Pack preferences

S

SleepRocks

Joined
Sep 29, 2012
Messages
34
I do like having packs that are a bit "tactical" (i hate saying that word), using molle pouches and accessories are great for certain items that you need to get to faster than others. My bk16 molles great to my maxpedition 12X6 bottle holder. It makes a great car kit. But man i love waxed canvas, old-school rucksacks like the frost river or Duluth packs. I guess it all depends on the situation. Any of you BeckerHeads go the old-school route with waxed canvas packs? or do you go Tacticool? I have also used a canvas swag tent for about 2 years and it cant be beat,,,heavy though
 
I edc a 5.11 Tactical Rush24. I like it for a daily pack that has room for all the stuff I might need during the day and then some more to get some groceries home. Its construction is bombproof and very well thought out, it carries comfortably enough even at 40 lbs. Sometimes I use it for weekend trips. I like the MOLLE webbing for attaching stuff, for example my axe when I'm out in the woods or my tripod when I'm taking photos.

I do like old bags and packs for the woods, though. I have an old swiss military backpack, like the one on the right:

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This one is packed like crap, though. Mine always looks a lot better, I'll take some pics when I get a chance to load it up sometime
 
I got a maxpedition sitka gearslinger for quick day hikesa and a 5.11 rush 72 for >1day in the woods.
 
I just got a good deal on a Marpat assault pack but have not used it yet. I would like a sitka some day. My Camelpak has been good for up to two days.
 
I love my Kelty Strike 2300 and Hellcat ALICE, but I like canvas & leather too. I've been using this Goertzen lately and really like it. It has some features like a bladder pocket, etc..


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Well i have a mexped jumbo versipak that i use for edc. It holds my glock 22, 2 mags, flashlite, and wutever else i mite need or want to cram in it. I like it a lot because even tho it is smal you can still add extra pouches if needed or attach a tweener size knife to it. I use an old school external frame for long hauls which has worked great for me. After the first of the year i am gonna upgrade to a Mystery Ranch pack with the NICE fram system. They are awesome packs IMO. Ive never owned or used a waxed cotton or leather pack before.
 
I have my Maxped Fatboy GTG for my around town/EDC, a Condor 10x4 with a few MOLLE pouches for day hikes and scouting and a USGI MOLLE 3-Day Assault Pck for hunting or staying out for a few days. (which I got used off the bay in ex. condition for 25 + 10 shipping----I would LOVE a Frost River Isle Royal pack, though if I wasnt poor and they werent over 300 (which I find ridiculous for a canvas backpack) I made a cool set of quick-detach MOLLE straps I use to attach my 10x4 to my Assault Pack. When I want to detach it I just give one quick pull on the straps and it comes right off the pack (sure beats having to undo the molle straps)
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Sometimes I rotate my Mystery Ranch 3day tri-zip in on hikes. It's a great pack, very comfortable!.

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My everyday pack though, is a Kelty MAP3500. I love this pack above all else! It's my go to ruck.


http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/985830-My-MAP-3500-(Review)

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For anything week long or more I go with my Gregory UM21. I've only actually packed it a couple times longer than 15 miles. Even with 80 + pounds, it's a Cadillac.
 
I really like that Kelty map3500-I have been thinking about eventually upgrading my pack to something like that--I find that the ACU pack stands out way more than I want it to.--I was looking at that Kelty and the Snugpak Sleeka Force 35--anyone have experience with both of those?
 
I have a Maxpedition Sitka but I hate it...Really uncomfortable and it swings like crazy when your moving around. Looking to get a 5.11 COVRT 18 as a replacement but they seem to be out of stock everywhere.
 
I prefer External frame packs and like Alice/Molle webbing. My main backpacking pack is a vintage American Camper with an extra long external frame. The nylon belts of yesterday never worked for me, so I replaced it with a new Molle II Kidney pad. It's so comfy and the pack only weights about 3.5 to 3.75 pounds empty. The Molle webbing on the kidney pad is nice, I keep a Molle II GP/Canteen pouch on the left side and small items on the right [Multitool, Flashlight,....].

My old Medium Alice pack with frame works great as a day pack and over night pack. I like all the Alice webbing and pass through pockets that is has. My FAK, head lamp and a machete get attached to the out side. For Winter camping I have a Blackhawk SOF Ruck Pack Kit w/Molle II Kidney pad. It's essentially a modern Large Alice pack that holds 6000 C.I. thats made from 1000D nylon. It's practically bomb proof, but heavy!

Every once in a while I consider buying a New modern Internal frame pack. But I always come back to my External packs. If someone made a Waxed Canvas pack that attached to the standard Aluminum backpacking frames, I'd consider it.
 
I'm strongly considering a Kifaru hauler. For years I've had to pack and unpack too much gear to get to what I need, while on the trail. The hauler can be mated with external pockets and some internal pockets, but all the larger gear would get to stay cinched down inside the main area. These packs allow one to carry different types of items, jerry cans, fire wood, chainsaws, animals, people, etc..

Anyone have experience with these type of packs? Granit Gear has a couple as well, I'm sure other companies make a similar style pack too.

Here's a pic of a Kifaru hauler....

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foxx said:
I'm strongly considering a Kifaru hauler. For years I've had to pack and unpack too much gear to get to what I need, while on the trail. The hauler can be mated with external pockets and some internal pockets, but all the larger gear would get to stay cinched down inside the main area. These packs allow one to carry different types of items, jerry cans, fire wood, chainsaws, animals, people, etc..

Anyone have experience with these type of packs? Granit Gear has a couple as well, I'm sure other companies make a similar style pack too.

Here's a pic of a Kifaru hauler....

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Kelty has one called the Cache Hauler. You can buy it frame only or with a pack.

On another forum, I saw someone who used a Frame like the one you posted. They kept gear in stuff sacks which were lashed to said frame. Having that option is one of the reasons why I prefer external frame packs. Being able to lash things to the frame is always nice.
 
same here, it depends on what i want to do - play with lots of knives then i use my kifaru zxr (around 7 lbs empty :eek:).

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if i feel like going ultralight then i use my kifaru ku3700 (2 lbs 9 oz but still rated at 70+ lbs loadout :D).

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Just bought one of these used - Lowe Alpine Sting. Should be here next week, I am pretty stoked. :D

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On the topic of canvas bags, I would avoid the LL Bean Continental. I owned one, and it ended up tearing part of the lid. I returned it for a replacement and they just refunded my money, and I didnt order another one. It looks neat, but thats about it. The "waxed canvas" is incredibly thin, and the leather straps were a joke. I had thought about replacing the straps and such with my own leather, but it just isnt worth it. If you want a canvas pack for what they are really meant for - durability - then get a Frost River or something. If you want it just for looks, then by all means go and get one. But in opinion, it just isn't built solid enough...
 
I have a Rush24 and a Kelty Redwing 41 which I alternate on daytrips. Right now I am seriously thinking of getting either the Kifaru Marauder or Eberlestock Halftrack as my next pack.
 
Well, I placed an order for a Kifaru hauler with a cargo panel. I'll have to decide on which "bags" I'll get to attach to the inside, and find myself a nice drybag for clothes and my Woobie.
I like the idea of this setup, it's something different than my current pack, which is a single compartment internal frame backpack. I chose the tactical version because it has MOLLE on the back of the cargo panel, I can attach a small axe/hatchet/hawk and I can also carry my Predator tools Hercules shovel.
I may find it to be annoying to have to access all the straps, OTOH I have to dig through the big compartment to find anything now, unpack, repack, etc..
 
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