As a self-professed "Bag & Pouch Addict" I have tried over the years to find the perfect bags and pouches. For the most part I have been disappointed in most of the packs and pouches I have owned, and of late, I've been getting rid of bags and pouches that I simply don't use. I've found that what's left all seems to share these basic design principles:

Simple Construction - minimal, if any, interior specialty structures, key fobs, pen pockets, ipod sockets or other apparently task-specific construction elements. Some days I need to carry more than 2 pens. Other days I need to carry more than one laptop. Simple construction lets me organize the interior as I see fit.

All Chambers Close with Zippers - Not velcro, latches, snaps, buckles, buttons, turnbuckles or lashing - just good, high-quality, sand-proof, user-proof Zippers.

No Open-Top Chambers. Inversion, dropping and throwing a bag should not cause any contents to come out.

Very Strong Materials & Durable Bottoms - My bags get dragged, thrown, dropped and rolled on cement, dirt, rocks gravel and snow. I don't like it when a simple drag over 12" of cement leads to a ruined bag.

At least water-resistant, if not water proof. - This is a tough standard, but for me, it's grown into a must-have, I'd even settle for a single dry-section of a "normal" bag, but I don't want to have to find out that the bag I tossed up under the bow of the boat 3 hours ago during a body recovery search on the lake ago rolled back and landed in the bilge and now my maps, camera and batteries are soaked. A fully waterproof bag is a bit heavy and expensive if you have waterproof zippers, but a dry section would be great.

Porta-Brace brand products are the closest I've found to meeting these requirements, Pelican also makes some really good bags these days.

I'd never heard of Porta-Brace, so I did a google and checked them out. They look pretty use specific, primarily camera type gear. Do they have any regular old backpacks that I missed???

I agree with your requirements above, tough and simple usually win out over fancy...

Water-resistance being as important as it is, has anyone here regularly applied products like Scotchguard to their bags? I understand that you have to do it every few months. But does it work at least reasonably well under the conditions that Marty mentions?

If not Scotchguard, what?

Sue

I have found that, for simplicity & ruggedness, tactical tailor makes good bags. I have a daypack that I've used for several years, and not in the most hospitable environments. The one I have has 4 pockets: an outside pocket, sorta like a map pocket; a middle pocket, whic is designed to put in stripped MRE's about 3 days worth (easily); and the main compartment, that can hold enough gear for several days. I have an older version of the one on this page: http://www.tacticaltailor.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=294
Mine has side compression straps, where you can also attach a couple of bags. there is an inner sleeve for a hydration system as well. It isnt waterproof, but, it is definitely rugged.

Martin you might look into Fireline gear.try
www.thielsen.net or www.firecache.com That will give you a good Idea of what is out there. The Hotline pack is the one I use. The bottom part for most of my Basic gear with room left over for addins, and the top part for longer deration problems (my BOB)

Kifaru

I have several small to medium size Sealline dry bags that I use inside my primary packs. I have rain flys for my packs that get used for backpacking/climbing/etc but I use the Sealline bags when I have more than rain to be concerned with.

I use a Kelty (www.kelty.com) multi-day internal frame pack for my bug out bag (BOB). It holds 2800 cubic inches, has a 2 liter hydration pack, and has an exterior shovel pocket and loop that can hold an ax, walking stick, or my rifle--although I don't ever use it for that because it bumps me on the bum when I walk

It has some mesh pockets on the side that I stick my ditch kit in.

I adore it.

I have sprayed my good ole M-65 field jacket with Scotchguard, and am not really impressed with it. Leaves a funny odor, and I didn't notice any big difference in water repelancy (is that a word?)...

REI - I feel makes the best bag for the bang. Much like you, I have gone through plenty of bags, and the ones that offer the most room and compartments are made to last for that day.

Why Scotchgard? Is that a real waterproofing agent? I have used Nikwax spray waterproofing before, to reasonable success. In any case, I use a heavy duty plastic clear bag as a liner and my down sleeping bag gets it's own "plastic bag-inside-the-stuff sack" routine. Never had wet or damp down in my life -- "knock-on-wood".

There is mostly a threat of dampness spreading from the moisture inside the clear bag so I separate any damp clothing from the rest with another stuff sack.

I just got a Maxpedition Pygmy Falcon and I'm pretty impressed with it so far. Built like a tank.

duckear, which one? From hunting or the military line? What modules/pouches? How do you have it set up? Regards, Jim

I would also think that a rifle in a backpack is just an extra useless 5 pounds. In your arms is much more useful!

Re Martinfocazio Thoughts on Packs and bags

I must agree with you there finding the best pack is very hard task indeed. You have not specified the capacity required therefore but I am assuming something around 30-50 Litres. The following from the Karrimor Sabre and Delta range are excellent. They are robust and are very good quality kit with Mil spec additions which may be useful. They are actually very comfortable in use also. They also are available in a Black and British DPM.
You maybe interested in the Karrimor Delta 35



or for a more versatile pack you may be interested in the Karrimor Sabre 45



The last image shows that additional PLCE compatible 12.5 litre pouches can be added giving an extra 25 litres.



Sabre 45 in DPM

To see the whole range click here

Additional dry bags designed to fit the whole range are also available although for complete waterproof dry bags I would probably go for the range made by Ortlieb.
Hope this helps.

I have a Kifaru Express and an E&E that I take on and off the Express depending on what I'm using it for. I love it, and the E&E is a must have and worth every penny, I sometimes use it by itself. Definitely not cheap, but it's probably the last pack I'll buy. It's a bit heavy, but as comfortable as any pack I've carried.

When I bought it, it was a toss up between the Express and the Marauder. I like the simplicity of the Marauded where one zipper opens up the whole bag. In the end I went with the Express because I thought it would raise less scrutiny when going through an airport. I use it as carry on and can keep most of my essentials with me.

The toughest bags I have are old. Really old. But they've lasted and still seem to have almost infinite life left in them.

A small duffle, maybe 10" diameter by 14" long, made by Kelty. At least 25 years old.

A "Klettersack", made by Wilderness Experience, also more than a quarter century old.

The only new bag I have that feels as solid is a Deuter Futura 32. Actually this thing is just about bomb-proof. I guess I'd have to say it betters the bags I mentioned above. The bags above are extremely basic. In contrast, the Deuter is pretty high-end technical. It's maybe a bit large for warm weather day hikes, but perfect for warm weather overnighters or cold weather day hikes. But the thing is so dang comfortable that I end up taking it on most warm day hikes anyway. The Air Comfort system is wonderful. There are some detailed reviews of this bag at:

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/...%20Futura%2032/