ROY L S I did not use a hydration reservoir. I have used the pack several times and feel that it is a very good pack for the money

HERBERT W I don't know because I never use them. I'm old-fashioned and just use Nalgene bottles to carry water. Having said that, I will add that this is a really good backpack, and I have enjoyed using it. Any Camelbak reservoir should work if you want to use it.

MARK B I have a 1.5 liter platypus that fits fine. Looks like you can go a little larger.

MATT K I don't think you need a particular one. Inside the Appalachian 75, there is a very roomy pocket with a hook at the top to hold the reservoir and a portal for the sip tube - pretty generic. I have a 70 oz / 2 L reservoir from a Camelbak that fits in the pocket with lots and lots of room to spare. (I estimate I could stuff two or three full reservoirs in there, side-by-side, if I needed to. And the pocket is probably 2x as tall as my reservoir.) I have only used this pack seriously on several 4 or 5, weekend-long, winter camping trips near the continental divide, in the Colorado backcountry (Roosevelt Nat'l Forest and Colorado State Forest). So, to be honest, I've never drunk from the sip tube with this pack (it would freeze at 10 below!), but I've hauled lots of water with it! The pack is very stable with lots of adjustments and compression straps in all the right places, and durable webbing and clasps. I've carried it on my back for several hours breaking trail in deep fresh snow on backcountry skis. I'm athletic, but I am a horrible skier. I have one shoulder that is an inch or two higher than the other. I have no problem adjusting and stabilizing this pack. If someone like me can use this fully loaded in deep snow going up/down a mountain on skis without stability problems - its a good pack.

RAYMOND C Pretty much any brand would work. I use a Platypus 3 liter in mine and have had no issues. One word of caution would be to be sure and not set pack down on the bite block. Did that in the tent once with a bad results.

LUKE H This pack is very adjustable, and seemed to fit my 29 inch waist just fine. It is also very easy to find an aftermarket molded hip belt in any size, which is a common upgrade/replacement and solved this pack's one weak point for me. It is relatively tall, however. Compared to more expensive packs, the actual storage compartment does not cleanly cinch down to a shorter size when under-filled. Mostly this problem is cosmetic, as the top will tend to look floppy. That said, i believe 5 ft 6 inches is plenty tall enough for this pack, especially if your son plans to do any growing. The pack has countless gadgets, compartments, and features, and is constructed of incredibly durable ripstop nylon. Mine looks brand new after 4 months in Central America.

NICHOLAS T I carried this pack at about 5'10, and a 32 inch waist. The straps touched in front of my waist when it was snug. The shoulder straps can be adjusted to him, just be aware there will be a pretty good amount of pack above him depending on how full it is. The waist straps are going to be the biggest issue for him.

STUART S Nope, avoid this one for your son! I'm 5'11" with a 34" waist and I have to make the belt as small as possible to fit me. Even cinched all the way down it doesn't fit snugly enough and there's about 4 feet of strap hanging off (all the web straps are extremely long, not just the hip belt.) Definitely not a pack for youth hikers- I believe this pack is made for a hiker with a 50" waist!

MARK B The waist straps are very large and they might not cinch down that far as the buckles can't be adjusted once they reach the cushion part of the strap. My wife also has the pack and is similar in size, but she lowered the pack to ride more on her hips and was able to cinch it tight. Maybe around 28" - 30" is the smallest. I will try to measure and respond.

BETH A At 5'8" I didn't have any problems adjusting the pack for my height. I think I still had about 1/2 to 1/3 left for adjustments, if that makes sense. I waist strap is really big which is why I bought the pack, so I don't know how small it goes, but my 38" waist had lots of extra strap.

TIMOTHY M If packed correctly, my guess would be yes. But I have never been out that long with it.

MILTON S oh absolutely mine has been around the world 4 times with plenty of room to hold everything

JOSHUA P I have used this pack for 10 days backpacking Costa Rica. I am currently on a 3 week backpacking trip in Thailand. The pack has plenty of room and works great. I have put 2 towels, 5 pairs of shorts and shirts, 5 pairs of underwear, socks, 2 pairs of shoes, digital underwater dive camera, sheets, bathroom bag, and other random items. I have not used the pack for trekking the back country but for backpacking trips you cant beat this pack for the price.

KEVIN B Abigail, depends on the hiker really -and the circumstances of the trip.. (restock food enroute ? or carry ALL of it 10 days?) I use mine on 5+ day trips in the Grand Canyon and 9 day trips at Big Bend (desert) - I really love this pack - it works great. I am usually where I need a water filtration system & have a MSR Windpro stove and MSR nested cookware -- they take up a lot of room, even in their collapsed form, I carry my tent - or bivy sack (solo trips) on the inside of the pack too- along with everything else ( I like a clean exterior) - so if you weren't carrying a tent - or put it on the outside - then yes - you could do it. no problem. Let me just say this - if you need to carry 10 days food & Solo (by yourself) - it would be tight..(Bivy Sack time) If you are with someone / in a group and won't have a stove - cooking pot(s), Tent etc then yea - you could get it in there no sweat.. You'll need to pack smart in any case.. (meaning - light as possible).. Fully loaded long Solo trip with tent (or Bivy sack), food, Water, bag stove, pots, food, 1 pair pants & 2 extra shirts, Locator Beacon & Camera my bag runs 40-46 lbs and is about the max this bag is comfortable. I have had it just over 50 when I was leading a group of 7 and had all the group 1st aid kit etc - I learned that was a little over it's Comfy level.. I love this pack - it's sturdy, and has the front side entrance ( I use all the time) and big water bottle pockets on the sides {cuz I'm in the desert a lot} . It works for me - and a good value at the price.(I bought it here - sunny sports) This pack will do what you need on the Trip -- YOU just need to be smart - load everything weeks in advance - see what needs to go where - what "doesn't need to go" etc... THEY DO have this in a model one size larger - but I hear it is a little larger around the waste - ( I'm 6 ft , about 32" waste - 170 lbs - I'm not sure I could get the waste belt tightend down enough on it) Also - TOO Big a pack - and you'll be tempted to take things you shouldn't, and it will be WAY too heavy -- YOU'll be sorrry !! LOL Hope my rambling helps -- have a fantastice trip !!!! Kevin Berry

KARAN G Depends on what you're packing, but my first inclination would be to say yes. I've used it on 3-week backpacking trips, but I know that hiking supplies take up considerable space. I've also used the pack on a 4-day hiking trip, with space to spare. If you don't carry too many clothes and have a compact sleeping bag, small tent (or the parts are divided amongst the group), etc. you should be fine. I hope you're not carrying food for the entire trip from the outset. In any case, great pack, and as long you're not taking the kitchen sink, you should be good to go.

MICHAEL G Depending on how and what you pack...Yes!

JOSH J Yes this pack can handle a 10 day trip as long as you pack smart. Its a big pack. A bit dry heavy with too many bells and whistles but a nice multi-day pack for the price. Happy trails, josh

BUFORD D If the trip is going to be a non winter trip where you are not going to have to pack bulking clothes. Then yes. I took my pack on a 4 day hike in February and had plenty of room to spare. Pre set your shoulder and waste straps before the hike. No on told me about that but once set properly the pack was very comfortable. I love the pack and I am will not have to upgrade at all.

CRYSTAL E We used ours for a four day hike and still had plenty of room. It all depends on how you pack it. I wouldn't hesitate using it for a week long hike or maybe a little longer bit again we have two. Pack smart and you should be good.

HENRY H I have had the pack for a few years now. I have used it for many camping trips all over the country. The top of the pack does seem a bit floppy when it isn't filled, and unfortunately there isn't much of a way to cinch it completely. However, it does have a rain fly that could go over it to help protect it against the elements.

JOHN P Just cinch the heck out of it. Great pack, capable of taking a lot of abuse. Don't be shy about it.

JOSE V The only way mine didn't flop was to make sure the main compartment was full so that it stacked up high, but that's hard to do unless you have lots of stuff to load it with. Sorry, no alternative suggestions.

CHRISSY M I'm not sure why you'd have that problem. Are you cinching the front and back straps? I don't have any issues with mine.

JASON P There are 5 straps that hold the top on. I assume they made it that way to allow the pack contents to expand upwards. I have used this pack many times and have always had a lot of stuff in the pack so the top has never flapped around for me.

MARK B I guess it depends on how much weight you put in the top. It does come off and can be used as a sort or small day pack. I just really cinched mine down to keep it it place. Aside from just putting light weight stuff inside, maybe try some additional straps. I really like the pack though.

ALEX N Well, yeah, that's pretty much the way it is. The only way to avoid the "flop" is to pack in something that will bulge out and stretch out the top cover. I use a light rain jacket, loosely packed. But if you are underpacked, there is no way around it :)

NICHOLAS T Honestly, unless you have the pack fully loaded (It's designed to provide some additional space) the top is going to be floppy.

LUKE H Mine is the same way, I just make sure that I pack some light gear up on top to fill it up. There are very nice aftermarket waist belts as well that make this an even better pack!

KEVIN B This pack has two mesh pockets below that will hold the round 1 Qt - or 1 litre regular bottles - and smaller.( I'm sorry - I'm not familiar with the Kanteens you mentioned) above that it has two long fully zippered side pockets I use to hold additional water when on longer and "dry" trips - like to Big Bend in Texas (NO WATER) or trips within the Grand Canyon (Maybe water) . I really appreciate the front entry for grabbin stuff out of the midde (and packing that way), and it has held up to many many miles at full / overweight conditions. I'd say it is comfortable as any of them get up to about 45 lbs - although I have carried it a little closer to 55 when taking a group of 7 into the G. Canyon and had to carry extra first aid and water filtering equipment for everyone. I Love this pack - it's tuff and does what I need it to. This is the BEST pack deal I know for the money -- I have the Green one, and like the way it blends with the out-doors -- Good luck and Happy Trails !

JOSHUA P There are 2 spots ( One on each side of the pack ) to store water bottles and containers. Each has a strap that wraps around the bottle to keep it in place while traveling. I stored 2L bottles with no problem.

KARAN G yeah man, there's bottle holders on both sides. I stuff 32oz Nalgenes in each, but your 27oz bottles will probably fit better. overall, a solid pack and a great value.

MARTHA M The backpack is great! we took it for a 25 days trip to Egypt and managed to carry lots of things. It has an open outside pocket for easy access stuff, though not sure if your bottle will fit.

LORRAINE A yes, on both sides of the pack there are to mesh pockets used to store water bottles, and they stretch so your 27 oz will fit, as well as a much larger water bottle.

PERRY L Yes, there are mesh pouches on both sides of the pack adjacent to the waste belt. I carry the slightly larger Nalgene bottles and they fit in those pouches nicely. The skinny bottles may not fit as snugly.

BAILA, B yup, water bottle compartments are located on both sides of the pack. my only complaint after two years of using this backpack is that the waistband runs a little large (i have a size 32/33 waist). brandon

LORI B Hi, Sorry it took so long for a response. I believe they are the same pack but I'm not positive. Unfortunately I don't know about the Sierra Titan but I can assure you this pack works great. It is actually has more room than I needed so I ended up getting the Appalachian 65 liter instead. The Titan pack looks really nice too though. Sorry I couldn't have been more help. Have fun in Asia...I'm sure it will be amazing!

LAWRENCE C I dont know what the difference is between them. Being a novice backpacker myself, I got the Appalachian 75 for my family's trip to Thailand. On a minimalist's supply, it held enough clothing and extras for me, wife and 2 young children. Very well built and Very strong.

JOSE V Me again, if for some reason you do chose to buy it, leave about 20% of the bag unfilled, and that way you could bring back stuff from abroad. Cheers.

JOSE V I can't see a difference between the appalachian bags but for three weeks in SE Asia I would stay away from those bag. I used the appalachian 75 in SE Asia for several months and I would have maybe chosen a different bag in retrospect. It can hold a lot and its cheaper. When it was full, it was pretty heavy, but I also had some seams tear in the shoulder strap. Three weeks is a relatively short time in that region, you'll meet many that do it for the year. I would suggest a smaller bag, less is definitely the better way to go, pack light, you can pick anything up over there that you really need. Maybe ask others about the High Sierra Titan 65.

MAUNIK P Just came back from Thailand and China with this thing and it def served me well-- I was the envy of other backpackers. Some might argue that its a little too big for a 3 week trip, but I'm a packrat and I like that I have tons of extra space for souvenirs etc. Plus the rain protector is a must have if you're travelling during the rainy season. I can't compare it to the other packs mention, but it is a solid bag which has gone strong now for 3 long backpacking trips and several shorter trips over the course of 3 years.

JASON P I'm not sure about the Titan specs, nor have I tried it on. I've used the HSA 75 numerous times on trips lasting 6 days / 5 nights and it has worked well. It's comfortable enough and stores a lot. It's also very versatile with many openings to get to stuff that might be buried in the pack. I would recommend getting an extra large pack cover to use when it rains. The pack cover that comes with it was designed to only fit around the pack; it doesn't account for all the stuff you strap to the pack. I do use the included pack cover for transporting it though. I take all the straps off and then put the cover on it. As long as the TSA doesn't go through it protects the pack nicely. Also, I'm 6'2" 185lbs (tall & thin) and the belt strap almost touches when cinched. I like the height of the belt, but it would be better for me if it wasn't as long. If you're more than a 36" waist than you'll be golden. I assume you're going to resupply during your trip and not be back country for 3 weeks. You can get a week out of this easily if you don't pack bulky stuff.

PETER W The hydration reservoir in the Appalachian 75 is compatible with most hydration pouches. I use a 3L bladder from CamelBak (both with and without the insulation sleeve), and both work great. But I know a similar Platypus versions would work. The pouch extends till the separated section designed for your clothes and sleeping bag; no more than 18 in. tall. There is a small hook above the pouch slot to hang the bladder to prevent it from falling. If you pack the bag properly then you shouldn't need to worry about it sliding down.

MARK B My Platypus 2 liter fits in the pouch fine, (sans carry pack) but I haven't used it in my pack for hiking. I carry two 1 liter nalgenes and a Katy filter : ) It looks like you can fit a good size one in there though. As long as it comes with a tube that can fit through the opening, you shouldn't need anything else. You may want to try the reservoir without it's own carry pack as you can fit a larger one inside then, unless you plan on small day hikes and want to carry it separate later. Good luck! The trip sounds fun.

BENJAMIN P The pack does not come with a reservoir, but it is a great pack. I did buy a reservoir and two water bottles. I use the reservoir in my cammal and put the whole thing in the pack. This helps the water stays a little colder.

NICHOLAS T I used a resevouir from an Ogio backpack, but the truth is you can use almost any plain reservoir. IE no straps etc.

ALEX N Aaron, This backpack is compatible with all of the hydration systems on the marker, I used a camelbak, that worked fine and I know others have used the generic Alpine Design and Outdoor Pursuits systems as well. Hope this helps

MARK V Camelbak makes some great hydration reservoirs. Any one from them will fit the Appalachian 75 backpack.

SERENA P We only used it once, and it worked perfect for a weekend, and plan a week long trip next summer. The hydration bladder I used came from the pack I had (Swiss Gear, purchased from K-Mart $29.00). It fit nice and held 2L?s. I also had a Coleman pack and returned it because of leaking. I?m very happy with our HS Packs. Hope this helps and have fun!

TIM M Should be able to use about any reservoir. I usually use the one out of my camelbak.

SunnySports S Yes, it has a Drop-bottom sleeping bag compartment with divider. As far as capacity for a four person tent, that depends on the packed size of the tent you will be caring, and the rest of the things you will be packing. This pack is quite large so I don't think you will have much of a problem, but I would recommend packing up your pack 2 weeks before your planned trip for a test run to see if everything will fit. Stay safe and have fun out there! Neal

SunnySports S The waist range is 30" -70". Stay safe and have fun out there! Neal

SunnySports S The Appalachian 75 is the better choice. The only thing is will it fit? This pack fits torsos 15" to 20". To check the fit, follow these instructions: Using a flexible tape measure, measure the length of your torso from the C7 vertebra (at the base of your neck) to the spot on the spine level with the top of the bony hip structure called the iliac crest. Do it two or three times to get an accurate measurement. If you are between frame sizes, always go with the smaller size.

SunnySports S Although the harness is not cut for a womans figure like some that are designed for women, this pack is ok for women. Just make sure it fits you right

SunnySports S This may be a little small for your torso. This pack fits torsos 15" to 20". To check the fit, follow these instructions: Using a flexible tape measure, measure the length of your torso from the C7 vertebra (at the base of your neck) to the spot on the spine level with the top of the bony hip structure called the iliac crest. Do it two or three times to get an accurate measurement. If you are between frame sizes, always go with the smaller size.

SunnySports S The 75 is best. The packs 4580 cubic inches is great for this type of trip. The only thing is will it fit? This pack fits torsos 15" to 20". To check the fit, follow these instructions: Using a flexible tape measure, measure the length of your torso from the C7 vertebra (at the base of your neck) to the spot on the spine level with the top of the bony hip structure called the iliac crest. Do it two or three times to get an accurate measurement. If you are between frame sizes, always go with the smaller size.

SunnySports S This pack fits torsos from 15" to 20". Don"t go smaller, but you have the option to go larger!

SunnySports S This pack fits torsos from 15" to 20". Don't go smaller, but you have the option to go larger! Have Fun Out There! Carl

SunnySports S The packs 4580 cubic inches is great for this type of trip. Just make sure the size is is right