Kifaru, Eberlestock - have both but which to keep or trade away?

[tiogatires]

I recently bought a brand new Eberlestock Halftrack with chest pouch in ranger green. I also just did some trading and picked up an od green kifaru Zulu with XML lid and load chair. They will both serve the same purpose for me personally so now I need to decide which to keep and which to let go. The Kifaru is simply awesome. Extremely overbuilt and rugged with room to expand. The eberlestock is a front loader with no real expansion besides exterior molle pouches.

I'm having a tough time deciding what to do here. Do I keep them both? Do I post a trade or sale here in the forums? If I keep just one, which one?

 

[ceylonc]

A lot is going to come down to your personal preferences in a pack, along with specific needs & applications. Both Eberlestock & Kifaru build a nice pack, and the Halftrack & Zulu are two models that are well regarded for durability, innovative layout, and load comfort. What in particular is most imporant TO YOU with regard to pack features. Do you want expansion capabilities, light empty weight, etc? From there, you can evaluate the pros & cons of each model and decide which is best for you.

Bottom line, whichever one you decide to sell will be snatched up quickly by somebody here!

 

[desmobob]

If it was me, I'd keep and use them both until I knew from experience which was my favorite. You might even find out each one excels at some mission-specific use and decide to keep them both. Don't be hasty! Either would sell easily, even if used.

Stay sharp,
desmobob

 

[Flatsman007]

If it was me, I'd keep and use them both until I knew from experience which was my favorite. You might even find out each one excels at some mission-specific use and decide to keep them both. Don't be hasty! Either would sell easily, even if used.

Stay sharp,
desmobob

^^^^^^ Ditto..... Well put.

 

[foxyrick]

I have both and consider them to be quite different in load capacity and use. My Zulu is the older G1 model, if you have a G2 then the difference is even more pronounced.

Until I got the Halftrack recently, the Zulu has served when I needed something bigger than an average daysack. It is much too capacious in that role really though, and the top-loading sack is not so convenient for rapid access to random gear. The Zulu is a great sack for longer trips though, like several days on the hills (or longer) and hauling all of my climbing and abseiling gear.

The Halftrack suits the role of 'big' daysack or overnighter much better for me, and has the benefit of easy access through the full panel. With the addition of a few ATS pouches on the hip belt it still takes a substantial load, but nothing like the Zulu can.

Short answer: you need both!