Outdoorsman3830
Lil-Rokslider
Kifaru seems top notch in the weight and performance category. They offer a wide variety of packs to fit the various needs of most people. Like a few others, I was actually going to call in the near future about seeing if I could get a 500D Kifaru E&E without the PALS Webbing.
Eberlestock makes a great mid-grade pack. They could use a mesh that chafes less and also could use hip-belt stabilizers. A wider hip-belt could be better for heavy loads, but they may have corrected that with the V69 and V90's hip-belts (which appear to be compatible with the Blue Widow). The Just One and Dragonfly seem pointless with the Blue Widow and Skycranes ability to mount the scabbard along the length of the frame.
Mystery Ranch offers some great packs. The NICE Frame is an amazing concept, but people do not have perfectly flat backs. The Yoke is amazing and keeps the weight off of the top of the shoulders regardless of torso length (even if frame sits below shoulder height) and contours around the upper back and shoulders making up for the straight frame in the upper section. However, the bottom of the frame needs curvature. They should offer a flat back and normal back version, which should only require adding curvature to the bottom of the frame. Adding a curve to the bottom would not interfere with any of their bag designs.
"Mystery Ranch will not compete with Kifaru until they add a natural curve to the bottom of the NICE Frame." The extra weight is mostly because of increased organization, which is perfectly acceptable for those who like the additional pockets. Adding a bunch of pockets to a Kifaru Duplex Pack can easily put the pack in the same weight category as a Mystery Ranch. It just comes down to how you like your pack setup.
Eberlestock makes a great mid-grade pack. They could use a mesh that chafes less and also could use hip-belt stabilizers. A wider hip-belt could be better for heavy loads, but they may have corrected that with the V69 and V90's hip-belts (which appear to be compatible with the Blue Widow). The Just One and Dragonfly seem pointless with the Blue Widow and Skycranes ability to mount the scabbard along the length of the frame.
Mystery Ranch offers some great packs. The NICE Frame is an amazing concept, but people do not have perfectly flat backs. The Yoke is amazing and keeps the weight off of the top of the shoulders regardless of torso length (even if frame sits below shoulder height) and contours around the upper back and shoulders making up for the straight frame in the upper section. However, the bottom of the frame needs curvature. They should offer a flat back and normal back version, which should only require adding curvature to the bottom of the frame. Adding a curve to the bottom would not interfere with any of their bag designs.
"Mystery Ranch will not compete with Kifaru until they add a natural curve to the bottom of the NICE Frame." The extra weight is mostly because of increased organization, which is perfectly acceptable for those who like the additional pockets. Adding a bunch of pockets to a Kifaru Duplex Pack can easily put the pack in the same weight category as a Mystery Ranch. It just comes down to how you like your pack setup.
ok I'm done now. Sorry for the derail.
