Kifaru Loco Review (PIC HEAVY!)

[Harry The Camper]

No question what this is...

Yes, I am slightly Loco for paying this much for what is basically a glorified small ALICE pack/Short back bergen.

Made of 1000D Cordura, it weighs about 3kg empty with all the accessories strapped on ( Medium belt pouch on lid, MOLLE pouch on front, Grab-It and GPS pouch)

Here is Kifaru's page on it: http://store.kifaru.net/loco-2500ci409-liters-p136.aspx

but here is what you get for your $600 (accessories really push the price up) .

Stuffed with towels to show volume.







Some interesting features such as a G-Hook for lid closure instead of a buckle, no zips on the main pack either for enhanced durability.



In keeping with the company's tagline (Rhino tough gear), everything is overbuilt, even the bladder hangers are fail-proof



I chose the Loco as it offered me a versatile platform, it shrinks down for daytrips, expands for overnighters, and all the overflow or bulky items can be shoved into the

integrated side pockets, essential for water bottle storage here in the jungle.





This pack (and most Kifaru's) combine robust military hardware (ITW Nexus and National Moulding, not your usual Woojin buckles) with modern backpack design, giving you the

best of both worlds, as most military packs are tough but lack the comfort of commercial packs. Its been covered in mud and blood (my own), and hardly shows it.

Even with numerous bumps and scrapes with razor sharp bamboo and rattan thorns, it has nothing to show for it. I expect this pack to outlive me!







Chamber pocket used as a belt pouch



Overall, I would say that Kifaru's are not for the average Joe. Brands like Osprey give you a similar level of comfort and durability, but if you are in need of a

semi-indestructible pack that lets you carry silly loads all day long, give Kifaru's line a look.

Pro's: -Durable, Well made, Hand sown in the USA, best hardness/suspension system I've ever tried, meets all my requirements of a pack.



Con's- Pricey (law of diminishing returns comes into play here), takes a while to setup and adjust (I had to bend the aluminium stays to suit the curvature of my spine), had

to buy some Web dominators to manage the dangling straps, ordering and paying was also a bit of a hassle as they don't accept credit cards from outside the USA.

Christmas has come early for me!

 

[BOD]

Show us the pack in action. Otherwise this is just kit porn

 

[Ahjno]

Nice one!! Good to see some pics of this one, thanks! Like your thinking by the way: putting that Chamber Pocket on the belt ...

Show us the pack in action. Otherwise this is just kit porn

What he said
If you could include some sort of load out, so we see what it can carry ...uppy_dog


I've got a Spike Camp (and in the past a G1 Zulu, which I sold as it was too short). Really like the ZXR (OD or CB) and Scout (idem) too though ...

 

[Dougster]

I paid for mine by credit card! I love my Express, I think it the best all round pack I have and you are right, Osprey are great.

I will follow your lead and put a chamber pocket on the side without the gun bearer, thanks for that idea. Saved me buying a pouch for it!

 

[Tiley]

That looks to be a brilliant pack but boy, you sure pay a lot of dollars for not many litres capacity!

I've got one of their E&E packs with beefier shoulder straps that serves brilliantly as my day-out-in-the-woods bimble bag. I've also got one of their lightweight packs which is just brilliant for extended trips in summer. Great kit but dangerously pricey!

 

[sandbender]

I had an X-Ray for a while, they are pricey packs, but they are worth every penny. Thanks for the pics and lets have some more of it out getting muddy.

 

[ozzy1977]

$600 for a bag like that, I just cant understand it, is it really 4x better than a berghaus or karrimor ?

 

[ammo]

Two frost river packs can be bought for that price. It's worth it if it makes you happy. I do hope that it last a lifetime. Did it come with someone to carry it ?. Needs to at that price.

$600 for a bag like that, I just cant understand it, is it really 4x better than a berghaus or karrimor ?

 

[Harry The Camper]

Some field pics, along with my parang and HPG chest rig.









I love this pack as it cinches down to daypack size, and can balloon out to much more than the advertised 40L capacity, with an ace suspension system (took me more than a week to figure out how to set it up though)

 

[Harry The Camper]

Two frost river packs can be bought for that price. It's worth it if it makes you happy. I do hope that it last a lifetime. Did it come with someone to carry it ?. Needs to at that price.

No, its not "worth the money" in a conventional sense. You don't need a Kifaru if you go camping every weekend, you probably don't need it even if you are in the military.

BUT

Some people are looking for something to fit all their needs, and don't mind paying for it.

Looking at getting another Kifaru now, Tailgunner 1, not that I can afford it!

 

[Bluffer]

I'd say that's worth $600.

Thanks for the photos of it being used, it's always hard to see the size from their website.

 

[greensurfingbear]

Nice looking kit, think I'd struggle to convince the wife that I needed such an expensive bag lol.

Where bouts you trekking? My in laws live in taman cuepacs so visit KL very few years. I love getting out into then jungle when I'm there, never seem to get enough time to do anything longer than a few nights.


Orric

 

[Harry The Camper]

Nice looking kit, think I'd struggle to convince the wife that I needed such an expensive bag lol.

Where bouts you trekking? My in laws live in taman cuepacs so visit KL very few years. I love getting out into then jungle when I'm there, never seem to get enough time to do anything longer than a few nights.



Orric

Taman Negara and State Land forest. These pics were taken in a rubber plantation while I was waiting for BOD (my colleague)

Check out MYCAT http://malayantiger.net/v4/, or like the facebook page. Would be more than happy to show you some great jungle for a week or more.

 

[MertzMan]

Interesting concept for side pockets, I like that alot. Can't see that it would be hard to retrofit some to other designs. Thanks for posting that.

 

[Speccie]

Hi, how's this bag holding up after a few years? Any issues cropped up after extended use? I've heard they don't make them any more, perhaps it'll become a collectors item...

 

[Harry The Camper]

Hi, how's this bag holding up after a few years? Any issues cropped up after extended use? I've heard they don't make them any more, perhaps it'll become a collectors item...

Hi, I decided to sell it on in favour of a HPG Ute. The Loco bag became the basis for the Kifaru Mountain Rambler (not really a jungle ruck).

More details and mods were posted here: http://www.kifaruforums.net/showthread.php?t=37220