BWCA Kondos Outfitter Special Pack Boundary Waters Gear Forum
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Jezbo
senior member (52)senior membersenior member
  
03/22/2018 03:42PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Has anyone tried a Kondos Outfitter special pack? I’m looking for a new canoe pack. Duluth packs are heavy, over priced and they soak up water. Granite Gear packs are cheaper built now than previous years and I love the Cooke Custom Sewing hybrid packs. Just wondering if there is any downside to the Kondos high end pack ?
 
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WHendrix
distinguished member(623)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
03/22/2018 05:19PM  
I have that very pack and it has worked out well for me. I was looking for a pack that was fairly narrow so it would fit well in my Magic and it has turned out to be a good choice. It is well made and has all the requirements needed for a good portage pack. And of course it is made in Ely which is another plus. I also have a smaller CCS pack (the Bushcrafter) and it too is very well made, as many people on this site have noted. You can't go wrong with stuff from either of these companies.

Bill
 
ozarkpaddler
distinguished member(5163)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
03/22/2018 05:53PM  
Funny you should ask. I was thinking as I got older I'd sell some of my gear and I got rid of my last big old #4 DP and bought a Kondos during one of their sales. Couldn't be happier. Well made and shows no wear despite a couple BWCAW trips and sliding around in the truck bed and Ozark gravel. Love the big pockets on the sides. I put my 60L barrel in it for BWCAW trips for the food pack. I put a foam pad in there where it sits next to your back. Lighter and more comfortable than the #4 I used.

As far as Duluth Packs, I'm down to my Cruiser and my old #2. I'll probably be buried with those two! The Kondos is the big blue one. I sold my #4 and last two #3's and bought these two to lighten my load.

 
03/22/2018 05:59PM  
I have one and love it. The quality is great and it's a great go to solo canoe pack because of the narrow design. All of my gear goes into that pack . My food goes into a separate pack.
 
03/22/2018 06:14PM  
My go to solo pack. Holds all my gear......food in blue barrel. Compression straps get it tall and skinny to fit in solo canoe. Great piece of gear.
 
03/22/2018 07:42PM  
Also a big fan. Very well made and robust. Good folks too. Last fall I had them put a grab handle below the hip belt to make it easier to get in and out of the solo canoe when lying flat. A very well designed and constructed pack.
 
mgraber
distinguished member(1486)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
03/22/2018 09:04PM  
I have two of the Outfitter specials and have beat the hell out of them and they are going strong. Also a big fan of their packs with the three outside zippered compartments (Trail, Guide and Day packs). The compartments will hold a couple of large Nalgenes, skeeter dope, head nets, camera, snacks and a pile of other gear in easy-to-reach outside zippered pockets. I feel like they are as well made as CCS.

Big fan of Kondos and CCS. Just don't get a pack without a hip belt to take most of the load off of your shoulders and a chest strap to keep the straps on your traps. Anything else (old envelope packs #2,#3,#4) are sheer torture.
 
OldFingers57
distinguished member(4990)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
03/23/2018 07:14AM  
We have two if these packs and have been using them for the past 5 plus years. They are used packs and were in great shape when we got them. They are still going strong for us.
 
03/23/2018 08:36AM  
I have seven Kondos packs (2 Outfitter Specials). They are all well built. You can fit a LOT of stuff in those Outfitter Specials!
 
03/23/2018 03:45PM  
had one 10 tears now. Sold a Superior One GG because The Outfitter Special was much more comfy. Well=made pack. I like it. It fit me well.
 
thlipsis29
distinguished member(1260)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
03/23/2018 04:02PM  
I had one for 2-3 seasons but ended selling it in order to buy a CCS barrel pack. A quality product, and really quite comparable to CCS packs. Simply gotten into the habit of buying CCS stuff since, and if I remember correctly the Kondos does not have the flap pocket that the CCS hybrid packs have which I really like. But I would buy a Kondos long before I would buy another Granite Gear pack because the quality is far superior.
 
Jezbo
senior member (52)senior membersenior member
  
03/31/2018 03:52PM  
Update. Went with the pioneer CCS pack and picked up a second for my kid. Actually called and spoke with Dan and he invited me to stop in on my way to MPLS. Unreal the quality and detail placed in his products. I am a CCS fan for life.
 
thlipsis29
distinguished member(1260)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
03/31/2018 04:18PM  
Can't go wrong with CCS, and it's because of things like your experience that Dan has truly earned my business. Nothing wrong with Kondos, but like you say, the attention to detail and quality is second to none with CCS.
 
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