Derek, You asked about a backpack, but I think you should seriously consider NOT getting one. The list of items you wrote about represents a LOT of weight. If you carry that around very much, you will probably cause some back injury Sure it might take a couple of years, but it will happen. Talk to any photojournalist over the age of 40 and ask them if their neck, back and shoulders are okay. Even the big guys are having problems.
When I was on Search and Rescue, I learned a lot about proper outdoor gear. One of the things we were taught about backpacks is to get one that supports the weight mainly on your hips. That is good advice if you have to have a backpack. What I switched to, and I am VERY happy about it, is a belt system. That way ALL the weight is on my hips. I currently use a Kinesis system: http://www kinesisgear.com/ , but there may be others. And my load is very similar to yours. It is a bit more pricey, but I think it will be worth it in the long run. And I still can use a backpack for light stuff, such as rain gear. peace, rand * **** ******* *********************************************************** * For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see: * http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm ***********************************************************
