Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Kifaru or Stone Glacier?

I bought a Kuiu pack ~ 18 months ago and used it last year for an elk backpack hunt. I bought the 1850 and 5200 combo. Love the 1850 but found the 5200 wasn't as comfortable as I'd like when I put 50lbs in the pack. I'm looking at options and find these two packs talked about alot. I also found some comments/concerns about the SG when they first appeared. Its been 4-5-6 years now for SG so its been put through its paces by now.

My issue is a short torso - 17-17.5" and wide shoulders which makes things a bit weird. Anyone with a similar torso geometry using either of these packs and care to comment?

Thanks.

Can't comment on the torso size but I can comment on the different packs a little. My brother was testing a new SG last year. With weight it just was not as comfortable as the Kifaru. The shoulder straps were about half as thick on the SG as the Kifaru so that probably contributed to some of it. It's also a lighter frame/pack though so that's a positive. He did like some of the features on the SG bag better then Kifaru but at the end of the day he is using a Kifaru frame and bag. I looked it over but never tried it with weight in it so I can't comment on that part. If you are planning on packing lots of heavy loads I would lean towards a Kifaru.

How was it when you put 80-100+lbs in it? 50lbs is usually a going in/climbing a mountain weight, and I'm curious if a simple frame adjustment could have fixed it for you.

Different frame option now on the SG. Really best to try both companies and send one back if at all possible. Can't say I have a similar torso. I'd call them both as well, I think they'd be honest with you.

I plan to call them both this week. Having a short torso sucks for getting a hunting pack to fit. Osprey makes a comfortable pack but isn't made to haul 50-75 lbs.

Last year I had same experience as you on the Kuiu, a little weight and it was uncomfortable. Used an MR Longbow last year and it worked for what I wanted it to do. I have a Kifaru frame coming tomorrow so I expect to load it later in the week and will let you know how it goes if you want.

Please do.

The out of vogue, and I'm not sure why, Mystery Ranch packs would be worth you looking into. My main pack for years has been the NICE Longbow. This year I sold it and replaced it with the new Guidelight Pintler. The couple of beefs I had with the Longbow (load lifters and weight) are rectified in the Pintler. I've never wished I was carrying a different pack.