The One

Cpl Punishment

Cpl Punishment

Joined
Jan 28, 2006
Messages
7,035
We've all talked about the One Knife.

Well, I finally got my One Pack.

I got up the dough, and bought the Kifaru Zulu I'd been lusting over for some time now.

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It's the exact configuration I wanted: foliage green, unpadded PALS belt, and standard top lid.

Shown there, it has the MSS black bag and bivy, change of clothes, first aid kit, survival kit, shelter kit (8x10 tarp, 2 bungee cords, 100' 550 cord), water filter and enough food for a couple days. Everything I need for a weekender and it all fits inside. Not shown are two ACU canteen pouches that go on the belt until I can scratch up the dough for Kifaru Liter Plus pouches for Nalgenes.

I plan to get two long pockets or back pouches to put on the sides for the extra gear needed for winter, or if I want to carry a week's food or whatnot, and maybe a pod for the sleeping bag if I need a LOT more room in the main compartment.

What I love is this pack can go from a daypack size deal, or be expanded for canoe or expedition camping with a few add ons.

For grins, I loaded a bunch of 2 quart canteens in it (full), scaled it at 59 pounds, and did 12 miles with it on Saturday. It was very comfortable, with the weight on the hip belt and most of the force on the shoulder straps on the front of the shoulders. Since it doesn't have load lifters, all of the weight can't be taken off of the tops of the shoulders, but the Zulu handles it as well as this style pack can.

It was all I hoped it would be. This is one of those things that you drop the coin on and hope you didn't make a mistake. I didn't, it's exactly what I wanted.
 
Now that's a nice pack - and the knife strapped to the side ain't bad!
 
Well, for one, this is a 1st generation Zulu.

If you want one, Kifaru is showing they have a few left, but once they are gone, you'll have to buy one second hand or buy the 2nd generation (which I don't really like the G2 Zulu as much as the G1).

foxyrick said:
Now that's a nice pack - and the knife strapped to the side ain't bad!
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Yeah, Kifaru and Busse go together well.
 
Cool pack! Help educate me. What is the difference between a Kirafu and a Maxpedition? I can see that the Kirafu has a lot of webbing attached which would aid in durability as well as versatility. But there seems to be a rather large price difference and I am just curious why the big difference in cost. Thanks!
 
Kifaru uses actual Cordura, Maxpedition uses ballistic nylon.
Kifaru is made in the US (paying US wages), Maxpedition is made in Taiwan.

Overall Maxpedition makes some really tough stuff, but I'd put them a couple tiers below Kifaru. Especially when you get into the larger Kifaru packs like that MMR and EMR, there's few packs of any make that can match the suspension system. Those that do, don't cost a whole lot less than Kifaru.

ETA: Keep in mind, also, that although the Vulture II has about the same CI capacity as the Zulu, it's divided into two pockets. While good for organization, it's not so good if you have something large you'd like to put in. Also, the Zulu has a snow collar that can be expanded into and adds about 1,000 CI of space in the main compartment. There's also 3 external pockets. The length and width of each side and one across the entire front panel.

And while the Vulture is Maxpedition's biggest pack, teh Zulu is int he middle of Kifaru's offerings, so brand-wise, Kifaru offers more versatility in its product line.
 
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CP, I've been going back and forth on which Kifaru to get: smaller, like XRay, with external pockets added or removed depending on intended use, or just go bigger like you did from the start.

What made you decide to get the size you did?
 
XMP said:
CP, I've been going back and forth on which Kifaru to get: smaller, like XRay, with external pockets added or removed depending on intended use, or just go bigger like you did from the start.

What made you decide to get the size you did?
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+1, been wondering the same thing, since I've been looking at the Zulu and X-ray too.
 
That looks about the ideal pack. You have any photos with you wearing it to judge how it sits on your back? It reminds me a lot of a tactical version of my pack, minus the small removable pack on the front.

One single large compartment is the best, most solid design IMHO. Not much to break or go wrong, no zippers involved in the opening and closing.

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XMP said:
CP, I've been going back and forth on which Kifaru to get: smaller, like XRay, with external pockets added or removed depending on intended use, or just go bigger like you did from the start.

What made you decide to get the size you did?
Click to expand...

I chose it mostly on features: no zippers, especially holding the bottom on,. top loader (don't like panel loaders -- zippers again), can be used with or without a belt.
Then size-wise, I put together all the gear I take all the time, the couple different things I'd add to make it a true three season bag, and put it together, measured, and picked the bag that would hold it all inside. I actually had to call Kifaru and get dimensions on the bag, as volumetric measurements don't help unless I know the geometry.

The fact that you can extend the snow collar for an additional 1000 cubes, and add outer pouches to make it a 4-season bag, plus the three slot pockets are all cake.

Truth be told, I probably would have gone a bit larger with the ZXR if it didn't have the bottom zipper. But having got the Zulu, I can say the ZXR would have been too big to work well the way I want.
 
if you dont mind in the future would you do an extended review? ive heard great things about the products kifaru makes but ive never gotten a chance to handle them. right now im lust after a tt enhanced 3 day pack but later down the road i really want to get one of the kifaru rucks.

looks beautiful btw.
 
Good for you, I just got a max pygmy falcon2, it's me one pack.

I haven't found that one knife yet though...
 
I'll do an extended review when I've had it more than 4 days. . .LOL.

Yep, the 59 pounds was strictly to see how it handled the weight. The suspension isn't as robust as the MMR or EMR, and I wanted to see just how "bad" it got.
My usual 3-season load for a weekend is 28 pounds (weighed in the new Kifaru bag), including food and a gallon of water.
 
CP, thanks for the explanation that helps. I'm not a big fan of panel loaders either, and the slot pockets are a big plus. I just am not sure if I want to go this big. I'll be looking forward to an extended review from you after you've had it a bit.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
I'll do an extended review when I've had it more than 4 days. . .LOL.
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How long did you have to wait from order to receipt Cpl? I remember you obsessing over the Zulu around when I first joined and was researching a new pack, sometime late last year.
 
Nice pack brother! We have the same taste!

If you guys are looking for a review on this pack. Look at the Kifaru site and you'll find one that I wrote featured on the Zulu pack page.

As CPL points out, you really get what you pay for with this one. It is my #1 ruck too. Can't say anything bad about it. 60 plus pounds is a cake walk with it!
 
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