Gossamer Gear Mariposa vs Aer Travel Pack 2

It helps me stand up straighter when I'm hiking and It also gives me some breathability as you can see a lot of my back is exposed You know can slip m...

This meant I could easily grab my xbox controller or a snack without having to hoist the bag up into my lap and open the whole thing. -Comfort: Its actually pretty comfortable to wear. I took a hike with this bag on (I know - probably not really what its designed for) - and it worked out perfect. The back is as padded/breathable as you could expect, and the front chest strap helped to keep the bag tight against my chest without all of the weight being squarely on my shoulders

I bought a used large Mariposa but find that when it's heavily loaded it hits my ass, no matter how I adjust it. I love those packs but haven't quite figured out the fit and I can't really return the used gear.

So really great, versatile size. And so, as I was testing the South, the first bag that this made me think of was the larger version of the travel pac...

It has another side pocket on the top here that is wonderful. The big pockets on the side for water bottles here I put two one liter water bottles in ...

I'd like to see another external pocket so I can have quick access to small electronics. I would also like to see a smaller version of this, maybe a 30-35L and have the height be less than 18" so that it can pass the Frontier Airlines' (and other low-cost carrier) personal bag restriction.

6 ounces—significantly less than the medium version of the Mariposa with a hipbelt. But with only three external pockets (none of which zip), the Arc Blast is limited in its organizational capacity, and we find that it doesn’t carry a load as well. If pack weight is your number one consideration, it’s hard to argue against the Arc Blast. But we give the overall edge to the Gossamer Gear Mariposa for its added carrying comfort, organization, and durability

What I really don’t like is the shoulder straps. They are very uncomfortable. The side pockets are useless for holding water bottles. But I really hate the shoulder straps