After ten years hard service I've retired my Alpkit 20l Gourdon pack from active duty. Good, cheap, functional rucsac - no frills, just did what it had to do. The mesh pockets had lost any stretch, various rips and tears, broken hip belt buckle, bungee cord (never much used) long gone.
I bought the 30l version on the left a couple of years ago and haven't really used it until now. No bungee cord, and the longer side pockets are definitely more secure. However, the larger capacity combined with its very simple design doesn't work quite so well for me; it doesn't sit as nicely on my back when loaded with the same amount of kit I'd put in the old 20l bag. Not a deal breaker, not bad enough to make me spend money, but if I was getting one from scratch I'd go for the smaller of the two.
