L.L.Bean Mountaineering Pack

A good example of why price should NOT be a big concern when pack shopping. Although cheap, this pack carries rather poorly. It lacks a true lumbar pad to focus the weight to the small of your back, the waistbelt padding is minimal and covered with a slippery nylon that fails to stay put on your hips, and the sack design throws the weight away from (rather than down on) your shoulders. Avoid the temptation of the sub-$100 price tag and buy a real alpine pack--the suffering on the trail isn't worth any savings . I finally sold mine this year.