As with many things in life, deciding whether to use an internal frame—or if you even need one—is subjective: it's based on how you plan to carry your backpack, what you plan to carry in it, and how carefully you're willing to pack it. A lot of folks will find an internal frame useful, but not everyone will, and certainly not everyone needs one, especially those who carry smaller/lighter packs or less gear. Our Hero's Journey, Guide's Pack, and Guide's Edition Synapse 25 backpacks all come with internal frames included. Versions of the same internal frame are optional for our...