Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Tall guys - Kifaru or Mystery Ranch?

I have decided that it is time for me to get serious about a pack system, and I have narrowed my choices to either going with the Kifaru Duplex frame system (specifically the Timberline series )or the Mystery Ranch NICE system (specifically the Wolf Pack). The positives that I have come up with for Kifaru are lower weight and the fact that it is a Colorado company and effectively right up the street for fitting, repairs, etc.(although this means I will pay sales tax). The positives that I have found for Mystery ranch are the design that is more modular and incorporates more exterior pockets and durability (one of my hunting buddies is a Green Beret who has used his MR all over the world and it is still in great shape).

The question that I have is whether one or the other systems works best for tall guys? I'm 6'4", so not ridiculously tall, but having a system that handles heavy loads well and that has functional load lifters is important to me.

So, do you other tall guys recommend the MR or the Kifaru system?

6'3", MR works great for me.

Either should work. Also thinking the new timberline bags for the duplex frame level that playing field...

Take my word for it Kifaru is the way to go. On several occasions I have stopped at Kifaru and have spoken directly to Patrick Smith himself. He was the person who took his time to personally fit my Late Season pack for me. Great gear and great guy!

I'm a MR convert as well. I tried on a Kifaru pack, and Patrick tweaked it to fit me, and I knew right then it was going to cost me 600 bucks.

The real difference between the two manufacturers is obvious once loads get over 60 Lbs.

The good news is that either of those packs will have great resale value. Take good care of it for the first year and you can probably expect to get 75-80% of your money back if you decide to go a different route next season.

Hard to go wrong. My son and I are both 6'7" and he runs MR and I just got the Timberline 5200. Haven't loaded it out completely yet, but so far I am very impressed with the Kifaru. Both are great companies.

I'm 6'3" and own a Kifaru Siwash, and have owned a MR Nice frame with both the Crew Cab and 6500 bags. IMO the Nice frame is too friggin' short for larger guys. The 6500 bag has stay extensions help with the lifter strap angle, but the Crew Cab was a huge no-go for me. Ultimately the very flat nature of the NICE frame didn't work with my back curvature either. Others likely have different experiences than mine.

The quality of both packs are top notch. MR packs are impressively over-built and feature more compartmentalization than K-packs. There's a weight penalty for that however.

I could never get over the weight of the MR packs, so finally broke down and ordered a Kifaru Timberline pack. Should be here in about three weeks! Just in time for the first spring hikes. :-)

Frans

6'3 and 245 here and I've had 2 Kifaru packs, my goto pack now is the Kifaru Spike Camp (gen1) and I love it. I can put the military long pockets on it and handle a heavy load w ease.

I only have experience with Kifaru pack, so I will say go for Kifaru 26 inches stay pack.
And if the Kifaru is near you, I encourage you go their shop and try as many pack as you can. In my experience, their pack's carrying way is little different from other main brand. ( ie: the belt sit higher). Maybe you need Kifaru expert to teach you.

Another thing I want to say, I think the height is not main factor to choice the pack but the length of torso is main factor to decide which pack fit you.
Just my 2 cents.

Wolfmen

I am 6'-4" and Mystery Ranch packs have always fit me well. I have never had an issue with them and I push hard on my gear. My vote would be the MR for sure.

Its a no brainer. Kifaru. Yes maybe more money. But you get what you pay for. Check this link out, straight up no nonsense answers, explanations, and videos. Anything you want to know about Kifaru was, can, or will be answered.

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?1128-NEW-Kifaru-Duplex-Timberline-Series

Anton - sent you a pm. I have a NICE frame with a load sling for sale if you are interested...

I am NOT a "tall guy" and found that my Gen. One Longhunter Rendevous would not carry more than 70 lbs, a fair load at my age. I sold it and also the Siwash I had and this pack I really liked, but,both it and the Kifaru my buddy had as well would not carry comfortably,what my MR packs will.

I found my original NICE frame-Crewcab did not work as well as my newer NICE-OK-6500 setup and the Wolf Pack bag on the older NICE frame do, FOR ME. I like both of these more than any other pack I have ever carried.

Now,Kifaru has improved their packs with the newer Gen. II versions and some people here and on a couple of other forums I trust, say that the issues I had, have been solved and I would like to try a "Navigator" as I think that this design is brilliant and VERY utilitarian. But, I am 66 at the end of June and if I buy another pack,I am going to damned well spend the coin and have Dan McHale build me exactly what I want in "full Spectra" and then hope to use it until I am 100!

You will find a lot of "cult" comments about both companies and their gear and, I admit, I am as bad as anyone in this respect, but, while MY CS issues with Kifaru happened and my service from MR has been uniformly outstanding, no body, no company and no item made by human hands is "perfect" and both are well worth trying to find which works best for YOU,regardless of what some ornery geezers and even youngun's post here.

The fact is that all gear is evolving so rapidly these days that none among even the most experienced here can give field test-based opinions on all of it. So, my feeling is read what everyone has to say, bad and good and then think about exactly what YOU need and do as above.

The most credible guy here on gear is EdT and hopefully he will chime in and his word is beyond question, IMO. HTH, lots of fun to choose, but, at today's gear prices,also a bit stressful.

Its a no brainer for you to go by the Kifaru shop since you are so close and try stuff.

Both good companies with MR stuff being on the heavy side. MR has excellent customer service and if you keep it clean they will take it back.

I have a Dan Mchale custom and its perfect- which I never thought possible. I wanted a light, mid size pack I can use for short bkpk trips and as a daypack that can carry 80# of meat. Dan nailed it and he has a very clever system for keeping that meat load right where you want it.

Custom pack is probably overkill for an avg size guy but if you are a bit hard to fit the difference is amazing.