The North Face Ligero 35 Backpack

Pros: Light, comfy, rain cover included, cooler (temperature) on the back than others Ive used, frame is light and effective, really like the fit on my back.

Cons: Side pockets arent very stretchy and it makes it difficult to pull out water w/o stopping. The inside of the hip straps chafe my hips.

I bought this bag as a day pack, as a switch from my bigger bags. Im impressed with it. It sits well on my shoulders and the padding on the straps is not bulky and still comfortable. The back padding is well ventilated and doesnt hold a lot of sweat. it comes with a rain cover (or at least mine did) I really like the top storage as there are 2 separate pockets there. the top zipper you can see in the pic and then another on the side. As stated above the side pockets are pretty tight and I cant easily It does have the option for a camelback bladder though. All that being said this is my go to bag and Id highly recommend it.

This pack is super light and comfortable--the top-loading zipper is extra nice, with the top zipper pocket for sunscreen, headlamp, snacks, etc.
The pack I believe is meant for superlight, long day hikes but I've even used it for shorter backcountry ski days--it ends up a bit small for everything I had when I was bringing crampons, etc., but for shorter tours it would be nice and light, and the skis can go on it ok for bootpacking in a pinch. I love the stretchy pocket on the front of the pack--perfect for a water bottle and your friend can grab it for you easily and slip it back in and it doesn't fall out.

This bag is light, comfortable, and appears to be able to take a beating (haven't given it the test of time yet...). perfect for what I do = field geology