Kifaru EMR Bag

R

RickJ

Joined
Mar 2, 2003
Messages
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I am thinking about getting a good Ruck, thinking of the Kifaru EMR Bag, I really don't like internal frame bags because they tend to sway when you walk, is this the case with this BAG? or does it fit to your body really well?

Any info on this bag would be great! Thanks.

RickJ
 
I've had a Kifaru EMR and it's a pretty big bag. I've had it loaded to over 100lbs. I've got to say it's one of the most comfortable packs with that much weight in it. The beauty is you can stabilze Kifaru packs to where you could run with them and they won't flop around on you.

Downsides are that they weigh (empty) more than most conventional packs and they do cost significantly more. My EMR is petty much for winter backpacking with the capacity. Another nice option is the piggy-backed Scout to give you break-away carrying capacity or for day-hikes from the base-camp.

ROCK6
 
Sir,

Thanks for the info, Yea I need something big enough that I can carry stuff for me, and two little Boys as well.

RickJ
 
RickJ said:
Sir,

Thanks for the info, Yea I need something big enough that I can carry stuff for me, and two little Boys as well.

RickJ
Click to expand...

Well, that's exactly how mine was used initially. Our first "big" backpacking trip was with me carrying about 80% of the gear for both the kids and my wife. That's another good reason to have to buy a big bag:D

Now honestly, there are some similar sized bags that do cost much less. Kifaru packs are overbuilt for a reason and trail backpacking is barely on the list. I've deployed with Kifaru packs (Scout and Zulu) to Iraq and they have literally taken a beating just from being thrown off of trucks, choppers/planes, ratcheted down, stepped on, pulled ,smashed, sat on...a ton of abuse and no issues. If you're willing to invest in a pack this expensive, make sure you use it as that's the only way you'll get your money out of it. Let use know what you decide on...

ETA...just saw you're Army as well, so you know what a pack can be exposed to. It's funny though, my son and daughter are almost as destructive as a what you'd see in a combat zone, so Kifaru was an investment for me in theater and on the home front:)

ROCK6
 
I don't have any experience with the EMR, but I used the Dana Designs Astralplane Overkill (before DD was bought by K2 and moved to Mexico and when it was still owned by Dana Gleason) when I was in the military and I've loaded it to well over a hundred pounds and it carried relatively comfortably for the amount of weight (more comfortably than any other pack I've carried with that much weight). It clings to your back like a scared baby monkey and you can adjust the weight easily from hips to shoulders and back, as needed. It also has 4 ways to get into the main pack, making it great for access. I've used it all over the world when guiding and it's held up to the tests of military use and alpine climbing. The Overkill version is 1000D cordura. It's a heavy beast, though.

I think they dropped the Astralplane, but still make the Terraplane, which is a smaller (still big) version.

Dana Gleason started Mystery Ranch backpacks and has this design in the G6000, G7000, CBMR's, NICE 6500, Kodiak and the Grizzly. With out without military flavors, if that's your Kool-aid.
 
not all internal-frame packs "sway" or move when you walk....

I got mine from http://www.mchalepacks.com/ and you can do a 360 degree jump/spin with it on and it doesn't budge. I only know because that's one of the demonstrations he does on his promotional DVD and just had to try it for myself once my pack came in. :D

Dan

p.s. I was very torn between getting a Kifaru and a McHale pack. They are both considered top-of-the-line alpine packs....can't go wrong with either. In the end, I prefered the hands-on, custom-pack approach at McHale.
 
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