Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Help with a Kifaru selection plz

For sure. You don't need to have a 10 pack to be able to haul a good load but even a 10 lb pack that has a good suspension is still better than a lightweight that sucks.

I personally don't like too many compression straps. They are a pain in the ass most of the time. The ideal for me are 3-4 permanent straps with another 2-3 that attach when packing out meat

Ed, I agree 100%....well said.

True, the HPG I used was good, but not my style and I didn't prefer it. My buddies McHale just has too many bells and whistles and stuff I wouldn't use anyways. Like handholds on the waistbelt...seriously??? I have used a number of packs and packed out some critters with a number of different style of packs and I think that some simply have too many or aren't needed or redundant, while some like Gregory or Arcteryx have too few.

All that said I'm certainly not a pack connoisseur like yourself so I can't really be one to say something is the end all be all. Just saying from my observations from carrying animals out with various packs I've used thats all. I would love to see some pics of your McHale loaded up on a couple trips hauling out some animals to better prove your point on how well the compression straps work with a heavy laiden pack vs. a Kifaru or Mystery Ranch which both have MUCH less compression straps than 11. Heavy load packing pics are always fun too look BACK at but not fun at the time.

I should'nt reply as I sense a pissing match coming on, its hard to tell if your being serious or a smartass Luke .

I am not here to compare everything thing to McHale. That was not the point I was trying to make. I just said it would be nice if Kifaru came with or had the option to add a few compression straps, especially up higher. Thats all...

Agree on the McHale "Hand rests", its a fully custom pack and I guess your buddy choose to have them.

I also was not referring to HPG's compression panel, I was comparing more along the lines of the Ute and I am sure their futrue packs. I am not a fan of the frame and compression panel. Like I said before just give me a big bag so I can stuff it all in and go. I tested out the prototype HPG compression panel with my Kifaru Duplex and my load was a mess. Party my fault because I was in a hurry with it being 80 degrees and having a bear down a couple miles in. Bear meat DOES NOT like warm weather.

I don't take many hunting pictures, I usually don't even pack one. Its unnecessary weight on a pack hunt, you also can't eat pictures. I don't like being "called out" to post pictures. Pictures don't make me anymore badass than I already am .

If your serious Luke I can email you the pictures I do have...

Not trying to be a smartass at all or calling you out. Just trying to educate myself on how to properly load a pack as I've not been doing as good as I can be and sure I'll PM you my email address so you can show me. Not trying to start a pissing match at all.

You should start packing a 5-7 oz camera btw, can't eat pictures either. But its fun to relive the hunts when the memories start to fade. Don't worry the pics won't make you more or less of a badass, but they can do wonders in conveying what you are trying to say...pics worth a thousand words right? I'm just too lazy to type 1K words thus the pics. Seriously though I'd like to see some pics as I am always looking to improve how I do things.

Getting my popcorn out... LOL

Great info and perspectives!

You could take my approach...head to the classifieds with your fist full of dollars and post a wtb add. That approach netted me a latest generation longhunter with appropriate belt and lightweight stays at a substantial discount. I think your at a point where your not going to get a bad pack and only trial and error will turn up exactly what turns YOU on.

There will ALWAYS be differences of opinion concerning packs and which features are/are not "best" and even very experienced packers WILL sometimes change their opinions as they age and/or find a different pack from that which had been their "ultimate" for some seasons.

One of the few (very few) things I know from decades of intense backpacking all over BC and some of Alberta, is that a number of packs WILL work WELL for me and may/may not work as well for others. One comes to realize that you DO NOT need an expensive or highly specialized pack to be successful AND enjoy backpack hunting and if you keep in shape, the actual pack make is not a big issue.

I have the utmost respect for Dan McHale, have yakked about packs with him since about 1995 and even had a deposit on one some years ago. While my experience with his packs is far less then that with many other makes, I doubt that anyone is making a "better" pack than Dan makes and I still might buy one, but, now we are on pensions, my $$$$ for gear are fewer and I have several excellent DD and MR packs to use.

So, for me, I tend to agree here with "Biathlonman" in buying "pre-owned" and then just using each one until you find YOUR "best" type and going from there.

I have come to prefer the Dana-Bozeman and early K2 and MR packs and their quality is second to nothing I have seen and their customer service is outstanding. Yet, I am still a fan of the Kifaru Siwash, sold my Gen.1 and if I had more bux, would very probably buy a Gen.2, as this pack is ideal for most of what I can still, at pushing 67, actually do in the mountains.

One point about McHale's packs, tho' and I think that "BigW" touched on this, Dan will build it the way YOU want it and one does not have to buy any extras that he may not care for. I prefer very simple pack designs as I am old, not very smart, anyway and tend to lose schit in the many pockets of many designs, as well as forget how to fit the more complex types to my elderly carcass.

Soooo, take your time, test all that you can and then see what you think is best for your needs and body.

Big_W, I have to apologize to ya man. Re-reading this stuff this morning I came across like nothing more than a azz.....sorry about that, just trying to figure out and see how the extra straps work better and I went about it all wrong. Again sorry for that and glad your pack works for ya, cause as you know in the end thats all that matters.

Yeah, I put on my asshat in my post too. The OP asked about the pack models/sizes and I gave both pro's and con's of the larger bags. I did not need to add snarky comments. Its all good...

Well then....Duplex or Standard? And I didn't know 'Lanche was in the Rokslide fraternity.

My one big bitch with all the Kifaru's that I have personally been around, is the lack of compression straps.

That's the thing I like least about my UL5200. 5200 inches in that tall and skinny a column with 2 compression straps, every time I use it I get hungry for muffins. What would another UL strap add for weight? an ounce and a half?

oh, Jesse, if I were you, I'd find a standard used and try it first.

That's what I LOVE about my UL5200. The suspesnion on it kicks more ass than anything I've used in the way of an internal.

I have a KU5200 and love it. I wasn't sure if I would like the no pockets thing but just add a few bags on as needed.

Luke,
I took my "big McHale" on a goat hunt back in 08 and my guide kept trying to get me to use one of their smaller packs. The bells and whistles intimidate!
Don