Pika,

The Army advice was good in most situations but even combat infantrymen have to sometimes drop their backpack and use only the butt pack (lid) of their backpack for assaults, tough climbs, etc.

It's all a judgement call in the end but a survival kit should be with you at ALL times to give you a fighting chance in an accident, bad weather, or being lost.

Eric

Eric
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"There are no comfortable backpacks. Some are just less uncomfortable than others."