Looking for a 3 day pack

[hatidua]

Deuter Guide 35+ or 45+. -maybe not as tacticool as some would like but very durable packs and substantially better built than the rest of the Deuter line.

[Erni]

Update on some packs. Finally had the time to research and track down all the stores with the various brands. I will be going with a 44L or 50L kelty redwing. The 50 is only 1" bigger on all the dimensions and can be cinched tight to make it smaller. The 44 is just big enough for 5x jackets and waters and snacks. The 50 seems to be thee pack most people recommend for travel and hiking. 50L is way bigger than I wanted but it makes sense as a do all pack. So need to narrow down between 44 and 50, and decide if I want the 2016 version or the 2013 version. The 50L 2013 lacks a stuf pouch but comes in green and could serve as a hunting pack. The 2016 has a stuff pouch and some minor updates but only comes in black and blue and red. Not too keen on the black tactical look, but the stuff pocket is handy.
Other bags I looked at were the Rush 72, great bag but just screams TACTICAL - if they de mollled it it would be perfect. Ospray packs have a great vented back support, but were only available sub 40 or super 50 locally and in the ultralight category so too fragile. Other packs were just too colorfull for me. Saw some other tactical packs, but again too tactical, or if they did not scream tactical they were 2-3 x the price.

[hurley842002]

Update on some packs. Finally had the time to research and track down all the stores with the various brands. I will be going with a 44L or 50L kelty redwing.

Excellent decision going with the Kelty, I'm absolutely tickled that I picked up the last Redtail at Sportsman's. I've been using it daily for the last three months as a work bag and day pack/diaper bag, it's been perfect, and far and away the best backpack I've owned, light weight and tough as nails. It looks just "tactical" enough that I think it looks cool, but not so much so that it screams tactical.

[StagLefty]

Yeah I'm all about the non-tactical look

[cmailliard]

Update on some packs. Finally had the time to research and track down all the stores with the various brands. I will be going with a 44L or 50L kelty redwing. The 50 is only 1" bigger on all the dimensions and can be cinched tight to make it smaller. The 44 is just big enough for 5x jackets and waters and snacks. The 50 seems to be thee pack most people recommend for travel and hiking. 50L is way bigger than I wanted but it makes sense as a do all pack. So need to narrow down between 44 and 50, and decide if I want the 2016 version or the 2013 version. The 50L 2013 lacks a stuf pouch but comes in green and could serve as a hunting pack. The 2016 has a stuff pouch and some minor updates but only comes in black and blue and red. Not too keen on the black tactical look, but the stuff pocket is handy.

I did noticed they went away from the green and tan packs, which kind of sucks, they were great colors, I love the color of my green one. I have not looked at the 2016 version with the pouch so I cannot be much help there. No matter which way you go it is a great pack and nowhere near the price of tactical packs.

[Erni]

Ended up with a 2013 50L in green. The 50 is taller than the 44 but when cinched up it is about the same size.
I really dig the green color, and can see using this as a hunting pack.
Couple of cool things about the bag. It will fit a broken down 16" AR so I can go to the range without a rifle case. Also tried it out with my hunting rifle. The side pouches have a pass through that is big enough to fit the forend of the scoped rifle. It is a bit loose and the rifle ends up higher than anticipated, but worked ok.

Tried it out around the block with 30 to 35 lb load and it was good, but I need to figure out how to use the waist strap better.