GENERAL THOUGHTS: There are people out there who are really into "Ultralight" camping, and will do week-long trips on a 25 pound pack. Not I. That might be fine for people who can't carry more than that, but I like to camp comfortably. I would much rather hike 15 miles in a day with an 80 pound pack, then break out the soft-quilted extra-cozy sleeping bag than hike 25 miles with a 25 pound pack, then lay down like Jacob with a rock as my pillow. There are times when I like to do something more on the minimalist side, and at times like those I will pack a ruck to about 30 pounds, but those are also times that I cook over a campfire (or not at all) and sleep out under the stars.

SIZES: First, a word on size, before we get any further. Note: all sizes are in cubic inches. The Voyager and Exocet are both around 2000, the Glissade can pack 4000, and the Catskill around 6000. If you have anything smaller than 2000, I hope you plan on leaving a lot behind. 3000 is around the size of your typical Boy Scout pack; this will carry everything for beginners, campers in friendly weather, and weekend two-nighters. If there are adverse conditions, or you're going to be out for more than a few days, or you are serving as a pack mule for girls who couldn't make it unless they were piggy-backed the last mile, you want around 4500-5000 cu. in., which will fit everything you want for a standard 4-day trip. Think of it sort of like phone prices: 2000 for the first day, 500 for each additional day. Not completely true, but a good guide. So if you are going on a weekend trip (Fri-Sun) then plan on about 3000. If you are going on a week-long trip, look at something closer to 5000.

GENERAL TIPS: Being a minimal impact backpacker (I wasn't always one), I like to make as little noise as possible, and I also like to blend with the terrain as much as possible. I DO NOT like brightly colored tents, clothes, sleeping bags, or anything else. Sure, I carry signalling mirrors and marker panels, but on the surface, when I can, I like to blend in like a commando. Spray paint a few black tiger stripes on your backpack. It won't hurt the material, and it will make it kind of camoflaged. With an external frame pack the heavy stuff in the middle; with the internal frames, pack heavy stuff on the bottom. This offers the best balance. Use a waterproof bag liner to keep everything inside as dry as can be. I do this, and I also put EVERYTHING in ziplock bags. But then, most of the hikes I have been on have required us to cross rivers waist deep (some higher) and I don't know about you muscleheads, but I can't hold an 80 lb. pack over my head while keeping my balance for very long. Squeeze the air out of insect repellant bottles, screw the cap on tightly, and isolate it from your other equipment. These things leak very easily. Tape everything that makes noise. My unit taught me this. Pack your pack, them jump up and down a few times and run in place. Put a piece of tape on anything that is making noise. When I go into the woods I am not typically stalking anyone, and nobody is usually stalking me, but it's kinda nice to be at peace like the world around you, don't you think? In addition, I learned from a Ranger buddy of mine to take old bicycle innertubes and slip anything metal into them. Go to any bike shop and ask them if they've got any old inner tubes with holes they're gonna throw away. Gaurantee they'll toss you a handful. Cut 'em up with a pair of scissors, and you've got lots of sleeves for anything.

FAST PACKS: For ultralight hiking (like when you want to do some cross-country running, or such), try the Ultimate Direction Voyager. It was years ahead of its time when it originally came out, and has just been completely redesigned, and (in my opinion) improved. This pack took the idea of a CamelBak and jumped forward several steps. Instead of turning a water bladder into a backpack, they took a small backpack, and added a water bladder. Infinitely better than a CamelBak. The mounting system on these packs is different from nearly everything else, focussing more on distributing the weight along your shoulders and neck, rather than just adding two inches of padding. It is extremely comfortable to wear, and doesn't bounce around, even in a smooth run. Granted, though, if you run like a pogo stick, it's gonna bounce some. It's a top loading pack. Those usually get thumbs down for me unless they are sufficiently equipped with alternate ways of getting at things, which this is. It has several mesh pockets, belt pockets, a shock cord, stuff like that. Cost is around $130.00

FRAMELESS PACKS: If you are into "ultralight" camping, then go for a rucksack. That means a backpack with no frame. This severely limits your comfort-zone for weight, giving you a top end of about 30 pounds. For rucksacks, I highly recommend the North Face Exocet, pictured on the left. Yes, as in the French anti-ship missile popularized in Top Gun. This is just your ultimately basic pack with no little frills that look great but really are worthless in the field, such as daisy chains. There are two external pockets in the back of the pack perfectly sized for low top shoes, or slippers, or similarly shaped things. Look at this as an overnighter, or (if you are one of those ultralight freaks) a three day. They should run about $80. I also have seen (and like) the Blackhawk Industries Patrol Pack. It has ALICE clips (better than those stupid daisy chains) and 6 external pockets. It will set you back $200.

UTILITY PACKS: For the low price of $220, and just a little bit of hassle, you can get yourself an Eagle Industries Becker Patrol Pack. These are perfect for people like me (yes, I have one) who are anal and like lots of pockets to organize things. There are two larger side pockets, two back pockets, and a pair of small (can hold 6 Power Bars each) top pockets. The flap also has a panel pocket, and a velcro tab that covers a handy little reflector. Most people who are visiting this page have no need for this, but when your are doing some night ops in the jungles, a guy could be 10' in front of you, and the only thing you see are the cat eyes on the back of his K-pot or soft cap. Inside, the Becker has a small pocket at the top on each side (I keep my toiletries here; they are about the right size for a stick of deoderant and a razor and bar of soap), and a larger panel pouch for your CamelBak. It was designed to be used with a CamelBak, as it has the slots (cleverly covered with an elastic patch) for access. I bought the tube director. Inside the main compartment is a pocket sized perfectly for a SINCGARS radio, in case you're an RTO. Sucks to be you, if you are. The waist belt is removeable (so it doesn't get in the way of your LBV/LCE, depending on your unit and MOS), and there are ALICE strips on the top, sides just above the pockets, back just under those pockets, and underneath. Since carrying a fart sack underneath would interfere with my butt pack, I carry it rolled on the back. I've got a 1-quart canteen clipped onto each side, making the pack's total a little over a gallon of water carried. This pack is small, but holds more than you think, at around 1500 cu. in. This is currently my choice of packs. I have a 1-quart on each of the ALICE strips above the side pouches, a poncho on the ALICE strip below the back pouches, and a fart sack on the top. If I were going for longer hikes, I'd take the whole sleeping system strapped underneath, instead. Yeah, yeah, I know it interferes with the butt pack, but you couldn't carry it on the top, could you? My butt pack just has to be empty for those times. In one of the pass-through pouches on the side goes my 11" bowie knife (more like a machete sharpened to a point) and water socks in the other. Boots really suck when you are just running around the campsite. One of the small pouches on the top holds a Mach 3 razor (Dry shaving: the Army way to go!) a tube of toothpaste (you finger makes a great toothbrush) and a stick of deoderant, for those rare times when I stink so bad I can hardly stand myself. The other has tactical gloves (not the thicker-than-shit wool inserts and leather shells).

INTERNAL FRAME PACKS: Internal frames, though they are extremely popular with the Gen-X hikers, are generally for vertical hikes and mountain climbing. I tend to dislike them intensely, because they are just one huge pocket. One of the few that I like is the Eureka Glissade. It isn't very expensive (runs around $120) and is large enough to be useful, but small enough to be convenient. It's primary prize-winning feature are the extra pockets. Very nice pack. In fact, the Glissade is the pack that I'd like to have when I return to the Philippine Islands. Not too big to be a carry-on, not so small it's useless. You might also take a serious look at The North Face Spectrum, weighing in at 4000 cu. in. for $250. The Camp Trails Catskills (pictured on the right) are nice larger packs. They won't cost you the huundreds that most internal frames run, and are still fairly nice packs. The padding system on the Catskills are, without a doubt in my mind, superior. I don't recall ever having encountered a pack as well padded on the hips and shoulders as this one. The Large can hold over 5500, the Medium around 4500. It has compression straps (which keep things nice and neat). Its best feature is the amount of external pockets it has. Hooray! It's not just a big huge glorified duffel bag! Someone actually knows how to make a pack for those of use who do not like to unpack everything to get something while we are still on the trail. And it has a shock cord, too. These can be found for somewhere in the neighborhood of $150. For something a little bigger (6000) and a little spendier ($200) try and find a Eureka Intrepid. It is very similar in design, with multiple external pockets. What's my choice of pack? Well, I hike with a 10,530 cubic inch (no joke!) Guide Gear pack. I wouldn't recommend it to many people, though. Most people who backpack are just not that serious.

EXTERNAL FRAME PACKS: See that picture of me at Sliding Sands at the top of this page? That's an external frame pack. For external frames, I personally like the higher end of the Camp Trails line. One of the main things that externals have over internals is that (1) they tend to cheaper, and so are better for beginners; (2) they have more pockets, so are easier to pack; and (3) They carry the weight much higher on your body, giving you a higher center of gravity and an easier time. Of course, this easier time only applies to people who hike horizontally. If you are going to be doing any sort of vertical hiking, a.k.a. climbing, then you might want to look at investing in an internal. High end Camp Trails will still run you uner $200. Adjustables are the ultimate for beginners, and can be found for $80. McKinleys are better packs (added a thermal pocket, lash patches, drawstring top, clip-down pocketed flap, sternum strap), and top $100. For a really nice external, the Omega (pictured on the left) will run $180. This builds on the McKinley, adding a top pocket (which can be detached as a daypack), better suspension design, axe loops, and zippered compartment divider. People say these are cheap packs, but I treated my Camp Trails pack like something the dog dug up in the back yard, and took it on 2 hikes a month for 5 years through rain forests, across high deserts, and over volcanoes before it crapped out on me. Take better care of it and go on easier hikes and it would last 20.