OT:Kifaru,the Busse of Backpacks

shigawire4sure

shigawire4sure

Joined
Jul 16, 2007
Messages
1,019
This somewhat off topic but Im curious what you HOGS think.

Other than knives my biggest gear vice is by far packs. I have almost as many as I do knives.Gregory, Eagle, Mountainsmith, Blackhawk,TAD, Dana Designs, Timbuk2......I like mine TOUGH.
So I just ordered my first Kifaru(Zulu)as they have one of the best reputations in the business. For those that dont know these are made by Patrick Smith,the founder of Mountainsmith. I wont have it for a while(6-8 weeks,almost Busse time)as they are custom built to order. These are as tough as they come.All overbuilt to last forever with the toughest materials and craftsmanship.

So are there any HOGs here who own one and if so can comment?
 
Can you use it as a pry bar? :p

I love packs, but don't know anything about Kifarus. I'll be interested in the responses here.
 
I know a few guys that own some Kifaru equipment and love it. Top quality gear. Some other top quality packs that I have experience with are

Badlands - have 3 best warranty in the business. Will replace and fix for life.
Timberhawk - have 1 great packs
Eberlestock - Friend has
Myster Ranch - Friend has

And also have a Camelbak Striker and love it.

I was thinking about getting the Kifaru Gun Bearer.
 
Eberlestock are great packs as well.They all seem really large though.If I want to carry that much I usually go with a Denali or Robson Pro. I have Mystery ranch Nice frame I use with my spec-ops alice too. Really high quality.I have about 5 Camelbaks...best deal out there in my opinion. Ill have to check out Timberhawk. New to me.
 
I have a few Kifaru packs.

My biggest is an EMR, which is a monster that makes crazy heavy loads feel like plain old heavy loads. It is a very big bag, but it can be cinched down to accomodate smaller loads very well. This bag would be great for extended winter trips (or as the daddy bag that can carry the baby's and mommy's stuff when they get tired;)).

I too have a Zulu, which is my favorite small to mid sized pack. It can be used as a 2-3 day pack or longer with a few pockets attached. I have used this one as a carry-on bag on many flights (without attached pockets).

Both the EMR and the Zulu are very comfortable and built like tanks.

I also have several different pockets and pouches that attach to just about any pack with pals webbing. The E&E pack/pouch is my EDC bag. It can piggyback to either of the other bags. The gunbearer is way cool but I have only used it on one hunting day trip with the Zulu. It is a great piece of gear.

Kifarus are another bad addiction that I have been somewhat successful at keeping at bay. Thanks for bringing this up... I might just have to go and order another bag:mad: (maybe the X-ray or the Marauder:D)

They can be a little pricey, but not so bad for people that drop a few hundred or more for a knife on a regular basis.

Good luck!
 
Thanx man.Everyone Ive heard from has said the same things.BOMBPROOF(for a pack)Well my Zulu with all the trimmings cost $402 plus shipping..about what Id spend on a good knife. If all goes well I might endup with the scout too as a piggyback for the Zulu all though i have plenty of Molle/pals gear that can easily fit.
 
Almost pulled the trigger on this pack:

Kifaru MMR
http://www.kifaru.net/MGmmr.htm


In the end, went with a McHale Alpine instead (I'm a sucker for handmade/custom stuff :D)


But I still want to get the MMR....just.....later. :D

Dan
 
I had a Scout and it was the toughest light pack I have ever seen. In the end, it didn't suit me in size. The XRay is on my list though. The detail and workmanship is second to nothing I have ever used or seen.:thumbup:
 
I think the Kifaru Marauder is probably better but I went with ATS RAID pack this last year and think it will work well. The MOLLE loops on the inside of the pack would be really nice though. The ZULU will be perfect for 5-7 day trips in the wilderness.
 
Its good chit !!!!

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Besides addicated to knives, I too have a fetish in packs especially Kifaru. I just love the high quality and all the setup options you can imagine. I use the Marauder as a BOB medical bag with internal bags to separate items.

At home or out of town with my family I use the Pelican 1550 EMS case as medical kit with pretty much same content as my BOB.

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I managed to snag an Express off of the bay for a decent price. I have been very impressed with the quality, I hope to get it loaded up and get out this summer, but time will tell. I am not a big fan of the top and bottom loading though. I would like to get a Marauder as I like the wide open lay out. I may have to put my Express back on the bay and order a Marauder. The Kifaru is by far the nicest pack I have owned (Surplus ALICE, Blackhawk Patrol, Spec-Ops T.H.E. Pack). The one thing I can say for the Express is that it doesn't look as military as the rest of the line, it has more of a recreational type pack to it. Probably more sheeple friendly, if that matters in a pack.
 
Heres my Tad PS. I recently attended a small get together that Mel from Kifaru also attended and brought alot of Kifaru gear with him. After seeing what he had to offer Im thinking about getting an X-ray.

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I can completely relate; I love tough packs -- Dana Design, Lowe Alpine, Maxpedition, and even North Face. I too have had my eye on Kifaru, especially the Xray. Anyone have one of those?
 
I just received my second Kifaru, a ZXR which is SWEET! It's my new favorite pack and I bought it after MUCH deliberation. My other is just a Tailgunner I which is a very nice lumbar pack. I would say Mystery Ranch (from founder and former owner of Dana Design packs) is right there but with more of an emphasis on backpacking than military/hunting. I have 3 Mystery Ranch packs and they carry extremely well. I will say Kifaru IS the most bombproof all around but I don't know that they carry any better. Here in the wet Pacific Northwest it rains a LOT and the 1000 denier fabric used on all the Kifaru packs will carry more water than other pack cloth out there. It will carry the extra weight well though ;) Kifaru packs are heavy but you will not have to worry about it failing you that is for sure. Put it this way... Mystery Ranch gives me the confidence of an ASH1 LE and the Kifaru gives me the confidence of the ASH1 CG.
[Edited to add... another similar comparison is FBMLE vs FFBM. The FFBM being acknowledged as the toughest out there. We are talking about best of class in both cases IMO)

Kifaru is AMAZINGLY modular but will always look like a military pack.
Mystery Ranch is has it's heritage in backpacking as mentioned.

While I have ZERO doubt in Kifaru's products (I just blew a ton of dough on my new pack and feel great about my purchase), the MountainSmith legacy is not as strong it's offspring.
Comparing the ancestors of these two amazing pack companies can only be stated this way which I am sure you guys will appreciate...

Back in the day I could cut your MountainSmith pack in half with my Dana Design pack ;). Dana Designs packs back then would carry loads that would turn other internal frame packs into bean bags. While Dana Gleason of Mystery Ranch is still a genius in anatomical load bearing systems, Others appear to be right there and Kifaru packs will carry a staggering load very well also. Dana Designs was sold away years back and they are mainstream packs now with cheaper materials and overseas manufacture. Mystery Ranch is made in Bozeman, MT and Kifaru is made in Colorado. Attention to detail from both companies is remarkable. I am still finding features on my new Kifaru... it's AMAZING.

These days I would trust either of these packs under VERY tough conditions and I give the nod to Kifaru for toughness and making packs that are better suited for taking your Busse knife for a one, two or three walk in the woods (patrol packs). This is to say that I just like their small bags better than anything else out there, not that their large bags will leave you wanting in any way.

Just my two cents :D

Packs currently owned...

Dana Design Alpine 5000 ci
Mystery Ranch Kodiak 7000 ci
Mystery Ranch Big Sky +/- 3000 ci
Mystery Ranch Longhorn 2300 ci
Kifaru ZXR 3800 ci
Kifaru Tailgunner I 900 ci

My next pack will be another Kifaru most likely.
 
Well its good to see we have some pack HOGs here. As for the Mountainsmith/Dana design debate I have actually always prefered Gregory's Pro series for Really heavy loads.Seem to fit me better. The only Mountainsmith I currently own is a lumbar pack and have a Terraplane as well. Osprey is another good pack for light technical stuff.Lately(past7/8 years) Ive been pretty much sticking to top loaders though with MIL designs(Becker Patrol Pack being one fav).I really like modular designs,where my Mystery Ranch Nice frame comes in handy(Camelbak makes the NICE frame now so they have gotten a lot cheaper).
 
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