[TheDaggle]

Originally Posted by Angry_bald_guy

Yeah, the only thing I am a little iffy about is the USMC logo on it... I don't want to be wearing something that has a logo on it that I never earned....

Hmm. Valid point. It looked like the logo was just on a silk tag somewhere you could snip it off, though.

[mrm14]

Originally Posted by TheDaggle

M14sRock says they're manufactured by arc-teryx. I checked out the Arc-teryx website, and it looks like they're a quality outfit. I'm liking the looks of this pack myself, C.

It kind of looks like a variant of the Bora 80 they offer in their civilian line. I'm not really sure though.

If so, this pack gets very high reviews in outdoor and backpacking forums.

[M14sRock]

Originally Posted by mrm14

It kind of looks like a variant of the Bora 80 they offer in their civilian line. I'm not really sure though.

If so, this pack gets very high reviews in outdoor and backpacking forums.

I think it was derived from the Bora 80, now that you mention it. Arc Teryx has a lifetime guarantee, like many of the top end pack makers.

If it fits your body type, this pack is a great all around backpacking pack (is that redundant?)

4500ci is small for extended trips (5 days+), but fir the avg 2-4 day is perfect. If you are OK with the "travel light, freeze at night" philosophy this can carry over a week's worth of gear. And lashing extra stuff on it is easy, extending the range.

Great pack.

[Angry_bald_guy]

Originally Posted by M14sRock

I think it was derived from the Bora 80, now that you mention it. Arc Teryx has a lifetime guarantee, like many of the top end pack makers.

If it fits your body type, this pack is a great all around backpacking pack (is that redundant?)

4500ci is small for extended trips (5 days+), but fir the avg 2-4 day is perfect. If you are OK with the "travel light, freeze at night" philosophy this can carry over a week's worth of gear. And lashing extra stuff on it is easy, extending the range.

Great pack.

In a SHTF situation though, with a gun on it, a sleeping bag, a tent, and some form of fire starting, you should be fine, provided you have a way to purify water as well.

[M14sRock]

Originally Posted by Angry_bald_guy

In a SHTF situation though, with a gun on it, a sleeping bag, a tent, and some form of fire starting, you should be fine, provided you have a way to purify water as well.

Absolutely.

[mrm14]

Originally Posted by Angry_bald_guy

In a SHTF situation though, with a gun on it, a sleeping bag, a tent, and some form of fire starting, you should be fine, provided you have a way to purify water as well.

Speaking of purifying water, heres what I use.

MSR® MiniWorks™ EX Microfilter.

Along with some iodine tablets and your water will be virus free.

[M14sRock]

Originally Posted by mrm14

Speaking of purifying water, heres what I use.

MSR® MiniWorks™ EX Microfilter.

Along with some iodine tablets and your water will be virus free.

Great minds, bruddah.....

I have the same one. I also use the Sweetwater. MSR SweetWater Water Purifier System at REI.com A few years ago I started trimming my gear down in weight as much as possible, and it was 3 ounces lighter than the Mini Works. Works great, and folds up small. Not as durable as its big bro, but I'm not abusive.

A good tip about water filters is to carry a couple of coffee filters in your pack. Wrap one around the intake hose on the water filter and use a rubber band to keep it in place. A coffee filter will remove almost all impurities before they can clog the main filter. Allows several times the amount of water to be filtered.

And a filter is NOT a purifier, and does not remove viruses. That is what the iodine is for.

Nasty water gets treated with the Polar Pure crystals and allowed to sit per the instructions. Then I filter it which gets some of the iodine taste out of the water. Or it gets boiled, then filtered, if time and conditions allow.

[mrm14]

Originally Posted by M14sRock

Great minds, bruddah.....

I have the same one. I also use the Sweetwater. MSR SweetWater Water Purifier System at REI.com A few years ago I started trimming my gear down in weight as much as possible, and it was 3 ounces lighter than the Mini Works. Works great, and folds up small. Not as durable as its big bro, but I'm not abusive.

A good tip about water filters is to carry a couple of coffee filters in your pack. Wrap one around the intake hose on the water filter and use a rubber band to keep it in place. A coffee filter will remove almost all impurities before they can clog the main filter. Allows several times the amount of water to be filtered.

And a filter is NOT a purifier, and does not remove viruses. That is what the iodine is for.

Nasty water gets treated with the Polar Pure crystals and allowed to sit per the instructions. Then I filter it which gets some of the iodine taste out of the water. Or it gets boiled, then filtered, if time and conditions allow.

Heres what I do alot of times. I get the water into one of these

Sea To Summit Folding Bucket - 10 Liters at REI.com

Let it sit for awhile to let sediments settle to bottom, add the iodine tablet, let it do it's thing, then neutralize with the other tab that comes in the kit with the iodine tabs, then run the water through the filter device.

I also keep a spare ceramic replacement filter and a few spare O-Rings with it.

[mrm14]

I also use one of these

REI Nalgene Everyday Wide-Mouth Loop-Top Water Bottle - 32 fl. oz. at REI.com

Which threads to the MSR filter, and collects the purified water. Kind'a cool.

[Angry_bald_guy]

http://www.firearmstalk.com/forums/f...s-water-30435/

I want to get a bunch of these when they come out...