How did you get started with kifaru?

[jb79]

After seeing northernpiker donate a frame yesterday it got me think about how I was introduced to kifaru and thought I would share my story because I was hooked up also.
I like many I went through a ton of budget packs and it took me killing a 5x5 rossie a long ways from a road, by myself with a less than worth pack on my back. That day after packing that bull to the truck with the help of a stranger and buddy that was crazy enough to drive 2 hours to help I swore things would change!
I started doing research and found kifaru and thought wtf how could pack cost so much after a few months of saving I talked myself into getting one, then i found rokslide and realized I could get a
used one and save some money! I ended up with a used bikini and highcamp that was just not sized right for me but after some training hikes I saw what a great pack could do for me! Long story short I put it up for sale and the first pm I got was from Aron saying to call him, I thought chit I broke a rule or did something wrong, mind you this is on a Sunday. So I nut up and call the man that I've read so much about( good and BAD)He ask me why I am selling, I tell him and he hooks me up with nomad and bikini that are fit for me- grant they weren't free just a slight discount! Enough to make even my wife say what a great company and go ahead and spend the money!!
I've been through a lot of their packs and frames sense then and packed a few animals along the way and couldnt be happier!
Anyhow seeing the kindness of others made me think of what a great community rokslide is, regardless of what pack or gear you choose, I have always felt like I get straight answers from this group!
Jake

 

[Shawn Hultquist]

After talking to several people and taking note as to what a lot of people were using to haul heavy loads and hauling out a 5x5 bull three miles back I said never again. I call Aron and we talked several times and I had to save my pennies every month. I haven't had the chance to use it yet but I'm hoping it will payoff in the fall


shawn

 

[RCR]

I can't remember how I first heard about Kifaru, but somehow I convinced myself I needed to get a Spike Camp. That was about 20 years ago. Fast forward to 2008 and I relocated from TX to CO. I was back in mountain hunting country and picked up an Eberlestock. Never had a problem with it, until I had to pack an animal with it. I started researching pack frames and came across a lot of positive stuff about Kifaru. I was in shock at the price, but knew the quality was great. I picked up a bikini and nomad, then changed to a duplex. I'm convinced I will have a Kifaru for as long as I can get into woods. I can't say I'll always have this setup because they keep coming out with such cool new stuff!

 

[Darren Best]

Came back from a backpack mule deer hunt in the Selway-Bitteroot wilderness and was looking for a heated lightweight shelter.

 

[COlineman78]

Those who have seen my other posts about packs will notice that I often qualify my answers with the fact that I bring everything including the kitchen sink on my summer backcountry fishing trips. Just 2 years ago I was still using my vintage Alpenlite external frame pack (see below) and I thought there had to be a better way when I couldn't lift my arms above my head for days after a trip. I wasn't sure I was ready to spend $600+ on a pack, so figured that I would first try out a Kuiu Icon Pro 7200. After 2 trips I saw the benefits of a high end pack, but I was really having some problems with fit causing severe shoulder pain over time and didn't feel like I was getting my moneys worth. Well, fast forward a couple months and I was at the sheep seminar at 1ShotGear and after introducing myself to Aron afterward I mentioned my problems and he offered to help me try and get it properly adjusted even though it wasn't a Kifaru pack, which got me thinking if he treats non-customers this way I can't even imagine how he will treat a customer. The next week after the elk seminar I caught him again and he had me throw the pack on and he showed me how due to the pack design it couldn't be correctly adjusted to fit my freakishly long torso and was pulling backwards on my shoulders. Needless to say that the pack was up for sale the next day and I got in line for the new hunting frame the first morning.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

It's been years and years. I read an article about Patrick, and checked out his packs. Ended up with a Longhunter, only offered in black at the time if I remember right.

 

[dotman]

Wow, it's been a long time but Justin Davis and Aron Snyder were both a big part of it. Have had many variations from internal frame to external since. It was way before Rokslide.

 

[castandblast]

I picked up a used cargo panel here from Stephen B to use with a military frame. I liked the design and versatility of the panel so much that I wanted a Kifaru frame to attach it to. I liked the frame so well that I wanted to give it a nicer bag so I bought a DT1. I wanted some accessories to match so the next thing I knew I had bins of extra packs, pockets, pods, lock and loads, lids, grab-its and other stuff. Somewhere along the way a Bikini frame found me. I had no idea spending a couple grand could be so easy!

Then the Nomad and Camp bag combo came out and if it had been my first purchase I probably would have been done. Well, maybe......

 

[dotman]

I picked up a used cargo panel here from Stephen B to use with a military frame. I liked the design and versatility of the panel so much that I wanted a Kifaru frame to attach it to. I liked the frame so well that I wanted to give it a nicer bag so I bought a DT1. I wanted some accessories to match so the next thing I knew I had bins of extra packs, pockets, pods, lock and loads, lids, grab-its and other stuff. Somewhere along the way a Bikini frame found me. I had no idea spending a couple grand could be so easy!

Then the Nomad and Camp bag combo came out and if it had been my first purchase I probably would have been done. Well, maybe......

Haha, yeah right. I said that once before I came to accept Kifaru is an addiction just as bad as any other.

 

[Shackdaddy]

My first Kifaru pack was a spike camp. It had belonged to my grandfather who pasted away this past year. At the time I knew very little about Kifaru but knew it was his favorite pack to use. After he passed away, I was going through some of his stuff and found the spike camp. After a blessing from my grandma, the pack was mine. I decided that in honor of my grandfather, my badlands 2800 would be staying at home for that season and the spike camp would be used. The problem was I was going to have to figure out how I was going to fit all my gear in the spike camp for 5-7 day hunts. i bought 2 medium side pockets, 2 belt pouches, a back pouch and a grab it. I finally made my spike camp into a 5-7 day pack. I had straps running all over that thing, I was determined to make it work. For the bow opener we packed 18 miles on horses for a week. On opening day I was able to harvest a beautiful 3x3 California buck. I defiantly knew my grandfather was with me on this trip. After taking a moment and a tear thinking about all the great hunts with my grandfather, I finished breaking my buck down, I loaded him up in the spike camp and packed him back to camp. I was amazed on how well this pack carried that much weight and it was still comfortable. I was hooked. I used that spike camp the rest of the season. When the new frames came out I ordered one with a Highcamp. I have never been happier with a pack set up. I credit my grandfather for getting me hooked on Kifaru.

 

[tipsntails7]

I broke a frame that Aron advised me not to buy with 80 pounds of black bear in it. I called and complained like a little girl the next day as he basically laughed at me. Come tax return time I ponied up and have been happy ever sense.

 

[woods89]

Rokslide is where I learned there was even such a company. I've lurked here for a couple years and was always reading about how great they were, etc. Then I wound up shooting a nice whitetail quite aways from the trailhead this last fall and I had raw spots on my hips from a slipping belt by the time it was all said and done. A few weeks later the gen 2's went on sale in the rhino den and the rest is history. Got to pack a doe out with it in December and it was amazingly comfortable!

 

[2ski]

As life gets in the way of hunting with your friends and family as much as you used too, I decided I needed a pack I could haul out at least a quarter in. And I wanted to spend some money on some good binos. I thought $200 per sounded about right. So in researching some binos, I came upon this poster named BitterrootBulls that seemed to know alot about optics. I don't remember what the sight was, but I remembered his name. That led me to Rokslide. And my $400 budget went out the window. I just thought it was a given that I would buy a Badlands. Rokslide taught me differently. So I bought my optics first, the ZenRay Primes, and saved up for a bag. I am now the proud owner of a Duplex Frame with a DT2 frame and a few other add-ons/belt pouches.

Rokslide has taught me so much about what I didn't know I needed but now can't live without.

 

[jb79]

Haha, yeah right. I said that once before I came to accept Kifaru is an addiction just as bad as any other.

That's no joke!!! Took months for me to justify my first one and now it's no big deal just to sell one buy another it helps they retain there value so it's easier to play around with different packs, pockets and frames.

 

[justin davis]

My 1st pack was a black Siwash. I saw kifaru because a select few guys had them on bowsite. I started using Kifaru packs and shelters ever since!

 

[Phillip Hathaway]

I was in the market for a new pack as the eberlestock just didnt handle any weight well at all for what I needed it for. The release of the nomad and I complained about the price Aron added me on facebook. After a 10 minute talk on the phone well lets just say 2 frames and 4 packs later. I stopped complaining about prices of gear and just biting the bullet once and crying once.

 

[TJ]

I was looking for a new pack and following the reviews on Bowsite by some guy with the handle of THE ELK REAPER. He had been reviewing a bunch of packs and one he reviewed was the Kifaru Ultralight series. I followed this thread for a while and finally decided I had to have it.

Best decision I have made regarding packs.

I still use the KU5200 and also have a Bikini with a T1 bag.

Thinking I may need a new Duplex and maybe a Mountain Warrior too.

Thanks ELK REAPER, I mean Aron

 

[Salix]

I've been backpack hunting elk with a group of guys for about 7-8 years. The first year I arrived for the hunt I had an old external frame pack and they all had high end MR hunting packs. I switched to a LL Bean hunter carry-all with small book bag type pack for a few years that worked but had its limitations with heavy loads. A few years ago one of the MR guys on the trip switched to a kifaru pack that was more versatile. It was tough to justify the price but it was the pay once cry once attitude that got me past that. After much reading and research I finally settled on what I wanted and watched the classifieds. I ended up calling Aron and chatting with him. He set me up with exactly what I wanted with some reduced pricing on the pack. This last fall I helped pack out 4 elk and the pack was great.
I have the duplex with EMR II and I honestly feel I will never need another hunting pack.

 

[rayporter]

back about 1986 i first heard the name Patrick Smith. my bud had a 4 man tipi with a wood stove that we camped in. it was silver and had a lot of extra nylon sewed on.

kifaru was way in the future as the tipi was made by mountainsmith.

the tipi has come a long way since then.

 

[welpro222]

Almost 3 years ago I bought a lot of Army SF Military surplus from a guy, it contained a Mystery Ranch SATL. After researching this pack, of course Kifaru came up in the forum searches. I glanced at the Kifaru website and was sticker shocked and vowed to never looked again. But time went by and I got into backpack hunting, I tried the MR nice frame. It was a no go for me, with no load lifters (yes I tried the aftermarket lift kit too). Now years later, I have bought and sold multiple Kifaru packs and frame. Customer service and an overall reliable well made product got me hooked for life. Of course being made in the USA.