truck on or when I got too tired from walking could drop off a bag.

I currently use a Camelbak Peak Bagger (1587 cu in -- 100 oz reservoir) but i find it a little small for what Iike to have on hand in my BOB. I always keep it in the vehicle. I am a bit disappointed with the layout.

I also keep a Maxpedition Fatboy in the front of the SUV, but it's just for the bare essentials.

Looking for another BOB, maybe around 2000 cu in.

I've been wanting to start another thread about pack design and layout ... sort of an "If you could build your pack from the inside out, how would you design it?" I know that can be dependent on what you need to carry, so I've been trying to think through the wording to prompt useful discussion. I'll try to post it by this weekend. I like the thought of multi-use, so for me, I consider my BOB as my main kit (though I also keep an extra bag in the vehicle that has items like extra water bottles, extra gloves, a few tools, power inverter, etc.) as here in midwest, I'm rarely far from my vehicle. Realize that might not work for urban areas where people rely on public transit.

Michael

Smaller, like these
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=exte...amp;oi=froogler

My understanding is that external frame packs work fine as long as you are on stable terrain. On uneven terrain the internal frame packs perform much better. Where I live, the terrain tends not to stay stable, so internal frame packs rule.

Note that some of the military style packs have lots of places to tie in gear. The main downside is that most of these packs don't have support systems (AFAIK).

-john

I'm with you. I just can't get excited about the stuff that I see out there. The 'let's design the perfect pack' exercise might meet with some response from a manufacturer if we could get some folks behind it.

My BOB is a trusty old LL Bean Continental Rucksack, in grey. All of the accessory pouches below are black.

It has a large, panel type pouch attached by the straps that adjust the storm flap. (If I had more money, I'd go with a new one and just run the straps through MOLLE webbing.)

A sleeping bag is attached to the top of that by cinch straps in it's compression sack (different bags for different times of the year). A 6x8' blue tarp and my poncho are also there, so they can be grabbed quickly.

Velcro wraps are in the tie downs above the side pockets. Those are empty and ready to recieve a pair of 1 liter water bottles. I keep a filled, 2L military square canteen inside.

A SpecOps single pouch Super Sheath is strapped around the right shoulder strap to carry a light, which would be added there at the last minitue. The other shoulderstrap has a smallish (4x6x2") pouch attached similiarly.

There is a pair of black dyed, military surplus 2-liter canteen pouches slipped onto the waist belt for additional storage.

It doesn't look super-military, IMHO, but I've found this pack to be built like the proverbial brick outhouse. I"ve had to rewaterproof it with a silicone seal, but for a pack I've had for 15 years, that isn't suprising. IT started off a book bag and overnighter, and it has since grown with me.

The bag I used to use was a large ALICE pack, and I'm always debating going back becuase it is better suited for winter use IMHO. To keep it from looking military (the least of my worries) and to improve it's visability and water proofing, I modified a red vinyl tire cover that was meant for a jeep, and I picked up at a yard sale.