Yes, it would be for shorter trips.. probably just a weekend. Any longer than that and I'll use my 5600 c.i. pack. Price and quality are probably the most important to me, but a close second is how comfortable it is. Also, I don't have a scale, so I haven't been able to weigh my pack, but I would say that it is around 40 pounds. It should be lighter now because I purchased a new tent which saved me 5 pounds. I am also looking at clothing from Goodwill to reduce weight (looking for down jackets, ect.) and not my bank account. Thanks for the insight from everyone!