A Pioneering Outdoor Brand Finally Expands Its Expertise to the World of EDC Bags

Kifaru has been a trusted, time-tested staple of the backcountry gear industry for decades. You’d be hard-pressed to find a backcountry enthusiast or hunter who isn’t familiar with the brand — and they’d likely recommend and highly praise its bags.

Now, the beloved outfitter is making inroads in a new category: everyday carry. Crafted with the same ruggedness and attention to detail as its established outdoor lineup, the Kifaru Echo and Kifaru Checkpoint are the firm’s first genuine foray into travel and commuter bags.

Kifaru

Beverly hillbillies

Don’t think, even for a second, that Kifaru has sacrificed toughness, capability or craftsmanship in order to offer bags with broader, everyday appeal. These packs fit right in alongside the brand’s robust catalog; they’re just a bit smaller and more streamlined than its typical offerings.

For those unfamiliar with the brand: that’s a very good thing. For those who are familiar with it, you probably have some idea of what to expect.

Kifaru

While the bags vary in some significant ways, they do both share a few noteworthy similarities. For starters, they both boast the same rugged, reliable external fabric: 500D Cordura nylon. This is the same fabric trusted by everyone from The North Face to the U.S. Military, so it’s a material you can certainly trust in an EDC context.

The bags also have YKK zippers with classic outdoor-inspired zipper pulls, mil-spec hardware and webbing, and more. Interestingly, one of the big additions — useful for daily commuters and frequent flyers alike — is that both bags have laptop (or tablet) compartments.

Kifaru

Urban hikers

Now, for the differences. Firstly, their sizing is quite distinct. The Checkpoint, which is larger as a base bag, can hold up to 27.8 liters — and it meets TSA carry-on requirements. The base Echo is smaller, offering 21.79 liters (which is also TSA-compliant.)

However, the Echo also has an expandable compartment, which grants it an additional 8.19 liters, bringing it to a total of 29.98 liters, making it a couple of liters larger than the Checkpoint. However, the Checkpoint also has another little secret.

Kifaru

While the baseline Echo is an unstructured bag, the Checkpoint comes standard with an internal frame sheet, offering a bit more structure and stability. The Echo can be upgraded to have its own frame sheet, but this adds another $20 to the price.

The Echo also has a luggage pass-through, whereas the Checkpoint doesn’t. Instead, the Checkpoint gets a full clamshell opening, making internal access more comprehensive, while the Echo, instead, has reinforced side pockets that can fit up to 32-ounce water bottles.

Unfortunately, you’re going to have to decide which one works best for you on your own. That said, there’s always the option to pick up both…

Kifaru

Available now

The Kifaru Echo and the Kifaru Checkpoint EDC bags are now available on the brand’s site, starting at $269 and $349, respectively.

Kifaru

Kifaru Echo

• Starts at $269

Kifaru

Kifaru Checkpoint

• $349 at Kifaru

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