Hiking Backpacks > The North Face Hiking Backpacks

Advantages: Size, durability and rucksack style straps
Disadvantages: Comfort if carrying for extended periods of time (> 1hr)

- The product: Its a bag... a big bag... a very big bag... 140L to be precise. Because of its large capacity its also large in size so those with a small body may find it hard to carry, for those vertically challenged people amongst us possibly consider the smaller 80-100L bags. - Appearance: The bag comes in a variety of colours (I chose a nice and boring black colour so as not to stand out too much, you could go for the yellow though...). - Practicality: ...
...be pretty strong to carry the bag for any length of time and most importantly I think detatchable rucksack style carrying straps for carrying, well, like a rucksack! There is one internal mesh pocket which built into the main flap on the top of the bag, zip closing but stuff falls out of this quite easily into the main comartment when the zip is open. Because of the large d-shaped lid its relatively easy to access things inside the bag. When not ... Read review

Advantages: Compact, not too heavy, packs a lot in.
Disadvantages: Feels bulky if filled to the brim. Price is a little high.

I used the Tatonka Flightcase for a short trip to Amsterdam and found it really good for what I needed it for. I was on my trip for three days and had more than enough space in the pack for clothes, washbag and other sundries. The capacity of the pack is 40L which may not be ideal for long trips but for trips that last one or two weeks I dont think you'd have a problem. The obvious advantage is that the pack fits in hand luggage and it does with ...
...any problem with the pack but I would say that it did feel a little bulky sometimes even though it's not that big. It is also quite pricey although I have seen it getting cheaper on certain sites. I paid £60 for the pack. Other than that, it was more or less perfect and many people were amazed at just how much it held. Definately going to be using for my next trip. ... Read review

Advantages: Strong, durable, roomy and compartmentalised
Disadvantages: None

This camelbak is a beast! I go mountain biking at least once a week plus I cycle to work on 3 or 4 days a week and this bag goes everywhere with me. It's big enough to carry (without the water bladder) a pair of trousers, a shirt, a tie, a pair of shoes, a waterproof jacket and my tools (bike pump, tyre levers, multi tool, 2 spare inner tubes and lube). EDIT ** I forgot to say, I can also fit a plastic freezer bag with a freezer block, sandwiches, ...
...on a weekday as well as a quite chunky 2 metre long cable lock.** On the weekend I normally carry the waterproof, the tools, a banana and some flapjack plus around 2 to 2.5 litres of water. On the weekend I usually use the compression staps to make the bag fit snuggly around everything but allowing it to be as small as possible. The bag has an mp3 player pocket, two side pockets, a front mesh expandable pocket, a tools pocket and a main compartment. ... Read review

Advantages: good capacity, no plastic flavour, rugged
Disadvantages: rather expensive, difficult to fill

I bought my camelbak after completing a cycling trip, where i watched my friend drink endlessly all day long, whilst i emptied my bottle by mid-morning then went thirsty for the rest of the day. There is no doubt that i now drink far more than before, firstly because the camelbak has the capacity for me to do so and secondly because drinking is no longer a military operation in itself, it is easy to reach round and put that tube in my mouth. Befor ...
...funny plastic taste to my water, but after using i was pleasantly suprized and in fact there is no flavouring. The system to withdraw water, where you have to bite the end of the tube to open the valve also impressed me as there were no leaks. The small amount of storage space is also useful as it is sufficient for any chocky bars, repair kits, plasters, etc but is small enough to deter you from putting any un-necessary items in it. I also found ... Read review

Advantages: 4 colours to choose from, Excellent Quality, readily available
Disadvantages: Mold tends to grow in bit head,

...The Thermobak is a CamelBak now issued to the British Armed Forces. It is constructed with a rugged Cordura outer which is available in 4 colours. The design allows the easy filling for use, as well pack comes with fitted straps which can best folded away easily to allow the pack to be shackled to webbing easily. However, the British DPM version now has PLCE clips, so it can be attached to any PLCE. Maintenance & Cleaning If you need to get the ...
...now, follow the cleaning recommendations made by Camelbak. Since I already owned a Camelback, I already own the cleaning equipment which contains 2 brushes and a hanger. But remember when drying, inside the mouth piece mold may grow if not dried properly. Conclusion I use this on nearly all 'adventure training; I wouldn't go without it by choice. This simple design is incredibly versatile, and can go just about anywhere a human can. I wouldn't hesitate ... Read review