CFP-90 pack?

[cavguy]

I brought one of these to use as a young private, the NCO's in my unit said that pack was the worst design ever and had a bad habit of exploding on the DZ upon impact also when you throw it off the side of a vehicle as we used to strap our rucksacks to the sides of our vehicles using ratchet straps. So I never really used it and pawned it to another private....

[fdsman]

I brought one of these to use as a young private, the NCO's in my unit said that pack was the worst design ever and had a bad habit of exploding on the DZ upon impact also when you throw it off the side of a vehicle as we used to strap our rucksacks to the sides of our vehicles using ratchet straps. So I never really used it and pawned it to another private....

Your NCOs concerns are certainly not unfounded, however it seems about 50/50 with these. I contacted a repair shop Lowe-Alpine recommends to people who want these packs fixed, and they're supposed to have a few fixes up their sleeve for the issues these packs have.

I'll report back when I hear from them.

[fdsman]

Well I just purchased a like new one manufactured by SDS for roughly 90 bucks on eBay.

I'll report in once I get it.

[Treesuit]

FDSman,

Yes, please post a review when you get it. I did some checking around on Ebay myself and some of the ones being offered right now have dates on them after 2000. I saw onw that had a 2004 contract date on it. I surely thought that around 2001 or so the contract would have stopped or ceased with the production of the MOLLE packs and gear but apparently not. Also the packs being offered on Ebay; some of them are going for over $100.00 . I think you got a real deal with yours. Personally I wouldn't have paid that much for a used CFP-90 pack.

On a side note when I came into the Army National Guard in 1998, the unit I was with was still being issued Large ALICE packs but with a twist. The unit did have the CFP-90 patrol packs and I did remember getting issued one. The thing was there was a way you could snap the patrol pack on the top of the ALICE pack and have a modified CFP-90 and ALICE pack using 4 FASTEX buckles. It was a pretty ingenous way of dong things and it worked. Before I left the Guard made everyone get rid of the patrol packs and go with the MOLLE packs. I don't think you can clip the MOLLE pack the same way as the CFP-90.

[fdsman]

FDSman,

Yes, please post a review when you get it. I did some checking around on Ebay myself and some of the ones being offered right now have dates on them after 2000. I saw onw that had a 2004 contract date on it. I surely thought that around 2001 or so the contract would have stopped or ceased with the production of the MOLLE packs and gear but apparently not. Also the packs being offered on Ebay; some of them are going for over $100.00 . I think you got a real deal with yours. Personally I wouldn't have paid that much for a used CFP-90 pack.

On a side note when I came into the Army National Guard in 1998, the unit I was with was still being issued Large ALICE packs but with a twist. The unit did have the CFP-90 patrol packs and I did remember getting issued one. The thing was there was a way you could snap the patrol pack on the top of the ALICE pack and have a modified CFP-90 and ALICE pack using 4 FASTEX buckles. It was a pretty ingenous way of dong things and it worked. Before I left the Guard made everyone get rid of the patrol packs and go with the MOLLE packs. I don't think you can clip the MOLLE pack the same way as the CFP-90.

Fortunately it wasn't actually 90, it was 90 with shipping, but the actual cost of the pack was around 74 bucks. I thought it was ridiculous though, a week ago someone listed one that had a hole in the large, long pocket along one side, right in the center. That sold for 60 bucks. This was really the only one where I could get the seller to confirm it was a Gen 2 pack and was made by SDS. All the rest say "MILITARY CONTRACTOR" or something along those lines under manufacturer, which could be anything but most likely Rothco or Fox Tactical.

I've been thinking a bit more about the plastic piece that attaches to the shoulder straps for adjusting height, I have this sheet of flexible, yet rather stiff plastic from a pair of ILBE shoulder straps, that sandwiched in between two pieces of thick leather may be the perfect fix for this.

I found this thread a while ago, and forgot to bookmark it, and just recently rediscovered it:

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ ... ruck-sack/

Apparently while the CFP-90 was cancelled, 5500 units were ordered in 2008.

On a side note, do you know where the seams tend to bust on these? I can't imagine it would be random.

Also, is it just me or do the first pictures look like norge's set up?

[housil]

Also, is it just me or do the first pictures look like norge's set up?

I agree...

[Treesuit]

FDSman,

Thanks for that link. It is pretty informative, and looks like some of the info I put out was incorrect (though it has happened before ). Judging from the photos from our friend NORGE, it looks like his is original and a latter model.

You mentioned where on the pack the seams might blow out or rip. Again, from what I read on other forums the seams on the inside where there is a sleeping bag separator tended to blow out as well as the stiching along the sides where the short and long pockets are sewn. There was also mention of the storm flap just under the main flap that tended to come apart and of course the shoulder straps. If you can post the fixes here so we can take a look.

To the mystery of why the DoD ordered 5500 more units in 2008; that still boggles the mind. I was sure that in 2001 when the MOLLE system came around the production would have ceased. Couple that with the cancellation letter in 1995 by the DoD is equally confusing. Second, I had no idea there were two different contractors in the late 1980's for the CFP-90 or different prototypes (i.e. soldi green color). What I did find out earlier this week is that the US Navy Reserve still has the CFP-90 in its inventory and still issues them out, to what units I do not know, but there was one brief mention of US Navy SEABEE units getting them. How far back or if they are still getting them, again, I don't know. FDSman, do you have any more info tha you can share with us? Thanks

[cavguy]

On a side note, they also made a ruck sack that looked ALMOST exactly like the CFP-90 that was called a armor crewmans bag or CVC bag - something along those lines. It did not have the frame the CFP-90 had but only had shoulder straps you could lash it to the side of your truck or tank. I saw it sometimes on the M1's.

Here are pics;
http://bellsouthpwp.net/m/u/munseyr/arm ... an_bag.htm

[fdsman]

FDSman,

Thanks for that link. It is pretty informative, and looks like some of the info I put out was incorrect (though it has happened before ). Judging from the photos from our friend NORGE, it looks like his is original and a latter model.

You mentioned where on the pack the seams might blow out or rip. Again, from what I read on other forums the seams on the inside where there is a sleeping bag separator tended to blow out as well as the stiching along the sides where the short and long pockets are sewn. There was also mention of the storm flap just under the main flap that tended to come apart and of course the shoulder straps. If you can post the fixes here so we can take a look.

To the mystery of why the DoD ordered 5500 more units in 2008; that still boggles the mind. I was sure that in 2001 when the MOLLE system came around the production would have ceased. Couple that with the cancellation letter in 1995 by the DoD is equally confusing. Second, I had no idea there were two different contractors in the late 1980's for the CFP-90 or different prototypes (i.e. soldi green color). What I did find out earlier this week is that the US Navy Reserve still has the CFP-90 in its inventory and still issues them out, to what units I do not know, but there was one brief mention of US Navy SEABEE units getting them. How far back or if they are still getting them, again, I don't know. FDSman, do you have any more info tha you can share with us? Thanks

Haven't heard back from the repair shop yet, something tells me I won't ever hear back from them considering they have a business to run and aren't in the business of giving out their methods, but I'll keep an eye out anyways.

The only way I could think of fixing that by one's self would be using a stitching awl or sailmaker's palm and adding additional stitching using #69 bonded nylon thread to further reinforce the existing seams where trouble is known to occur. I'm no tailor but I don't think it's possible to repair a seam using a sewing machine once it's been sewn together such as in a pack.

Are these reports of seam rips and such from the army trials? Because in all honestly, I doubt any of us would use our gear that hard to cause something like that. From what I know about equipment trials, they test them to their absolute limit, far beyond what anyone would do to their gear who has respect for it.

I've got no idea what the politics are behind that either, considering it got scrapped for MOLLE and SDS being the main contractor, something tells me a bit of rigging occurred.

[Treesuit]

On a side note, they also made a ruck sack that looked ALMOST exactly like the CFP-90 that was called a armor crewmans bag or CVC bag - something along those lines. It did not have the frame the CFP-90 had but only had shoulder straps you could lash it to the side of your truck or tank. I saw it sometimes on the M1's.

CAVGUY, Wow, I have not seen those in a long time. I remember years ago some retailers were selling originals or cheap knock offs for a good price but I could never figure out what you would use them for. I checked over at Ebay and some are selling as low as $25.00 like new and original. In my time in the National Guard I never saw these even though my Brigade was Armor Cavalry heavy. We did have M-1's and Bradley's but sometimes the crews just had duffel bags or large ALICE bags strapped in the outsde racks. I coud see where something like this might come in handy even in the winter time.

Might be useful if you were to "bug out" in a vehicle/truck/4 x 4 or go car camping.