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Great Pack Frame Design
I bought one of these in 1991 when it was sold by Coleman under the Peak 1 brand name. This is the best frame design ever for a backpack. After 15 years, it still holds up. The cleverness of the design is in that the frame is flexible enough to move with you, but stiff enough to support the pack. It won’t fatigue, break or corrode like aluminum frame packs plus there are enough attachment points that you can configure the pack anyway you want.

If you’re interested in an external frame pack, buy one of these.

Great design. I’ll be buying these for my kids as they get older.

** Update 1/6/2008 **

My oldest son (11) recently went on a two night backpacking trip with his scout troop. He carried ALL his gear in and on this pack. Not once did he get fatigued or sore, nor did he complain about this pack. Another new scout who is about the same size had a much more expensive pack and had trouble the entire trip. When we got back, his dad was so impressed by how this pack worked for my son he ordered one for his son.

I’ve already bought another one for my other son who will be entering boy scouts this summer.

Outdoor Products Dragonfly External Frame Backpack
The Dragonfly is a great entry-level backpack, designed for young hikers (pre-teens and older youths). It features a top-loading main compartment and dual side pockets that fit a 32-ounce-size water bottle (available from Outdoor Products; sold separately). Outdoor Products’ packs are designed with comfort in mind. This model features padded shoulder straps and a hip belt made to fit smaller-framed bodies. A mesh suspension system helps keep hikers cool even with heavy loads. A bungee compression system keeps pack contents from shifting while walking.

Specifications:

* Size: 24 inches long x 14 inches wide x 8 inches deep
* Weight: 3 pounds, 10 ounces
* Capacity: 2780 cubic inches
* Material: Nylon
* Torso Length: 15 to 18 inches
* Number of Pockets: 7
* Frame: Enduroflex
* Additional Features: Three-quarter opening in main compartment, padded shoulder straps, hip belt, mesh suspension system