Kifaru Guide Lid

[dotman]

Finally broke down and decided to give it a shot, who else immediately cut off the shoulder harness? Going to keep the Velcro pocket as it will come in handy but am I the only crazy guy to immediately cut on theirs?

 

[rhunter424]

I use the guide lid so much as a small day pack that I'd never do such a thing. Yea you're crazy

How much does your lid weigh now?

 

[dotman]

Not a clue but doubt it weighs much less, did it mainly to reduce clutter and have an extra pocket. I have an MR daypack lid that I use all the time as a range bag etc but the guide lid will just be a lid for me

 

[striker3]

I just got my lid as well. I doubt I will ever use it as a daypack. That is why I picked up the nomad, so I could carry a daypack on a frame. But I am hesitant to cut the shoulder straps, I hate losing options. Many times I have found something that I said I would never do turn out to be my favorite choice.

I'll probably give it a season and see what experience reveals.

 

[Shrek]

I'll be trimming mine soon. I've been trying to find a use for the velcro pouch area but it hasn't occurred to me yet so I may sell the guide uncut and buy a Long Hunter to gut. I don't go anywhere without the frame so the lid never comes off..

 

[mrbillbrown]

I've kept my straps intact and can't ever see cutting them off.

In the Velcro pocket I put my rain jacket and pants (marmot precip & sitka downpour). Straps didn't seem to get in the way.

Actually pulled the guide lid off and used it as a pack to carry a couple of 3L bladders, nalgene, and 16oz water bottle to the creek for refilling late one night. Didn't want to carry my entire pack down the hill for such a small task. Worked perfect holding all the filled items and carried well for the shirt trip.

 

[dotman]

I'll be trimming mine soon. I've been trying to find a use for the velcro pouch area but it hasn't occurred to me yet so I may sell the guide uncut and buy a Long Hunter to gut. I don't go anywhere without the frame so the lid never comes off..

Initial impression, I like the guide over the longhunter, tried to like the longhunter multiple times, just never did. Never once have I used any of these as a stand alone setup while hunting, so to cut was an easy decision

 

[Where's Bruce?]

I like em both the Longhunter and Guide lid with the straps...but I gotta venture away from camp to catch breakfast sometimes. Makes an ideal tackle bag.

 

[MIKEYB]

I wont cut it after this season. I went "Guide Lid Lite" A few times from my spike camp. Just to hit close areas. I used the velcro pocket for heads up decoy. But to get it out you had to take it off.

Nalgene bottle, snacks, havalon, paracord, 1-2 game bags, delorme inreach, headlamp, steripen,. With a medium pouch on the top I had more than enough room for a quick evening-morning mission. I even put a couple of small deer sheds in between the pouch and lid. It was a nice break from carrying more than I need and use most of the time.

 

[oldgoat]

I have a practically new CB longhunter I would trade you for the guide

I'll be trimming mine soon. I've been trying to find a use for the velcro pouch area but it hasn't occurred to me yet so I may sell the guide uncut and buy a Long Hunter to gut. I don't go anywhere without the frame so the lid never comes off..

 

[jlsteel]

I use the guide lid as a little pack alot. Its worth it to keep the straps

 

[jcodyc40]

I use mine alot more than I anticipated. Fits my puffy, kill kit, water and snacks perfectly for stand and blind hunting.

 

[tipsntails7]

I'll be trimming mine soon. I've been trying to find a use for the velcro pouch area but it hasn't occurred to me yet so I may sell the guide uncut and buy a Long Hunter to gut. I don't go anywhere without the frame so the lid never comes off..

I put my water bladder right in there.

 

[slim9300]

Initial impression, I like the guide over the longhunter, tried to like the longhunter multiple times, just never did. Never once have I used any of these as a stand alone setup while hunting, so to cut was an easy decision

I completely gutted my LH lid the second I got it out of the box. I have never liked the shape, but it works for the most part. Now I have a huge pocket for only about 3 ounces more than the standard lid. How does it compare to the Guide lid? You should completely gut it and tell me the weight Tim!

 

[oldgoat]

I put my water bladder right in there.

Stop giving him ideas, I'm trying to work out a trade! ;-)

 

[luke moffat]

I've kept my straps intact and can't ever see cutting them off.

In the Velcro pocket I put my rain jacket and pants (marmot precip & sitka downpour). Straps didn't seem to get in the way.

Actually pulled the guide lid off and used it as a pack to carry a couple of 3L bladders, nalgene, and 16oz water bottle to the creek for refilling late one night. Didn't want to carry my entire pack down the hill for such a small task. Worked perfect holding all the filled items and carried well for the shirt trip.

Yup I gutted my long hunter lid as I didn't like how it was designed to be carried as a day pack. But the guide lid should straps are much more functional in my experience and I will be keeping them for hikes away from camp when I am on just backpacking trips and not hunting or like above its handy for water runs away from camp to carry the bladders and bottles when you don't want or need a full pack or don't want to haul your full pack down into w creek bottom to get water. Too useful for me to hack up my guide lid like I did to my longhunter lid, guide lid stays as is for me.

 

[MattB]

Yup I gutted my long hunter lid as I didn't like how it was designed to be carried as a day pack. But the guide lid should straps are much more functional in my experience and I will be keeping them for hikes away from camp when I am on just backpacking trips and not hunting or like above its handy for water runs away from camp to carry the bladders and bottles when you don't want or need a full pack or don't want to haul your full pack down into w creek bottom to get water. Too useful for me to hack up my guide lid like I did to my longhunter lid, guide lid stays as is for me.

That's exactly where I came out. The Guide Lid's carry straps are a lot more functional than on the LH. I used the LH lid for years but never alone before I cut it, and used the Guide lid as a daypack within a couple of weeks of getting it - hydration bladder in the velcro pouch and day stuff in the main pocket.

 

[dotman]

I completely gutted my LH lid the second I got it out of the box. I have never liked the shape, but it works for the most part. Now I have a huge pocket for only about 3 ounces more than the standard lid. How does it compare to the Guide lid? You should completely gut it and tell me the weight Tim!

Will do . So far I prefer the guide but I hated the lh.

 

[dotman]

I completely gutted my LH lid the second I got it out of the box. I have never liked the shape, but it works for the most part. Now I have a huge pocket for only about 3 ounces more than the standard lid. How does it compare to the Guide lid? You should completely gut it and tell me the weight Tim!

Well I didn't want to completely gut it, with harness removed but grab handle retained and second pocket retained I get 8.5oz, 3oz reduction or 5oz more then a std lid. This gives you a two pocket lid, chamber pocket attachments, belt pocket attachments and a grab handle to carry. Grab handle may get cut at some point but it won't drop much weight. I also prefer the shape of it over the LH.

Plus if you really wanted to wear it as a pack you could use lash straps to recreate the removed shoulder harness.

 

[slim9300]

Well I didn't want to completely gut it, with harness removed but grab handle retained and second pocket retained I get 8.5oz, 3oz reduction or 5oz more then a std lid. This gives you a two pocket lid, chamber pocket attachments, belt pocket attachments and a grab handle to carry. Grab handle may get cut at some point but it won't drop much weight. I also prefer the shape of it over the LH.

Plus if you really wanted to wear it as a pack you could use lash straps to recreate the removed shoulder harness.

Perfect. I always carry two lash straps for my antlers. I think I will order one soon.