A panel loading pack that opens flat is great for rescue because it makes all of your gear easy to locate. The CMC Rescue SAR Pack has two additional outside pockets for gear that you need quick access to, such as gloves or water bottles. The zippper is on the side of the flat back pocket so maps and notebooks can be pulled out more easily. With a suspension system usually found on large packs, the SAR Pack carries better than many of the packs we have tried. Besides how well the SAR Pack carries, the other feature our field testers particularly liked was the handle on the back that makes the pack easier to load in and out of lockers and vehicles.