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Posted: 8/3/2026 8:43:23 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Aimless][Edited]
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Back when I was on a tear buying assault packs I didn't need I bought a bunch of Kifaru military packs. I usually bought them on sale in the less popular colors, like black and foliage. They've moved (can't blame them for getting out of Colorado) had several ownership changes. I guess the last owner or ceo quit and then was fired from the apparel company he took a job with. He was the guy in some "coyote stabbing video." I guess Rokslide has followed all that. Kifaru also wisely shifted to hunting packs. Anyway they (and everyone else) watered down their "fuck yeah" Esee style warranty to "our lifetime warranty means nothing really" My old pointmen pack has some fraying of the threads on the molle loops so I asked them about repairs. I also bought a pocket tonight and was disappointed to see another $4 charge they tried to charge me to insure the package they were shipping me and allow a 30 day return. My wife did buy me two of their little packs over the past couple of years and I used one a bit over the past couple of weeks. I'll post some photos when it gets light out. It is a neat, well thought out pack. |
 Back in the day, it was largely a toss-up between Mystery Ranch and Kifaru. I went the Mystery Ranch route. I've got one of their sleeping bags, one of their woobies, and some of their stuff sacks from back in their prime days. Good stuff. The sleeping bag is probably the nicest synthetic bag I've played around with. (Other than Wiggy's, but the lightweight Kifaru and the THICC Wiggy's stuff are different beasts) |
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Originally Posted By TxRabbitBane: My kifaru blanket has travelled with me many miles, but it’s about worn out and coming apart. The Hill People Gear serape is a great replacement. I like it better than the Kifaru woobie I have. The Helikon one isn't bad either, but not as good as the other two. |
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I was late to the Kifaru party (started buying their gear a few years ago). Ended up with a lot more than I can ever use, and apart from one pouch having a stiff zipper it has all been good to go. Many many mountain and trail miles with various packs, etc. All good. |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: The Hill People Gear serape is a great replacement. I like it better than the Kifaru woobie I have. The Helikon one isn't bad either, but not as good as the other two. I have them all and a few others (Wilderness Innovations Onsi Cloak is very similar to the HPG Mountain Serape). When deployed I almost always traveled with the HPG Serape but kept my Kifaru Woobie back in my CHU. Old school polyester poncho liner, US CAV "Thinsulate" poncho, newest USGI made with Climashied insulation...the newest is pretty solid kit but you can't go wrong with Kifaru. Remember the ECOTAT (produced by Wiggy's) "Lightweight Sleeping Bag"; it was essentially a better insulated Serape without the hood. The "woobie" has a couple dozen-plus evolutionary designs and whatever works for you, they're a valuble addition to anyone's kit. Back to Kifaru. Still good kit, very expensive but well made and very functional. ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By ROCK6: I have them all and a few others (Wilderness Innovations Onsi Cloak is very similar to the HPG Mountain Serape). When deployed I almost always traveled with the HPG Serape but kept my Kifaru Woobie back in my CHU. Old school polyester poncho liner, US CAV "Thinsulate" poncho, newest USGI made with Climashied insulation...the newest is pretty solid kit but you can't go wrong with Kifaru. Remember the ECOTAT (produced by Wiggy's) "Lightweight Sleeping Bag"; it was essentially a better insulated Serape without the hood. The "woobie" has a couple dozen-plus evolutionary designs and whatever works for you, they're a valuble addition to anyone's kit. Back to Kifaru. Still good kit, very expensive but well made and very functional. ROCK6 I've got one of those old US CAV Thinsulate poncho liners still 
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I had a Kifaru pack for a while. It was heavy for what it was, overly “scrappy” and not very well thought out as far as compartments, etc. It was well built. I sold it and move on to an exo mountain gear K4 and have been much more satisfied. |
The posts made on this forum are purely my private opinion and don’t represent any employer or entity I am professionally associated with.
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Originally Posted By BuckeyeRifleman: I had a Kifaru pack for a while. It was heavy for what it was, overly “scrappy” and not very well thought out as far as compartments, etc. It was well built. I sold it and move on to an exo mountain gear K4 and have been much more satisfied. I’ve owned the following Kifaru packs: Shape Charge Bane 357 Mag Fulcrum Steel Head Cinch Mini Keg I’ve also had: Steel Head Hydro Harness Sherman Various Pockets Various Lids Grab-It The Fulcrum, 357 and Steel Head are my favorites. They are definitely designed around hunting. The “chamber pocket” just gets in the way. Lots of straps on them but I understand it’s because they build “modular” gear. All sorts of ways to add stuff. My least favorite: Cinch and Mini-Keg. |
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Originally Posted By GaryT1776: I’ve owned the following Kifaru packs: Shape Charge Bane 357 Mag Fulcrum Steel Head Cinch Mini Keg I’ve also had: Steel Head Hydro Harness Sherman Various Pockets Various Lids Grab-It The Fulcrum, 357 and Steel Head are my favorites. They are definitely designed around hunting. The “chamber pocket” just gets in the way. Lots of straps on them but I understand it’s because they build “modular” gear. All sorts of ways to add stuff. My least favorite: Cinch and Mini-Keg. I had the fulcrum. I meant “strappy” not scrappy. Damn autocorrect! |
The posts made on this forum are purely my private opinion and don’t represent any employer or entity I am professionally associated with.
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Originally Posted By BuckeyeRifleman: I had a Kifaru pack for a while. It was heavy for what it was, overly “scrappy” and not very well thought out as far as compartments, etc. It was well built. I sold it and move on to an exo mountain gear K4 and have been much more satisfied. I recently sold my massive EMR+Scout combo (first generation) and yes it was quite "strappy" as well. That was a monstrous setup and I did ruck marches with 100+pounds (several years ago). I don't mind the smaller packs to be built like that, but for actual load hauling packs, I prefer lighter packs and went Seek Outside. I've got a picture somewhere of me hauling about 100 pounds of camping shit for a family of four with about 30 pounds of "toys" once we setup basecamp and camped for a few days. That was a heavy bitch on a rough trail and one area that I had to remove the pack and push it up to my wife because I simply couldn't climb the vertical rock part of the trail wearing the pack...that's when you start to realize you've got too much shit!  ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By ROCK6: I recently sold my massive EMR+Scout combo (first generation) and yes it was quite "strappy" as well. That was a monstrous setup and I did ruck marches with 100+pounds (several years ago). I don't mind the smaller packs to be built like that, but for actual load hauling packs, I prefer lighter packs and went Seek Outside. I've got a picture somewhere of me hauling about 100 pounds of camping shit for a family of four with about 30 pounds of "toys" once we setup basecamp and camped for a few days. That was a heavy bitch on a rough trail and one area that I had to remove the pack and push it up to my wife because I simply couldn't climb the vertical rock part of the trail wearing the pack...that's when you start to realize you've got too much shit! ROCK6 The more room in the pack - the more you haul that you really did not need IME. |
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Originally Posted By GaryT1776: The more room in the pack - the more you haul that you really did not need IME. Oh, there were "needs" for the kids, some wants for me, a whole lot of "what if's", and simply testing how much weight and shit could I stuff in that thing for a short 5-6 mile trek. I problaby could have stuffed another 30-40 pounds in or on it...don't challenge me dammit! I'm glad I sold it off and hope the new user gets to punish his body instead of mine ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
| I got issued an Antero 2.0 in green by my unit last year as a lower vis but still tactical-ish pack for a 7 month SOF-support deployment. It traveled with me across Africa and got me a bunch of compliments by dudes who know ball. I fucking love it, and now I use it as my primary travel backpack. |
“Stand firm, A Company! Fury of Belladon! Hold this line and deny them!”
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Originally Posted By Tweakmeister: Shapecharge and some of the heavier duty packs are great. I really wanted to like the new Echo for work and travel but the lighter weight fabric felt cheap and packs now have more features. The Cinch I recently bought was listed for sale the next day. It was NOT built to the old standards. I bought a second Shapecharge in the same order and it is no different than my older one. I’d avoid the new mgmt’s new products. The legacy stuff is GTG. |
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