Pack 35L Vaude Magic Rock

This pack wins the price-to-performance contest by a long shot. “There are no function or feature sacrifices,” says a tester. “With a large front shove-it pocket, convenient hydration sleeve, removable rain cover dual zippered pouches on the hipbelt, and easily adjustable shoulder straps, this pack is a dayhiking machine,” he concluded after using the Brenta on a score of day trips in the mountains around Lake Tahoe. To surprise his girlfriend, he loaded up a blanket and a gourmet picnic replete with a bottle of Two-Buck Chuck (naturally), with room to spare.