Akichow,
OMG, you said it correctly, "And here I thought hiking/backpacking was the cheaper alternative to hotel vacations..." , hiking and backpacking can get very expensive because there is sooooooooo much neat gear on the market and neater and newer gear every year, YIKES!
Take Fishmonger's Gregory pack, I bet that cost a pretty penny. I hope it's made in the USA. I read an article on Gregory packs and, from what I understand, Gregory packs are high quality packs and I thought they were produced here in the United States...I sure hope so, I don't mind paying a little more if the product is made in the USA.
