Kifaru Dall bag

[RBAlaska2325]

Looking for info on the Kifaru Dall bag and possibly purchasing a used one. I see it is/ was there biggest expedition pack. Is there a reason it’s discontinued?

 

[RBAlaska2325]

*their

 

[idig4au]

I dunno but Kifaru seems to have lost the plot with their bag options now. Not the company they once were.

Gohunt and Scheels have Dall bags available.

 

[R boar]

I have a Dall bag (not for sale) and I like it. I use it for everything from day hunts to week plus long hunts. Obviously it's a silly choice for day hunts, or even a 2 or 3 day hunt, but it cinches down just fine and then you have a giant (GIANT) bag to put meat in without having to use meat shelf. Like 2 rear elk quarters inside the bag with room to spare.

A lot of people like having all the different compartments on a pack, but I have a system in how I load my gear so the things I need during the day are on top and when I make camp, everything comes out. It works good for me.

I use a 1-zipper lid for all the small things like toiletries, first aid, phone charger, toilet paper, etc.

The water bottle pockets are very well designed, similar to MR Marshall. I am extremely inflexible, and even I can get bottles in and out while the pack is on. When the pack is full, they work really well and bottles don't fall out, but if the pack is almost empty, like day hunting, they don't work quite as well. I lost a bottle yesterday, but I never should have had it in the side pockets with the brush I was going through.

I love the bag for longer hunts but I do sorta kinda wanna get a smaller kifaru bag for 1-2 day hunts. I have a MR pop-up for that, but I hate that pack so I just take the huge kifaru.

 

[RBAlaska2325]

Yea, I’m having an issue deciding on a hunting pack. I live in Sitka and don’t have the luxury of going to a store and trying multiple packs/frames. I’ve narrowed it down to Kafaru Dall with Ark frame, Stone Glacier sky guide 7900, and EXO K4 7200. Looking for something that will get me through a 5-8 day hunt but can also be brought down to a possible single day hunt and endure thick brush. I’d rather have enough room than not enough.

 

[RBAlaska2325]

I have a Dall bag (not for sale) and I like it. I use it for everything from day hunts to week plus long hunts. Obviously it's a silly choice for day hunts, or even a 2 or 3 day hunt, but it cinches down just fine and then you have a giant (GIANT) bag to put meat in without having to use meat shelf. Like 2 rear elk quarters inside the bag with room to spare.

A lot of people like having all the different compartments on a pack, but I have a system in how I load my gear so the things I need during the day are on top and when I make camp, everything comes out. It works good for me.

I use a 1-zipper lid for all the small things like toiletries, first aid, phone charger, toilet paper, etc.

The water bottle pockets are very well designed, similar to MR Marshall. I am extremely inflexible, and even I can get bottles in and out while the pack is on. When the pack is full, they work really well and bottles don't fall out, but if the pack is almost empty, like day hunting, they don't work quite as well. I lost a bottle yesterday, but I never should have had it in the side pockets with the brush I was going through.

I love the bag for longer hunts but I do sorta kinda wanna get a smaller kifaru bag for 1-2 day hunts. I have a MR pop-up for that, but I hate that pack so I just take the huge kifaru.

Which frame do you use? I’ve heard some complaints about the new Ark compared to their older duplex frame. There’s one (Kifaru Dall) for sale on here, but I’m not “allowed” to message the seller yet @Chris B.

 

[RBAlaska2325]

Which frame do you use? I’ve heard some complaints about the new Ark compared to their older duplex frame. There’s one (Kifaru Dall) for sale on here, but I’m not “allowed” to message the seller yet @Chris B.

Sorry @CodyB

 

[R boar]

Which frame do you use? I’ve heard some complaints about the new Ark compared to their older duplex frame. There’s one (Kifaru Dall) for sale on here, but I’m not “allowed” to message the seller yet @Chris B.

I have the duplex lite. Few years old. I like it. There have been 2 occasions I have gotten horrible chafing, but normally it's fine.

The first one was a weekend hunt with a fairly light pack and a lot of fast miles on easy terrain in warm weather, I'm not sure what happened but it tore me up pretty good.

The other time I was doing a quick little training hike up the hill by my house but had a deadline, so was almost running with 120lbs and the lumbar pad ate a hole through my back in like 45 minutes.

But I have packed out a lot of animals, very heavy loads and long miles, and weeks in a row with no days off, and have normally been very comfortable.

The only other heavy duty packs I have experience with are MR, and I prefer the Kifaru, but I haven't used SG or Exo packs.

 

[RBAlaska2325]

I have the duplex lite. Few years old. I like it. There have been 2 occasions I have gotten horrible chafing, but normally it's fine.

The first one was a weekend hunt with a fairly light pack and a lot of fast miles on easy terrain in warm weather, I'm not sure what happened but it tore me up pretty good.

The other time I was doing a quick little training hike up the hill by my house but had a deadline, so was almost running with 120lbs and the lumbar pad ate a hole through my back in like 45 minutes.

But I have packed out a lot of animals, very heavy loads and long miles, and weeks in a row with no days off, and have normally been very comfortable.

The only other heavy duty packs I have experience with are MR, and I prefer the Kifaru, but I haven't used SG or Exo packs.

Thank you. I appreciate the info.

 

[Raghorn54]

FYI There’s a Dall (bag only) listed on KSL classifieds right now for $225. Looks pretty new

 

[RBAlaska2325]

FYI There’s a Dall (bag only) listed on KSL classifieds right now for $225. Looks pretty new

 

[RBAlaska2325]

Thank you! Still deciding on the frame. Seems to be a lot of hate on the new Ark compared to the duplex lite.

 

[Str8shooter]

IMO Its too big and lacks the pockets and suborganization structures that aid efficient backpack biggame hunting. Its good for lugging a dozen duck decoys/waders and a float tube or packing bulky winter gear but for biggame hunting where quick and known access to a puffy/spotter/tripod/snack is clutch, its too cavernous. Also as mentioned above, Kifaru as a company sucks, buy at your own risk, their warranty isnt worth the paper its written on. Even minor rips/tears/zipper issues are deemed "unrepairable".

 

[R boar]

IMO Its too big and lacks the pockets and suborganization structures that aid efficient backpack biggame hunting. Its good for lugging a dozen duck decoys/waders and a float tube or packing bulky winter gear but for biggame hunting where quick and known access to a puffy/spotter/tripod/snack is clutch, its too cavernous. Also as mentioned above, Kifaru as a company sucks, buy at your own risk, their warranty isnt worth the paper its written on. Even minor rips/tears/zipper issues are deemed "unrepairable".

I think a lot of that is personal preference, but I agree that kifaru customer service has been shitty every time I've tried to talk to them, before and after sale. Which is a good reason to find deals on their used stuff and not buy new

 

[RBAlaska2325]

I think a lot of that is personal preference, but I agree that kifaru customer service has been shitty every time I've tried to talk to them, before and after sale. Which is a good reason to find deals on their used stuff and not buy new

That was kind of my plan. Also cost savings of buying used.

 

[Raghorn54]

Thank you! Still deciding on the frame. Seems to be a lot of hate on the new Ark compared to the duplex lite.

No prob. Don’t have any experience with the Ark, but the duplex lite and tactical frames really shine once the work begins. For me, they carry a heavy packout exceptionally well. Pack-wise, I got a gnargali on discount this fall for the water resistance and lighter weight for the space (vs 44 Mag). Liked it so much, I picked up a Dall for longer trips.

Can’t speak to their recent customer service, but I don’t doubt the other guys on here. Bummed to hear it.

 

[CodyB]

@RBAlaska2325 yes I have the Dall bag for sale in classifieds. It’s still available. I used it on a Duplex Lite frame and really liked the combo just don’t get to do the longer backpack hunts in recent years. I’ll PM you as well.