Kind of, but with a frame and a complete bag and a drybag closure. The compression straps are only to take up the extra room to keep my gear snug in the pack.
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I have an idea for the water issue. I was thinking you could add full length side pockets to your pack in order to carry a 3 litre camel pack on each side. For the drought that's going on in many areas I would think this would work quite well to let you carry 6litres of water. If you don't need that much then don't fill them up completely. If you really want to carry more you could still add the traditional center back camel back too! You could carry 9 Litres in with you. I had another thought to just make them attachable with side release buckles wich would make filling them easier.
:eek: wow 9 liters is almost 20 pounds of water!!! :eek:
Much better idea: when you come to a spring, drink a lot of water. Then you don't need to carry so much.
Even in drought conditions, the AT is not a desert. Anybody who is normally carrying more than 3L is overprepared IMO. 9 is ridiculous.
AAWWW! It was just an idea. I know a lot of people mentioned water problems this year. So I thought to throw an extreme answer out there.
It's top secret.;)
I would agree 3 for most conditions is enough. Once I carried 4 for 8 miles due to bad intel and was not needed at all. Another time I carried 3 due to not believing the intel and had to dry camp and didn't get water until the end of the next day.
I was just throwing pack ideas out and not what would be best with the AT.