Kifaru EMR II vs Duplex Timberline 1

[brocksw]

What are the thoughts?

 

[COlineman78]

They are different classes as far as size. A lot of my gear is kinda bulky and found it hard to fit it all in my DT1. I am thinking of swapping out for either an AMR or EMR II. This was for a backpack fishing trip where I was carrying a bunch of crap including a raft, waders, etc., so I wouldn't be too worried about it if you are talking under 60lbs worth of crap. So to answer your question: it depends on your intended use. If you are like me and would rather carry some extra lbs and suffer for a couple hours in order to be comfortable in camp then you may think about the bigger packs, but if you are the lightweight type then go with the DT1 as most that I have talked to said they don't use it and it's too big.

 

[striker3]

I looked real hard at the EMR II. I loved how much it was capable of packing, yet collapsing down to a day pack size. Then I realized that the Nomad was probably a better fit. The majority of the time, I will use the pack as a day pack. Most of my hunting plans revolve around setting up a base camp and hunting from there. I will be better served by being able to pull my 55L dry bag off the nomad, set up camp and then leave everything not needed for the day trips in camp and organized. i won't need to dig through and rearrange stuff For each setup..

I know that the Nomad wasn't one of your choices, but if you hunt like I plan too, it is worth a look.

 

[dirtytough]

I haven't used an EMR ll, but the T1 is hard to beat. Really good organization for a large pack.

 

[JG358]

I prefer the EMRII. Day gear in the wings, camp in the main bag. Set camp, compress the bag and start hunting. Its also nice to have the center zipper to access the main bag if you have to dig around for something.

 

[luke moffat]

Having packed over a dozen animals out with both the Timberline 1 and the EMR 2 I strongly prefer the EMR 2. Just much easier to organize the gear and load up meat when successful. The center zip of the main bag to load and unload camp or meat is simply awesome.

 

[husky390]

Center zip access on the EMR II is what made me ditch my T1 for it.

 

[Tiger Rag]

I've had an EMRII and I now have an AMR (similar layout to the DT1). EMRII was nice with center zip but with the side pockets, it could get wide on you. If you pack with pull outs, the center zip isn't necessary in my opinion and the compression straps were not the easiest to manage. The AMR works better for me.

 

[slim9300]

Here's a cut and paste from my post on another thread where the op was trying to decide between the DT1 and Mountain Warrior.

I think you will love the AMR over the DT1.

"I vote for AMR. Packs down to nothing and has the perfect amount of space for when you kill AND you want to pack camp. I did this twice in September with 1/2 an elk and I found the AMR to be the perfect bag for me. I have always felt like I could use more space and not less once an animal is down. I do a lot of backpacking in general and for that, your bag really doesn't matter as much. But for hunting off your back (I am guessing since it happened to me), eventually you will find a larger bag being more desirable.

I own a DT1 and T1 and I prefer the AMR. The larger front pockets are a huge improvement along with a larger top opening. I don't miss the side pockets since anything that I used to put in them can just be strapped on if they don't fit in the bag.

And in daypack mode it's the exact size of the Mountain Warrior."

 

[justin davis]

I prefer the EMR 2 over the timberline. Compressed tiny yet can expand and carry crazy big loads! Plus I like the center zip!!

 

[luke moffat]

For larger volume loads you are going to have to expand your load one of 3 ways.

1) Back away from your body....the worst option IMO and not many packs allow for this anyways....as they should.

2) Up up and away.....The T1 and the AMR like SLIM posted above both go tall. Which in the brush is a PITA IME having owned a DT1 and T1 as seen here:


Some DT1 or T1 packs loaded volumous:




3) Wide Load Ahead.....EMR2 yes makes things wide but not as tall when large awkward loads are on the agenda. So its more or less a pick your posion sort of dea. The EMR 2 loads look more akin to loads I had when I used an Alaskan guide favorite Barney's packframe and bag. I have found over the years that a wider load is less of a hinderance in dense brush than a tall one....but they all suck.

EMR 2 Loaded wide but not as tall:

 

[COlineman78]

Luke, it should be pointed out that if you want to go tall with a DT1 in the way shown in the picture it is now impossible with the snow collar removed. My new DT1 cannot be loaded over my head without pods or external strapping.

This is my DT1 (std lid) loaded to the brim with a tent and sleeping bag strapped underneath:

 

[slim9300]

Luke, it should be pointed out that if you want to go tall with a DT1 in the way shown in the picture it is now impossible with the snow collar removed. My new DT1 cannot be loaded over my head without pods or external strapping.

This is my DT1 (std lid) loaded to the brim with a tent and sleeping bag strapped underneath:

I don't believe that is true. You can put a foot of gear or more between your lid and the top of the pack easily in the picture you posted. That could also include the head of an animal where you use the lid to cinch it down to the pack. If the item is say a sleeping bag or something you need to keep dry, you just make sure it's in a dry bag. I use the Granite Gear Uberlight 15L bags and I always have four of them with me for organization.

This year my AMR (basically a wider DT1 without a snow collar) was 100% full with gear and meat, and my bull's head sat right on top of the pack (nose up). The lid is what held it in place despite it being a good 16 inches tall.

 

[COlineman78]

slim, while I could've gone a little higher with the correct stuff sack I did have my sleeping pad on top the bag but under the lid. You can see the black bag in the picture sticking out a bit. Due to this being a late Aug trip I brought my memory foam topper for insulation so it fit perfectly on top, but squished down a descent amount. My point was that you couldn't run a pack like the middle one in the Luke's picture. There is plenty of strap length though so you could fit a huge dry back between the pack and the lid if you wanted, but you'd need something to hold all of your stuff together like a dry bag since the snow collar is no longer there.

 

[PredatorX]

What are the differences from the old DT1 and the new DT1? What year did this change take place?

 

[sr80]

What are the differences from the old DT1 and the new DT1? What year did this change take place?

I believe they trimmed some of the snow collar off ( which a lot of guys were cutting off themselves). They also redesigned the side pockets because guys were having problems getting their spotter, tripod or other gear in and out once the main bag was stuffed full. I have a newer dt1 and the side pockets are huge. Also the two pockets on the front or back whichever you call it are a bit bigger. I have no experience with the EMR. But I really love the DT1. I don't think a guy could go wrong with any of the Kifaru bags. I like AMR too, but I don't really need two big bags.

 

[Nick Muche]

Night vs Day...EMR all the way.

(Own/Used both...)

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

Gotta say, beyond the ridiculous weight that Luke reports carrying from time to time, it's impressive and a little hard to fathom just getting under some of those awkward loads without 2 guys helping you up like a turtle on its shell.

 

[luke moffat]

Most of the awkward loads aren't nearly as heavy as hauling a good load of camp and meat off the mountain. They are awkward sure in the pics above but I don't thinks single one went over 100 pounds in the pics above. It's the 120+ pound loads that require me to roll over onto my knees and use my arms and legs in conjunction to stand up that I struggle with but I am not as stout as many here so that's the method I use to stand up with a stupid heavy (for me) load.