Kifaru Checkpoint Backpack: Purpose-Built for the Urban Jungle

I first got to know Kifaru from their hunting and hiking-focused packs, and the Stryker XL is my go-to for outdoor adventures. The Kifaru Checkpoint grabbed my attention with its sleek design, so I decided to get my hands on one and dig deeper. I’ll share what I’ve learned about the construction and design, and perhaps more importantly, who it’s a good fit for.

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Kifaru Checkpoint Construction

Materials

As soon as I started looking at the materials list, I got excited about the Checkpoint’s potential. Despite its sleek appearance, it’s built to the rugged durability standards I’ve come to expect from Kitaru.

The foundational material is 500D Cordura. It’s a tough material that we’ve seen on plenty of outerwear, packs, and bags, including ones that carry heavy loads of tools by tradesmen that aren’t the least bit careful in how they treat their gear.

The problem is that it can be rather stiff when it’s new and takes some time to break in. That’s not the case with the Checkpoint. It comes ready for the adventure and is plenty flexible right out of the package.

Covering your access points, there are YKK reverse coil zippers all around. Kifaru chose to outfit them with pull cords rather than metal pulls. I love that call. I don’t know how many times I’ve had a zipper fail when the metal pull breaks or the clasp bends out. If the pull cord ever fails, just grab some paracord and tie a new one on. Plus, the longer pull is easier to work with.

The webbing and buckles are all Mil-spec, wrapping up a higher durable construction.

Berry Compliance

If you’re unfamiliar with Berry Compliance, it’s the Gold Standard of Made in the USA gear, and the Kifaru Checkpoint carries that rating.

Normal Made in the USA goods can use up to 5% global materials as long as they’re completely assembled in the US. On the other hand, Berry-compliant gear is 100% Made in the USA using 100% US-sourced materials down to the final stitch.

For some organizations, like the Department of Defense or military contractors, Berry Compliance is required. While it’s not for everyday consumers, having full USA-made quality and construction is a nice upgrade.

Wearing the Kirafu Checkpoint

There are a few key elements playing into your comfort as you wear this pack. First of all, the adjustable shoulder straps have a generous amount of padding compared to most backpacks. Combined with mesh to help moisture escape, it’s set up to deal with extended wear very well, especially when you’re packing a full loadout.

A chest strap helps stabilize the pack. Beyond basic length adjustability, it can also shift up or down to help you find the most comfortable fit.

Like the shoulder straps, the back has a generous amount of padding as well. It also has a mesh cover along with a small vertical channel to help moisture escape.

Tucked behind the back padding, there’s an internal frame sheet. It has a rigid central spine and flexible sides to help the pack maintain its shape and improve you comfort. You can remove it if you really want to, but I prefer to keep it in, even when I’m carrying lighter loads.

Kifaru Checkpoint Storage

While the pack may seem sleek and simple on the outside, it hides a well-designed organizational structure. Here’s what you have to work with:

Main Compartment: 1700 cubic inches with multiple zippers and full clamshell opening to make packing and accessing your gear easier.
Floating Padded Laptop Sleeve: 12.5 inches tall and 10.5 inches wide, it fits 15-inch and some 16-inch laptops.
Document/Table Pocket: 10 inches tall and 9 inches wide, it fits standard-size documents, file folders, magazines (the kind you read), and tablets.
Mesh Interior Pockets: Each roughly half the size of the back flap, these zippered pockets make it easy to see what’s inside.
Front Pocket: Billowed design accommodates 210 cubic inches of storage and has zippers on both sides to access gear more easily.
Top Pocket: Holds 100 cubic inches and includes a key clip, perfect for storing your Dopp bag or other items that need to be removed to TSA screening.
Side Bottle Pockets: Easily holds most water bottles, including 32-ounce Nalgene bottles.

There are a few points worth highlighting about the storage design. First, the clamshell opening for the main section is key. No matter what you’re loading up, it’s easy to pack and unpack without having to shove things around to make room.

Then there’s the two-zipper design of the main compartment. Two pulls on the primary zipper enable the clamshell feature, while two others on the base ends of the same zipper (for four total) allow access to the base of the compartment without digging through the top or opening it all the way up.

A second top zipper near the handle gives you quick access to your laptop and document sleeves. It’s a super-convenient design for accessing all your gear.

Should You Buy It?

I’m impressed with the construction and design of the Kifaru Checkpoint backpack, but who is it a good fit for?

The pack is dialed in for travel and EDC with its TSA carry-on-friendly design and easy access to all your gear. For travel, you can gear up for a casual three or four-day trip pretty easily. It’s also a great size and style to carry your lunch, hydration, rain gear, and a change of clothes if you’re working on jobsites. If your job forces you traverse the urban jungle by car, train, or bike, the Checkpoint a perfect fit.

When it comes to outdoor adventures, pick your battles. It can make a good day pack, but it’s not designed to protect your gear from water, so that limits its potential on your boat or kayak, or days with a sketchy forecast. It also wouldn’t be my first choice for a multi-day hike or hunt.

If the Checkpoint checks off all the right boxes for your needs, you can pick it up for $349 in Moss, Slate, or Black colors. Grab it directly from Kifaru or any of their reputable retailers.

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