Hi I'm Rfizzle and I'm a gear addict.
At this point I can review:
London Bridge Tactical 3 day (the one that goes on sale for $59 every 2 months)
Hill People Gear Tarahumara
GORUCK SD25
Kifaru Zippy
Tactical Tailor Removable Operator Pack
ATS Original RAID (owned a RAID II at one point too)
Hill People Gear Tarahumara
750ci 12.29L
$125
More info: http://www.hillpeoplegear.com/Produc...5/Default.aspx
The Tarahumara pack is one of the smallest packs I own; it is also one of the most comfortable. Coming in at 725 cubic inches makes this a single day pack and by most standards it would be a small one at that. The Tarahumara is a single pocket with a single middle zipper for access, this makes the Tarahumara incredible simple which can be a positive or negative depending on use. Personally I use this for short day hikes or times when I need a couple water bottles, a jacket and a camera. The compressions straps expand to add even more external storage of jackets, also the bottom of the pack had a paracord compression set up (I changed it to shock cord).
The Tarahumara is an incredible comfortable pack, credit for this is due to the Hill People Gear shoulder harness. Of course it doesn’t hurt that at 725cu inches overloading can’t become a problem.
Likes:
Weight – I haven’t personally weighed it but according to Hill People Gear it weighs 1.25 pounds.
Dual side water bottle pockets – Having water bottle pockets on the side
Comfort – as stated above the shoulder harness is great and makes this pack great to carry
Dislikes:
Simplicity – this one could fit under “likes” and “dislikes”, some internal organization would be nice but it would add some weight and part of the beauty of the Tarahumara is the simplicity. HPG also make an insert which adds a PALS panel to the back of the inside of the pack.
Size – I hate putting this under “dislike” but 725ci is small, it doesn’t take a lot to fill it, but again if I need/want more room I have other options.
Overall the Tarahumara is an excellent day pack, it’s well built and Hill People Gear’s attention to detail is spot on. If you are looking for a simple, comfortable, daypack I can’t recommend a better pack than the Tarahumara.
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London Bridge Tactical LBT-1476A Standard 3 Day Assault Pack
2240ci 36L
$213 list (About every 2 months LBT does a sale and these run $59)
More info: (couldn't find a link for the Tan) http://lbtinc.com/standard-three-day...ack-11765.html
The London Bridge Tactical (LBT) 3 day pack is one that I picked up on a whim, mostly because I caught it on sale for $59. It mirrors many of the 3 day assault packs on the market (Eagle, Honor Point, etc, etc) which speaks to this design’s validity. The LBT 3 day pack is a pretty sizable pack at 36L/2240ci but it hides it well. It’s pretty comfortable though I wish the straps were a little wider, the included waist strap isn’t great a but I’m not a huge waist strap fan anyways. Materials and workmanship live up to the LBT name and the lifetime warranty.
Likes:
Organization – there are three different pockets as well as MOLLE.
Cost – $64 is what I paid with shipping (IIRC), LBT is great gear and at that price this bag is a steal. When not on sale the $213 list price is a “dislike” for sure.
Size – 36L puts this pack solidly in the 3 day range, but it doesn’t look huge.
Dislikes:
Straps – While the straps aren’t uncomfortable for a 36L pack they are pretty thin (width), 36L can be a lot of weight on those straps. Although they aren’t totally necessary I do like stabilizers that run from the top of the straps to the body, again with the load 36L can provide it would be another.
Overall the LBT 3 Day pack is a good pack, at the $59 price point it’s a great pack and I would recommend anyone looking for a 3 day pack to catch one of these on sale.
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GORUCK Shadow Ruck 25 (SD25)
1525ci 25L
$95
More info: http://goruck.com/en/sd25#.U09HCVVdXug
The GORUCK SD25 is part of GORUCK’s lowest end line of packs, they call them their “book bags that don’t break”, and it is just that. I picked this up because I ended up with a gift card but it left me far short of the $300+ price tag of most of GORUCK’s packs. The SD25 is stripped of a lot of the features from the other GORUCK pack lines; no laptop pocket, really basic straps, no MOLLE (internal or external) and a few other areas that are lighter in material. The SD25 is still well built and comes with GORUCK’s scars guarantee, it’s a well made “book bag” for sure.
Likes:
Organization – even though the shadow line has no MOLLE GORUCK didn’t skimp on the pockets, there is a large pocket on the front of the front panel and two additional pockets on the backside of said panel.
Size – 25L is a great size, its right in the zone of 1-2 day pack.
That GORUCK look – it looks like a GORUCK which to some people (myself included) it’s a gear whore badge of honor. Things like their signature zipper pulls (paracord with heat shrink) and the cool backwards flag sown into the loop on the front. Just little things that make the look of the pack standout.
Dislikes:
Support – I have a hard time being negative with this pack simply for the fact that GORUCK aren’t selling this as anything more than a Tacticool book bag. But the pack with any weight likes to sag bad, it actually makes it very uncomfortable. However if used for its intended purpose the books would probably act as a frame sheet, or just adding a frame sheet might help too.
Straps – I love and hate the straps, no sternum strap (or good/easy way to add one) makes them make less than ideal for long distance carrying, but they are well padded and a nice width.
Overall the GORUCK SD25 is an ok bag; it is what they say it is a “book bag”. It’s built like a tank but it’s missing a lot of features that I think are needed in a serious use pack. If you happen to be in the market for a school/book type backpack that has that GORUCK look and some good organization this might be an option.
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Kifaru Zippy
1500ci 24.48L
$299
More info: http://store.kifaru.net/zippy-1500-c...ters-p122.aspx
The Kifaru Zippy is my most expensive backpack and it’s my favorite. The Zippy is almost overbuilt, that’s really the best way I can describe the quality of workmanship and materials, every edge is finished and every stitch is clean. It’s hard to describe (especially to my wife) why paying $300 for a pack is really worth it, there is something about quality that sometimes is hard to describe. If I had been planning ahead I should have done some side by side photos of the Zippy and a low end pack (Condor, Voodoo, etc.). Is it worth $300, to me: yes. Again it’s hard to quantify and really explain but the quality when in person really speaks for its self. Back to the Zippy its self: I use the zippy for most things, it’s great when I need a little more room than the Tarahumara (review above). Most recently I used it to go to a Rockies game and was able to haul: 4 bottles of water, 2 rootbeers, a pound of peanuts, 2 coats (winter), a blanket and my camera. If I wasn’t a gear whore it would be my one and only, it’s the right size for most jobs and is very comfortable.
Likes:
Organization – the Zippy lives up to its name, there are three ways into the main body of the pack: top lid, and two side access panels. Each of the side panels has a mesh pocket on the inside (with zipper) and the lid has an external pocket as well as mesh pocket (with zipper) on the underside. Inside there is also a small bag hanging (picture a pencil bag and sorry I didn’t think to take a picture till now), adding another zipper to the 7 zippers (thus Zippy). All of these make it easy to organize and access your stuff, which between camera gear and baby stuff is required for any bag I use on trips.
Size – as I said above the Zippy can fit a lot, and it has great access.
Quality – as I said above it’s hard to explain, especially when most packs are made up of the same stuff (500D cordura, ITW plastic hardware, and heavy duty zippers.) but the workmanship on Kifaru’s products is top notch.
Dislikes:
Price – like I said it’s worth it to me, but it still does feel silly to pay $300 for a backpack.
Water bottle pockets – I’m only including this because the day after I ordered my Zippy, Kifaru announced the Urban Zippy which has external water bottle pockets. I liked MOLLE to much to switch and the side access makes it easy enough to get my water bottle without too much effort.
Overall the Zippy is my favorite pack, it’s pricey but it’s well built, well organized, and fits my needs. I would recommend the Zippy to anyone who can afford a high end pack and is looking for a do it all pack.
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Tactical Tailor Removable Operator Pack
1178ci 19.3L
$115
More info:http://www.tacticaltailor.com/remova...ratorpack.aspx
Since I mention it a couple times here is the Mil-Spec Monkey version too: http://milspecmonkey.com/store/packs...dapt-pack.html
The Tactical Tailor Removable Operator Pack is a great EDC (every day carry) size backpack, it would ideal for a 1 day situation. It is mountable via the included hardware and the straps stow away. Coming in at 1178ci it’s on the smaller end of my collection but the space is well utilized, the front pocket currently has all of my first aid stuff in it allowing the main pocket to be used for whatever else is needed that day. I use this pack a lot during training days; I’m able to fit a couple bottles of water, a jacket, and firearms stuff on top of the medical supplies that live in it permanently. As you can see I added a CAT tourniquet, a glow stick holder (which on night trainings comes in handy to find your bag) and I added a pistol taco to the other side.
Likes:
Unique features – not unique to the market but within my collect at least, things like the option to put the straps away and mount the pack.
Price – at $115 I can’t complain, and for a cheaper option the Mil-spec Monkey Adapt pack is essentially Mil-Spec Monkey’s remake (with Tactical tailors help) on this pack and it runs around $99.
Dislikes:
Size – this really isn’t a “dislike” as much as the pack would be useable in more situations it had just a little more room. The pack is a great 1 day or EDC pack but it’s limited to that in the end.
Overall the Tactical Tailor Removable Operator Pack is an excellent choice for an EDC pack or a 1 day pack. It’s well built, has some unique features and would be a great addition to any collection. Personally if I were to do it again however I would buy the Mil-Spec Monkey Adapt pack since it is a little cheaper and he added some more features to this pack.
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Thanks for doing the write up!
Good, informative reviews. Thanks for posting.
Tacticon Armament
40L Bug Out Bag. Just under $70, and a lifetime guarantee.
https://tacticon.com/product/tactica...tary-backpack/