Another thing not yet mentioned is the way you load the pack. An interesting experiment is to try different methods of loading and see how they feel. I find that strapping things on the outside, especially on the back, makes the pack a lot more uncomfortable (not to mention the chance of it falling off while bushwhaking). Anything thing that dangles and swings around is not good. Food is usually the heaviest item- it needs to be close to your back (center of gravity). I find that the smallest adjustment to how I pack the food makes a big difference. And, on long trips, I will start out with the food located differently than near the end when it weighs less. I find the tent awkward to pack. Sometimes it works better to pack the tent and poles separately. Water is another heavy item. You may not want to just put it in outside pockets. The whole concept of the CamelBack is to keep the water close into your back.