Timo, thanks for the info. I went and looked at them, one is 20lt and the other 35. The 20 is smaller than I want to get and the 35 is larger.

I am going to get a Drago Tracker. Here is a link talking about it.
http://www.alloutdoor.com/2013/11/1...11-19&utm_campaign=Weekly+Newsletter

I have a bunch of packs. I try to stay small otherwise I will pack it and carry way more than I need to.

A Falcon II is a good size for a day hike since it's on the small side but well organized. I keep on in the work rig.

I usually use an older Camelbak Alpine for most things. I like having a 3 liter water bladder and IO can drink as I go.

I'm pretty sure that at this point I don't have a backpack that I use that doesn't have a pouch to put a water bladder in it.

I have found a maker that I like London Bridge Trading that makes solid gear and if you wait and watch you can get packs at a reasonable price. I just picked up a pack for 59 bucks and it normally runs around 200 bones.

I have a bunch of their other gear and its a solid maker and berry compliant so its All American.

Nice looking pieces of Kit MB. But I've set my mind on the compartment arrangement of the Maxped falcon/Drago Tracker. I can put different stuff in different compartments and not have to worry about getting them all thrown together. No really big deal, just my druthers.

I HATE MYSELF!!!


ARGH. I was checking the prices of the Tracker pack one last time before ordering and a Kelty sidebar popped up. Well since I have heard Y'all talk highly of them I took a look at the Kelty Redwing 32. It seems really nice, having many of the features I want. BUT with it being made of 420 nylon I am worried about the durability. Is it worth an extra $47.00 (and it's a 1900 cubic inch pack) over the Drago Tracker (1835 cubic inches).

Now this pack will spend weeks and months in the truck and being carted back and forth from the truck to the house and on short hikes. It won't be pampered.

What are your thoughts?

Oh and did I mention that this will also fill in as a get home bag if need be?

LOL!

I just sent a message saying it's a GHB.

I was shopping whith my wife and ran across this at an unlikly place AE, I really wanted to pick it up but I figured I would see what you guys thought. I like the old school looks of it, and it seems to be rugged also.
http://www.ae.com/web/browse/product.jsp?productId=0501_3442_300&catId=cat90052

Actually now most of my time is spent looking at day packs. I really like the Drago Gear Tracker. Also the 511 24 isn't to bad. The maxped falcon II and the Vulture II are both about 350-400 cubic inches smaller than the Drago Tracker (listed 1800 cubic inches). The Durability seems to be there, but.....

It was recommended to me to go up to 2000 cubic inches, but I have the Tactical Taylor 3 day assault bag for more stuff. I'm just looking for a short hike (probably most of the time no more than 2 miles) pack for "Essentials". Yeah I have a tendency to OVER THINK what is essential.

Just doing a quick and dirty guesstimate as to what I would be carrying I came up with about 16-18 pounds if I carry EVERYTHING but two poncho liners and a tarp.

Yes and 7 strand.

This is me as well (layered system). This allows what I call "built in progressive redundancy". Stated plainly: what I have in my pockets is less than what is on my belt which is less than what is in my pack which is less than what is in my truck".

Example: Swamp Warden on my person, ASH on my belt, NMFSH in my ruck, ASHBM in my truck.

This is raasonable based upon the redundancy.