Arc'teryx Bora 65 Backpack - 3720-4330 cu in - 2007 BCS

So I have a funny story that displays this pack's quality. A buddy and I took a long break in a beautiful meadow before the last 4 miles of a multi-day trek. After downing a couple bottles of trail wine (takes the edge off), I didn't have the best judgement of where to cross a stream on the trail on the hike out. Long story short, I picked a bad spot and ended up totally submerged for a couple seconds with my Bora on. The thing kept my gear (including $1,500+ of camera equipment) bone dry. That alone sold me on Arcteryx pack quality. I'd definately buy it again.

Great hip belt and shoulder straps. Lots of room and zippers are bomb proof. I plan on having this pack on my back for the whole 16 year (don't ask) trek of the AP Trail. Make sure you measure the pack right because there is very little torso adjustment. Lots of ways to get into the pack to get your stuff out. Nice waterproof pouch on back to put wet stuff in. All in all a great pack that will stand up to anything you encounter out there. It is a little heavy but it is all belt and shoulder straps....which are great after a good 20 mi day.

When I was younger, my father used to load up our canvas rucksacks with 4,783lbs of who-knows-what before we would begin our torturous, bruising, always tear-inducing death march into the mountains. Having survived this primitive Canvas Age rite of passage; a cheap external frame; and a few clunky weeble-wobble, spine twisting internal frame packs, I now find myself in the empyrean nestle of the Arc'teryx Bora 65. Purchased 2006, I've used it backpacking more than 27,000 vertical feet over 84 miles in Idaho, Utah, Oregon, and Arizona. It's definitely not an ultralight pack, but is highly water resistant, super durable, and spacious (+compressible). While it's missing some of the cooler features, such as hip belt pockets and rocket launcher, it is the most comfortable, well-designed long-distance pack I have ever owned.

I took this into Coyote gulch outside of escelante for 3 days and it worked very well, even after putting it through some pretty rough conditions. The pockets are placed well. The nalgene pockets have their own hideaway pockets when you are not using them. The zippers are BULLET PROOF so don't be afraid to over stuff this bad boy.