Kifaru ZXR G2 Extended Bugout Bag; Updated 2/15/10

[thegrinninfin]

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned it yet, but you need a map! Other than that, kickass kit. I'm going to have to read it over again to get some more ideas. PM sent.

[Tperkins]

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned it yet, but you need a map! Other than that, kickass kit. I'm going to have to read it over again to get some more ideas. PM sent.

Well, good point. Problem I have with that is I dont really know where I will be bugging out to. I have two maps of the area and a late 90's total US atlas in the truck though. Basically I live in a city of ~80,000, surrounded by the suburbs of other cities that size and Chicago to the ESE. I have routes planned in the GPS out of here and away to potential BOLs which include out of state relatives houses and out of state friends houses, which would be where we headed to. We have new maps for Illinois, and maps a year or two out of date for Indiana, Missori, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michicgan, and Minnesota so for the area immediatley around my state we are good. I dont rely on the GPS because I can read maps just as well as a GPS, but that is really only the good option for maps. If I had a few specific bugout areas, I would have maps to them and then more detailed maps around that AO (Area of Operations). I just need to bugout from the city as soon as possible, no exceptions. I have locations I can head to any direction really other than directly north.

My plan for any major disaster that isnt totally regionalized, would be to head south to where my redneck cousins live, with bands of survialists all around thier community down there. We are very close with them, and I do not say redneck as a bad thing, I am too But they're out in the country and all. If the possibly of getting there is null, we would head to a relatives house in Missouri, or head to a relatives place in Montana. Going directly west of here will get you out into the country in about an hour, and being anywhere out there is at least way better than being in the city here. I'm working on upping our water and fuel carrying ability for any scenarios like that. My 99 Dakota gets between 10 and 15 mpg, and my dad's 01 Landcruiser gets about the same. Both vehicles can carry a large amount of supplies, both have GPS ( I have my Garmin CSX, he has In-Board) and we both have maps. We would use radios for two-way comms as only I have a CB at the moment. At the moment we are able to carry 8 gallons of extra fuel for each vehicle, but I'd like to double that number. Well, Im getting to much into my bugout plan now here, so I wont stray off topic unless something concerning it is presented, which you can feel free too.

[SharkChild]

Can you take a picture of the MSR bladder in your ZXR G2. I think I saw a pocket for it on the Kifaru website. But they did not have a picture of a bladder in it.

[thegrinninfin]

Also, if you're going to take pictures of the bladder pouch, could you also take a few of the lid? It seems like all the kifaru photos have the XTL on it .

[Tperkins]

Can you take a picture of the MSR bladder in your ZXR G2. I think I saw a pocket for it on the Kifaru website. But they did not have a picture of a bladder in it.

I didnt fill the bladder because I just got finished drying it out but its a 4 liter bladder and I think you could easily get a 5L full in there, one pic shows room.

Also, if you're going to take pictures of the bladder pouch, could you also take a few of the lid? It seems like all the kifaru photos have the XTL on it .

I had the same problem because I knew I couldnt afford the XTL right away, so it was kind of odd.

[SharkChild]

Tperkins Thanks, that is what I wanted to see. I am saving up for a Kifaru ZXR G2. the xlt I don't think I want. I saw the way Mags carries his thermarest and I like it better that way.

[Tperkins]

Tperkins Thanks, that is what I wanted to see. I am saving up for a Kifaru ZXR G2. the xlt I don't think I want. I saw the way Mags carries his thermarest and I like it better that way.

Yeah, I'm not sure if I want to get the XTL or not. I wish they made like something in the middle, that had MOLLE and D&L on the inside, MOLLE on the outside, and thats it. But what I really want to do is something I saw on the Kifaru forums, where a guy turned a Tailgunner I/II into the top lid. Its expensive to go and buy one of the TG's, but I think that would make for a great top lid if you attached it with quick disconnect buckles like he did. Makes a good alternative E&E or Medical kit.

Mel's Thread + Photobucket Pics of the TG I/II as a top lid
http://kifaruforums.net/showthread.php? ... er+top+lid
http://s73.photobucket.com/albums/i240/ ... edia=image

I have a winter outing in two weeks, so I can get some action photos of it toally loaded up. It will be sort of car camping, but it'll be in snow, with no electricity or water (we will bring water of course) since none of us are fully outfitted for standalone type winter camping. We'll have a big heated canvas tent, but thats for during the day, we'll be sleeping in normal tents. Once the snow melts I'll get a lot of action pics of it ha. I totally reccoment the ZXR though, this thing is fucking awesome, I dont plan on having to buy another pack, ever. Even though I probably will buy another Kifaru or two.....or four. Not anytime soon.

[GMZ]

Looking pretty good so far. Lots of wool stuff, I love wool. Lots of 550 cord too.

Your cuisine is severely lacking, the tuna/chicken/salmon/spam packets are great. I went with spam for the extra fat content. Some grains in there which is good, you dont want to get stopped up when you GOOD.

I would also ditch the mag stick for a firesteel, keep it around your neck on a lanyard so you dont have to dig.

For a BOB the stove is fine, although if you swapped it out for an alcohol stove you could use the alcohol for medical use if you had to as well.

Fiskars 14" hatchet rocks, I recommend it, or one of those survival saws that look like a bike chain. Not really suitable for an INCH but a BOB sure. Saber Cut Saw.

A water proof map of your half of the state would/could be highly advantageous and its very light. I got mine here.

I ditched my tent and went with a GTex bivy instead with a Thermarest pad.

Ive also went with mostly MRE entrees to eliminate the fluff. Here is a good place for the entrees or any component of an MRE.

Ill echo the others and say youre off to a hell of a start

[SharkChild]

Tperkins that tailgunner looks good. I might look more into it. I graduate in May and once I have been working for two months, I will be getting the ZXR all I need left is find out what else I feel I need from Kifaru so I can buy it all at once.

[Tperkins]

Looking pretty good so far. Lots of wool stuff, I love wool. Lots of 550 cord too.
Can never have enough of either

Your cuisine is severely lacking, the tuna/chicken/salmon/spam packets are great. I went with spam for the extra fat content. Some grains in there which is good, you dont want to get stopped up when you GOOD.
Yeah, I added some cans (cans for now) of tuna for now, until I get tuna packets and stripped MRE's

I would also ditch the mag stick for a firesteel, keep it around your neck on a lanyard so you dont have to dig.
I'll be looking into this tomarrow when I (should) be going to REI

For a BOB the stove is fine, although if you swapped it out for an alcohol stove you could use the alcohol for medical use if you had to as well.
Havent got around to this yet, still deciding on the whole stove thing, as in which one, $$ is tight now

Fiskars 14" hatchet rocks, I recommend it, or one of those survival saws that look like a bike chain. Not really suitable for an INCH but a BOB sure. Saber Cut Saw.
I'm waiting for some stuff to come into stock at the military place I order from a lot, and this is on the list

A water proof map of your half of the state would/could be highly advantageous and its very light. I got mine here.
I'll look into this

I ditched my tent and went with a GTex bivy instead with a Thermarest pad.
I'm looking into all of this, the tent is about 6-7lbs if I recall correctly. A bivy and pad or a Paratipi would be great, money is the bottleneck here
Ive also went with mostly MRE entrees to eliminate the fluff. Here is a good place for the entrees or any component of an MRE.

Ill echo the others and say youre off to a hell of a start

My first "BOB" back when I joined here in the beginning of last year was a sorry, sorry ass state. Had like 7 knives, 4 walkie talkies, shitty shitty food, and just a bunch of random shit and tools and shit hanging off all over. This attempt is hundreds of times better

Shark-I think a pouch for the top of the standard lid isnt a bad idea, with maybe a couple pullouts in it. Organizing small stuff in the bag is a little bit of a pain, but its worth the modularity. A flat slot-type pocket from someone like Emdom wouldnt be bad either, I've been thinking about that also until I can get the cash for the TG or something to that effect. I think a large pod wouldnt be a bad idea, for putting wet/soggy/muddy gear onto the bottom of your pack, and I think they are between $30 and $50 from small to large, just depends on your budget. Kifaru makes so much stuff I want haha.

[Red_Snow]

A flat slot-type pocket from someone like Emdom wouldnt be bad either

For quite a while I had two small shingles from Emdom on the lid of my Zulu for organization, sometimes with other MOLLE pouches attached on top of them. Worked great for small items that you didn't want floating around in the slot pockets or main body of the pack.

[Blackdog]

Rain gear/outer winter layer? Sure you have something tucked away some place but not in the pics.

[Tperkins]

Rain gear/outer winter layer? Sure you have something tucked away some place but not in the pics.

Well, I have a Field & Stream packable rainjacket I'll be adding once it starts to transition from snow to rain.

Red Snow - Yeah, I'm thinking about picking up one or two of those, they look nice.

Blackdog - For outer winter layer, I use the REI Neo Jacket (http://www.rei.com/product/746587) with the layers underneath it. With just a tshirt on under it, I have been outside comfortably for an hour or so. Putting on a few baselayers it is just as warm as my winter jacket. The winter coat I have is kind of a crappy off brand I bought when I didnt have anything to bridge the gap from fleece jacket to water resistant/proof coat, so I dont use it much, but I have it on hand to pack if needed, its heavy. The winter jacket it also down, if it gets wet, I would just chuck it. With the REI Neo, its all synthetic and with base layers under it would be good to go. The winter coat is too hot (for me) to wear anything other than a tshirt under it, so I'm either hot with it on or freezing with it off, not a good layering system.

[Tperkins]

Bump-

Bought a North Face 20 degree Climalite fill bag at REI for winter camping..but I think I'll be returning it after my trip in 2 weeks and buying a Wiggy's 20* bag. Renting a winter bag at REI for the duration of my trip+packing is going to be about $100, so screw that. I spend $160 on the North Face bag, but like I said I'll probably return it and order a Wiggy's bag. I'll be using my 40* bag as an overbag to the North Face bag if temps look like they'll drop.

I will do a short mini-review on using the North Face bag (Cats Meow, odd name) for yall on here, but I cant really test the durability over time.

Will be using my dad's R-Value ~7 thermarest pad and a simple air foam pad underneath for the pad stuff. EDIT: The large thermarest pad is for winter vechicle-based camping only.

Woods ( or anyone on here that's done the multiple pad/bag setup), do you notice its obvious that all the stuff slides all around? Ex sliding off pads, pads sliding off eachother, and is there a way you guys have fixed that problem if it is a problem?

[northernxposure]

TNF Cats Meow is a solid bag. It's got Climashield XP in it, one of the premiere insulations on the market. It is a mummy cut, so if you're not used to the fit it may be confining at first. Its also one of the lightest 20deg bags on the market for a syn bag.

Wiggys has a reputation - both good and bad depending on who you talk too - and as solid as their bags may be, he won't publish what the insulation values are, the bags routinely weight more than advertised, and the price is high compared to a comparable bag.

I think you'll be suprised with the Cat, but only you can decide if the bag is worth it. Can't beat REI's return policy though - just wish you were up here so I could be there when the spring garage sale hits!

What thermarest does your dad have that's a Rval of 7? Highest they made was a 4.3 I thought. I don't know if the Exped Downmat will hit a 7, and that thing cooks!

In answer to your question on multiple mats, they can wander if your an active sleeper. I use a small section of gripper mat between my BAIAC and my RR - it helps, but so does no inflating the mat all the way too.

Good Luck!

NXP

[molenz]

Nice kit, whats your current pack weight?

I didn't see any water filtration system, you've got the gear to boil but if you're running low on fuel or not in a situation to light a fire filtration is a good quick backup.

[thegrinninfin]

What thermarest does your dad have that's a Rval of 7? Highest they made was a 4.3 I thought. I don't know if the Exped Downmat will hit a 7, and that thing cooks!

The Luxury Map goes down to 6.7, and their Dream-something goes to 9 or something. But +lots for the Exped, also +a bunch for the grip tape between two mats.

[Tperkins]

What thermarest does your dad have that's a Rval of 7? Highest they made was a 4.3 I thought. I don't know if the Exped Downmat will hit a 7, and that thing cooks!

The Luxury Map goes down to 6.7, and their Dream-something goes to 9 or something. But +lots for the Exped, also +a bunch for the grip tape between two mats.

Yeah I think he has the Luxury Mat.

Molenz - I dont know what the current pack weight is as I have everything out and in componets right now kind of oraganzing stuff and prepacking for my trip next weekend. I'm going to guess it'll be around ~40 lbs not including food and weapons/ammo. The ZXR can easily handle 60lb loads.

[northernxposure]

What thermarest does your dad have that's a Rval of 7? Highest they made was a 4.3 I thought. I don't know if the Exped Downmat will hit a 7, and that thing cooks!

The Luxury Map goes down to 6.7, and their Dream-something goes to 9 or something. But +lots for the Exped, also +a bunch for the grip tape between two mats.

Ah HA! And the lightbulb goes click/poof - I rarely make it off the Pro-Lite/Ultra-lite page, I never even considered one of the uber-cush car mats.

That'll be comfortable for sure, and probably quite the roll under or over your ZXR. Tperkins you may want to get a scale out and start adding some of this up...

NXP

[Tperkins]

What thermarest does your dad have that's a Rval of 7? Highest they made was a 4.3 I thought. I don't know if the Exped Downmat will hit a 7, and that thing cooks!

The Luxury Map goes down to 6.7, and their Dream-something goes to 9 or something. But +lots for the Exped, also +a bunch for the grip tape between two mats.

Ah HA! And the lightbulb goes click/poof - I rarely make it off the Pro-Lite/Ultra-lite page, I never even considered one of the uber-cush car mats.

That'll be comfortable for sure, and probably quite the roll under or over your ZXR. Tperkins you may want to get a scale out and start adding some of this up...

NXP

Haha, in this one instance of winter camping we will be camping ~20 feet from our van as its a few peoples first times. So, for this trip I'm not concerned about weight.

On the other hand, for an actual bugout/inch scenario in winter, I would take the Z-Lite I plan to purchase soon along with my lightweight Stearns outdoors camp mat (air pad) for winter. For Spring, Summer, Fall it would just be the Z-Lite.

Also, Molenz, I'm going to be working on a custom filtration system centered around a spare (replacement) platy filtration system filter. I will do a writeup on here about how I made it. I applied at REI so if I can get hired there I will use the big discount thier employees get to further my gear needs.

Comments Anyone?

[Tperkins]

Winter Trip Shake-Down Update: This was the shake-down trip for our group for the new guys/girls to test out what worked for thier first time winter camping. Aside from a few very minor problems, everything went smooth and I got to test out some gear. What was in my trip bag was, with the exception of the Thermarest CampRest, was exactly what I have in my E-BOB/INCH. I did also take out the GPS and Scanner, but everything else was the same.

Due to cold weather and a lack of space, I did not bring my DSLR, only a crappy point and shoot. I really was only able to get one decent pic, and none of my gear like my Kifaru or anything. However, I'll be going out about once a month over the next few months so updates will be more in-depth and forthcoming.

What Worked Great:
Marmot Limelite-Handled the 20mph and 40mph gusts like a champ.


Sleeping Bag(s)
North Face "Cat's Meow" 20* Mummy Bag - Warm, lightweight, and comfortable. I dont really like mummy bags so i used a baklava plus TAD Gear wool hat to keep my head warm without the hood cinched. (I had a way to keep the drafts from coming in the hood)
Eureka Cheyenne 40* Rectangular Bag - Used as the outer bag for the cats meow as temps dipped into the teens and I wanted to stay warmer. worked good, I didnt zip it up all the way as the bag is longer than my other bag, but it worked good. I think both bags together weighted around 4lbs. I was warm when I went to bed and hot when I woke up both days, but I did use two mega warmers (bag warmers) each night about an hour before I got in the North Face bag, I think they work great @ $1.50 each

5.11 Tactical Tac-Lite pants - Work great as a 2nd layer over a polartec baselayer or similar. Also works good as a 3rd layer over jeans and polartec for colder weather.

Tad Gear Merino Watch Cap - Awesome. Period.

Snow Peak Ti 700 (Nalgene nesting size) - Worked great, I used it before but this trip was the first time I actually used the cup to heat water to make coca on a stove. I like how as soon as the hot liquid is emptied from the cup, the cup is almost instantly safe to touch.

Thermarest CampRest - Works great with a small core-body size foam pad underneath

And Finally, my first trip with my Kifaru ZXR- It is just awesome. Got a good amount of compliments and the bottom zipper was very handy.

Now, What Worked Crappily:

(In my opinion) Mountain House Breakfast Egg dehydrated pack - As an emergency food sure, but It was not very good, but it was edible and did give nutrition..along with 180% DV of cholesterol haha. I also got a Mac&Cheese and beef Stroganoff one, those seem like they could be easily dehydrated while retaining texture/flavor but I didnt get to try them as food was provided and I didnt want to use them if I didnt need to.

E-Tool as a stake hammer/puller - FAIL. Now, I brought it with for the sole reason of digging a tent spot out of the snow, but it ended up not snowing that much. But, I decided to try to use it to hammer in stakes: It barely worked, and I ended up using the broad side of my friends gerber axe (Which I now plan to get shortly) to hammer them in the frozen groud. I also used that axe to get the staked out, and a claw hammer for one that was firmly frozen in.

I will most likley be doing another winter trip, but this time in Wisconsin actually out in the woods. I will get much better pictures then. I do plan on doing some E-BOB/INCH updates shortly with some more food and my mMdical/FA Kit.

[Oguruma]

A suggestion for the signal mirror is to cover the reflective surface with clear packaging tape. It will protect the surface of the mirror until you need to use it, and when you take it off won't leave any of the adhesive behind like duct tape will. Plus you can use it to look at yourself without taking the tape off.

[Woods Walker]

I ate the MH egg/bacon bits thing last weekend and it wasn’t fun.

[joekaveh]

I ate the MH egg/bacon bits thing last weekend and it wasn’t fun.

Stick with the Beef Stew