Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Disclaimer: After ordering a smaller pack from Monkey Paks, and liking the overall construction, I mentioned that I would REALLY like to see a larger one with construction that solid. They gave me a discount coupon when this one came out and of course I bought it immediately. I normally do day hikes of between 6-10 miles, with the occasional 15 miler, or even a multi-day trip. being able to get all of my gear that is needed and keeping it organized and accessible is critical. I took it out for 2 weekend hikes, totaling about 15 hours of trail and test time. The Pros: 1.Roomy enough for everything I need for a multi day/weekend backpacking trip 2.Well done stitching and secured zippers with pullcords 3.Functional MOLLE attachment points that alleviated one of the cons below. 4.Multi compartment organization that worked as expected. I mean, having to dump the pack looking for TP in a hurry is not my idea of fun. 5.The included hydration bladder. I mean who doesn't need another one? It was time to replace my old Omega which leaked. I needed this one. 6. Well placed and functional waist belt and chest straps. 7.Functional compression straps for the main compartment. my clothing, food, and Hennessy hammock compressed nicely, keeping my center of gravity intact. The cons: 1.Once loaded up with my 3 day list, I had to make multiple adjustments to my loadout due to the lack of a backboard or minimal internal frame. When you're going to be on foot for 8 hours of rough cross country trekking, keeping your load balanced and feeling flat on your back can be a pain. It leads to early onset fatigue. This is easily remedied by adding an insert to the side of the pack that faces the wearer's back (in my case - a spare stiffening panel/insert from my stolen Cambelbak BFM). No, I'm not back in Iraq again, but I do comprehend all too well the need for a stable and comfortable pack. 2. The bottom pouch said "whee" as it swung back and forth driving me to the point of lunacy. That is, it did until I used the molle attachment points higher up to stop it's swinging back and forth during a rest stop. Problem solved with my MOLLE speed clips and relocating it. All in all, I'm happy with this one after the 2 small mods I made. It's my go-to weekend pack for the foreseeable future. Thanks, Monkey Paks, you've made a repeat customer out of me!