Buying a new Kifaru pack.....which one?

[Weston]

So I have been battling this new pack obsession for a few weeks and cant seem to make up my mind. I was looking at the DT2 with Longhunter lid or the HC 7000 both would be on a bikini platform. however I cannot decide which one I should get. My gear rundown is going to be for 6 days or less....usually 3 days. I have quite a bit of minimalist UL gear and I do not do a lot of very cold weather hunting so I doubt I will use too much space. I do pack meat inside the bag at least I have in the past.... I'm trying to make up my mind on what pack will be best for me.... I typically do a lot of glassing and carry a tripod with me everywhere and often carry a spotter..... The HC looks as if it would be hard to secure a tripod to for quick access.... Other than the tripod and maybe a spotter pocket I really do not need a ton of pockets to make me happy. Although I wouldn't mind a small pocket for GPS/havalon/spot unit/ range finder etc.... Weight is fairly important to me as I am not built to pack a lot of weight, and gaining tons of elevation with weight can be challenging. Which brings up another point, I've also been looking at the SG terminus. However I like the Kifaru stuff and have been happy with the customer service I have received talking to Aron. Unfortunately I have not been able to find anyone with any of these packs I can try out before buying anywhere around me. Any insight/advice from those who have used the packs is much appreciated!

 

[Curtis C]

You should be able to get 4-5 days worth of supplies in a DT2 if you are using UL and compact gear. If I remember correctly the main body of the DT2 is just shy of 4000 ci and the rest is in the side and back pockets. For the small items you mentioned you might consider a couple belt pouches regardless of which pack you choose. That's where I keep my GPS, rangfinder, calls, windchecker, compass ETC.

 

[Justin Crossley]

I would personally go with the DT2 bag. I like to slide my spotter in the side pocket for fast access. The pockets on the back are good for other things like TP and other possibles that you may want easy access to.

My brother is planning to use a Bikini and DT3 this year for ultra light hunting trips. This weekend we will try and shoot a quick video of his setup and how it all fits in the pack. We are going on a two and a half day scouting trip/ bear hunt.

 

[ckleeves]

I haven't handled a HC but I would think you could just put 2 of the tripod legs inside the side compression straps and the other on the outside of them. That's how I always carry a tripod on all my packs. The spotter pockets on the Timberline bags are nice when your not packed full but not all the way functional if your packing stuff tight IMO. I wish they would make these more like a sewn on long pocket so you still have good access to them when the main bag is full.

 

[SHTF]

Weston Im using the standard Timberline 2 same bag just my frame is built in stead of like the Duplex. I love the pack. Fits everything I need and like you Im running with a lot of lightweight gear. Here is a video of Aron and all the gear hes throwing in the same pack I own.

http://vimeo.com/41533847

Here he is loading it up. This will give you a good idea on this pack.

http://vimeo.com/41537777

Also to note you can add in long pockets or a E&E to the back or large pockets for where the Molle straps are or even throw on a Pod. I own a Large Pod and it can clip anywhere on the pack. Holds a good 2500 ci of gear securely.

 

[SHTF]

Here is aron going over the Kifaru Duplex Timberline series. http://vimeo.com/40037814

 

[Weston]

Thanks guys, I do like the pockets on the timberlines, but it sure seems as if you can save some serious weight without them, which brings up the next question. Is it worth the money to go with the DT2 and a bikini frame over the T2 with the built in frame? I guess the main advantage I see for me with the HC is the weight savings.

 

[dirtytough]

I am a huge fan of the slot pockets. I used to use a Barneys Pinnacle which had a pocket for a spotting scope on one side and a slot pocket on the other side. The pack was way to big for summer scouting trips so I would use a regular backpacking pack. I hated not having a dedicated spot for my spotter tripod. Digging the spotter out of the pack sucks. Now I use a BT3 pack

The timberline series packs are pretty well thought out for a hunter that uses a spotter/tripod a lot. I put my tripod in one side and either my rain gear in also or something else I might want quick access to when I stop to glass. If you use your spotter a lot I would get a timberline series pack. If not I would probably look at the Highcamp series packs.

I have not used a Stone Glacier so I can't comment on those.

 

[Weston]

My plan is to get away from a big spotter, looking at the new razor, but last year I actually left my spotter at home fairly regularly, I carry Swaro 12x50 EL's but I cant stand glassing without my tripod so if I'm in the woods the tripod comes with me and typically I'll have my tripod out every time I stop.

 

[TheRambler]

You can easily strap a tripod and spotter to a HC. Just use the compression straps. Aron posted up a picture of that a while back I belive.

Personally, if it was me, I would go with a bigger pack vice a smaller one aka 7000 vs 4800. Because when it comes time to haul all of that meat the extra room is good to have. And if you ever do something like I did recently and carry all of the gear for your family, you will also need the extra room too.

As for strapping on a tripod, thats simple. Strapping on the spotter makes some people nervous. If thats you then get a long pocket, or back pouch etc and put it in there if you get the HC.

 

[rodney482]

I run the original T1, I have a pod, 2 long pockets and 2 pouches and 1 pullout and a hanging meat bag.

I am guessing I have 9000 CI

I only use all of that space if I am staying 10 days plus.

The long pockets and pod stay at base camp.

I run about 15-20 lbs of daypack gear and compress the heck out of the pack.

I am 110% happy with my system!

 

[dreamingbig]

Having both (DT2 and high camp 7000) I would go with the DT2. I am going on a 9 day trip and taking the DT2 with a grab-it. The high camp is for family trips when I am playing sherpa.

 

[shaun]

I say if you are looking at the high camp 7k you should be looking at the dt1. I love mine after she went under the knife the first time she came in at 6lbs and change. I still have more cutting I will prob do to see how light she will actually go. The high camp is a great light weight bag also it really just comes down to functionality and what you are looking for. They will both be amazing and hey if you wanted you could but dt pack with bikini frame and pick up the high camp bag later on than you could swap them around. The frame is so versatile it makes these decisions easy in a way. Good luck on choosing

 

[Weston]

I really appreciate all the input. I think the biggest factor at why I was looking at the DT2 is that I like the idea of having a smaller pack for going through the AZ brush, especially as a daypack once I'm spiked in.... but I had a hard time not looking at the bigger highcamp if I'm going to be using a standard lid with that system... I'm really not sure why this pack decision is so tough for me. Most things I can choose pretty easily, but this pack thing definitely has me flustered...A part of me really likes the weight of the Terminus, after all I have no problem dropping a hundred bucks to save a few ounces on most my gear the multiple pound savings is very appealing to me. However the Kifaru seems to really be the cats meow in terms of comfort, and I do really like the tripod in a pocket instead of hanging out of the main bag idea.

I've bbeen going back and forth on these packs for weeks now, maybe I need to just suck it up and order one!

 

[Shrek]

I'd be looking at the BT1 combo. The weight difference between the T1 and T2 bags isn't much and you will not notice any difference in bulk when they are cinched down on an identical loads. The T1 will be a little more wrinkled up but if you run short of room for meat or gear for a longer trip there isn't a bag stretcher. Then you have to start hanging things off the bag and that will hang on things in the brush. When you look at listed capacity of the Timberline series the volume is a little misleading. The main bag of the T1 bag is 5200 ci and the rest of the capacity is the pockets and pouches.

 

[Weston]

I guess, I had not really considered that pack and I should have the weight difference would be negated using the standard lid as well, thats a dang big pack though not sure I would actually ever use all those CI! Way to go, now things are more complicated

 

[Shrek]

I know that several of the most experienced packers on this site recommend going bigger than I thought I wanted. When I got my bag and started playing the first thing I did was put what I thought my max volume load would be in it and I couldn't completely close the top. No room for meat without hanging things off the bag. I finally got it. If I have to carry a couple of pods to pack meat and camp together then I have negated any weight savings and I would have a much cleaner pack for the bush if I can get it all inside the main bag. Also , I can still hang stuff on the outside and have many extra days capacity for food and such if I need to stretch it . Imagine all your gear and then imagine all your gear plus a deer in the bag. I don't think the T1 bag will seem too big then but the T2 will bag looking really small.

 

[Weston]

Thats very true, I'm coming from an eberlestock dragonfly which is 5400" CI and I can typically get away with only strapping one game bag coming out of boned out meat (coues deer hunting which is what I mostly backpack for). However Elk hunting can be tricky with it!

 

[Weston]

Well I really do appreciate all the responses, I bit the bullet a few minutes ago and Ordered a SG terminus and some accessories. I have spent literally the last 20 hours trying to decide and it was a hard decision to make, Kifaru's solid following made things even harder, I cant say enough good things about Aron either, he took the time to go over some of my questions a few weeks ago and I will certainly be buying a Kifaru shelter here in a few weeks and perhaps a new pack too! I think one of the biggest reasons I went with the SG besides the weight is the wait time, I figure shipping costs 20 bones each way, and if I get the pack and decide a Kifaru would suit me better a week or so isnt so bad to wait, however the wait time on the Kifaru is a long time to wait if I second guess myself when it gets here (which I doubt would happen either way). The modularity of the Kifaru was certainly appealing, however the truth of the matter is once I get something I do not usually change it and I would end up buying a new frame and suspension anyways.

So I will be anxiously awaiting the big brown truck to show up! and perhaps a Kifaru will be in my future as well!