Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting I'm leaving the MR home this year

I see some are advertised as Gen II, is there much of a difference and how do you tell be looking at the pack.

Just trying to find a toplid for one is a pain. There's two on th bay right now, but the price they're commanding is just silly IMO.

NXP

Missed that thread I guess. However, anyone that thinks load lifters and their position aren't/isn't critical on an IF just hasn't used IF's much...

Just an FYI for those of you interested: These packs sell new in the uniform shops on base for almost $500. They are quite a bargain at the used/surplus prices.

Would the Medium belt go down to a 30 inch waist? I am very tempted to pull the trigger on one, but I am afraid the medium might be a little too big.

Also, I may have missed this, but do these packs have adjustable torso length?

Finially someone said it!! Thanks Brad

The Gen II will have the coyote tan back pad, inside of shoulder straps & waist belt. The Gen I has black in the same areas.

MtnHtr

You're welcome (grin).

Seems there are a lot of newbies around here with a couple years experience carrying internals that somehow think they've learned all there is to know about them.

I've carried internals exclusively since 1978 (at one time counted how many I've used, but it's over twenty five), and am always learning something about them... one thing I know for sure, anyone that thinks load lifters and their position aren't critical is just displaying their ignorance/lack of experience.

Gents,

I have in my hands a Kifaru Gen 2 multimission Rick (MMR)

how is the pack being discussed better? Oter than used = 1/3 the price of the Kifaru.

David,

Unless someone does a side by side comparison of both packs then the jury is still out. The price is a big draw on these packs and they are solidly built . SU35's son has used an ILBE extensively and unlike some posters on here who go around beating their chests on how long they've been backpacking I'll take SU35's, his boy's and Bryant's word these are great packs. And yes the load lifters are great, I see Brad is up to his usual dufus internet antics.

MtnHtr

Where can I acquire one of these packs? Only Ebay, or do I have other options?

Ebay is the only place I've been able to find them.

PM me. I may have another option for you....

I suppose the "get what you pay for" is about right for $200ish. And too, it really is perfect for every kool-aid drinker out there that thinks just because the <insert military branch here> uses it, it must be the cat's ass.

Don't get me wrong, it is a pretty decent pack overall, and I still really like mine (civvy version) for what it is, but I'd exercise a little caution to anyone contemplating buying one if you expect to load it up with some serious dead weight due to the suspension issues, which are two-fold:

1) Unless they've dramatically increased the strength of the internal aluminum stays from the civilian versions - which from the video look identical in build to mine), the "frame" is laughably flimsy compared to some better built hunting packs on the market. The civilian version I have is good comfortwise for less than 50-60 pounds and while I've carried out some monster 100+ lb. loads, it becomes pretty obvious that some much beefier stays would be mo betta. And by flimsy, I mean in comparison to heli-beefier suspension rigs like my Kifaru G2 Longhunter, and G2 Siwash for that matter). Just push down on the top of the stays in a side by side comparison test and the difference is pretty dramatic...fold vs. no-fold. Load that Arcteryx up and the stays will begin to flex and inevitably push that thermo molded "padding" into your lower back (I'm referring to that lower portion of the upper pad that velcros the lumbar pad in place). I ended up with some weird crunchy blistered spots on my lower/mid back where that "padding" tried to rub a hole through my skin one time after a heavily meat laden ex-fill, and promptly started my search for a better pack. Which in turn also leads to the other drawback to the suspension...

2) The ventilation of the back padding is a bit of a joke in that it is essentially non-existent (again, especially in comparison to Kifaru's G2 duplex suspension). Yeah, the little thermo molded depressions are there and the pack initially feels good snugged into your back and all, but they are mostly cosmetic and don't allow for very good, if any, ventilation and cooling. The ventilation issue isn't a big deal during cooler temps or I suppose if one is only going on make-believe hikes up cup-cake trails during high-buck, but there are much better and more comfortable pack suspensions on the market (especially at full retail $500ish dead-bird price points).

Pic for visual reference...

Bushcraft

Bless you friend, I hope you find the perfect hunting grounds and kill a 30" mule deer this fall.

Bushclown,

Yea, kill a big one for me too.

MtnHtr

I'm sorry MtnHatr, I haven't followed any of your nearly 7,500 posts. Are you always that stupid, or are you just making a special effort today?

I mean really, far be it from me or anyone else on this board to actually speak from experience about something and have an opinion that runs contrary to a mighty Camp Jacker like you!

And thanks SU35, best of luck to you as well.

Bushcraft,

Love the photo of those flimsy aluminum stays, can you believe the Aryctex engineers were so stupid to use 7075-T6 aluminum on the Tango? And all the marines are so dissatisfied having to pack that pos? They would rather go back to the Alice maybe? I'm sure you can fill us in some more, please do! And post some photos of your Tango in action, hopefully you have some photos of your blistered back? That is terrible!

TIA,

MtnHtr

MtnHtr,



In the interest of helping others that are contemplating an Arctery'x ILBE purchase vs. other hunting packs, I've actually done the side by side use, comparison and review and gave at least two perfectly valid explanations as to why the Arctery'x's Bora/Tango/ILBE suspension is inferior to the Kifaru G2 Duplex suspension.

With that being said, if you merely want to continue being a "the Marines use it so there must not be anything better" kool-aid drinking, high-post count jackass that hasn't actually done one iota of a side by side comparison, by all means...carry on! I mean, when you are that good at nothing, what's stopping you right?

Anyway, for the rest of you that might be interested in the facts, I called up Dead Bird today since I didn't know for certain if the ILBE's suspension was beefed up from the civvy versions or not (I noted this in my original post BTW) and I wanted a definitive answer. I was told that the Arctery'x Bora, Tango and ILBE all have virtually the same suspension and that the Tango has a slightly different means by which it's belt couples into the pack, but the Bora's and the IBLE's suspensions are identical. The only real difference is the bags. If ya don't believe it, call 'em up and ask 'em for yourself if ya like. It's a toll free number.

Back to the suspension comparison - at least for all of you that are more interested in a factual side-by-side comparison, let the following picture speak a thousand words...the stays pulled from my packs:



If you don't believe that the much beefier Kifaru stays are stronger and far less prone to flexing than the comparatively flimsy Arctery'x stays...well, you are blind, dumb and I can't help you.

And that's just the stays! The frame-sheet is much, much more rigid and stronger on the Kifaru than the Arctery'x's frame sheet. Plus, the Kifaru G2 Longhunter is a modular concept, whereas the Arctery'x Bora/Tango/ILBE packs are not. Couple those design attributes together and you end up waaay ahead support-wise with the Kifaru. I realize it's a bit subjective, but IMO Kifaru's hip belt is also A LOT more comfortable under heavy loads that the Arctery'x belt. If you are thinking about buying the Arctery'x, why buy a pack that weighs as much as it does if the frame is flimsy in comparison to other, better , more modular hunting packs that are on the market?

Like I said, you get what you pay for. The Arctery'x is a pretty decent pack overall, especially at the used $200ish price point, and is reasonably comfortable with loads up to the 50-60 lb and will certainly get the job done with 100 lb. + loads. (EDIT: I'd actually like to have the Bora pack bag on my Kifaru G2 Duplex frame.) But the suspension system isn't even close to being in the same league as the Kifaru G2 Longhunter WRT suspension design and comfort...which is why I upgraded to the G2 Longhunter and G2 Siwash and now use my Arctery'x pack as a loaner and for workouts.

The day I started thinking about upgrading my Arctery'x pack to one that was designed from the start to carry heavy loads of dead critters a long ways out of the backcountry...





YW,

Allen