Hog packs

[Fallbrook Forge]

Kifaru Zulu, never should have let that one go.
Eagle MOLLE Becker patrol pack, same
Eagle AIII/TAG chaos

 

[Bigfattyt]

The bag that gets carried the most is a maxpedition mongo.

Maxpedition Mongo (with two tag-a-longs).

You can just see it peaking out here.

 

[TrailWolf]

Kifaru fan here.

Kifaru E&E with X-Ray shoulder straps for EDC and Kifaru Molle Express for hiking/camping.

(Oscar as a puppy and my E&E )

Molle Express - I have Long Pockets, 2-Quarts and Pods to outfit as I need it:
Sloppy pack job:

 

[HDBeav]

Another Kifaru E&E, the contents get switched out from time to time. I have a Maxped roll pouch on the side for hat and gloves / pbj or whatever.

An ACU Molle II stays in the car with warmer clothes and survival gear.

I like the Rush pack and would like to handle one. Be sure to post your thoughts after you get it loaded:thumbup:

 

[AZTimT]

I'm seriously still shopping for the right pack my self which is quite a chore, but the very first thing that came to mind when I read the thread title was this.

 

[Dunner]

Mystery Ranch (MR). Hands down in my opinion. I have a black Three Day Assault (2000 CI) pack with a laptop carrier stitched in (by Mystery Ranch... AND it can be removed with two zippers) for around town/carry on. It doesn't look too military.

I have a MR Dragon Slayer (2200 CI) in Multi-Cam for day trips and light overnighters.

MR Big Horn (2900 CI) for heavier day trips and weekends out.

The above three packs all use their tri-zip design which allows easy access to ALL of the packs contents.

MR Longhorn (2900 CI; discontinued) for a dedicated SAR pack (Top loader with a "waterproof" bag type horns that you buckle together over the top.

MR BDSB in Foliage (Big D's Special Blend; similar to current Kodiak @7400 CI) for HEAVY trips. Never been used yet LOL.

The owner, Dana Gleason is the genius behind Dana Designs packs from back in the day. He has an phenomenal understanding of how the body carries a load. Packs are stitched up in Bozeman, Montana still and they make packs that carry AMAZINGLY well. They use 500D Cordura mostly because it is lighter, will absorb/carry less water when wet and offers significantly better hold at the seams because there are more fibers for the stitching to hold which is usually where packs are going to fail. They acknowledge that 1000 Cordura is superior in abrasion resistance and use it in limited applications. How many times have you worn through pack cloth?

I love Kifaru packs too. I have owned 5 Kifaru packs and sold them all so I could get one more Mystery Ranch pack. You won't ever be able to pry my Woobie out of my hands however!

 

[reddawn]

maxpedition falcon 2:thumbup:

[/IMG]

 

[AZTimT]

Mystery Ranch (MR). Hands down in my opinion. I have a black Three Day Assault (2000 CI) pack with a laptop carrier stitched in (by Mystery Ranch... AND it can be removed with two zippers) for around town/carry on. It doesn't look too military.

I have a MR Dragon Slayer (2200 CI) in Multi-Cam for day trips and light overnighters.

MR Big Horn (2900 CI) for heavier day trips and weekends out.

The above three packs all use their tri-zip design which allows easy access to ALL of the packs contents.

MR Longhorn (2900 CI; discontinued) for a dedicated SAR pack (Top loader with a "waterproof" bag type horns that you buckle together over the top.

MR BDSB in Foliage (Big D's Special Blend; similar to current Kodiak @7400 CI) for HEAVY trips. Never been used yet LOL.

The owner, Dana Gleason is the genius behind Dana Designs packs from back in the day. He has an phenomenal understanding of how the body carries a load. Packs are stitched up in Bozeman, Montana still and they make packs that carry AMAZINGLY well. They use 500D Cordura mostly because it is lighter, will absorb/carry less water when wet and offers significantly better hold at the seams because there are more fibers for the stitching to hold which is usually where packs are going to fail. They acknowledge that 1000 Cordura is superior in abrasion resistance and use it in limited applications. How many times have you worn through pack cloth?

I love Kifaru packs too. I have owned 5 Kifaru packs and sold them all so I could get one more Mystery Ranch pack. You won't ever be able to pry my Woobie out of my hands however!

Very, very good info and thank you kind sir for pointing me in the direction of another Montana made product! :thumbup: I remember hearing about Dana Design a ways back so I will definitely be researching this more.

 

[I'mGatMan!]

Hey Ty, long time no see!

I currently have a Maxpedition Pygmy Falcon II and a TADGear Fastpack lightspeed. No competition; the TAD pack is WAY nicer. It has so many well-designed ammenities, from grommets at the bottom to let water out, to MOLLE everywhere, a nice waist belt, and very useful compression straps with a retention system to stow extra length not being used. On top of that, it's made in the USA.

 

[Bigfattyt]

I am actually going to be in the market some time soon for another bigger weekend or week long pack.

Not sure how I am going to convince the wife I need another one, as the hole in my generic Kelty pack is not that bad, and not in an area that affects the pack's integrity.

But I do need a bigger pack that is better designed for a fat, long torso like mine.

52 inch waste. 32 inch inseam, and 6'1" tall. Odd measurements to fit a pack to.

 

[joshuabl]

camelbak HAWG for me. Yep. This thing must have been made to haul my infi with a name like that. I carry my KZ2 in it daily, so pretty good size pack.

 

[Oku]

Semper Paratus Tactical's 3-day/Assault pack.

1000d cordura, configurable compression panel(s), plenty of MOLLE for adding accessory pouches (also available), sculpted shoulder straps, padded outer pockets, hydration sleeve with dual ports, "drag handle" and built like a tank by one of our own... Everything you need and nothing you don't with room to add those "extras" you discover you needed but didn't have "the first time".

I've had mine for over 7 years, have taken it everywhere (including multiple trips to blade as a "steel/INFI/Kydex" hauler) and it still doesn't show appreciable wear. I know Randucci (not CloneDucci, Fakeducci, the REALDucci mind you) has one as well.

 

[randucci]

Semper Paratus Tactical's 3-day/Assault pack.

1000d cordura, configurable compression panel(s), plenty of MOLLE for adding accessory pouches (also available), sculpted shoulder straps, padded outer pockets, hydration sleeve with dual ports, "drag handle" and built like a tank by one of our own... Everything you need and nothing you don't with room to add those "extras" you discover you needed but didn't have "the first time".

I've had mine for over 7 years, have taken it everywhere (including multiple trips to blade as a "steel/INFI/Kydex" hauler) and it still doesn't show appreciable wear. I know Randucci (not CloneDucci, Fakeducci, the REALDucci mind you) has one as well.

.

Right on, I have had mine about as long, I know Brian has had his longer, but it seems like I have had it forever. It has been to Australia, France, Italy, Spain and Blade every year. It is always my carry on and seems to fit everything I need plus some. Like Brian said, even though it has been around the world, it shows no wear, no fading, no fraying, nothing has broke, probably will never need another pack.


.

 

[mymindisamob]

Semper Paratus Tactical's 3-day/Assault pack.

1000d cordura, configurable compression panel(s), plenty of MOLLE for adding accessory pouches (also available), sculpted shoulder straps, padded outer pockets, hydration sleeve with dual ports, "drag handle" and built like a tank by one of our own... Everything you need and nothing you don't with room to add those "extras" you discover you needed but didn't have "the first time".

I've had mine for over 7 years, have taken it everywhere (including multiple trips to blade as a "steel/INFI/Kydex" hauler) and it still doesn't show appreciable wear. I know Randucci (not CloneDucci, Fakeducci, the REALDucci mind you) has one as well.

.

Right on, I have had mine about as long, I know Brian has had his longer, but it seems like I have had it forever. It has been to Australia, France, Italy, Spain and Blade every year. It is always my carry on and seems to fit everything I need plus some. Like Brian said, even though it has been around the world, it shows no wear, no fading, no fraying, nothing has broke, probably will never need another pack.


.

Just checked his (Semper Paratus) site. Too bad he doesn't have anything but sheathes listed anymore.

 

[Last Visible Canary]

I tried the rush series and absolutely hated the pocket structure. I don't like pockets that are flush with the outer shell, taking up internal space or creating a tapered pocket.

Right now I'm using
edc - maxpedition lunada (stuffed to the brim)
school/day to day - maxpedition condor 2
Computer - maxpedition BALTHAZAR
Storage - Maxpedition duffels (all 3 sizes)
Medical bag - maratac extreme range bag (from countycomm)
hiking - Mystery ranch Wolf Pack w/long pockets (from 4,200-7,000ci expandable) with a load sling



If I had the money, I'd LOVE to try out the Kifaru equivalents to everything I use. Unfortunately, that would make every bag in the 300-700$ range, where right now most of them are sub 150$. I would also like to get a set of SaddleBack leather gear to see how I like switching to heavy leather. Kifaru's issue for me may be the intense amount of additional strapping, and saddleback is extremely heavy without a lot of internal space. I'd still love to try them out to see how I like them. I love the idea of extreme modularity and a 100 year warranty.

I like maxpedition because they are mid ranged price, the nylon they use is weather resistance treated and feels stiffer and stronger than nearly all of the other brands of nylon I've tried (including 5.11). Their larger backpacks are, for me, not made well enough to load down. Their shoulder straps are a little to thin and to closely spaced together, but their smaller backpacks are good for between 20-40lb's. Anything more than that and you start wanting a frame and better straps.

I like the pocket system on most maxpeditions, especially the Lunada. I would love to find a bag that was as vertically orientated but with a bit more space, but also as many or more pockets and elastic loops. I carry a lot of small items like hand sanitizer, water purifying tablets, flashlights, etc that tend to just get lost in a single open pocket with no organization (kifaru).

I like mystery ranch because I like heavy padded waste belts, and I love the idea of extreme modularity. Kifaru does have multiple packs that can be interchanged between frames, but they have multiple frames. On the one hand that makes the frames better suited for the type of bag, but on the other hand it makes it very expensive to get them and they take up more storage space when not in use. I had a skiritai and the wolf pack and ended up selling the skiritai. It was a beautiful bag and I wish I didn't have to sell it, but I don't have the money or the space. With the wolf pack I can have 4200, 5100, 7000ci (alpha, alpha w/ long pockets, alpha long pockets and pup). I can also put the pup on at 1,900 and the load sling on the top position - I could carry whatever awkward load I needed to and still have 1,900ci of space at the bottom. While I tend to like over built heavy fabrics, I'm happy with the type of fabrics mystery ranches uses considering what they are used for.

The maratac extreme bag is pretty low quality but it does what I want. It's basically a big open bag with mesh on both sides that lest me load up enough medical supplies that I feel okay with my car kit.

 

[stjones]

Semper Paratus Tactical's 3-day/Assault pack.

1000d cordura, configurable compression panel(s), plenty of MOLLE for adding accessory pouches (also available), sculpted shoulder straps, padded outer pockets, hydration sleeve with dual ports, "drag handle" and built like a tank by one of our own... Everything you need and nothing you don't with room to add those "extras" you discover you needed but didn't have "the first time".

I've had mine for over 7 years, have taken it everywhere (including multiple trips to blade as a "steel/INFI/Kydex" hauler) and it still doesn't show appreciable wear. I know Randucci (not CloneDucci, Fakeducci, the REALDucci mind you) has one as well.

.
Right on, I have had mine about as long, I know Brian has had his longer, but it seems like I have had it forever. It has been to Australia, France, Italy, Spain and Blade every year. It is always my carry on and seems to fit everything I need plus some. Like Brian said, even though it has been around the world, it shows no wear, no fading, no fraying, nothing has broke, probably will never need another pack.



.

His sheaths are awesome quality and I have NEVER heard a complaint about them so I would think a pack made by him would be just as good.
Maybe you guys could post a pic a 2 dozen for us?
Thanks in advance.

 

[randucci]

Just checked his (Semper Paratus) site. Too bad he doesn't have anything but sheathes listed anymore.

.

I wouldn't take the "no listing" as he doesn't make them any longer, if you are interested in something, I would contact him. Oku (Brian) might step in and comment on if he is making packs still as he is in contact with Dan often. I would think that since Brian gave an endorsement, Dan is still making packs.

.

 

[Last Visible Canary]

For those asking for pics of a semper paratus pack, these are pics from thatmguy's thread from 2005. I can remove the links if needed. I do very much like the compression/suspension strap set up, as I've always thought the y-strap on maxpeditions was a terrible idea.

 

[Oku]

Just checked his (Semper Paratus) site. Too bad he doesn't have anything but sheathes listed anymore.

Throw him an e-mail. He's still in business and I just sent 2 of his packs and some pouches to Singapore (for a mutual customer).

I've been bugging him about his site for a month or so now and expect that he'll get it back up to date shortly.... The other issue of course is that he has a "day job" and cannot devote as many hours to SPT as he would like...plus I keep burying him in orders for drop loops

 

[oge14]

anybody use a tad litespeed? i'm looking for some daily use, but mostly for carring my knives. i like the slim look of it. $250 is a little steep for me though.