I will second you on the cult of blind brand followers. I mix and match my gear since this is the only way I can get stuff to fit me perfectly (and affordably). I never followed one brand loyally since even thou they got few things perfect they will fail somewhere. I mean I have few favorite brands that I will check out first but I will keep shopping until I find what I need. I will not buy a product that is missing few things just because I'm brand loyal. I believe that there are other alternatives and choosing your own brand is what makes you an intelligent customer. Also if you are looking down upon me because my pack is not what the latest tactical fashion dictates I think than you might be too much about gear and not enough about the task in hand. Now pricing is a totally different part of the story here. I personally can't afford many of the gear I would like. I trade a lot, looking for used items trying to complete the best items for as much as I can afford. Few years ago I got into 'made in the usa" argument about TAD fleece hoodie. I wanted justification on why a fleece hoodie costs $200 why even the Arcteryx jackets were $150. I got ganged up upon with statements like "made in the US", American fabrics and American design... Yeah its great but my American job didn’t want to pay for American made product. Everyone was screaming high American note but nobody mentioned how warm and functional it was. I ended buying it on sale and it is really great item. My points in the pre SuperBowl rambling are as follows:

1) Don’t be a blind brand follower
2) Don’t knock the brand you haven’t tried
3) Don’t use “made in the usa” as a main gear feature
4) Understand that some people can’t afford the most expensive gear
5) Agree that there are other brands out there that even if not suitable for you are perfectly good for others
6) Don’t knock the users of different brands. That’s like making fun about someones girlfriend.
7) Skill above gear.

7) Skill above gear

Very, very nice -- I've never heard that one before.

That applies to several of my aviation students. Sometimes their zest for gadgets overshadows the need for skill.

Sorry, CCH.

Sorry, Doug.

No experience with Kifaru YET!!

I too spent a lot of time with this decision. Did a lot of reading and asked a TON of questions.

No, I am not in the "Sandbox" defending freedom, but do go out and use my gear every weekend on hikes and take it camping. I like equipment that is modular and allows me to adapt it to my needs. I also want something that I pretty much won't ever have to replace.

I have owned Camelbak BFM ( a good pack with lots of room although a bit on the heavy side for just the pack ) and Maxpedition Vulture and Falcon. Also both good packs and adaptable, but found both don't quite fit my frame. So, since I am in the financial position to spend my money the way I want, I finally bit the bullet and ordered up a Kifaru EMR and Marauder. Also picked out the XTL lid for the EMR and a cargo chair as well as a few external and internal pockets. I should be getting the packs soon, and so far, am happy with the service and attention to detail I have received. Of course, when you spend that much money on packs, they should treat you well, but I have had far too many experiences where I have been treated badly and spent much less money.

So, if the S... does ever HTF, then when all is said and done, I will at least have the packs I have always wanted. Hopefully the rest will be as easy. Once they arrive, I will do a set-up of my complete B.O.B. and pack load-out and post it here.

No worries. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Equipment selection can easily reach the same zealotry as religon. The only difference is in our temperal world if the first fails we may get to find out the validity of the second. Thats why sharing information is helpfull, but at day's end everyone crawls alone, naked or in thermals back into our own silent down, lamilite or thinsulite wombs, knife of choice to cut any paracord umbelicals come the rebirth of a new day. We hope <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I just recently had my new pack come in the mail. It's an REI Lookout. I really have to say this is a great pack. The pack opens ffrom the front with a sort of panel door, allowing you to get things on the bottom of the pack without having to dig. It also has essential survival basic tips sewn into various compartments for a quick reminder. The sternum strap buckle has a whistle molded into the buckle plastic. I thought that was pretty nifty. I haven't had a chance to take it out yet. But I've loaded it up with some pretty hefty stuff and it felt great. There's my two cents on my pack <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Yep, all this high tech pack stuff reminds me of a tv show I was watching about the Maori, where one fellow was packing most of his belongings in a shoulder pack (I say shoulder pack only because the hide bag he was using only had one strap, which was draped over his shoulder) over the hills to another village to trade. When he got there, many of the items he removed were carefully wrapped up in plastic grocery bags, which he carefully unwrapped, folded up, and stowed away for later. It is amazing the contrast between his priorities and those of our throw away society.

I saw equipment that porters use in Africa to carry loads close to 100 lbs. Pieces of canvas and leather held together by patches. Straps are no wider than half an inch with no padding. Loads are big and troublesome: kitchen table, full kitchen stove... Not to mention what they wear: sandals/tennis shoes with some sweat pants to climb mountains that are 6000 meters. And on top of that they are still faster than tourists.

About the only ones not faster than tourists are the new independant aid workers. They'll kling to 500lbs of well drilling equipment that they cant move off a mountain until long after the ants have removed the meat off their bones, and wonder in the afterlife why everyone just shakes their heads at them.

I have to agree with you guys, I took a look at my kit and realized I got a little foamy over my Kifaru pack (aka: heroin w a frame and shoulder straps). I also realized that the entirety of my kit is from different makers. RBR, BH, TAG, Eagle, AMK, BW, and even some locally made stuff from some junk merchant in Kyrgyzstan that just seems to keep working. So, not everything is US made, and it's not all even the best, but it works for me over and over.
I guess that's what counts in the end......but If it was legal, I'd marry that ruck! LOL!
Mike