Prawnster I just wanted to say thanks very much! I recently bought one of the Sitkas based on this review. I really liked it to start with and then spent four hours yesterday walking around downtown and riding shuttles with it and now I love it even more.
I am working on another urban project so I ordered a Maxpedition Sitka "gear slinger" pack, a Nalgene Guyot, and a GSI cup for my kit, and a RAT H.E.S.T.
The Sitka is exactly what I wanted for my area. It is a smallish pack so I'll have no trouble with it getting on and off the small electric shuttle buses that run down town (they're free of charge so you can ride as much as you like to get from one area to another) but it has lots of places in its three compartments to secure my gear and holds more than I first thought it would. I am still playing with what goes where but I took some pics to give you some ideas of what it's like if you haven't seen one. So far I have my FAK, fire kit, fishing kit, lighting, some food, shelter materials and a few other things in it.