Need a abackpack to head bush. what one?

[bungie]

I'm heading bush in a few weeks with a bunch of strangers in a hire 4x4. We are taking our own camp each, so my swag and hoochie, then clothes and toiletries. I need a backpack/bag that will carry all of my life bar the swag, or even fit my swag on top (I have a strong back LOL ).
What do people use that is light, tough, waterproof, and perhaps has its own hydration pouch, and enough pockets to have easy access to different bits as I need then? But not need a second 4x4 to carry it as space is of a premium.

[D4D]

http://www.berghaus.com/

[JCAT]

http://www.macpac.com.au/shop/en_au/gear-and-clothing/packs/packs-trek/11660.html

Unbeatable in my opinion bbut you would want to be using it more than once.

[GGV8Cruza]

X2 for Macpac, great harnesses

GG

[darren]

mate.
Dont take the swag... Please..
Im into light hiking, 2 kg for an overnight, 10 for a week.. The worst thing about hiking is carrying the pack..
Macpac are good but how often are you going to go? You can pm me if you want more info

[carinya]

I have had great service from army surplus gear.  Tough as it gets as long as you have a real good look at the unit before you take it home ( remember, they are thrown out items) may not have some of the bells and whistles of the "real" hiking stuff, but they are waterproof and you can't kill them. You can also get a variety of extra bags/ pouches that attach to them for extra space.  I have a collection starting with a 1970 auspack  , and a few from the 80's until recent times.  They get bigger as the years progress. Pick the one depending on  how much gear you want to take.

[Baz]

Remember.

The bigger pack you get, the more space you have, the more weight you put in.

You have to then carry it

Old soldier rules. KISS

Baz

[JCOJ]

I used to be an outdoor ed teacher and also worked in an outdoor adventure shop.  I'd agree with Darren - for bushwalking the less you take the better.  A swag is massive and massively heavy and there are much better lighter options eg a good sleeping bag and a bivvy bag for one.

Berghaus is good, Macpac are  better, but my recommendation goes to One Planet: http://www.oneplanet.com.au/

[Yoda42]

I have a Macpac that I got in 1997 and is just as good as the day I got it, and it's seen a fair bit of the world.

However, forget brand names, the most important thing is the FIT of the harness for YOU. A pack that rubs, no matter how expensive, is no good. Test different ones out in the shop with at least 10kgs in them, and by the way, you shouldn't carry more than a third of your body weight as a rule of thumb.

Rather than a swag get a good self inflating mattress - test them out too, especially lying on your side to see how your hip goes on it.