review: kifaru g2 zxr backpack.

[Cpl Punishment]

kifaru "organizer". nothing really special here, just a way for me to store my firesteel, tinder, bandanna, etc. on the outside but not on the top lid.

one thing to note is that the zippers on the organizer looks to be "standard" size, not the beefy ones found in the long pocket and zxr. i guess they don't go overkill just for the sake of going overkill on stuff. the organizer is only an inch thick so it's hard to put anything inside it that'll weigh enough to really stress the zippers anyway.

one thing i want to change on it is i wish it had more molle webbing on the outside instead of that female velcro. i know, i know...molle webbing = tacticool but i really don't care what others think. if it meets a legitimate need then i'm fine with it. one thing is i can't add another pouch to it and toss the whole thing inside the main compartment and keep them together.

I got their G2 Claymore pouch to do that duty. It has the same internal pocket layout as the Organizer, but is 4" thick. I put a bandanna, "survival kit", fire kit, maps & compass, wild edibles fieldbook, Rite in the Rain notebook, and the extra room in the center is enough to carry my first aid kit and poncho. I either attach it to the top of my standard lid (in lieu of the XTL lid, put it in the pack when I'm not stuffing the pack full. I also bought the Kifaru shoulder sling to go with it, so when I establish a camp, I can sling it over one shoulder, a canteen over the other and do dayhikes around the camp area.

 

[JV3]

As for shelters, I have a 8man, sawtooth, paratipi, and my "go to" supertarp. Really hard to beat the supertarp for a shelter due to packed weight and size.

those pants remind me of mc hammer/parachute pants

i'll probably get the superhootch and the stove for next winter. any experience with the woobie & doobie? i'm thinking of getting the woobie in place of a 40 degree bag in the early spring and fall camp outs.

 

[Bladite]

i've been poking a the kifaru website, but i find it very cluttered and hard to navigate. someday

 

[HandofCod]

To the OP, great review! I've been trying to find detailed images of Kifaru packs too!

 

[JV3]

i've been poking a the kifaru website, but i find it very cluttered and hard to navigate. someday

i agree...their forum isn't much help too but i just lurked though instead of asking specific questions. i ended up narrowing it down to the minimum capacity i was looking for and i had to have a drawstring top (instead of a zippered main compartment). that helped big time in narrowing it down and i just clicked on just about anything kifaru-related google threw at me...it still took me months of research though.

To the OP, great review! I've been trying to find detailed images of Kifaru packs too!

thanks! let me know if you want to see detailed pics/measurements of any part of it. also, militarymoron.com has a lot of pics too (although those are the gen 1 packs). just search for kifaru on his main page and it'll show you the 10 or so kifaru product reviews that he has there.

also, zombiehunters.org seems to have a lot of kifaru users since google images returns a lot of pics from that site.

 

[Brian Sargent]

Thanks for the great review. I'm sold. I'll be ordering one in Coyote when the tax return shows up in a couple of days. I've been looking for a heavy duty quality pack this size. I believe you when you say that you spent months researching. I use an Arc'Teryx right now that is great but I want a little more room. One feature of the zxr that I really like are the three long pockets between the inner and outer layers. I'll be using it for hunting and off trail adventures that seem to tear up some light weight packs that I've had in the past.

 

[JV3]

Thanks for the great review. I'm sold. I'll be ordering one in Coyote when the tax return shows up in a couple of days. I've been looking for a heavy duty quality pack this size. I believe you when you say that you spent months researching. I use an Arc'Teryx right now that is great but I want a little more room. One feature of the zxr that I really like are the three long pockets between the inner and outer layers. I'll be using it for hunting and off trail adventures that seem to tear up some light weight packs that I've had in the past.

you're welcome! let me know if you want any more detailed pics of any part of it. i took it out last friday and loaded it up with 50 lbs (see my post on the w&ss sub-forum) and since it's wider than my north face pack, the zxr still didn't stick up much from my shoulder whereas the north face is pretty much up to my ear level when equally loaded. navigating through thick brush is easier with the zxr since less of it sticks out to snag on low-hanging branches.

 

[JV3]

more kifaru goodness...this time an "xtl" (extreme top lid) and padded shoulder strap. i've actually had it for a couple of months. i waited to use it extensively before doing a review and add it on here. first of, i'd like to say thank you very much to "lmt66" for the xtl and the padded shoulder strap! lmt66 asked me one or two basic questions about my zxr after i posted this thread which only took me less than a minute to type out the reply and he then proceeded to ask me for my address. he wanted to send me a little something as a thank you...what did i get? this xtl and strap - it goes for $116 and $20, respectively...all for free

the xtl is an optional top lid for the zxr (and a few other kifaru packs)...more details here: https://kifaru.net/XTL.html.

it's my edc actually - contains my bare bones urban survival kit. it's a nice reminder actually that there are some really generous people out there and i try to do the same whenever i can

the back contains another zippered compartment - perfect for stowing my wallet and folder.

pretty damn roomy...the main compartment can carry the jetboil flash, a 32 oz nalgene bottle, a jetboil 230g fuel canister and still enough room for a fire kit and a couple of energy bars. for absolute security for those who don't trust zippers, there's a pair of compression straps too.

the optional xtl on the left and the standard top lid on the right.

the standard top lid on the zxr.

the optional xtl on the zxr.

the padded shoulder strap. the underside also has this non-slip rubber material.

when out hiking i pair the shoulder strap along with one of my long pockets.

on overnighters i can leave my main pack in the base camp and go gather firewood and whatnot.

this way, i'll always have the bare bones kit with me at all times...well almost, i forgot to include my all important flask containing maker's mark in the pic, damnit!

when i get back to camp, four quick snaps and my load out is complete again without fuss.

by the way, for an update i've pushed the zxr's capacity to the max at least 3 times now and those times it carried close to 50 lbs (it's been on numerous day hikes as well with around the 25 lbs mark including water). the next day for sure my legs were sore (let's face it, 50 lbs is 50 lbs...it's going to be painful no matter how you carry it) but my lower back and shoulders were perfectly fine...unless someone loans me a new pack for testing, i highly doubt i'd try any other pack other than kifaru...i'll be sure to update you guys if i find anything worth updating.

 

[crossada]

Awesome LMT66:thumbup:

 

[ROCK6]

Great review JV3! I have a G1 Zulu and love it. It's great for a patrol/3-day pack, but I always have to grab the EMR when I want to do any extended trips. The EMR was the bomb when I was carry the majority of backpacking gear for the family of four...now that they are older and have their own packs, the ZXR would be a great in-between. Excellent job on the review of features and it's always good to get some action shots. Kifaru's modularity is outstanding and despite their overbuilt packs and excessive weight, they are built to withstand off-trail abuse/use.

ROCK6

 

[JV3]

Great review JV3! I have a G1 Zulu and love it. It's great for a patrol/3-day pack, but I always have to grab the EMR when I want to do any extended trips. The EMR was the bomb when I was carry the majority of backpacking gear for the family of four...now that they are older and have their own packs, the ZXR would be a great in-between. Excellent job on the review of features and it's always good to get some action shots. Kifaru's modularity is outstanding and despite their overbuilt packs and excessive weight, they are built to withstand off-trail abuse/use.

ROCK6

thanks! here's some more in-the-field shots from a recent trip...handled 60+ lbs like a champ.

 

[crossada]

Hey JV3 any reason you chose black for your Kifaru? All my Kifaru gear is black too but most people seem to go with foilage or multicam. I have found it does show dirt a bit more but is easy to wipe off. I chose black on my Xray because I thought it looked better for an edc bag plus I do some biking with it too.

 

[JV3]

Hey JV3 any reason you chose black for your Kifaru? All my Kifaru gear is black too but most people seem to go with foilage or multicam. I have found it does show dirt a bit more but is easy to wipe off. I chose black on my Xray because I thought it looked better for an edc bag plus I do some biking with it too.

black is my favorite color. my cars are all black inside and out. what kind of bike do you have? when i bought my mountain bike and road bike the first research i made was which models came in black, only then did i narrow it down to the price range strange though that i don't own that many black clothes so i'm not a goth or into heavy metal music.

 

[on_the_edge]

JV3, I have not seen this thread until now. It has been said before, but I want to reiterate that this is a very excellent review!!! Thanks for all the great information and your efforts.

 

[crossada]

Me too:thumbup: I got a Specialized Hardrock XC. Nothing fancy but does a good job on the bike trails around here in a light weight package. The trails I ride seem to be either blacktop or that crushed gravel on some of the old railroad paths.

 

[fmajor007]

Great review on a really nice pack!!!

Looks like it will do just about whatever configuration you'd need, though at nearly 7lbs for a 5,200 cu.in pack it's ghastly heavy. Also, the "sapa 60-61 t6511" references 6061 aluminum for the stays - on a $500+ pack i'd expect 7075 aircraft grade. I'm surprised at Kifaru's use of this lower-grade material in a top-shelf-priced pack.

Otherwise, it looks like a well-executed, intelligently designed pack and Made in America - a *definite* plus!!!

 

[crossada]

Are you sure 7075 aircraft grade would still be bendable? I know as is you can conform the stays for individual fit.

 

[fmajor007]

Yup, the 7075 is still shape-able, though not as easily as 6061, but it's far stronger and keeps it's shape much better.

My 15-year-old Gregory Denali Pro pack has 7075 stays and they can be moldable to match individual spine curvature - this is a long-time, pack-industry standard for high quality. Nothing new. Incidently, most manufacturers avoid carbon-fiber in packs because once CF fails, it fails completely and is difficult to replace (the material shards/slivers making it difficult to remove the broken component).

IME, 6061 is an OK aluminum for pack stays and found in mid-grade packs, but in packs of the price range the Kifaru is asking i expect the best materials throughout. Pack stays are *foundational* components in a pack - along with the pack-sheet, hip/shoulder pads, sack-fabric, zippers and sewing materials/quality/accuracy (not to mention all the quick-release/adjustment buckles and material for them, whether or not there are exposed, raw fabric edges, etc).

IIRC, the founder of Kifaru also founded Mountain Smith? If that's true, Mountain Smith originally had good packs (not excellent - they were always mid-range gear), but their quality control (both in terms of assembly and quality of materials) went down hill really fast - i fortunately avoided them. Nowadays, Mountain Smith is still a glitzy mid-range brand, but looking for the higher-price point and again, i avoid. They do have some nifty, cool designs, but nifty/cool does not equal high quality which is easier in small capacity packs/bags.

Incidently, the use of 7-strand 550 cord isn't necessarily attention to detail. 550 paracord (and cordage in general) is among the *cheapest* materials in pack construction. Things start getting expensive when top-quality sack material, 7075 aluminum stays, *excellent* padding (shoulders/hip/lumbar) and, believe it or not, *excellent* sewing (top-notch thread is much more expensive b/c of quantity of thread used as well as being nylon or 100% polyester and highly-skilled sewing comes at a higher price).

 

[JV3]

JV3, I have not seen this thread until now. It has been said before, but I want to reiterate that this is a very excellent review!!! Thanks for all the great information and your efforts.

you're welcome!

Me too:thumbup: I got a Specialized Hardrock XC. Nothing fancy but does a good job on the bike trails around here in a light weight package. The trails I ride seem to be either blacktop or that crushed gravel on some of the old railroad paths.

nice! a couple of my friends ride hardrock. when i'm not hiking i'm mtb'ng hence the gaps in my posting in the w&ss sub-forum. i like what someone else said - a mtb is a bushcrafter's mode of transportation.

Great review on a really nice pack!!!

Looks like it will do just about whatever configuration you'd need, though at nearly 7lbs for a 5,200 cu.in pack it's ghastly heavy. Also, the "sapa 60-61 t6511" references 6061 aluminum for the stays - on a $500+ pack i'd expect 7075 aircraft grade. I'm surprised at Kifaru's use of this lower-grade material in a top-shelf-priced pack.

Otherwise, it looks like a well-executed, intelligently designed pack and Made in America - a *definite* plus!!!

Yup, the 7075 is still shape-able, though not as easily as 6061, but it's far stronger and keeps it's shape much better.

My 15-year-old Gregory Denali Pro pack has 7075 stays and they can be moldable to match individual spine curvature - this is a long-time, pack-industry standard for high quality. Nothing new. Incidently, most manufacturers avoid carbon-fiber in packs because once CF fails, it fails completely and is difficult to replace (the material shards/slivers making it difficult to remove the broken component).

IME, 6061 is an OK aluminum for pack stays and found in mid-grade packs, but in packs of the price range the Kifaru is asking i expect the best materials throughout. Pack stays are *foundational* components in a pack - along with the pack-sheet, hip/shoulder pads, sack-fabric, zippers and sewing materials/quality/accuracy (not to mention all the quick-release/adjustment buckles and material for them, whether or not there are exposed, raw fabric edges, etc).

IIRC, the founder of Kifaru also founded Mountain Smith? If that's true, Mountain Smith originally had good packs (not excellent - they were always mid-range gear), but their quality control (both in terms of assembly and quality of materials) went down hill really fast - i fortunately avoided them. Nowadays, Mountain Smith is still a glitzy mid-range brand, but looking for the higher-price point and again, i avoid. They do have some nifty, cool designs, but nifty/cool does not equal high quality which is easier in small capacity packs/bags.

Incidently, the use of 7-strand 550 cord isn't necessarily attention to detail. 550 paracord (and cordage in general) is among the *cheapest* materials in pack construction. Things start getting expensive when top-quality sack material, 7075 aluminum stays, *excellent* padding (shoulders/hip/lumbar) and, believe it or not, *excellent* sewing (top-notch thread is much more expensive b/c of quantity of thread used as well as being nylon or 100% polyester and highly-skilled sewing comes at a higher price).

thanks! a couple of points:

1. it's covered in molle webbing and the main compartment is surrounded by 3 large compartments so it's practically double the materials. for a true 5,200 c.u. pack they have the ultralight version, weighing in at just under 3 lbs and it's still rated at 100+ lbs weight capacity. guys on the kifaru forum regularly show themselves hauling elk/moose/bear/etc. meat stuffed to the max - 7 lbs is hardly ghastly heavy for a pack capable of carrying that kinda load.

2. aluminum stays: i'm guessing that grade of aluminum meets their design spec/users' requirements. one thing i've learned is they overbuild stuff where it's needed, not just for the sake of doing it. okay, i admit i've dreamed of making a pack with the interior covered in molle too my 50+ lbs load out is puny in comparison to most kifaru users. they've abused these packs more than i care to ever do so i'm sure any bending/weaknesses would've been exposed by now (especially by competitors). arc'teryx uses 6061 stays too. not sure about osprey but they're not even that customizable. stays are just one part of the frame design like you mentioned - osprey doesn't even have a traditional looking frame.

3. $500 - comparable osprey, arc'teryx, mystery ranch, etc. models are right at that range too, or more. not sure about others but osprey (which i'm a big fan of too) are made in vietnam.

4. thanks for the info on carbon fiber! i was wondering about that but it makes sense about the shattering/repairing part.

5. yes, patrick smith founded mountainsmith before starting kifaru. no affiliation with either company (i wish i did though - employee discount!), just regurgitating what i read online like most folks

6. i'm happy they used 550 cord since it makes gutting it for field repairs easy. i don't want to fiddle with climbing spec rope if i just want a few strands for sewing. on the other hand they could've easily cut the corner and used a lesser cord and most folks wouldn't even notice but they didn't.

7. i'm surprised you didn't mention buckles another guy on another forum asked me so i figured i'd mention it here too. mine (i read that the g1 version is different) are made by national molding except the main waist buckle which is made by itw.

8. sewing quality - i'm up bright and early today to maximize day light for my last hike of this year. my pack weight for today is just under 25 lbs, i think i'll toss in a few more knives to bump it up to 30 lbs and will report back if the sewing gives out

 

[DrivebyTrucker]

I like overbuilt zippers. Do the zippers say YKK on them? I noticed most of my outdoor gear and clothing have zippers made by YKK.