While I didn't get any blood on mine, I did get in enough miles with enough weight to be very impressed. I started a thread a while back about the first shakedown cruise and I have gotten out once with it since then. I am very satified.
Aside from it's VERY good suspension, the benefit to me is the modularity it allows in packing your load. I used a dry bag for my main compartment and when I hit a likely camp area, the dry bag and sleeping bag stuffer zipped up a tree in no time. Then I was able to continue with a small fanny pack that is my "possibles" pouch tucked under the load flap. I think that a really light 2500 CI pack like a golite or some such might be very useful main bag that could easily do some double duty for you.
I jumped after it basically sight unseen because of Brad's reccomendation. At the REI closeout price it was like stealing, but honestly this pack is worth quite a bit. If mine was stolen tomorrow, I'd buy another and I'd pay quite a bit more than I happened to the first time around.
Gosh!! it's nice to write a paragraph or two about something besides skis......... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
JimF
