[pct-l] buying new light weight pack or using one of my older plastic or aluminum frame packs?

[david genny]

Almost everything I read people tend to have an easier time with internal frame packs or light weight packs. I am trying to save money but I really dont want to get to the ADZPCTKO and find my outdated external frame is a joke to the more experienced hikers and will become a pain in some portions of the pct. The pack has always been good to me but I have never really used an internal frame or light weight pack so I'm really not sure how much better it is, that and besides the aluminum frame which weighs less than a pound, the pack weighs close to nothing and is pretty roomy for gear....anyone used both kind of packs and can help me out?