Pack exterior configuration

Depends on the trip. Right now I use 3 packs exclusively.

McHale LBP 36 – has everything you mentioned. I rarely bring everything.

McHale Bump 32 – removable lid, water bottle pockets (2 qt each), hip belt pockets, one shoulder strap pocket. I usually leave the hip and shoulder strap pockets at home. Sometimes the lid, but am finding I like the lid more and more.

zPacks Zero. Nothing except two water bottle pockets.

When and if the Zero wears out, I will stick with the first two. Good news is that I plan on never buying another pack :)

McHale LBP sans top lid, hip pockets.

McHale Bump

Zero

I like a clean aesthetic with a practical configuration of lash points for attaching gear on the outside (ie. tripod, tenkara rod, umbrella) .

This is my every day carry pack that also doubles as my wilderness companion.

Nice pack, Eugene.

Who made that?

The pack below is my current choice as an everyday/day tramp/UL overnight pack.

Cactus Climbing Miklat 35-40 litres. I've added elastic cord between the compression straps across the back, and the 38mm webbing hipbelt sports two pockets when used as an overnight pack. Frameless with a very thin foam back padding, has a lid with pocket, internal bladder pocket, otherwise the exterior is very clean, no mesh to get caught/ripped.

http://www.cactusclimbing.co.nz/online-shop/tramp-&-walk/miklat/80-88

Eugene's pack is a zimmerbuilt I believe.

I agree with the above posts. I use a very stripped down, pocketless pack. No lid. Shock Chord to lash wet gear and tenkara on. Removable pockets.

Here is my go to pack:

I guess most posters version of side pockets means open top pockets for water bottles.

My version is zippered, closed pockets for stuff like 1st aid kit, water treatment kit, etc..
I only use a water bottle (a bike bottle) in a pocket in my front-carried Dana Designs "Wet Rib". Otherwise I use a Camelbak hydration bladder. Thus no need for side water bottle pockets.

AND – the side pockets I use must be removable for pack volume versatility.

I've thought a lot about this, as I have only one pack that is big is enough for more than an overnighter, and there's things I like about it and things I don't. I'm not plonking down money on another one, though, until I've sussed out what I really want.

The current (and future) pack:
CURRENT: Lid pocket that is marginally useful. With two safety pins, I can convert it to a summit pack, but I've never actually used it that way, and I have more comfortable dedicated small bags for day hikes.
FUTURE: Would really prefer a rolltop for better weather resistance, with possible removeable straps or a flap to lash something on top. I think McHale makes a flap that doubles as a hydration sleeve, which intrigues me. I love bladders but taking them in and out of my pack to refill is always a bit of a pain.

CURRENT: Mesh side pockets with dual side compression straps. I like size and placement of these but the mesh needs to go.
FUTURE: Solid pockets would snag less and drain holes would take care of water. No change to the straps except maybe to add a third one depending on pack size.

CURRENT: Added my own hip pockets. They are removeable, but not easily.
FUTURE: Hip pockets built for the pack and easily removeable.

CURRENT: wierd, laterally overlapping front pockets with vertical zippers. HATE HATE HATE these.
FUTURE: A simple tall bellow pocket with a velcro top flap.

CURRENT: NO daisy chains or lash points. Why, why, why?
FUTURE: Plenty of well-thought out chains and lash loops.

The kicker is that this pack is very comfortable–I bought it off ebay and totally lucked out on the fit–and I'm reluctant to start accumulating packs based on their features that may not fit as well. I will probably continue using this one until I can afford a custom pack. Probably a McHale. The last time I looked at Dan's site, I saw a number of my sketches were features he already offered on his packs.

"By now most of us have a favorite basic pack design. By that I mean internal or external frame or frameless.

But how about your favorite exterior design?"

A standard ULA OHM 2.0, good for trips up to 11 days. I love the side pockets, which are the best side pockets I have ever seen. The hipbelt pockets are another story; I wish they were bigger, but the short hipbelt wings pretty much rule that out. The kangaroo front pocket is large enough, but would be better if it were made out of Dyneema, like the side pockets. I wouldn't change the configuration, which works very well for me, but I am currently considering other packs made of Cuben, from HMG and Z Packs, for their superior, I think, hipbelts. If the Z Pack Arc Blast had the internal frame design of the OHM, it would be a done deal. Ah well…

What I’ve been running with for the last six months is a DIY version of the Molly Mac Pack. I’ve added a front pack that holds my water bladder and anything that’s an “immediate need” item (FAK, bandanna, poncho if it’s raining, etc.). The front pack is also detachable via four side-release buckles and shifts from that to a day pack/bike bag.

I need to add hip belt pockets for certain items, but that’s not hard. I put a PALS array on the belt anyway, so…

Been happy with this pack for the last bit. Everything “in” my pack is immediately accessable without rooting through a large bag, it’s organized enough to keep me from losing stuff (not a minor concern for me; I’m not an organized guy), it’s configurable in seconds to hold just about any size load I’d need, and everything that I need to get to immediately is at my fingertips–up front where I can see it.

I wouldn’t take it bushwhacking; it’s got too many things that could snag. However, for walking on decently-maintained trails, I like it.

Increasingly I prefer very spare packs. The last three I've made have had no zippers at all.

With a reasonable organizational strategy I find lids and side pockets to be wasted material. I prefer a simple drawcord and a top strap to a rolltop as it's easier to use and lighter. Sufficient extra height allows for a roll or two and thus weatherproofing. A few compression straps and daisy chains are all I put on the outside, as I prefer to get everything inside the pack unless I have no choice.

Thin, firmly padded and properly fitting shoulder straps no wider than 2.5" are the most important part of the pack. Daisy chains for attaching a water bottle to the shoulder stap is nice.

Waist belts vary hugely depending on pack size and anticipated weight. A simple 1.5" belt is good for small packs, while larger packs demand a thin, firmy padded belt with cut-outs or contoured pattern to not chafe the hip bone.

I've become increasingly enamored with some manner of lumbar pad, even on smaller packs.