Taking the two steps forward, one step back approach, our friends at Camelbak have redesigned the Motherlode, left, and the BFM, right. Thanks to the efficient, yet somehow sadistic designers, the new bags weigh less, but you can put more stuff in them. The redesign includes a shift to 500D Cordura everywhere but the bottom of the packs, new pocket layouts, fleece-lined pockets for optics, wider straps for comfort, and printed webbing so your PALS straps don’t give you away. The Motherlode gains about 450 cubes while losing about about 6 ounces, and the BFM picks up 591 cubes and drops 1.1 lbs.

Brand new this year is Camelbak’s Direct Armor Attachment System. It’s on three of their packs, the ArmorBak, left, ThermoBak, right, and the redesigned Ambush AB 500. The packs attach to the PALS webbing on your body armor using Fastex style buckle whose female side has a a split bar which just slide onto a PALS strap and stays there. You don’t have to zip-tie your Camelbak to your gear anymore. Bonus: the attachment straps run on the outside of the pack so you can cinch them tight enough to squirt water from your hydration tube. The new packs will be $55 and $70, $76 for the Ambush and should all hit AAFES by 01FEB09.