Kifaru 14r or Stone Glacier Avail 2200

[outdoor_matt]

If you had the money, which would you choose?

I don't have the money yet, just like to imagine .

 

[mrbillbrown]

I've had both and liked the 14'r for my uses. Both great packs but the 14'r seemed to have better capability to scale up or down when needed. Carried 50# well and felt great on the back while moving thru the woods. All my current Kifaru accessories worked with the 14'r when needed.

Only complaint with it was the center zip didn't extend all the way up and open like a full tri-zip. Almost cut it myself to make the "perfect" 14'r pack. However, fast forward a year and now I'm using a Tarryall for all my "light duty" needs. Never really used it fully loaded and when I needed to haul something like that I just swapped into the hunting frame and bag. The Tarryall and it's built in pockets are super handy and I don't spend any time adding or subtracting pockets for certain trips. Just load and go.

The Avail is a nice pack just not as robust as the Kifaru stuff and not interoperable with any of my other gear.

 

[Kotaman]

I've had both and liked the 14'r for my uses. Both great packs but the 14'r seemed to have better capability to scale up or down when needed. Carried 50# well and felt great on the back while moving thru the woods. All my current Kifaru accessories worked with the 14'r when needed.

Only complaint with it was the center zip didn't extend all the way up and open like a full tri-zip. Almost cut it myself to make the "perfect" 14'r pack. However, fast forward a year and now I'm using a Tarryall for all my "light duty" needs. Never really used it fully loaded and when I needed to haul something like that I just swapped into the hunting frame and bag. The Tarryall and it's built in pockets are super handy and I don't spend any time adding or subtracting pockets for certain trips. Just load and go.

The Avail is a nice pack just not as robust as the Kifaru stuff and not interoperable with any of my other gear.

My sentiments exactly, right down to using just the TarryAll now.

 

[mtwarden]

no experience with the 14'er, but use an Avail- looks like both are 500d so shouldn't be any disparity in durability- Kurt's construction/sewing is well proven out in numerous crazy weight videos

the Avail has quite a bit of internal organization built in which is handy and the "beavertail" is super handy- all packs should incorporate it imo

not sure on the 14'er, but the Avail can be stripped of it's suspension and incorporated into their Krux or X-Curve frame as a stand alone or as a piggyback with one of their larger bags

Avail is slightly lighter if that is any consideration; neither are really light for a 35-ish liter pack, but not overly portly considering the material and construction

price point looks to be separated by $100+

 

[outdoor_matt]

Hmm, thanks for the input so far. I like the idea of a light and fast day/overnight pack. The cost difference, epsecially by the time you get to the Tarryall seems pretty significant. I guess for overnight, the Tarryall would be fantastic, but for day stuff, wouldn't a smaller pack be a bit nicer? Just that much more compact and trimmed down? It's just hard to believe the 14r is worth more than $100 more than the Avail especially when they are both made of the same materials. I currently have a Sky Archer 6200 so I think a 2000-2400 CI pack would compliment it well.