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Posted: 8/24/2009 12:59:50 PM EDT
I have read that kifaru is great but would like to hear from people who HARD use large packs frequently. Essentially I want a pack I could live out of for several years if necessary. The kifarus look nice but are alot of lunch money and though I am not opposed to spending that much other alternatives would be nice to consider. thanks.
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Quoted:
Mystery Ranch Is always a top runner in my book. CXS I have a Mystery Ranch NICE Frame that I put on my Tactical Tailor Alice pack, logged hundreds of mile with it carry 75 plus pounds for many long rucks...love that thing... So Mystery Ranch is a top runner in my book also! |
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Quoted: Yep, A buddy at Ft. Bragg uses the NICE Frame and the HSGI T.R.A.S.H. Bag..Quoted: Mystery Ranch Is always a top runner in my book. CXS I have a Mystery Ranch NICE Frame that I put on my Tactical Tailor Alice pack, logged hundreds of mile with it carry 75 plus pounds for many long rucks...love that thing... So Mystery Ranch is a top runner in my book also! Their 3 Day pack is the SEX.. CXS |
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I have a Kelty MAP that has over 1k on it. I would only change a few things. I love it and I can carry a very heavy load without issues. The padding and distribution are great. It is not a "frame" pack though, but I use them for just about everything.
Post pics when home. |
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Calicojack may I ask what was the point in that reply? No I have not been on for sometime but my brother and I are looking for good packs that will last a long time. Some boards drink the kifaru koolaid and others drink another kind. Perhaps I have misinterpreted your reply but it seemed on the flaming side. I don't think that was warranted or did you just have a bad day and you think me an easy target. Regards.
By the way thanks MOS2111. |
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LOL! dude. take a chill pill. it wasn't a snub at you at all dude. anyone on here will tell you that most us have changed our line ups at least 3 times and up. it's a trend you'll notice the longer you stay here.
edited my post above so it makes a little more sense to you. |
| I have too and that is exactly why now I am doing more and more research and less buying and being disappointed. Tired of mountains of gear that I have to liquidate to get out of the way. I have seriously considered buying my own sewing machine. Anyway my response was calm and my apologies for misunderstanding. |
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I guess your trying to make dedicated INCH or BOB's correct. First off before you buy ANY pack. Get your torso sized. Then set some parametiers- How far you plan on humping it- what kind of load you plan on humping- Your budget- What options you want- To be honest. If your talking "live out of for several years" your pack may outlast you!  We have a survival forum for all that  Back to rucks- Personally for "years" living a external frame pack will work better than an internal for what your talking about. I know, they aint as sexy but they have many more "options" than an internal when it comes to carrying shit! Not just options as pockets etc, but it ways to mount,strap and load them. Internals do not without propper packing etc. I am not a kifaru fan, many know that. It is not becuase i think their packs are crap. In fact they are very very well made. I look at them like i do HK owners  or how some here may look at "colt" owners. The cool aide is extra sugary!If your budget allows and you want a 9lb empty multi cammed molle laden super ruck....they are the ticket! Me im into civy packs. Comfort over Camo is how i feel. Civy packs arent built in such a way that astrong fart will rip them as some will say. Example is the kelty i have is made from 750d for the most part ,it is 4500CI's, and weighs 4.5lbs empty. Pretty heavy for a civy ruck. It is also OD and black. Pack covers are easy/cheap to make! If i had to get another ruck right now it would be one of the Kelty military packs. Not the map or any other NON framed ruck. IMHO NON framed NON supensioned rucks have no place on long heavy loaded hauls. This topic has been re hashed about 100000000000000000000000000000000000 times in the gear section and regualr SF here. Anyway. Once you find a suspension system you like, a pack you like, buy it, HAVE IT ADJUSTED TO YOUR BODY. THIS has to be done in person,or by yourself. Like shoes packs must fit or you will feel it. Every put a pack on without doing anything more than cinching down teh hip,shoulder and strenum straps? Then complained about why it pinched here, rubbed there. More than likelyit wasnt the pack fault but the users for not having it fitted properly! anyway..more than likely you didnt want to hear all that so here are some brands- Dana gergory Mstyery ranch Kifaru Osprey Kelty stay away from frameless/frame board rucks for serious long term/heavy load hauls. ill add more later.. |
Actually Protus that is what I want to hear. Logical reasoning like yours not," Kifaru because its cool. Well why? It just is." So thank you very much for you efforts in typing that. I intend to re-read it. May I ask how one goes about getting a pack "fitted"(ignorant when it comes to that). As far as "sexy" goes Im not about that. I like function(though I do own a few HK)vs. the latest greatest hoohah. So thanks again and any further advice would be greatly appreciated especially if it follows the logical path you took.
P.S. As far as camo goes a good base color(brown,OD) with some rattle can magic and your good to go in my opinion especially since Im buying to keep. |
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Quoted:
Any vice's against an Arcteryx Tango or Echo? I'm going to send a buddy to this thread to comment. He has a complete USMC ILBE that he pieced together, and it is nice, very nice. Arc makes some good kit. If I didn't have a budget, I'd get a Kifaru EMR with all the goodies (long pockets, E&E, XTL, etc.) But I do have a budget, and its not $1k for a backpack. I've got two packs I've put together using Molle II belts and shoulder straps and a Down East airborne pack frame. One is a full Molle setup with MSS carrier, main bag, and patrol pack, and that setup holds a TON of shit and is very comfortable. I'm going to upgrade however, to a DE frame with eagle straps, and an HSGI trash bag. All in MC of course
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These new Molle compatible rucks are really nice. For an old soldier who humped the infamous Alice pack I have to say if adjusted properly it would be more than enough Ruck for the dollar. I used to SMASH the crap out of my Alice and the worst that happened was one time I cracked a frame when I forgot to jettison my stuff in time, on a jump. I released the ruck and it slammed into the ground. Frame had a slight bend and that was it. I bent it back and moved on to my Airborne objective.
700 bucks on a tacti-cool ruck? Not for me. I doubt I will need anything else. But damn they ARE cool :) |
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I'm going to upgrade however, to a DE frame with eagle straps, and an HSGI trash bag. All in MC of course Then I should have some Very Upsetting Pics for you this Friday..
CXS Shitbird. I've been wanting this setup ever since your original thread/the original DE alice thread. Which is why I called Gene and hassled him about making the trash bag de compatible. He said I wasn't the first to ask
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Quoted:
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Any vice's against an Arcteryx Tango or Echo? I'm going to send a buddy to this thread to comment. He has a complete USMC ILBE that he pieced together, and it is nice, very nice. Arc makes some good kit. If I didn't have a budget, I'd get a Kifaru EMR with all the goodies (long pockets, E&E, XTL, etc.) But I do have a budget, and its not $1k for a backpack. I've got two packs I've put together using Molle II belts and shoulder straps and a Down East airborne pack frame. One is a full Molle setup with MSS carrier, main bag, and patrol pack, and that setup holds a TON of shit and is very comfortable. I'm going to upgrade however, to a DE frame with eagle straps, and an HSGI trash bag. All in MC of course Arc does make some great kit. The ILBE surplus kit on the market is also on that level. You just have to make sure that you find stuff that isn't torn up. The ILBE is pretty much the Tango pack in Marpat,. The overall size is great for a long load out, especially if you add the assault pack (ie the Arc Charlie). The suspension is fully adjustable, and the padding is good and heavy. I put my pack together over time as I couldn't find available parts (mainly straps), but now these packs are available in the market. The main pack is compatible with the commercial Tango/Bora waist belt, and strap, though I would recommend the ILBE straps as they have the quick disconnect feature. I put mine together for about $250 with the Charlie pack. Considering it is the same quality, as a Arc Tango for 1/3 the price, I'd say it's worth it. EDIT: I wanted to add that there are two generations of ILBE pack. The first uses black hardware and National Molding clips. The other has tan hardware and ITW Nexus clips. Both are the same in size and compatibility, except that the Nat Mold clips aren't compatible with the ITW Nexus clips. As a side note Kifaru accessories, such as pods, use ITW Nexus clips ;) |
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Quoted:
I have read that kifaru is great but would like to hear from people who HARD use large packs frequently. Essentially I want a pack I could live out of for several years if necessary. The kifarus look nice but are alot of lunch money and though I am not opposed to spending that much other alternatives would be nice to consider. thanks.http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=10&t=253612&page=1 |
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Dudes, dont get too caught up in "the military uses molle so it must be the best." Molle works, but is constantly changing. I "PERSONALLY" find that commercial lightweight backpack/extreme gear is often better than what USGI is working with for a number of reasons. Hence why the USMC is now running some Arc gear...
An off the wall suggestion would be to also check out your local Mountain Hideout or REI for a civilian alternative. |
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Quoted: IIRC Dana Gleason (Owner/Designer of Mystery Ranch) sold his Dana Designs to K2/Kelty back in the 90's. That would account for why you have such high regards for your kit...I have a Kelty MAP that has over 1k on it. I would only change a few things. I love it and I can carry a very heavy load without issues. The padding and distribution are great. It is not a "frame" pack though, but I use them for just about everything. Post pics when home. My vote goes to Mystery Ranch!! I've been hauling loads since the late 60's for backpacking, humping gear to lookouts, fighting forest fires, etc. During that time I have used everything from WWII packboards and rucks to "pack d'jour" for each decade since. It wasn't until I strapped on an MR that I finally knew what a 70# load should feel like. (keep in mind I'm 58 now so hauling 70# should have been easier in the 1968). A year or so ago I decided to upgrade again - so I tried all the top rated packs I could find. Many were GTG with 40# but as soon as I put a real load they failed to adequately transfer the wt to the hips... until I ran onto MR and Kifuru. When you get to those two it's a matter of features - but FIT is ALWAYS first!! (But all y'all know that already) I suggest the OP give the guys at Mystery Ranch a call. They are VERY informative and allow a LOT of latitude when it comes to getting you properly outfitted. Good group overall and bombproof gear!! Try this: http://www.mysteryranch.com/packs/index.php (sorry - I don't know how to do that cute little Link Title thing since we moved to this new editor) |
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That is a great "promo"! I have an email into them to see if they can make me one in MC 
Skiddy |
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