A pack, comprising: a body defining a volume for the containment of items, the body having a height, width, and depth; an elevator system (40, 140) disposed within a compartment of the pack, the elevator system (40, 140) comprising (i) a cradle (42, 142) that is movable upwardly and downwardly in the compartment and which is configured with a support portion to receive an item storable in the compartment, and (ii) a coupling system that couples the cradle (42, 142) to a user grasp element (46, 146) disposed on the pack so that the pulling of the grasp element (46, 146) lifts the cradle (42, 142) from a lower position in the compartment to a raised position, the raising of the cradle (42, 142) being sufficient to allow a stored item that is enclosable in the compartment to protrude from the compartment; the coupling system being based on one or more coupling elements (44a, 44b, 144a, 144b); wherein the compartment comprises a first vertical surface, a second vertical surface, and a bottom surface, the first and second vertical surfaces (48, 50) being spaced apart and extending upwardly from the bottom surface, and the cradle (42, 142) has a first side that is coupled to the first vertical surface, and a second side that is movably coupled to the coupling system, and the item support portion of the cradle (42, 142) is disposed between the first and second vertical surfaces (48, 50); wherein the second vertical surface includes a sleeve that has a lower edge that is open to receive the second side of the cradle (42, 142) so that a first portion of the cradle may be pulled upwardly in between the sleeve and the body of the pack and the opposite side of the sleeve is closed, except where the coupling elements (44a, 44b, 144a, 144b) enter one or more channels (54a, 54b, 154a, 154b) at the top of the sleeve, so that the second side of the cradle abuts against an abutment surface provided to limit the travel of the cradle. a body defining a volume for the containment of items, the body having a height, width, and depth; an elevator system (40, 140) disposed within a compartment of the pack, the elevator system (40, 140) comprising (i) a cradle (42, 142) that is movable upwardly and downwardly in the compartment and which is configured with a support portion to receive an item storable in the compartment, and (ii) a coupling system that couples the cradle (42, 142) to a user grasp element (46, 146) disposed on the pack so that the pulling of the grasp element (46, 146) lifts the cradle (42, 142) from a lower position in the compartment to a raised position, the raising of the cradle (42, 142) being sufficient to allow a stored item that is enclosable in the compartment to protrude from the compartment; the coupling system being based on one or more coupling elements (44a, 44b, 144a, 144b); wherein the compartment comprises a first vertical surface, a second vertical surface, and a bottom surface, the first and second vertical surfaces (48, 50) being spaced apart and extending upwardly from the bottom surface, and the cradle (42, 142) has a first side that is coupled to the first vertical surface, and a second side that is movably coupled to the coupling system, and the item support portion of the cradle (42, 142) is disposed between the first and second vertical surfaces (48, 50); wherein the second vertical surface includes a sleeve that has a lower edge that is open to receive the second side of the cradle (42, 142) so that a first portion of the cradle may be pulled upwardly in between the sleeve and the body of the pack and the opposite side of the sleeve is closed, except where the coupling elements (44a, 44b, 144a, 144b) enter one or more channels (54a, 54b, 154a, 154b) at the top of the sleeve, so that the second side of the cradle abuts against an abutment surface provided to limit the travel of the cradle.