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.