In reply to olddirtydoggy:
I had one for a brief weekend.
On paper it was a dream: simple (and therefore light), robust and with metal buckles. In the flesh it fit really well and was comfortable. The problems came when actually using it. Firstly, the G-hooks on the compression straps came out of their loops very easily. Tightening was the only solution, and they didn't want to stay tight when anything was underneath them (under the compression straps). Losing an ice axe to these wretches was just waiting to happen. I filed them down to make a more aggressive tooth, which pretty much solved the problem, although they were still prone to losing tension (a Lowe 'LoadLocker' type buckle would be perfect here).
Next, I got it loaded up for an overnight trip in winter, with perhaps 12-15 kg inside (not an outrageous load for a climbing pack). Picking it up by one of its shoulder straps, half of the stitches that attach the strap to the body came undone. I gave it a third chance only to find by the end of the day that some of the stitches in the pleating at the base of the back panel were coming ondone, this through no particular stressing.
The fabrics and other materials themselves were great, but the stitching needed to be much stronger, and important design issues they should have nailed, weren't nailed (the strap system). So I sent it back, and went for a value offering, the Lowe Alpine Alpine Ascent, which is light enough, super tough, and well-made.
I hope you get along well with yours, but avoid doing whatever it was that I did wrong.
Post edited at 22:47