Extreme Outfitters has a sale (which I think has been going on forever) on acu granite gear packs. They both have a pretty funky frame sheet that allows different attachment points to adjust the placement of the straps. The Special Mission Patrol is a Pointman-ish sized pack, but the rear wall that zips open has what appears to be a padded laptop sleeve built in. Interesting, I guess. There are also molle loops on what appears to be the interior hydration sleeve, kind of a cool touch.
The Chief Patrol has a top loading bag, but the rear wall zips open. Unfortunately the lid is sewn on so you can't easily swap on a kifaru zxr lid. If's supposedly a little bigger than an ZXR, doesn't look it to me but I have just fooled around with it a little.
If you are looking for something with a good internal frame they seem like a good value if you don't mind ACU. I never had anything in ACU before, it seems, um, odd The ACU on these packs seems to have a lot of white.
The special mission patrol is less than a lot of simpler assault packs like the RAID and Eagle AIII. But, well, there is the color to deal with. The Chief Patrol looks to be a large Kifaru/MR quality ruck, but, again, there's the color...
The Chief Patrol will accept Alice bags ( or Malice bags or a MR Mountain ruck supposedly) and the instructions say you can order different size belts and shoulder straps.





i just noticed there are no compression straps on the smaller pack, that seems odd.
 

Some pix as furnished by the vendor:

Chief patrol Pack:http://www.extremeoutfitters.us/granitetacticalgearchiefpatrolacu.aspx

Mission Patrol Pack:http://www.extremeoutfitters.us/granitetacticalgearspecialmissionpatrolpack-1.aspx

As for the smaller pack not having compression straps, and also lacking any back-up closure device should the zipper fail, that is easily remedied.

Buy some of these ITW/Nexus QD buckles;http://www.supplycaptain.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=612&ParentCat=30  Note that the female portion of the buckle is designed to attach horizontally onto existing MOLLE webbing.  Attach as many pairs as you like onto the MOLLE webbing on the sides of the smaller pack, and run a length of 1" webbing between each pair of  male buckles.  You now have compression straps, and backup closure straps.

Says 'made in Vietnam" also says "Cordura"




































































 

So do some SDS products, as well as many other mfrs items.

It is what it is.  Looking at the bigger picture, an independent Vietnam has always been a major irritant to the ChiComs.  Reminds me of the old saying "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

I'd rather send a few bux to Vietnam than to China.  Granted, there are better places to send the money than Vietnam, but if it annoys the Chicoms, sending a few bux to the Viets won't cost me any sleep.

Doesn't look like the zippers have any meaningful sort of rain flaps.  Water ingress might be an issue, so plan on packing everything water-vulnerable in waterproof bags.  More than that, the zippers are unprotected against icing-up, and hereabouts––not to mention NY–– that's not so good.

See my post above, and install compression/closure straps.

I think the padding is removable for use with armor. My wife even commented on the shoulder straps as she was looking at them. I keep my packs in a spare bedroom closet that Mr. Mittens is not allowed near, hate *&%ing cat fur