I can't believe I actually this this. Especially after all my recent talk of preferring external frame packs.

I was wandering around the local toy store (a.k.a. REI) this morning when I came upon an internal frame pack that seemed to call out to me. I resisted as much as I could. So external enthusiasts please show me mercy.

But I did finally reach out and touch it (my first mistake). Then I examined it (second mistake). Then I tried it on (third mistake). Then an employee arrived and helped me add some weight and try it on again (the end is near at this point).

Everything else was just a blur from then on. I sort of recall talking it over with my wife. I'm pretty sure I paid for it since nobody tried to stop me from leaving the store. But since I was on foot today, I was able to get only halfway home when my mind finally cleared and I realized what I did. Then I, of course asked myself the age-old question: "What were you thinking?!"

So now I am the owner of a brand new (My first new pack ever), Kelty Lakota 65.

Now I just got to get the gear to fill it. And to help with that, I just got a $100 gift card from REI in todays mail. Less than 5 minutes befor I started to write this post.

Very cool GT. I love getting new stuff! When are you going to put it through it's paces?

Yeah, I know that feeling that hits half way home. I always manage to hang in there until it passes.

As far as the gift card: proof that no good deed goes unpunished. I got a similar sized gift for my birthday; it cost me the rest of the price of a tent. I'm a recovering gearaholic who chose, for his sponsor, the owner of the local backpacking shop. He gives $25 in store credit every time you spend $300. I'm starting to get suspicious.

I hope you'll enjoy the pack - that's a good company with a great reputation!

Since pretty much everything around me is burnt or burning right now, I may not get to really put this pack through it's paces for a while yet. But almost all my gear was stolen last year and hasn't been replaced yet.

So, for now at least, the best I'll be able to do is use it as a glorified shopping bag. At least doing that will help me get an idea of what little quirks I can expect from this bag once I can get back to the wilds

I got a cart for shopping. I can carry more and it's easier than carrying a pack. It even has a GPS on it now.

The cart is my solution for long distance road walking.

super happy for you...BUT...isnt the pack the LAST thing you want to buy? I made the mistake of purchasing a pack based on price, size and on unstoppable "foam at the mouth" desire to own a new pack. Well, I spent $150 on a 90L Cabelas Ridgeline pack that weighs 6 pounds by itself. I have carried the burden of that mistake for several years while adding to my list of accoutrements. I am much wiser in the ways of packs now than I was then so my next purchase (hopefully soon) will be a more educated decision.

Nonetheless - wishing you all the best of luck...happy hiking!

Admittedly yes, the pack is the last thing one should purchase when putting together a kit. But this may prove to work to my benefit.

Since I do my shopping on foot, a comfortable pack will make the chore less painful. And I do have my old government issue "alice" pack with frame for those times when the package is too big for a bag. And even after a lifetime of living out of a backpack, I still give in to temptation and and load stuff I probably won't use and don't even need. So while I'm rebuilding my kit I'll start with the essentials and hopefully run out of room before too much useless garbage get's in there.

And at only three pounds, this pack already has me going two pounds lighter than what I had before.

I just wish the mailman had been on time yesterday. The gift card I mentioned getting in the mail would have been nice to have when I got to REI. Then my $150 purchase would have only been a $50 one. Oh well.