REI Co-op Ruckpack 40

The Ruckpack 40 is the pack for travelers who want the safety net of a big retailer without a premium price. The recycled nylon shell is bluesign-approved, the suspension is genuinely padded and comfortable through long airport miles, load lifters and mesh back paneling are features borrowed from hiking packs, and a rain cover stows in its own pocket — a $40 accessory elsewhere. Men's and women's versions come in at 2 lb 13 oz and 2 lb 11 oz, both lighter than the Farpoint, and REI's one-year satisfaction guarantee plus frequent sales (regularly around $119 from a $159 list) make the effective value excellent. The compromises are real but livable. The listed 23 x 15 x 9.5 inch dimensions run over strict domestic carry-on limits on paper; the soft, unstructured body usually squeezes through, but that is a gamble the Farpoint never asks you to take. Panel access is good without matching a true clamshell for packing, the hipbelt is modest, and the bag is sold only through REI, which is academic outside North America. At full price it trails the Forclaz on value; on sale it is arguably the best budget buy in the category.