Ah, Kifaru

[andyross]

Could do with some advice from you lucky people who already own Kifaru gear. I have narrowed it down to a Zulu or ZXR but am stuck deciding. I would like it as an overnight bag for the usual gear needed for a night in the woods but would also like to use it for other things . Would a zulu be big enough. Also colours, olive green or foliage green, I just cant decide . Would appreciate all advice.
Cheers Andy

[Beachlover]

Could do with some advice from you lucky people who already own Kifaru gear. I have narrowed it down to a Zulu or ZXR but am stuck deciding. I would like it as an overnight bag for the usual gear needed for a night in the woods but would also like to use it for other things . Would a zulu be big enough. Also colours, olive green or foliage green, I just cant decide . Would appreciate all advice.
Cheers Andy

The latest Coyote Brown is the business

[yellowhammer]

The latest Coyote Brown is the business

Biased, much? S'true though, the Coyote is a very classy colour.

Andy, I'll say get a Zulu in OD (or CB of course). I expect to be shouted down though, as it seems I'm the only person in the world who doesn't like Foliage. It's pretty expandable by all accounts with it's big snow collar, and if you need more than 50 litres for an overnighter then you're doing it wrong - in my not-very humble opinion

Besides, boys with big packs are just compensating for something. That's why I carry an E&E *runs & hides*

[Corso]

Indeed just rearanged my E&E kit with a couple of externally mounted pouches (ok 5 ) I can carry all i need in it. only thing i'd add is an understrap for a thermarest - might see if i can get my tailor to do the job

Personally If i could do it all again i'd go foliage the OD is nice but its not OD in the british sense its quite a rich green

who am i kidding scrap that i'd go Multicam

[Shocks]

Would a zulu be big enough ?
Cheers Andy

I would say yes. I'm taking one for a week to Sweden involving winter camping. You definitely need extra pockets and I'm taking a large pod for my sleeping bag.

However if I was just going for a weekend the pod and external pockets could be dropped. Most military bags are modular to some description, I think the Zulu excels at adaptability. Its a large day sac with its compression straps used to the full and the waist belt dropped. Or using the external pockets and pods it can support a weeks trip in the Swedish countryside in winter. I hope and suspect I will use it all the more because of its adaptability. Saying that there are lots of options and many packs to choose from, don't go to small or to big. A mid sized pack with adaptability is the way to go in my opinion.

[jungle_re]

Ive gone the 'decent size pack with great compressability'. I need a fairly large pack as due to being allergic to down i use a sythetic bag which is bulky.

Im waitng on an order for a MMR with duel long pockets. I like the molle platform as it means i can attach my belt rig (based on a MaxP sabre cat with Fr-1 water bottle and varrious other pouches) witht the piggyback set and get the benifit of carrying it on the comfy Kifaru system. I like to have a bag to gat nearly all my thing inside it and wouldnt like the config of my dos bag in a pod on the outside or loads of large pouches stuck to it either. The compression on all kifaru bag looks very good so if theres not much in it the large packs can become visually quite small. Just my take on things

[Jedidiah]

Ive gone the 'decent size pack with great compressability'. I need a fairly large pack as due to being allergic to down i use a sythetic bag which is bulky.

Im waitng on an order for a MMR with duel long pockets. I like the molle platform as it means i can attach my belt rig (based on a MaxP sabre cat with Fr-1 water bottle and varrious other pouches) witht the piggyback set and get the benifit of carrying it on the comfy Kifaru system. I like to have a bag to gat nearly all my thing inside it and wouldnt like the config of my dos bag in a pod on the outside or loads of large pouches stuck to it either. The compression on all kifaru bag looks very good so if theres not much in it the large packs can become visually quite small. Just my take on things

Will, most things become visually small on YOUR back! For what it's worth, i think, for what your going to use your Kifaru rig for, you've made by far the best decision in what you ordered. The flexibility of the rig will compliment both your Bushcrafting and your hunting. I don't know who's more excited, you or me!

[yellowhammer]

I took a couple of photies for someone on another forum, of the E&E docked onto the XRay. It works pretty well, although it does stick out a bit too far from your back;





And I attached a Tad MOLLE panel via Slik Clips to the chamber pocket loops. This is a very useful addition;

[TheOtherPhil]

I really like the look of that Molle Panel, so ordered one (and an admin pouch) for my pointman. They're on special so it'd be rude not to

Anybody know of other hanging panels that may be of some use?

[ste]

I used my zulu for a four week tour of oz/nz/jp

I found it big enough for that

Could do with some advice from you lucky people who already own Kifaru gear. I have narrowed it down to a Zulu or ZXR but am stuck deciding. I would like it as an overnight bag for the usual gear needed for a night in the woods but would also like to use it for other things . Would a zulu be big enough. Also colours, olive green or foliage green, I just cant decide . Would appreciate all advice.
Cheers Andy

[dougster]

ZXR is groovy - think Glissade from Macpac but with beef.

I found it a little big for overnighters, but's it's OK, I don't need to fill it. With the E&E and long side poiches it should do me for 4 or 5 days winter time in the Cairngorms.

Gonna go for an express next. Will do pics when I get a chance, too much stitching bloody leather for people at the moment......

[yellowhammer]

I really like the look of that Molle Panel, so ordered one (and an admin pouch) for my pointman. They're on special so it'd be rude not to

Anybody know of other hanging panels that may be of some use?

What did they sting you on postage for that Phil? I use the admin one in my E&E. You can molle on an organiser & hang it in the pack

I dunno about other panels (although something is tickling the back of my brain, I'll check my favourites) but I reckon some of the lock & loads will hang from the chamber pocket common loops. Maybe a #8?

One more pic showing the PALS side;

[jungle_re]

Just come back from a stealth overnighter in the snow (photos on route ) only had a 3 mile ish tab in and back out am im really looking forward to getting my Kif now. The ability to bang a nail in hang it up and use as a seat would have been much appricatiated.

Do like the tad admin panel, and would be tempted, just cant see what id use it for; cos that normally stops us

[TheOtherPhil]

What did they sting you on postage for that Phil? I use the admin one in my E&E. You can molle on an organiser & hang it in the pack

I dunno about other panels (although something is tickling the back of my brain, I'll check my favourites) but I reckon some of the lock & loads will hang from the chamber pocket common loops. Maybe a #8?

Hi Ian, as a previous TAD customer, I always ask for USPS delivery. This is not on their option list but is available to previous customers if you request it in the notes section. They usually apply the Global Priority option and it comes to $30 (looking at my last receipt for the Equilibrium Merino Sweater). Delivery from them sending it is usually 10 days.

I also placed an order with Kifaru a few days ago:

Alice Claymore pouch for top lid,
L&L #5 for bottom flap (inside),
2x L&L #3's

The #3's are pretty cool as they have further L&L loops on the bottom of the pouch so can be daisy chained....ie, one pouch above the other and I was going to hang them from the common chamber pocket loops (I have no chamber pocket). I wish I'd seen the Tad Molle panel before I ordered these though as that has the 2x stacked pockets. Oh well, I have plenty of options now

[yellowhammer]

So you won't need the L&Ls and you could sell them to me. Everyone's a winner!

I've got some pullouts coming in jungle_re's order so we'll see how useful they are for organisation as well. This is better than Surefire Lego!