Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Kifaru

Good or bad or any experience?

Packs specifically I should add.

I've had 4, couple of older Longhunters, and an Express. None of those made anymore. Updated to the new lightweight frame and a Woodsman bag with add on pockets. Happy with all those, got the archery quiver too. I use the Express for Whitetail and backpack and backpack hunt elk with my Woodsman.

Saw they just came out with a new frame design.

Good.

The newer pack design where the nylon yolk comes over the top of the frame to secure the pack and load lifters is a step backwards IMO but other than that, I have no complaints. The old style with the hypalon yolk with holes for the frame's tabloops to stick through was much better .

Their frames just fit me well. I have a Reckoning and a Stryker, which I use on a hunter's frame and small belt.

I have always used kifaru. They are good. Mine is the age that stitching broke and I had a had a strap pull out. It’s dental flossed on but will replace this year. Might try a stone glacier.

Calvin send it back to Kifaru to be fixed or replaced, from personal experience their customer service has always been excellent or if you just want a new pack then rock on with the Stone Glacier!

Thanks. Given I am currently on a spending freeze, I should probably take your advice.

Good experience here. Well made with good materials/zippers and thought out correctly for holding things down. Not cheap, but quality gear.

Best pack I’ve used ,fits me well and no issues with durability so far!

I have Kifaru and its been bombproof. Really heavy duty as far as packs are concerned. Mine gets used pretty hard and is as good as new.

One of my good friends is a Kifaru fanatic. His packs are super robust and well thought out. If money was no object I'd have several.

I ended up getting the 357 for day/one nighters. Yet to test it, but first impressions are all good.

All backs are different, but they are about as good as it gets...

Can anyone explain why they constantly change models/designs after short periods?

Seems strange to offer a bag for a year then discontinue it.

Things changed a lot after Patrick Smith let other people take over and eventually purchase the company. They seem to be a lot more restless with products. But also there is a lot more competition driving changes with a lot more high end backpacks available.

Got a couple that are 20 years old or so. Have beat the crap out of them in all kinds of conditions and they are still going strong. Have no idea about current production.

Seek Outside makes great packs in Grand Junction, Colorado. I have the Revolution frame with Peregrine 3500 and Goshawk 4800 bags for it. Lightweight and will cary a heavy load comfortably.

Really like Kifaru packs. Have a 24 year old Longhunter that is going strong that I carry in the truck for packing out meat...usually a bear or two every spring. Also have a 7 year old Reckoning that is my favorite back pack ever. Packed out a couple Stone sheep and a Dall in it. Spent 5 days packing a Mt Caribou back to the lake we flew into a few years ago! Used it on many 10-day to two week hunts in BC and the NWT. Great pack.

Also have a 12 year old Kifaru UltraLight UL5400 if I remember right. Last pack Patrick Smith designed as far as I know. Love it for overnighters and high country day trip hunting where you have to carry alot of gear, just in case. Weighs about 3 pounds (Double wall Sil nylon construction) and I always carry my bow in the Gun Bearer, unless packing meat out and I've switched to a backup firearm in grizzly country. Durability was less than the Cordura packs that weighed 2.5X as much, but I LIKE the Ultralight as a great dayhunt pack!

I think we have 5 or 6 between my 2 kids and me. We've had outstanding luck with them. I just keep the old ones when upgrading and loan them out to folks who need one for a hunt. I try to stick with USA made stuff and Kifaru is one of a handful of great manufacturers using USA materials and labor. I guess I'm close to 30 years now on using their stuff.

Just like any other consumer product, to generate sales with something "new."

My experience has been good, I think I have 4 of their packs. I like the old style Long hunter packs.