Is this rucksack worth getting...? (Plus some more advice..)

I'm going travelling - Asia etc (and maybe through Europe to get there). I will be sleeping at wherever seems best, including camping out if needs be. And as yet I have no set amount of time that I'll be doing it, but to be honest just as long as possible, so let's say 12+ months

So there are two versions of the rucksack I quite like, both pretty much the same but one is 35l and one is 45l.
Here they are:
Jeep 35 litre
Jeep 45 litre

I'm basically wondering if Jeep is a good rucksack brand to go with? I currently own one which is just the standard household rucksack size (26l?) and it's great, I love the chunky robust feel of the whole thing, including the big fat zips, and the airflow system is really comfy (even though it doesn't really work!), and one of the straps has only just begun to break after at least 5 years of life, including a totally unplanned yomp around loch ness, where it was totally overloaded, including a one-man tent strapped and hanging off the side!

So yeah, I highly rate my current Jeep rucksack, but I'm wondering if there is a general opinion of them overall as a brand? Because the two I have linked to obviously aren't the same as the one I have now, and they seem quite cheap, which typically suggests low quality?

And as for size, I'd like to go with the 35l one, but feel inclined to go for the 45l, firstly because I'll be packing a (hopefully light and compact) tent and sleeping bag (no cooking gear etc though because I'll just buy basic food on the way), and also because I think I'd like to bring my Netbook and camera too, so I can take a load of snaps as I go, which would also mean the added peripherals, namely namely battery chargers. Besides that I'll aim to pack as light as possible - one set of clothes, maybe three sets of underwear, small towel, and then only the tiny odd and extras such as paracetamol, sewing kit, torch, knife etc.

Are those Jeep bags any good? And 35l or 45l??? Advice??

Thanks!!!!

I am not familiar with Jeep bags, but for $65 they could be poor quality. If you want your pack to last, you should consider investing in it. I would recommend Osprey, Mountain Hardware, North Face, Kelty, Granite Gear, even a REI brand pack from their website would be better quality.

If you're planning a trip for a year, I would take the 45L. You want to bring stuff home?

Yeah I've decided against those Jeep ones, but only because they just consist of one great big main pocket and nothing else, which doesn't seem very functional to me.

I have no intention of bringing anything back with me - it'll just be the stuff I left home with and that's it!

I've come up with a few other things which I might quite like to see in my choice of rucksack if anyone can point me towards some good ones...

Waterproof main compartment, such as the Eurohike Hydra series. I know most tents have rain covers crammed into a pocket somewhere, but it would be better to have one with waterproof ability designed into it.

More than just one main compartment - so it has extra pockets for easy access to little things like tools etc. These extra pockets needn't be waterproof though

Any ideas? Thanks!!!

Look for a comfortable bag first, then use the liner to make it waterproof. Rain covers are pretty much the standard in bags- water resistance over waterproof.

I'd recommend looking at waterproof bag liners... you can also get them in a compression version.

I have a 30L one made by 'sea to sky'... you can pack loads if you need to.

Definitely go 45L, if not more. It's always better to have a bit extra room.

Google mountain equipment suppliers in your area or a city near you. They will be able to assist you in finding and fitting the perfect bag. Expect to spend anywhere from $150-300.

Don't cheap out. Your bag is your home. A comfortable bag won't affect your trip, but an uncomfortable bag will!

Hope this was of some help, happy travels

Well... I cheaped out! Ended up buying this and I reckon it's great! Really fat straps so there's no tugging on the shoulders, even though they aren't padded at all, has outer straps for holding a sleeping mat or something, and lots of nylon tags to hook things onto if needs really be. My main concern now is that it's a little on the small side so I'm on a mission to pack uber light. I can fit everything in but it's very compact, but considering it's rated as 35L and I have a tent, sleeping bag, netbook, camera, and all the other bare essentials, I'm pretty chuffed with my super minimalistic packing skills!