Lightest backpack w/frame that is also set up for molle?

Daniel Koster

Daniel Koster

www.kosterknives.com
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 18, 2001
Messages
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Which lightweight backpack with frame is set up for molle?

I want something somewhat sturdy (but not Priority #1, which is lightweight) that I can "accessorize" with molle gear as needed.

This is for a "pack-in, pack-out" excursion. So, needs to be able to carry a lightweight tent as well as a sleeping pad or light sleeping bag...plus a small amount of food/water...one change of clothing...small first aid kit...and light utensils.


I'm trying to lighten this thing up as much as possible, yet still retain the ability to hike in 10 miles, camp and hike out.

"Frivolities" such as large camp knives, large cooking gear, etc. will be left behind.

Got any suggestions?

Or articles to read about such a pack?

Thanks!

Dan
 
If you want molle attachments you're probably going to have to look for military style packs. These are often referred to as "assault packs" or "three day packs". A lot of civilian manufacturers have started making really nice military-style packs so you're in luck. As with anything you can spend a lot or a little depending on how you're going to use it and what you need it to do. If you really want a frame Kifaru makes a lot of really nice custom fit rucks with molle attachments. Some have frames and some don't. They're expensive though. Arcteryx has a military product line too. A cheaper alternative would be to just get an old ALICE pack and frame. You can still put pouches on the outside and the pack cinches down if you're only carrying a few items. I use one all the time and they work well, are light, and are very sturdy.

http://www.arcteryx.com/leaf
http://www.kifaru.net/

If you're only taking a small amount/light weight of gear you could probably get away with not having a frame, especially if you're trying to save weight. If I were going 10 miles with the gear you mentioned I would probably just use an assault pack with molle tapes. Something like this would be ideal imo:

http://tacticaltailor.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=40

It has a waist and sternum straps and you could easily put 50lbs of crap in it and go for 10 miles. In my experience my blackhawk assault pack and tactical assault gear pack didn't even hold up well to garrison duty.

you can get some more info and reviews at:

http://www.militarymorons.com/equipment/packs.html
 
Kifaru MMR - nice!

mmr_anat.jpg


Base Price: $530.00

:eek:

I better start saving! :D



The last link shows a pack cover at the bottom of the page - but the link doesn't work. *shrug* Looks nifty.
 
If you're going KIFARU, you won't be getting a lite weight pack - they are built to last... I know, I just got their new model XRay - it's a good sized day pack with enough attachment options that it could easily turn into a 3 + day pack if you can actually pack lite. :thumbup: But the bag itself is almost 6lbs.! However, with the padded Omni waist belt, you can carry comfortably, and stabley, 50+lbs. with little effort...

The big pack you've shown could probably work well on an extended, multi-week trip! :eek:

They are pricey, but I have grown to believe this is the last daypack + I'll ever buy, and I have been through maybe 12 different day + bags in the last 10 years looking for the right one...

Also, Kifaru's larger bags have an option that lets you carry large bulky items on your pack, such as jerry cans, bodies, whatever... Pricey, and somewhat heavy, but they are worth it IMHO... :thumbup: :D
 
Molle-compatible equipment probably won't be ultralight in any case. It's designed to hold up under a good bit of abuse, and not fail in a critical situation.

I'd suggest minimizing your gear as much as possible, then getting the smallest pack that fits everything. You can always put other pouches on the outside if needed. Three day assault pack size sounds about right. You could also go without a frame, and steal an ultralight packing trick - put a sleeping pad inside the pack to use as a pseudo-frame. If you pack well, this works up to about 30 lbs. Thermarest Z-rest works well for this.

If you really want to go ultralight, you could try to get a pack maker to sew MOLLE webbing on a light weight pack. There are several small pack makers in the U.S. that are small enough they might accept customization requests. Or you could make your own:
http://www.gossamergear.com/gossamergear/images/myog/Classic_G-4_12-31-06.pdf
 
still looking for more ideas/suggestions. :thumbup:
 
Adding webbing to the gossamer would make it less water resistant. You could always seal the inside seams or add a second piece of liner fabric (making a bag-within-a-bag) if you sew it yourself. As for strength, the webbing bar tacks will make the fabric less strong, but the webbing will add reinforcement. I'm not sure what the net result would be. Silnylon is very strong, but optimized for low weight. If you made this yourself, you might want a slightly more durable fabric, like 200 denier cordura.

Camelbak Motherlode specs out at 3.77 lbs (tadgear figure) for 2142 cubic inches. No frame. I suspect this is one of the lighter molle-compatible packs out there.

Mystery Ranch is also an option. They collaborate with camelback on larger packs.

3-day assault pack 2000 cubic inches, 5 lb. 1 oz, $240
http://www.mysteryranch.com/site/pack.php?ID=31

Manticore. 4200 cubic inches, 3 lb. 1 oz + 4 lb. 5 oz NICE frame
http://www.mysteryranch.com/site/pack.php?ID=23

The best solution might be to ask if they'll sew PALS webbing on one of their standard packs, like the Big Sky:

http://www.mysteryranch.com/site/pack.php?ID=8

You'd get a tough pack that carries well, at slightly lower cost and weight than military-specific packs.


Lastly, a thread I dug up on "three-day assault packs" unfortunately, not much weight info:
http://www.ar15.com/lite/topic.html?b=6&f=10&t=186483

In comparing packs, a useful statistic is the volume to weight ratio. It lets you know how much space you're getting for a particular pack weight. Keep in mind there's no real industry standard for measuring pack volume, so the number may be a bit soft. Also, published weight may vary from actual weight.
 
I purchased the Eagle Industries mollie packs with frames,woodland camo.USGI surplus. $40 apiece from a member over at ARfcom.
I like mine.it's not a day pack
 
Here are some more specifics:


I need a bag around 4000 cu in.

Needs to be able to handle 25-40 lbs.

Needs to be sturdy enough to do a 50 miler over the course of a week-and-a-half.

Needs to be as lightweight as possible. I will already have a repair kit with me (for others' bags...so not a problem if "lightweight" also means "not as durable")
 
Dan, keep in mind those Mystery Ranch packs are just bags - the frame is extra $ and weight. Manticore will spec out at 7 lb 6 oz and $509, which is similar to the Kifaru.

Any particular reason why you want a molle system? You can strap accessory pouches to many packs - although the molle system is the most flexible and has the widest variety of compatible accessories.

My standard do-everything pack is a Gregory Reality (no longer made). Similar items are:

http://www.gregorypacks.com/prod.php?ID=85 3350 cubic inches in size M, 3 lb 5 oz

http://www.gregorypacks.com/prod.php?ID=5 4200 cubic inches (M), 4lb 15 oz.
The rear panel is slotted so you could lash on a variety of accessories.

Gregory side pouches: http://www.gregorypacks.com/accessorie_detail.php?ID=5
I don't think these would work super-well on the sides of the Makalu, since it only has one side compression strap.

If you want to do a 50 miler, your highest priority will be comfortable suspension. As you carry less weight or get more fit, you'll be able to comfortably use a less beefy suspension. Packs like the Gossamer require a near-religious commitment to reducing gear weight, while military packs assume you'll be lugging heavy stuff, like ammo. Regardless, packs are a lot like shoes - fit is everything and can vary from brand to brand.
 
Check out bug out gear I'm not sure if the size is big enough but i have the "Bugout Bag" and it is huge (3280 of advertised storage) with molle strips, other attachment points, seperate compartments, an internal frame (that is actually two flat pieces of aluminum in the back but very effective) fairly lightweight when loaded but carrys well, and I use it now in Afghanistan on weeklong missions and have no complaints. It's around 70 dollars at the PX. The company is sandpiper i believe but take a look here: http://www.actiongear.com/cgi-bin/t...ctx=bugout gear&backto=/agcatalog/results.tam they are on sale now. Also look at the Long Range Bag from the same company it has the same features but 6300 ci of storage.
Greg
 
There are no MOLLE compatible packs on the market that weigh less than 5 lbs for a 4000 cubic inch pack.

The reason for this is that the MOLLE system is deemed too heavy for the ultralight crowd that designs packs for companies like Gossamer packs and Go-Lite.

If you are set on the MOLLE system for an ultralight pavk, then you're gonna have to customize a sub-4 lb. pack with the MOLLE attachment strap system. Companies like Wild Things, Mystery Ranch and Rainy Pass Repair can do the custom work for you.
 
Wild Things Andinista looks pretty cool. :thumbup:

andinistalg.jpg





I'm not going to cry about a 4-6 lbs pack...

Just want something somewhat durable...that could last a few days of 10-mile hikes....have enough storage for a sizeable trip (~4000 cuin)...and have some way of attached my molle-compatible gear to it. :thumbup:
 
Wild Things makes good gear. Their sail cloth fabric is one of the tougher things on the market right now. The frame is minimal - just foam padding, but you can augment that by locating a sheet of polyethylene and sliding it in with the foam. Wild Things has done some work with the military - notably developing the latest cold weather shell gear - so they might be able to do PALS webbing for you. On the contact/ordering area of their website, they acknowledge taking custom orders, which is more than most companies.

While we're tossing out custom shops, McHale has one of the longest track records and best reputations.
http://www.mchalepacks.com/

I'm sure pretty much any MOLLE-compatible gear, and all but the most ultra-light regular packs, out there will stand up to 50 miles of trail. Your mileage may vary off trail. Just like knives, there are ways to quickly destroy just about anything.
 
Cool....I've fired off an email to Dan McHale. We see what he says.
 
I was curious what you'd find interesting from McHale. Burried deep in his page are two things: 1. He likes to deal over the phone. 2. This is a slow time of year, so he may be off adventuring.
 
thanks for the info....I'll give him a shout.
 
Yet another link:

http://www.arcteryx.com/leaf/insert.asp?page=Packs

I keep forgetting that lots of mainstream pack makers have military lines. As my friend said the other day, "Special Forces shop at REI these days." Tango is 4000 cubic inches, about $100 less than the Kifaru/Mystery Ranch models. Not much weight difference, and not US made, though.

Edit - OK. mmckinley beat me to arcteryx. Now I feel like I'm being obsessive with this thread.
 
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