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

[Eugene Leafty]

If I saw you at ADZPCTKO, I wouldn't care to form an opinion about the
effectiveness of what you're using.  How am I to judge how well that works
for you if you haven't started the trail yet?  At that point, I can only
assume that what you have has worked well for you in the past.  Now if you
get down the trail and you're suffering, it might be worth looking at your
gear more closely. 

Personally, I love external frame packs.  I sweat heavily, and an external
frame pack would keep me cooler and drier.  I also love that they are easier
to attach things to, for example, snow gear.  If you look at the packs in
the marketplace, internal frame packs are much lighter, but that's mostly
because external framed packs haven't been developed to the same extent.
Fortunately an exception should reach production soon...that is, the new
TiGoat pack.

-----Original Message-----
From: 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dont want to get to the ADZPCTKO and find my outdated external frame is a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?