Tufa Mochilla Packs

I have owned several chalk bags made by Tufa, and Josh Kornish is a great guy to work with. I am psyched that Josh is now making packs.

In short, the Tufa Mochilla is the best pack for climbing day trips I have ever used. Over the past 20 years, I have used packs from Black Diamond, Wild Things, Osprey, Hyperlite Mountain Gear, ZPacks, Patagonia, Grivel, and others. I now own 3 Tufa Mochillas.

The first Mochilla I bought for my wife, and it is the ultralight Hybrid Cuben Fiber version here: https://tufaclimbing.com/products/mochilla-pack-cuben-fiber-hybrid-2-92-oz

The Hybrid Cuben Fiber version is intended for ultralight applications, and it is advertised with its limitations:

Note:  This pack is built from 2.92 oz Cuben Fiber hybrid fabric.  This 

is a highly specialized pack for ultralight endeavors.  While not meant 

to be hauled or heavily abraided, this pack will last several seasons 

with proper care.

In spite of these limitations, my wife found that it carried so well that she wanted to use it as her daily climbing pack. As such, we have now put over 100 days on it doing everything from using it as a chest pack while bouldering in the rhododendron thickets of North Carolina to approaching the splitters of Indian Creek. It is just now starting to show some signs of wear on the bottom panel:

So I now own two more Mochillas in the MUCH more durable D40 fabric: https://tufaclimbing.com/products/mochilla-roll-top-limited-edition-d40

In addition to being made with a more durable fabric, the D40 Mochilla has a rolltop rather than a drawcord closure at the top. After putting about 30 days on each of our D40 packs, they still look remarkably new:

Note that the packs above contain absolutely everything the two of us need to go trad cragging, including a 60m rope inside the pack on the left. Here are these packs' contents:

The Mochilla is a fairly simple pack. It comes standard as a tube with shoulder straps and sternum strap, small tab loops for a helmet, a small zippered pocket between the shoulder blades, two haul loops, a rope strap, and a removable foam back pad. It can be made with either a draw cord top closure or a roll top. I prefer the roll top. It comes with a removable waist belt that I do not use.

My favorite thing about the pack is how well it carries when hiking and climbing. The bottom rides just above my harness, and the top is low enough that it doesn't interfere with looking up if I am wearing a helmet:

Even when hauling a helmet and rope on the outside, it carries well:

The pack features haul loops that are actually big enough to use with gloves. The pocket is just big enough for a phone, headlamp, keys, and maybe a couple Gu packs:

I had Josh add an extra rope strap tab to mine above the pocket. 

The back pad is removable and remarkably effective at giving the pack support:

Josh can do some customizations if you ask. For example, he can add traditional loops to the bottom of the pack for ice tools, though he is currently working on a more modern solution. He added an additional rope strap catch above the pocket on mine so that the rope strap didn't interfere with getting into the pocket. He is considering offering a folding back pad that would be long enough to use as a torso bivy pad. Daisy chains can be added. 

Here is a video of packing mine for a day of trad cragging:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=God1nw12Yzo&feature=youtu.be

The standard Mochilla is $119, and it comes in a few different fabric and construction options here: https://tufaclimbing.com/products/peaksa-clim

The ultralight Hybrid Cuben Mochilla is $165, weighs 11.6 ounces, and can be found here: https://tufaclimbing.com/products/mochilla-pack-cuben-fiber-hybrid-2-92-oz

The burly as hell D40 Mochilla is $165, weighs 14.9 ounces, and can be found here: https://tufaclimbing.com/products/mochilla-roll-top-limited-edition-d40

I have the same white X-Pac mochilla.  Had him make me one way back that was 1000D cordura.  the new one has such good updates, the roll top, the pocket on back, the straps, it's so good.  However, the best thing about this pack, above all other packs, it fits so ergonomically.  I have a pack fetish.  I have a BD Zip 24, a CCW Valdez, and a slew of other common multipitch backs, the TUFA is amazing. 

Can confirm the above, I love mine for car to car alpine climbs.

Brian,

Thank you for taking the time and effort to do a thorough review on the Mochilla.  

You and Dana have your systems dialed and I'm psyched the Mochilla has been serving you well.  The Cuben Fiber pack you have was the first production pack and it's cool to hear it's taken some serious abuse from the thickets to the desert.

Designing a single pack that excels at both technical climbing and hiking has been my primary project for the last four years; your feedback and suggestions have been incredibly valuable in this process.  I modified the webbing lengths and I'll be adding a double length bivy pad option to the site soon.  I'm also working on a bottom reinforcement for the Cuben packs.

The "roll-top" closure is definitely the way to go.  I actually use it more as a "flap" closure which is super quick, easy, and secure:

Always happy to do simple modifications to the Mochilla and talk ideas.  The Mountain project community has been integral to the development of this pack and I'm incredibly grateful for the community support.  

Thanks again, y'all!  

Happy climbing,

Josh

Forever Outside wrote:

I have the same white X-Pac mochilla.  Had him make me one way back that was 1000D cordura.  the new one has such good updates, the roll top, the pocket on back, the straps, it's so good.  However, the best thing about this pack, above all other packs, it fits so ergonomically.  I have a pack fetish.  I have a BD Zip 24, a CCW Valdez, and a slew of other common multipitch backs, the TUFA is amazing. 

SNOW NINJA!  Thank you for the support, Gabriel!  

Nick Sweeney wrote:

Can confirm the above, I love mine for car to car alpine climbs.

Thank you, Nick!  Keep crushing those 17 hour days out in the Cascades! :D

Josh Kornish wrote:

Thank you, Nick!  Keep crushing those 17 hour days out in the Cascades! :D

You know it! I did a 24 hour push with my Mochila on my last trip.  It was painful, but the pack performed beautifully!  Now quit making me drool over all the recent updates.  

Nick Sweeney wrote:

You know it! I did a 24 hour push with my Mochila on my last trip.  It was painful, but the pack performed beautifully!  Now quit making me drool over all the recent updates.  

Nice, Nick, sounds like a gnarly day!  Which route did you do?

Ha!  Many more updates to come.  These packs are all made one at a time and I make incremental improvements as they come.

Labor day weekend, Leavenworth!?   

This guy ^ makes awesome stuff in general. If you have the chance check out his chalk bags as well! Best chalk bags around IMO. I was going to actually write a review on them, they're that awesome...

Hans Martin wrote:

This guy ^ makes awesome stuff in general. If you have the chance check out his chalk bags as well! Best chalk bags around IMO. I was going to actually write a review on them, they're that awesome...

Thank you for the kind words, Hans!  Shoot me a link if you write a review, I'd love to read it!

Cheers!

Josh Kornish wrote:

Nice, Nick, sounds like a gnarly day!  Which route did you do?

Ha!  Many more updates to come.  These packs are all made one at a time and I make incremental improvements as they come.

Labor day weekend, Leavenworth!?   

Probably can't swing Labor Day weekend this year... going to be relaxing with the fam at Lake Chelan.  I did Dragontail Peak's Serpentine Arete... should have brought crampons!

Nick Sweeney wrote:

Probably can't swing Labor Day weekend this year... going to be relaxing with the fam at Lake Chelan.  I did Dragontail Peak's Serpentine Arete... should have brought crampons!

Dragontail looks amazing!  If I can rehab my shoulder quick I want to do the backbone sometime this Fall.  I'll make sure to check if I need pons by September haha 

Josh Kornish wrote:

Dragontail looks amazing!  If I can rehab my shoulder quick I want to do the backbone sometime this Fall.  I'll make sure to check if I need pons by September haha 

Keep me in the loop, I'd be stoked to join!

Love TUFA's gear. Keep it up.

squiddo wrote:

Love TUFA's gear. Keep it up.

Thank you for your support, Squiddo!  

Just finished up patterning a bottom wrap for the Cuben Fiber Mochilla.  Hardly any weight gains and the abrasion resistant bottom should keep the Cuben packs going strong.  I'll post up some photos once I dial it in shortly.  If anyone has any questions feel free to shoot me a message and I'd be happy to talk gear!

Was the naming of these packs purposefully incorrect Spanish?

RangerJ wrote:

Was the naming of these packs purposefully incorrect Spanish?

Ranger, 

por supuesto, parce! :)

PACK IS EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE.  For the size, took a full double rack, 3L water bladder, chalk bag, shoes, snacks, keys, wallet, phone, sunscreen.  LOVE LOVE LOVE IT

Forever Outside wrote:

PACK IS EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE.  For the size, took a full double rack, 3L water bladder, chalk bag, shoes, snacks, keys, wallet, phone, sunscreen.  LOVE LOVE LOVE IT

Great shot, FO!  Psyched the Mochilla is crushing it! <3

Update based on Brian's suggestions.

I added a Double Length Bivy Pad to the Site

Perfect for those wanting extra back padding and a little more comfort on overnight bivies. 

Single length foam insert comes standard with the Mochilla.  You can upgrade your pad to a double length or you can buy an additional double length pad.

The single length (standard) is ideal for cragging and multi-pitch climbing.

The Double length (Upgrade) is ideal for reducing pressure points on the hips and shoulders when lying down or insulating from the cold ground.

Dimensions:

11" Wide, 35" Long (Can be cut down)

Weight:

48 grams

Made in USA