>>2286540Well, I can't speak for everyone who uses these but I have this and love it
These are made of very sturdy fabric, so it'll last daily abuse for years if not a decade, but it's not a negative in any way - it's so small, at that size fabric weight makes very little difference. A pack made of 5x less durable fabric and foam would only weigh ~2-300g less.
The cinch straps let you shrink it, and the lid pulls down low, giving you a much smaller volume pack for a dayhike. But I think the volume when expanded is great. I carry quite bulky gear for my profession when I'm not camping, and I can easily expand it and fit random stuff inside when needed like shopping, a normie casual jacket, bike helmet etc. A pack like this fits my daily effects and my work stuff without being a huge camping bag.
And talking of camping bag, it actually works well for me. My gear is very minimalist and my tent, sleeping bag and pad are "ultralight" - low volume silnylon mid tent, 70D air mat, down quilt. All fairly durable but pack very very small, probably 15L if I'm being lazy and don't compress them well. Then I have a few spare clothes and a small pot with my cook gear which lives in the side pocket, maps and misc in the lid, and I keep water bottles on the front straps in pouches. I carry a bumbag with small effects and when needed, I strap this to the bag. The rest of the volume, approx 5-10L in 3 seasons seasons, is dedicated to food.
these packs can take a lot more than they look like they can. Open them up and they have an expansion collar, long like a military bergen. This gives you about 5-8 more litres for longer treks with more food carry. I will strap my tent to the sides too.
you are right in that it is a larp bag - its cinch straps are way overbuilt, it doesn't have the organisation of a daily bag etc, and it comes in military colours - but those are compromises (or benefits) I don't mind since there's little out there that matches its perks for the price
