I'm not military, but I'm a bag junkie... I've hiked, biked and climbed for the better part of the last 30 years and I've always been on the prowl for the ultimate general use pack.. Not a multi-day pack - for that I'll carry a large backpack, several manufacturers fo these have been mentioned - but for a day, day and a half bag, that I can carry daily, carry hiking and carry biking...
I finally settled on the X-Ray... And it's been worth every penney!!!!
It can carry everything I need for daily use with ease, and it can carry a whole lot more comfortably when coupled with its waist belt. And the webbing lets me change my carry needs easily depending if I'm simply hiking, biking or doing something else that I would feel needs a different configuration.
I fell in love with the original Mtn Smith packs and was bummed when they stopped being as good as they were. I tried Maxpedition, Condor, Camelback and others... I probably won't carry another bag again, unless I want something just slightly less "military" looking, but that's only been once in the last year...
And now, all those others I thought were great are simply collecting dust in my closet...
