CampingGearReview » CFP-90 Field Pack - Camping gears store to get camping wild

Rating	5 of 5 stars
Design	internal frame Field Pack
Size	large
Number of Pockets	3
Max. Load Carried	45 lbs
Price Paid	$115
Pack Weight	6.5 lbs
Total size	4026 – 4250 cu inches w/o Patrol Pack

The CFP-90 was my second foray into US Army rucksacks. The medium ALICE Pack was not comfortable for even short(er) hikes, and I wanted something with an internal frame and a hip belt. I looked at several civilian internal frame backpacks at local retailers, but none of them ‘turned me on’. The suspension systems were well designed, the size was right, but they were either too expensive, or ugly, or ‘just not right’. I then looked online for various military designs, and saw some very well made packs in the $300-$700 range. These bags were simply out of question! I am used to buying surplus military gear way below retail prices, and somebody wants $300 for a backpack? No way. After some more searching on the internet, I came upon an obscure pack made for the US Army, and never used. The CFP-90 was designed as a replacement for ALICE gear, but never adopted. The Army started using MOLLE gear instead. Which, I suppose, is good for the Army, and great for the civilian hiker because surplus Army gear became even cheaper and easier to get.

I purchased the CFP-90 on eBay for a little over $100 including shipping. The seller stated this was a genuine US Army issue pack, and not some copy. I did see many sellers advertising “improved” versions of the CFP-90, but having read these types of bags are usually inferior, I did not even look at them. My pack arrived a few days later, and after inspecting the tag, I believe this is the real deal. It is made by ‘Specialty Plastic Products of PA’. After a few searches online, this company appears to be SDS (Specialty Defense Systems), a known manufacturer of Army gear.

The best feature of this pack is the suspension system. It is composed of two aluminum mainstays, and a vertically adjustable shoulder strap attachment system. The best way to think of this is like a ‘modified zipper’. There is a plastic ‘ladder’ and the internal triangle rides up and down, and then securely fixed at one point with two large screw heads. The shoulder straps are also attached at the top of the pack. There is a foam pad that rides in the small of your back to keep the backpack away from the body, to maximize air flow, and minimize sweating. This may look strange, but works great. The hip belt is 5″ wide in the back, and narrows to 3″ in the front. It is heavily padded for maximum comfort while carrying heavy loads. There is 3/4″ of padding sewn inside the hip belt. There is a strap that goes on the outside of the entire hip belt, and it can be used to attach ALICE compatible gear all the way around. The shoulder straps are 3″ wide, and also have 3/4″ of padding inside. These are an enormous improvement over the old school ALICE shoulder pads. There is a old style quick release buckle on each strap, as well as a metal ‘clamp’ to adjust the length of the shoulder strap. The CFP-90 also has a sternum strap, which has become standard in all modern packs. Because of the design of the suspension system, this pack is very adjustable. It can ride high, or low on your back, and be as close or far away from your body as you like. Because of it’s size, in order to carry a large load, one really needs to tailor the suspension to fit your body. There are two openings on either side of the shoulder straps for a radio antenna, or a drinking tube for a water bladder.

There are two main compartments. They are separated by a false bottom, so if you had to carry an oversize item inside, the two compartments can become one. Fully expanded the top compartment measures 20″ x 14″ x 8″. This is possible because there are two draw cords on top, for two levels of ‘fullness’. If it is stuffed to a ‘less full’ level, the top compartment measures 18″ x 14″ x 8″. The 8″ depth is measured on the side, if you were to stuff a rectangular box inside. Because the pack is usually stuffed with clothes, and other irregular objects, the actual size is somewhat different. The pack stretches to accommodate whatever is inside. This compartment is compressed via two cinch down webbing in the front. The lower compartment is designed for the sleeping bag. It is a little bit deeper than the top compartment, and measures 10.5″ x 10.5″ x 14″. This compartment is closed via dual YKK self-healing zippers, and cinch down webbing with buckles. If the false bottom is undone the maximum pack size is 31″ x 8″ x 14″.

On the right side there is a large pocket that measures 18″ x 6″ x 3.5″. It is closed via a draw cord, and a flap on top. The flap is secured by a cinch strap, and there is a second cinch strap closer to the bottom. You can fit a small tent, or a bivvy bag inside. On the left side there are two smaller pockets. They measure 9.5″ x 6″ x 3.5″, and are also closed via a draw cord, and flap on top. There is a cinch strap that secures the top flap, and compresses whatever is inside the pocket. There are two loops sewn in on front, above the sleeping bag compartment. They can be used to attach a sleeping pad, tent, or anything else you can think of. On the bottom there are two rows of webbing to attach even more gear. You can hang a tent, sleeping bag, etc there. They are far apart, so this is not a MOLLE compatible configuration.

The fabric is said to be waterproof nylon. It does not look rubberized on the inside like my MOLLE Assault packs. I have carried around 45 pounds inside this pack, and it is very comfortable; surely heavier loads can be carried. Properly adjusted, a lot of the weight sits on your hips, so it does not feel nearly as heavy as a lighter ALICE pack without the hip belt. I have stopped using the CFP-90 for most of my camping trips because there is no need for so much space for a 2-3 day trip. If I was to go camping for a week, this pack would definitely be on my back. There is an optional Patrol Pack that can be attached to the top of the CFP-90 for extra storage, and for day hikes. The patrol pack is not comfortable because there is no framesheet, and everything bunches up and hurts my back. I never take it with me anyway, because there has never been a need for more space.

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