• Bottom compartment
• 5 lb 8 oz (2.5 kg) Eureka Backcountry 4 tent
• Main compartment
• 3 qt (6 L) Camelbak hydration pouch - 6 lb 10 oz (3 kg) filled, tube through port
• sheets (to sleep on, twin bed size) 8 oz (227 g)
• 2 lb (900 g) Sierra Zip Stove
• Pot, cup, utensils (1 lb - 450 g)
• Clothing (4 lb 8 oz - 2 kg)
• Camp shoes (1 lb 8 oz - 680 g)
• Back Compartment
• 4-AA Lantern (1 lb - 450 g)
• First-aid Kit (1 lb - 452 g)
• UV Sterilizer (1 lb - 453 g)
• Top Compartment
• Map & Permit (8 oz - 227 g)
• Book (2 lb - 900 g)
• Outside
• Tent Poles (1 lb 8 oz) (700 g)
• Thermarest pad (3 lb) (1.4 kg)

Packing turned out to be easier than I thought, having gained some experience from past usage. I have had to make some adjustments on how I do things, since the Triconi pack doesn't have all the external storage of my external-frame pack.

• The first change was in the tent, on an external frame pack I would just strapped it to the bottom of the frame with no concerns about size. With the Triconi the tent had to go inside somewhere; my choice was to put it in the bottom compartment, since I wouldn't need the space for a sleeping bag. This meant purchasing a compression sack to get the tent as small as possible.
  
  
• It also meant that the poles weren't going inside with the tent, I put the poles on the outside with the bottoms in one of the external side pouches, with a hook-and-loop strap holding the tops of the poles in place (see photo).
  
• There isn't a real place for the Thermarest pad so I had to improvise by folding it rather than rolling it up, then using the outer compression straps to hold it in place. This I found irritating since it blocked the rear pocket; each time I needed something inside I had to remove the pad then strap it back in place (see photo).
  

OK, getting this 37 lb (16.8 kg) pack onto my back was not an easy chore, but the pre-formed shoulder straps made it a lot easier than it could have been. After hefting the one shoulder into place I was able to get my other arm through the remaining shoulder strap with little effort. This would not have been the case with my old pack, where finding the loose strap with one arm, holding the pack in place with the other, all while balancing out the weight would have challenged even a contortionist.

Lugging a 37 lb (16.8 kg) pack is another task, especially around a battle field where the terrain is intentionally made difficult to walk. We were constantly walking up one hill, down the other side, then up the next hill. I really felt sorry for those poor soldiers who had to carry 50 lbs (22.7 kg) rucksacks on their backs. In my case, however, the Triconi certainly eased the task, the padded waist belt and shoulder straps, along with the cantering frame made my back and hips fell much better. From having done this trip before with my old pack, and being much younger then, I know how I would have felt at the end of the day, and it wouldn't have been nearly this good. The formed shoulder straps and cantering frame made all the difference.

The hydration pack is still an issue, while the 3-liter pouch that I use easily lasted the day, taking it out and refilling it at the end of the day is a hassle. As mentioned in my Field Report, removing the pouch requires opening the top, then removing about half of the contents of the main compartment. (see photo)

• Bottom Compartment
• Hammock - 3 lb 4 oz (556 g)
• rainfly - 1 lb 8 oz (676 g)
• Pillow - 9.5 oz (268 g)
• Main Compartment
• 3 qt (6 L) Camelbak hydration pouch - 6 lb 10 oz (3 kg) filled, tube through port
• Sierra Zip Stove - 1 lb 10 oz (732 g)
• Pot, cup, utensils - 11.7 oz (332 g)
• Clothing - 2 lb 3 oz (1 kg)
• Food - 3 lbs 5 oz (1.5 kg)
• Back Compartment
• 4-AA Lantern - 1 lb (450 g)
• First Aid Kit - 12.6 oz (358 g)
• Water sterilizer - 7.8 oz (220 g)
• Top Compartment
• Map & Permit - 8 oz - (227 g)
• Book - 2 lb (900 g)

There was little difference between this trip and others with regards to the performance of the Triconi backpack. It carried the weight with ease, feeling like nothing compared to my last trip. The only problem was with the rain, as in the past the inside of the pack was saturated. Fortunately, learning from a prior trip, I had enclosed everything that might not do well in rain into a stuff sack (sil-nylon to eliminate weight). The top compartment was the only one which remained dry; while the rain did not soak through the protected bottom of the Triconi pack, it did leak down from the main compartment.

Other than the rain issue, the pack was easy on my back and hips, and I have become more adept at packing things so that I can get at food and cooking gear quickly during breaks. The side zipper for the main compartment makes this especially easy, since I can store items I need to make lunch close to the zipper. I don't know why I didn't make better use of this feature earlier, probably just not thinking through, but I will definitely plan for this in the future!

The Triconi pack has many advantages that make it worth serious consideration, even outside of what Gregory Mountain Products sells it for. According to Gregory Mountain Products, the Triconi is meant for "a variety of adventures: inter-continental traverses, week long ultra-light thru hikes or just a day of cragging*". As demonstrated in my tests, I am not an ultra-lighter, but the Triconi pack was able to tote everything I needed for even a 4-day trek, and it did so comfortably!

* - From Gregory Mountain Products's website.

• Lighter weight than my old pack (by 5 lb - 2.3 kg)
• Form-fitted straps make removal and mounting easier
• Form-fitted waist belt easier to put on hips
• Hydration port keeps the tube from getting lost
• Canting frame helps keep balance when making ascents or descents

• Hydration sleeve is a pain when it comes to refilling
• Nylon sides lets in more rain than expected

The hydration sleeve is poorly placed. Putting it in the top or rear compartment would work out better as far as refilling. The port worked out really well, keeping my drinking tube from lying on the ground when the pack was off my back.

Finally, a word needs said about the rip-stop nylon used for the main compartment. With all of the different waterproof, breathable materials available today, and all of the effort that went into making the top and bottom compartments waterproof, this was a poor choice. Water seeps into the main compartment all too easily, and from there it makes its way into the bottom compartment (waterproof on the other 5 sides). The only alternatives that I see are coating the rip-stop nylon with a waterproof sealant (which has to be repeated every season), or plunking down some change for waterproof stuff sacks; neither of which should be necessary.