We,re pretty close to the same size, for a pack, check out the new Kifaru hunting frame, 26", with a mtn warrior bag. Finally broke down and spent way more on a pack than I wanted to, shoulda done it a lot sooner.. Had an Eberlestock Dragonfly that I never could quite get to fit right, this thing fit right straight out of the box. And a LOT more comfortable with weight.
If you,re getting into a lot of hills/uneven trails carrying much weight, trekking poles can take a lot of stress off the knees, make it a bit easier to keep your balance. The cam lock types seem to be more trust worthy than the twist lock types.
