The pack body is the same size as the Murmur. The zippered pouch, AKA OTT lid, is a nice touch. It has a bit heavier waist belt and slightly larger front pouch (due to it being angled.) Very similar to the Miniposa in size, except the extension collar has been reduced. This is partially offset by the fact that you can put something larger (say a bear ball) under the top cinching it down. At about the same weight it looks like a viable alternative to the Miniposa. For me, I like a 2800ci pack or around ~45-46L. The listed 2200ci or 35-36L is a little small for 10 day trips. But, I will simply need to be extra carefull with packing stuff. The hydration sleeve is a nice touch. It lets me keep "flat" stuff in there well organized. Several times I have needed to set the tarp up for an hour or two of heavy rain, for example. It is handy to have the stakes, or pot lid, aluminum foil, maps, flash light, and so on. The material is Dyneema. A funny designation, I agree. Maybe the coating?? The improved durability of this fabric over silnylon will make this pack nice for long hikes. I never had much luck with coatings either.
I think the size will be a matter of over stuffing, and looking for smaller volume gear to get the 20-25lbs I need for a week or so trip in either pack. A week to 10 days is about the worst case without resupply. Generally, there are resupply points at several locations about 4-5 days apart through the ADK's. (Early season is a bit more difficult.) A lot of times the small stores don't stock a lot of dehydrated foods…I end up buying what I can instead of what I want.
I am not sure about the confusion with the prices. What I saw was ~165, now on sale for a bit less. As always, I am sure they will sell it for what the market will bear (grrrr.)
