I didn't think the regular talon was great from a pocket storage standpoint (great for compressing load to the outside of bag though) - so I ended up with the Merlin talon to add some pocket space on my Fortress. The Lanner appears it would get me to pretty close to the same place without the Merlin, and appears to have bigger side pockets. I'm guessing maybe the bag is smaller - maybe closer to the Fortress 4800 bag? I like no zipper with the associated extra weather proofness in the Fortress- whereas the Lanner has a zipper. Having never touched or seen a Lanner first hand, please take my observations with a grain of salt. It appears with the Lanner you get some nice places to stick some things without getting into the bag, and is a little less "strappy". What you may loose is the compressing talon (either type), and those extra straps in a Fortress give you lots of options to snug down tight and carry about any damn thing you could think of up to what you can lift. Tough decision!