The brand will not do the work of a backpack or rucksack. It is just a name attached to it. The price won't do any work on the trail, either. What matters to me are:

- getting the right fit, so the pack is comfortable and doesn't create sore spots, which can ruin a trip in nothing flat.

- getting the right size, so it carries what I need and only what I need.

- getting the right quality of materials and workmanship, so the pack will not fail when I use it. Brand sometimes can stand as a proxy for this criterion, but with so many counterfeit products out there you can't just rely on a name. Nothing matters but the actual quality of the pack itself.

- getting all the above at the lightest weight and best price I can afford.