> I've just recently became very interested in > backpacking/hiking. And I am planning a thru-hike of the > AT in 2005.....I was wondering, what do you all > suggest, internal or external frame? That's a very personal choice. Until recently, I was a hard core external frame believer. I recommend that you read some of the reviews on www.backpackgeartest.org to get a variety of responses. Shane