" A military pack might be more durable. Maybe."

I have a Lowe pack, purchased in 1991 (or thereabouts). It is an "Alpine Attack Summit" (how macho is that?). I have used it extensively and still employ it today. It is thin, small, and light, made of a thin ripstop nylon with mesh shoulder straps. It often serves as a stuff sack and morphs into a light day pack for short excursions. It is totally bombproof and intact after more than a quarter century of sustained use.

It does lack all the molle and pals webbing which adds weight and (supposedly) versatility. So I can't easily pack 30 round magazines or grenades. Not all that good for warfare because it is bright yellow.

Do get a noticeable color, not olive drab. Back when just about all packs were only offered in dull, mil-surp colors, we used to tie bright ribbons on them so they could be found easily in the brush...