*EDIT : moderator, please move to the Campire section, thanks*

Hello everyone!

I am worried that my actual pack might not be the ideal pack for warmer weather. I?d like to have some opinions on this.

I own a superb snowplay pack : the Osprey Switch 40+5. Although it comes in slightly heavy at 3.8 pounds, it has many features I love such as an insulated hydration tube sleeve (prevents water from freezing), backpanel entry and a nice compression system. I used to be a snowshoer only.

Last year, I tried spring, summer and fall dayhiking and loved it as much. Also, I started volunteering for a search & rescue (SAR) team.

The Osprey being a winter pack, it has extra fabric (insulation sleeve) and overall ?robustness? to it that I fear will make my hikes less pleasant in warmer weather. Therefore, I?m looking for a lighter/more adequate pack for 3-season dayhiking and SAR. I know it all depends on gear I bring, but since I do not have that much warm weather/SAR experience, I would appreciate some insight on the volume I need (25, 35, 45 liters?)?

Some requirements :
Hydration sleeve must accommodate 100 oz (3 liter) bladder
Large outside pocket (many packs have this, to keep a rainjacket handy, for example)
Decent hipbelt

Some nice to have features :
Hipbelt pockets and/or side pockets to store some gear


I?m currently hesitating between those two models I have found off MEC.CA (canadian merchant), the first being more hiking-oriented and the second, more for SAR :

Gregory Advent Pro

MEC Fiamma

I?d like to keep my investment below 200 $ CAD.

Any thoughts appreciated, as always. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />