Backpacks today look nothing like the metal and canvas contraptions of the 1970s. Removable internal supports made of plastic have replaced external frames, and ripstop nylon now reigns supreme. No ...

In this column last month, I covered two major companies, Kelty and JanSport, who will introduce retro-style, external-frame backpacks in 2011. The article pitched external-frame packs as throwbacks - ...

We explain the differences and benefits of an external frame backpack vs internal to see if there’s a good argument for resurrecting the traditional pack for long treks . | Credit: Joel Carillet ...

The big external-frame pack has not quite gone the way of the dinosaurs, but for all intents and purposes it s extinct. The last serious effort to turn out a competitive external-frame pack came seven ...

In this column last month I covered two major companies, Kelty and JanSport, who will introduce retro-style, external-frame backpacks in 2011. The article pitched external-frame packs as bulky, ...