Posted: 7/27/2007 8:39:38 PM EDT
| What s a great BOBackpack? Pics please..... |
This thread: www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=10&t=186483 may help you. |
If I can recommend one thread you NEED to read it is this one: BOB what it should be |
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How much do you want to spend and how often are you going to use it before hand as practice? Medium alice packs are nice, cheap, and plentiful. But, they are not the most versitile and have limited capacity. I will say this, the framed packs with the kidney pads are nice. the Camelbak BFM and the CONDOR clone that CTD sells are a definate step up and more rugged. The BFM is built to last FOREVER, where as the CTD model is fine for occasional trips/travel and lighter loads. Camelbak BFM ($160)  CheaperThanDirt pack ($50) [without bladder]  CheaperThanDirt ALICE pack ($40) 
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IMHO, you will want a pack that is at least 3500+ cubes. Reason ebing you can fill it with 3 days fo gear for summer/winter with no issues. IMHO the med alice pack is the perfect size for 3 days of gear. It is just under the 3000 ci mark. The issue many have with it is it doesnt have all kinds of lil zipper,pockets,pouches etc. Also when you look at a "3 day" pack the CI they give you will be with all those pockets and mesh zipper deals included. so the main size of the pack wont be that big. In other words some are touted as being 2800 ci but in reality are only 2200! Also i feel that for a BOB you must have a framed pack. note i said FRAMED not FRAMESHEETED. If you wearing this "BOB" with line two or a heavy fighting load( ie: extended patrol) you can get away with no frame due to the lbe straps/pads, and other deals. Frameless packs can not handle the loads a real BOB weighs. Those that say that thier 2200 CI pack with 6 extra molle pouches on it and loaded to 40+lbs is comfy after 15 miles are full of it! I have a Tact Tailor pack. its larger than my alice( 3000+ ci) but has no frame. ive loaded it properly and even with 26-28lbs its OK...but it needs a frame! Im half tempted to mod it to ride on an alice frame! IMHO the med alice with an upgraded kidney belt will serve you well. If you want civy packs. Which will be more "sheeple" freindly will also be easier on your back. I have a kelty tahoe. It is OD and black. even has molle webbing on the bottom of it! lotta packs doing that these days. Most packs are also built pretty well some not so well. The things that will break on a pack are the straps. they will tear out,fray etc. Talk with guys on the AT or other trails. They will tell ya what breaks after long hikes. Recently i spoke with one. his 100+$ pack fell apart after 100 miles! WHat some do not realize is that your BOB may have to carry you that far. Can you trust your pack to not fall apart? figure out how far you gotta go. The amount of days( as that is what size you'll need) get your TORSO sized. THIS is the MOST important part of getting a pack. One that doesnt fit will cuase you issues!!! plan an dpack accordingly! as always YMMV |
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Just because a pack has a "frame sheet" doesn't mean that it won't hold up. My son and I use light weight MountainSmith packs that only have the PE sheets. I carried mine on one hike with 44 pounds in it. It worked great. While the Alice packs are almost bullet proof, whoever designed them must have been a sadist. They are the closest thing to a medieval torture device that I have ever seen. Protus gave some good advice when he suggested talking to guys who really backpack. David |
Quoted for truth. That bitch tried to kill me on a fairly easy 12 mile in and out. It took two days for my shoulders and lower back to recover. I later did 28 miles using a nice backpacking rig and my shoulders and back were fine, it was my feet that took the hammering. If I only had to move a few miles on foot but just needed to keep the bug-out-gear together and easy to haul, the ALICE will work. If I had to hit the woods and walk tens of miles on foot..... never again. |
LMAO... Well put, who knows how many years that thing has took off my life! |
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I love the alice packs, but also, if there is "mass movement", or I am moving before I think everyone else will, don't want a pack that stands out.. so that rules our Alice packs and anything camo. At $90, this Tru-Spec pack in coyote brown works perfect for me: |
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Some folks may object to this, but my advice is to stay away from CTD packs. I have owned two, both were used for heavy/contant travelling/hiking etc...they both fell apart within a few months. I bought a Maxpedition Vulture, been using it 7-8 months now, very well made and comfy too. HTH |
I'm using a Chrome Metropolis bag, becasue they are far less tactical looking when out and about, and are more pratical in several ways. Yes, they are offered in several color combinations.
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| i have several from Alice med and large, to Molle and Cfp-90. the 3 day packs that go with the Molle and Cfp-90 are very handy for a change of clothes,socks, poncho and liner, etc. for light weight short range travel. the bigger packs are for heavy duty long range. in the Cfp-90 i have a ECWSS sleeping bag system as well as ecotat tent, set of marpat bdu's and winter set of woodland lined m-65 coat and pants. in one pocket is all the odds and ends [ US 5 qt bladder, compass, surefire,multi-tool, insect repel, gloves and so on. right now nothing in the 3 day pack that goes with it but as is right now it weighs about 40-50 lbs. |
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You can order any type of pack over the net that will serve you well... But I would recommend HIGHLY going to a sporting goods store and getting one fitted... Also, walk around with it for a while in the store with 40 or 50 lbs in it. You will find out right quick if it is the pack for you or not... I will also add to the QFT! for the Alice pack being a torture device. It is serviceable but feels like it is trying to kill ya... Personally I like my new Jansport pack: Nice Pack Great size, outside pockets, color is o.k.ish and the price was GREAT... Don't settle in internal or external frame or anything like that until you try them... With something you are going to be humping around with waaaaaay too much weight in it you don't wan't to make a bad decision in purchasing. -V |
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I don't guess packs feel the same to people cause several people say they like alice and camelbacks..... and i can't stand either one. But i can guarantee you a good pack makes a heck of a difrence in how you feal at the end of a long day 10+miles. My recomendations are mountainsmith (reasonably priced and has held up well for me and is comfortable) or badlands packs (expensive but worth every penny imo) |
What do you guys think of Kifaru XRay packs? It looks very nice, but expensive...
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for what that pack is its a waste of mney. yeah yeah..protus hates kifaru... ....... actually i hate over priced shit, that a pack 150$ less can do. its also sub day pack size 1800CI....by the time you purchase enough add on pouches to get it large enough CI tohandle 3 days of gear (or more) youll have two things. a pack that cant handle the weight and apack that cost the same amount as if you bought 3 packs for 3 seasons!! and NO that wasnt a kifaru bash to all your rhino loving cult memebers...  279$ fer a 1800ci pack is insane..oh wait..let just go bicth about their 129$ poncho liner LOL YMMV |
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Yup, Kifaru is expensive. IMO, 80% of the added expense is due to US labor/production while 20% is hype and kool aid. Find a US made pack comparable to kifaru that is way cheaper. I don't think you can. Cut and sew is a third world industry in today's global economy and bucking that trend is expensive. |
Its too small, too expensive, has no external pockets, and the waist belt it optional. Also, I can't preach enough  if you can't try it on, have it sized, and wear it be very very wary of buying it. Wear for at least half an hour with around 40 pounds in it.-V |
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In IL, you may have to bug out in the winter, which means packing stuff like a stove, some fuel, a 20deg or even a 0deg sleeping bag, and a tent or other shelter. Get a real backpacking pack. IMHO people with a serious desire to get a BOB should stop looking at surplus/survival/etc type sites and catalogs, and spend some time at Cabelas or REI. I have no doubts my backpacking/camping pack would serve extra well as a BOB and it's usually stuffed and ready to go except for spare clothes. 6000in^3 internal frame pack, separate sleeping bag compartment, three external zipped compartments and two mesh pouches. Internal hydration as well of course. Cabelas "Diamond Peak" line. I have the "Shasta." ETA: You asked for pictures: 
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