Anyone here ever use or currently own a Kifaru pack?
 

When my old unit was attached to AEF 8 one of the guys I served with gave me the heads-up on packs by Kifaru, and I'd really like to have one (or two).

Just wondering if you own one or have used one and how you liked it.

Re: Anyone here ever use or currently own a Kifaru pack?
 

Attachment 13984
please pass on the optional field chair...unless you are serving with the Minuteman Project.
:confused:

Re: Anyone here ever use or currently own a Kifaru pack?
 

I have a Navigator. Love it much!!

ALso have an E&E which is worthless piggybacked to the navigator. Great Day pack on its own. My folks have Scouts

Lets see, I have a pretty good assortment of pockets and pouches that are Malice clipped inside and out. Bulletproof setup.

I'm a fan of panel loaders over top loaders. The internal PALS makes it really nice to organize all my gear when I open it up..

And Book? I do have the chair that bring on a backcountry overnight. Beats sitting on the elbow/ground around the fire. I think they threw it in for free at the time of my largest order.

Kifaru +1

My parents took the Scouts to Africa a couple years ago and had similar results

Re: Anyone here ever use or currently own a Kifaru pack?
 

I've used one. The military grade is the heaviest cordura imaginable. I would fill it with bayonets and broken glass without a second thought. That comes at a stiff penalty, 10-lb weight. Also too many straps, and the shoulder pads have seams, so shirts only. The cargo chair works well, both as shelf and camp chair (not separate kit like the photo) but remember how far from your c.o.g. the load will become.

Their hunter line is lighter but that leaves the other problem, pointed out by MM: What are you planning to do with it? If you're going to Chaostan to kill or be killed, then knock yourself out. If you're in Katrina where TSHTF, then you might rather have a 3 $50 packs and $150 more gear to put in them. Your choice. Also having a nice pack says "Target" and "Duh, I have even better stuff IN the pack: Target."

Cheap, simple stuff, not worth stealing, unvalued or invisible to others may be a better solution, if less cool. There are many varieties to go for. For "I am now a refuge" you want a wheelbaorrow or cart, but after that, the CF-90 seems to run unusually cheap, although it has only mediocre ratings.

Probably best compromise is generic techno-packs. They're not expensive, light, ride well, and can be lined with whatever to give toughness. Spray paint the stupid colors, it helps it look more like something out of a rummage sale. If people are on the road, then having one won't attract attention from others, the police, or whatever.

Unless you aren't worried about meeting a police/military/local admirer of your pack at Checkpoint Charlie that will leave you lighter.

TS

PS, get (or make) a Paratarp.

Re: Anyone here ever use or currently own a Kifaru pack?
 

A 10 lb pack is big-time overkill.
If you are going to pack heavy items; get a frame pack.

If you want an internal framed backpack, look at a Lowe, or Dana; maybe Kelty, NorthFace or Jansport. Sierra Trading post has good stuff. Get last years model at a discount. If you want a camo pack, paint it.

The Kifaru site has a lot of overpriced junk on it.
If you are buying Bullion Coins, why would you want to buy MS-70 priced "stuff" that is only .05% better than other gear costing many hundreds or thousands less?

The guy has an idea or two, I'll give him that; but he is an obsessed nitwit.
Not many backpacking elk hunters out traipsing the bitterroots or any other mountain range.

Anybody paying $2500 for one of his rifles, or $2k for a nylon TeePee, much less a $500 campstove; is just an rich wannabee or an idiot ready to be fleeced.

Re: Anyone here ever use or currently own a Kifaru pack?
 

STP has Lowe packs for $45-$89 on the first of 5 pages of backpacks.
The $89 one looks like about a 4000 cubic inch model. They have an Alpine Frontier for $109.
Also have Mountainsmith, Vortex, Indigo, and Kelty.

No frame packs that I could find. Maybe they are passe'? I bought a Kelty Tioga from them and a Lowe. Both are good packs.
I also buy packs at the thrift store. Kelty and Camptrails old standby's are very good. Got a US Army duffle bag with straps for $5. Could likely rig it to a packframe. It will hold a 10 man arctic tent. You might also look on Ebay. There are some businesses that sell at big discount there.


Unless you are mountaineering, or going off-trail; you can likely do just fine with a frame pack. They are much cooler to wear, and can take more weight.

Compared to 10lbs for some cordura Kifaru rig, you could likely buy a frame model and an internal framed one. Nice to have a Camelback or MSR Dromedary bag with bitewing valve for sipping as you pound the trail.


How about shoes? Even more important. I have some leather Raichle Mountaineering boots that have lasted me 15 years. Had some Vasques that were very comfortable and similarly tough.

More important to have good boots than a state-of-the-art backpack; since if your dogs are hurting, you won't be going anywhere.

Re: Anyone here ever use or currently own a Kifaru pack?
 

Someone, Kelty, I think, still has external packs, but they're getting rare. I saw ok reviews on Cabela's Alaska frame pack. Looked smart but maybe a little too foriegn-made, I haven't seen it in person.

Externals may carry more, but my legs won't. I've been happy with the new internals which are as tough as I need them to be, and carry just as much. A little more planning for wet/odd items, trouble with lashing external items if you add/remove the inside, but nothing show-stopping. If you're not off-trail you ought to have a bike/cart/atv anyway. Otherwise, why are you using a pack and walking?

Unfortunately, I haven't bought a pack in a while and don't know what names stand up. With everything made overseas it's hard to keep up on quality. One pack by some name may be twice as good as one from the same brand.

Since Kifaru has good ideas, I dont' see any problem with stitiching my own packs to do what they do: cheap external pockets, seats, that pod thing or whatever. I can use more appropriate materials and still get a pack $300 lighter.

TS