These days, the rucksack is a little on the ratty side.
This past spring I began looking for a replacement. First and foremost, I wanted a bag that fit my 6-foot-3 frame. I wanted it to be big enough to carry gear for two nights in the bush or a week in Costa Rica, but small enough that it could work well for a day hike. I wanted it to have water bottle pockets and an interior pocket for a hydration pouch. I also wanted it to be fairly low-profile. Here are the contenders:
Go-Lite Jam-2 » $100; available at www.golite.com.
It is versatile, comes in a large size for long torsos and is the lightest pack I tested, at 1 pound, 5 ounces. The capacity is 3,100 cubic inches but the compression straps converted it into a suitable daypack, as well.
Granite Gear Precipice » $155; available at www.granitegear.com.
A 2,800-cubic-inch pack with integral frame, hydration sleeve, floating lid pocket and lots of loops; it's a classic alpinist's daypack or a bag for overnights in the bush. It weighs 3 pounds, 4 ounces, but the suspension system with well-padded straps carried heavy loads very comfortably.
Gregory z30 » $119; available at www.gregorypacks.com.
The high-tech 1,800-cubic-inch Z30 has been blessed as ''best all around'' daypack in this year's Backpacker magazine. At 2 pounds, 12 ounces, it's pretty light, but structured enough to tote more than 20 pounds. The bad news: It only comes in small and medium.
Marmot Eiger 35 » $99; available at www.marmot.com.
Excellent all-around daypack with a large main compartment and a floating lid pocket. The large version (with a capacity of 2,300 cubic inches) fit me like a glove. Among its innovations are the single clamp holding the lid-pocket for one-handed opening and closing and ice-ax loops and ski holders that hide away unobtrusively.
