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INTERLUDE THREE: KIFARU’S FUTURE

I established Kifaru International in 1997 with the intention of its being an ongoing multi-generational family company. My girls, a grandchild and two sons-in-law work there. They have signed on to the multi-generational Plan and fully intend to carry it forward. I am now a very fit 72 year old. But, the actuary experts say that I’m more and more vulnerable to being felled by non-cardiovascular health issues. Or, by the dangers of wandering the wilderness alone, which I’ve dodged so far in a very long career of being Out There.
None of my beloved girls, or sons-in-law, have turned out to possess the craziness to be hard-core backpackers/backpack hunters/solitary ramblers like the Old Man. Nor do they have whatever gene it is that turned the Old Man into a Designer of the gear he uses to do what he loves out-of-doors. I won’t live forever, and something may get me yet. So. What would my beloved company do without its spear-tip of field authenticity and pivotal designs? I’ve worried about that Succession problem for years.

About four years ago a young fellow by the name of Aron Snyder contacted me about testing Kifaru packs. He was a very popular tester of backpack hunting gear, posting his test findings of company’s products across the Net. His pack testing was refreshingly hard-core. Far from being a backyard or day-trip tester the man beat hell out of his test subjects, carrying very, very heavy loads over very long distances in bad-ass terrain. He was the real-deal, and scrupulously honest in his Reports. He flat-out broke most tested packs. He told me that Kifaru loyalists on the various message boards challenged him to test Kifaru packs. Hence the contact with me. My kind of guy as a tester, and so I handed him some Kifaru sample packs and he headed out. He returned a Kifaru convert! Of all the packs he had wrung out Kifaru was THE ONE that stood above all. (We agreed on that, to be non-bragging honest.)

And so began a relationship that bloomed, with Aron eventually joining the company. I had searched for years for a truly hard-core, field designer/marketer replacement to myself for the company. Someone who conceived gear afield and tested relentlessly till perfection before turning it over to all-important Kifaru Users. Aron does all that, and certainly knows intimately the workings of world-class gear. He gets it. So. World class designer/user/very well-known bowhunter, AND marketer; Aron wholeheartedly subscribes to his own versions of the “Dirt Clinics” method of promotion and feedback I pioneered with Mountainsmith. His Kifaru Mountain Warrior Training Camp, backpacking trips with Users, and the HUB program (teaming with non-competing industry-leader firms) testify to his marketing prowess. He is also thoroughly up to date with all aspects of Social Media as the newest method for getting the word out about our gear. He is a very capable manager too, and is functioning as our COO along with a consortium of the Kids that function as a Council that works quite well. I am very proud of Aron. He is the son I never had, sharing my outdoor passions and fully capable of replacing me in this career I love so much. He is a stake holder in the company. He is Family.

Sarah and I have a Financial Advisor. Most successful business owners need one nowadays, what with the complexities of operating in a massive and complicated Government environment. We have had many Succession discussions with Andy, our Advisor. He counsels that the single biggest mistake passionate business founders make is holding on too tightly and for too long. I have come to realize that I do the Family Kifaru a disservice by not allowing them to get used to running the show. So I have semi-retired myself. There’s bittersweetness in that. But there is genuine sweetness in being even more foot-loose. I always devoted a great deal of nights afield, but now those outings can be much longer because I don’t have to get back to the Shop and deal with administrivia. This Road Trip is an example; expect more of the same.

In conclusion, the company is in fine shape. Design-wise, we have Aron as well as our very fine professional designer Eric Bender, and myself. Yes, I’m still involved. We three are behind the continuing updating of my original suspension systems…the very things that brought Aron to us in the first place. A great many folks hold them as the world’s Gold Standard. Aron and Eric are bringing world-class new and /or revised bags along at a good clip. And I will continue investigating seminal new stuff…which I can’t talk about, sorry. Kifaru customers win and so do we. We have an amazingly talented sewing, assembly and customer service staff. These folks are dedicated Kifaru-ites as well; we have an extremely low staff turnover. I am very proud of our team, and would match them against any staff group on earth. We are well managed. We husband our resources and can move very quickly. The Ultimate Big Hairy Decisions are still mine.

All of which makes me a happy aging mountain man. I’ve had a long and extremely gratifying career earning our living doing what I’d do without pay. I have a very tight and loving family and fifty two years of marriage to my high school sweetheart. God has been very, very good to me. I’m sometimes reminded of the famous refrain from the Grateful Dead’s song, Truckin’: “What a Long Strange Trip It’s Been”. But a GOOD one when it’s all said and done. And it is by no means finished.

Never been a fan basically a glorified duffle bag on a really nice frame. When I hunt I constantly want access to different gear during the day. I don't wanna dig in the main compartment. Those packs have never been good with pockets. On a given day I am adding and removing clothes then adding again. Grabbing snacks and lunch, putting more clothes on at the end then wanting my head lamp among other things. A duffle bag style pack sucks

Never been a fan basically a glorified duffle bag on a really nice frame. When I hunt I constantly want access to different gear during the day. I don't wanna dig in the main compartment. Those packs have never been good with pockets. On a given day I am adding and removing clothes then adding again. Grabbing snacks and lunch, putting more clothes on at the end then wanting my head lamp among other things. A duffle bag style pack sucks

Never been a fan basically a glorified duffle bag on a really nice frame. When I hunt I constantly want access to different gear during the day. I don't wanna dig in the main compartment. Those packs have never been good with pockets. On a given day I am adding and removing clothes then adding again. Grabbing snacks and lunch, putting more clothes on at the end then wanting my head lamp among other things. A duffle bag style pack sucks

Never been a fan basically a glorified duffle bag on a really nice frame. When I hunt I constantly want access to different gear during the day. I don't wanna dig in the main compartment. Those packs have never been good with pockets. On a given day I am adding and removing clothes then adding again. Grabbing snacks and lunch, putting more clothes on at the end then wanting my head lamp among other things. A duffle bag style pack sucks

You can pretty much put pouches or pockets anywhere on these packs , not sure where you came up with the duffel bag idea..........

why not buy a pack that already has them instead of having to buy more add on pockets. It does look to me like the packs are better with storage than the stuff from a couple years ago. Frankly I could not stand the duffle type concept of their packs. people raved about packs like the long hunter. I had to wonder did anyone actually ever use it? I would hate a pack like that. I don't want to dig everything out to get a headlamp or a freaking piece of jerky out of the thing. better organized packs I probably don't even unpack the pack all the way when I setup camp. With the duffle concept everything must come out and everything must be packed up when its time to go in the morning.

you guys can call me whatever the hell you want. I know what works for me what doesn't. I actually use my gear. I hunt and hike in the west on public lands. I have no brand loyalty which people seem to get all butt hurt when someone tells them why they may have bought the wrong thing.

below is the size of pack that would interest most. a 3400 and 4000 size. I have to ask how in the hell is this different from a duffle bag? there isn't one pocket on the pack. its all fishing stuff out of a duffle bag. most the rest of their packs are similar. its a glorifed army ruck sack

might as well just carry this for a pack

You're a rare kind of stupid.

You hunt and hike on western public lands? The rest of us only live here.

notice how the response is to impune me, rather than say umm YES that is a glorified duffle bag with a really fancy pack frame attached to it.

Five years ago that may have been true, but not any more.

You shouldn't slam a company like that when you haven't bothered to keep current with their products.

How many animals have you hauled out of the boonies in a Kifaru pack in the past few years?

I already told you that you don't know what you're talking about you stupid SOB.

[quote=smokepole]

]

You. Cowboy is zero, that's obvious.

sorry your having a bad day. are you really that mean to people in real life calling them names etc? instead what you could havedone is described your setup and perhaps "taught" me something. instead its name calling, which I don't think adds to the conversation. man its just the internet why get all worked up. good thing pot is legal in colorado you need some to calm down.

Five years ago that may have been true, but not any more.

You shouldn't slam a company like that when you haven't bothered to keep current with their products.

... and so far I'm the best looking on this thread.....

Nice, memories for a lifetime.

[img:center][/img]


Touche' Hero shot!

Where's the weekend warrior Tanner? That dude should have a worthy album by now....

Alaska Range.

Some people crack me up. I've been out of the real action for probably more than 10 years so you won't hear me talkin crap about anything current day. Back in the day, somewhere around Tanner's age or so it was a Camp Trails Freighter and Moose Bag with many trips and a variety of loads and critters. Technology has come so far since then!




Now that I've gotten my back screwed back together, I've a target to be in packing shape by ~Sept, Ovt, Nov. Somewhere around summer I plan to get a new pack and unless I can't get a Kifaru to fit, that's what I'll be running this fall. Maybe not at full speed or full capacity, but I plan on being out there.

I tried teaching you something with my first post, but that didn't work. Here it is again, why don't you try reading it this time:






I have no interest in "educating" someone who won't take the few seconds it takes on the internet (they do have a website) to educate himself.

Not having a bad day either, I just hate to see uninformed internet experts badmouth a company they have no knowledge of. As far as pictures, here's one, see if you can count the pockets on this pack.

Smoke... which pack you using?

why not buy a pack that already has them instead of having to buy more add on pockets. It does look to me like the packs are better with storage than the stuff from a couple years ago. Frankly I could not stand the duffle type concept of their packs. people raved about packs like the long hunter. I had to wonder did anyone actually ever use it? I would hate a pack like that. I don't want to dig everything out to get a headlamp or a freaking piece of jerky out of the thing. better organized packs I probably don't even unpack the pack all the way when I setup camp. With the duffle concept everything must come out and everything must be packed up when its time to go in the morning.

you guys can call me whatever the hell you want. I know what works for me what doesn't. I actually use my gear. I hunt and hike in the west on public lands. I have no brand loyalty which people seem to get all butt hurt when someone tells them why they may have bought the wrong thing.

below is the size of pack that would interest most. a 3400 and 4000 size. I have to ask how in the hell is this different from a duffle bag? there isn't one pocket on the pack. its all fishing stuff out of a duffle bag. most the rest of their packs are similar. its a glorifed army ruck sack

might as well just carry this for a pack

I think CC is just someone that try's to be contrarian. Literally no one that actually backpack hunts or shoots that I know thinks like him. If I walked into work and asked a group of guys that spend a considerable amount of time hunting animals (or humans) with a pack on, no one would give an answer like his. Similarly , if I asked the same people that spend a considerable time shooting animals (or humans), no one would give an answer like he does on scopes/rifles.

So he either is just trying to be contrarian, truly is the biggest oddity, or he's retarded....

This is one of their smaller bags (22 Mag) that I use for hiking/shooting/short hunts, it's only got 5 external pockets how it's setup now though so probably not enough. Cummins must carry way more snacks and trinkets than me.



Tanner

Interesting comments. Everyone has is entitled to their own opinion. For me, the "duffel bag on a frame has worked very well. But I might not have as much experience as some when it come to packing animals.
I do know since I have been using said system, with Kifaru Long Hunters, Granite Gear Flatbed, Seek Outside Evolution Hauler, ULA Epic (modified) I have packed 15 or more elk, (3 in four days, one year) 5 or maybe it's 6 sheep. A couple mulie bucks, all on public land.
I don't care for a lot of pockets. Finding your shi* in your pack is called organization and experience.

FYI, it works for me.

A few links to photos.

http://s597.photobucket.com/user/runsmtns/media/LongHunter.jpg.html?sort=3&o=395

I don't care for a lot of pockets. Finding your shi* in your pack is called organization and experience.

Smoke... which pack you using?

That's another thing I like about them, they'll work with you to get you what you want within reason.

Finding your shi* in your pack is called organization and experience.

LOL, thanks ed, I was thinking the same. Since I've started using a chest pack for stuff I need immediate access to without taking off the pack, the rest of it goes either in the lid on the Longhunter or stuffed in the top of the main compartment if it's bulky.

If you can't put the stuff you need to get to in those places, you're just too needy.

That's almost as stupid of a post as CC. The guy that uses the long hunter without a chest pack probably thinks your to needy since you need one. Please don't generalize. Everyone packs different things. Heck I never carry a pistol, but I'm not going to say that the person who does is a scared little wussy because he thinks he might need it.

I do see that we have a lot of 7'6" keyboard warriors here.

Apparently with Aron running the show there have been some changes. I assume they quit the custom work for good reason. But there has to be a happy medium somewhere in between pack modifications and customer service.

Effective immediately-

We will not be accepting ANY custom order of ANY kind; to include, but not limited to: deleting or adding items; changing colors of web or buckles; customer sending in own fabric and/or web, etc.

I understand the sentiment, but I've found that really doesn't work as well for me. I simply don't get the time in the woods using the pack to where the location of everything becomes second nature when its nearly all in a main compartment. With my latest pack, I find myself hunting for things. I don't need a lot of pockets, but a few is preferable. My current pack is a Seek Outside pack with a two pocket Talon and I think two additional small pockets would be preferable. Not a big deal as is but I am looking for ways to keep a few items handy. They now have new talons and a lid with different pocket arrangements that I'll look into.

Edit: and the only thing on my chest is binos and a small cow call.

I think CC is just someone that try's to be contrarian. Literally no one that actually backpack hunts or shoots that I know thinks like him. If I walked into work and asked a group of guys that spend a considerable amount of time hunting animals (or humans) with a pack on, no one would give an answer like his. Similarly , if I asked the same people that spend a considerable time shooting animals (or humans), no one would give an answer like he does on scopes/rifles.


So he either is just trying to be contrarian, truly is the biggest oddity, or he's retarded....