re: Backpacking Gear Recs?

You can find deep discounts on Mountainsmith in my experience.

My packs are Osprey and Patagonia, but I do have an REI and Kelty around somewhere. All are fine and will work for most people. I probably wouldn't look much at Kelty as they tend not to be very competitive weight-wise, but they are a good budget option and quite durable.

Arc'teryx makes good packs and I may end up getting one before long. Granite Gear is supposedly good but I have no personal experience. I'm sure MH and TNF make some very solid packs as well.

Edit: Should have mentioned Gregory, as they're a huge player in packs. Never owned one, but they'd probably be in the top tier based on reputation and widespread use.