Alternatives to the Kifaru E&E

Blue Sky

Blue Sky

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Jun 16, 2002
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The Kifaru E&E looks to be just the right size for me, but they are very expensive and the wait is fairly long. I put out a feeler in the "Gadgets WTB" forum but I'm not exactly holding my breath I'll find one that way.

Does anyone know of a good alternative that's about the same size (900-1000 ci)? Backpack-only please, no sling bags. Before anyone says it, I have a Max Pygmy Falcon and it's a good pack, just a little too big for my particular needs. Thanks for any suggestions.
 
Thanks for the comparison pic's, now I know it's the right size. :thumbup:

It looks like you have the stock straps, how do you like them when it's loaded up heavy?
 
I wait 27 days for my E&E G2. That's pretty quick. Perfect daypack for me and a new addiction :D
Here's some pictures I put up in another thread:


The E&E has a pouch on the strap side for a bladder. Haven't tried one in it yet but others have in the kifaru forums and said it works.
You can also order straps from the X-Ray pack to put on the E&E. They are $36.
The E&E comes with 1 zippered chamber pocket to hold your EDC stuff. It'll hold a wallet, cell, keys, Ipod with much room to spare.
They still have some black G1 E&E's for $65.
Mine is the E&E G2.
 
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Blue Sky said:
Thanks for the comparison pic's, now I know it's the right size. :thumbup:

It looks like you have the stock straps, how do you like them when it's loaded up heavy?
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http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f98/ironmike86/DSC06848.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f98/ironmike86/DSC06859.jpg
I ordered the xray straps with them. The seatblet felt fine but I never load the pack heavy. The pack is small doubt it can get that heavy? But the xray feels alot better. The G1 in black is $65. Get that you can always order the xray straps later if your watching $$.
 
I ordered the X-Ray straps also but did so after this one arrived. The stock straps were actually very comfy. With 2 -48oz bottles of water, camera, a couple knives, snacks and a stuffed organzier with multitool, firesteel, book, field stone, etc, still felt fine with just a t-shirt on.
 
There are members on their forums that are always selling off their Kifaru stuff.

For your information, Porcupines' E&E has an organizer that is attached, but you must buy that separately ($65). I have his setup, but mine is brown. He also has a side attachment that does not come with the E&E.

If you call Kifaru, they might have the 1st generation E&E for cheap and no wait.

If you get it, compare the build quality with other high-end bags and packs. Check out the stitching and zippers, for example.

The cool thing about alot of the Kifaru stuff is that it 'docks' to their other bags. I also have a Kifaru Pointman. The E&E is docked to that. So when I get to camp, I can undock the E&E and go on dayhikes or fishing--without leaving the essentials.

What I carry in my Kifaru E&E.

Snowpeak stove and cook set with fuel canister.
Katadyne Hiker water filter
Nalgene 48 oz. collapsible bottle
Two Clif bars
Plastic flask with whiskey
RAT RC-5 - used to be a Kabar, but gave that to my nephew.
Adventure medical kit- "Adventurer"
H&K P7 pistol with one magazine.
Shimano Sahara reel with line (My rod is a four-piece Daiwa with case that is attached to E&E via straps. Sometimes I carry a fly fishing setup.
Bait and lure kit
25 ft. of paracord
Swiss army knife
Spork
toilet paper
REI raincoat that balls up to the size of a tennis ball.
police search gloves
BIC lighter
Fire steel
Petzl headlamp with spare batteries.
2 oz. bottle of hand saniter (can help make fires also)
and paperback book (usually a field guide about trees, fish, or birds of the area I'm in)

It still has room for an ultra light tarp (which I don't have, but want)

...so it can fit a lot of stuff. With all of this, you can choose not to go back to camp if the fishing is too good. ...or if the weather is too terrible.

I would recommend it. Even if you have to wait. Kifaru has a life time warranty on their stuff. Excellent customer service. All USA-made.
 
I've started haunting the Kifaru forum watching for sales, but not too many show up from what I've seen so far. They have (well, had) G1's on sale but only black is left, I missed the other colors.:( Maybe I didn't really want a G1 anyway, it looks like it may be a pain to get into compared to the full access panel of the G2...

I'm getting close to biting the bullet and ordering one. From the pic's and the sound of some of your load-outs, it will do just fine.
 
Their website says all their packs "built to order", so you can't order from stock. Seems strange to me, I can only wonder why they operate that way.
 
They make them from scratch every order is custom. I would think they would keep some stock of the common stuff like pockets = EE but guess not.
 
It really isn't that long of a wait.
I wouldn't want alot of stock laying around if it were my business.
Someone there is looking at your order sheet with a name on it and starts into it.
I think you get a better product with this business model. (The military guys certainly think so because they sell a lot to them) Not just turning and burning orders for some Big Box Outdoor store like ones made overseas.
I'm amazed at my E&E's quality. The zippers, stitching, webbing and material are all high quality and built for hard use.
 
PorcupineMtns66-

Have you carried it with water bottles attached to the sides?
 
Why is the EE better than the maximization pygmy falcon2
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baliodude said:
Why is the EE better than the maximization pygmy falcon2
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It's more compact/less rigid and has molle webbing all over along with four attachment points inside for chamber pockets and can be docked to a larger kifaru pack.
Nothing wrong with the PF2. Whatever works for you. MaxP makes good stuff.
 
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