Kifaru vs exo k4 vs stone glacier

Do you prefer internal or external frame packs for Kifaru? Which one are you currently running? I’ve been using the K4—it’s worked great overall. I’ve had a few durability issues with the bag itself, but the frame hauls weight really well, which is what really matters. That said, I’m thinking about trying something new… mostly because I’ve got a bad case of FOMO, haha.
 
Do you prefer internal or external frame packs for Kifaru? Which one are you currently running? I’ve been using the K4—it’s worked great overall. I’ve had a few durability issues with the bag itself, but the frame hauls weight really well, which is what really matters. That said, I’m thinking about trying something new… mostly because I’ve got a bad case of FOMO, haha.
I like the external frames, I think the internal can be restricting but that it just my opinion I don’t know if it’s true or not. I think my frame is their tactical option, it could just be the regular one tho I don’t remember for sure. The bag I’ve been using the last couple of years and like the most out of the ones I’ve tried is the Stryker xl, I had the old Stryker and the like the xl better. The heaviest load I’ve had on it was 152lbs of meat and bone, and many times over 100. No issues so far and I’ve packed several elk out with it, but I only use it for packing meat out and the occasional day hunt if I absolutely can’t get by with one of my other packs for the hunt. I’ve heard the shoulder straps can wear out fairly quickly on Kifaru stuff so I don’t think it would be a good idea to use it for rucking and stuff like that.
 
It definitely falls short in that respect. The pack makers that don’t value a load shelf just don’t seem to give a strong effort with what they offer as a load shelf. They’re just afterthoughts. SG is the only one that I know of that does a load shelf right.

I agree that of the three mentioned, Stone Glacier does the best job in this aspect of the pack system.

Seek Outside uses loops and ladder locks so you can position the shelf higher or lower to fit your situation. It’s a nice feature.

Have to imagine OP has chosen by now, but I guess it’s something for others to consider.
 
Do you prefer internal or external frame packs for Kifaru? Which one are you currently running? I’ve been using the K4—it’s worked great overall. I’ve had a few durability issues with the bag itself, but the frame hauls weight really well, which is what really matters. That said, I’m thinking about trying something new… mostly because I’ve got a bad case of FOMO, haha.

They all function as internals in practice once a bag is attached, unless you use the meat shelf.
 
Not new they have been doing it for years.
Well when I bought my k3 and my k4 they didn’t have one. I specifically remember asking.

Do you know how much it is because SG is 25%. I’m looking into Kifaru right now.
 
I’ve had a stone glacier for the past 8 years, I’ve switched the bag to the guide 7900 which seems good. I put the solo 3300 on it for shorter stuff.

When I get a new bag it will be an exo k4 7200.

Is kifaru even relevant anymore? I hadn’t looked at them in awhile and the seem to have a lot less stuff and be portraying a different image than they used to. Is that new frame any good? They still make the dall bag which looks good. I used a fulcrum for awhile but the pack weighed ~ 9lbs empty and it was a major pain in the ass with like 7 straps to deal with.
 
I’ve had a stone glacier for the past 8 years, I’ve switched the bag to the guide 7900 which seems good. I put the solo 3300 on it for shorter stuff.

When I get a new bag it will be an exo k4 7200.

Is kifaru even relevant anymore? I hadn’t looked at them in awhile and the seem to have a lot less stuff and be portraying a different image than they used to. Is that new frame any good? They still make the dall bag which looks good. I used a fulcrum for awhile but the pack weighed ~ 9lbs empty and it was a major pain in the ass with like 7 straps to deal with.

Haven't used the Ark, will never use it. A rigid carbon frame sounds great until you think about it for two seconds and realize you can't fit it to your spine - so if the fit isn't perfect out of the box, you're screwed, and will be getting poor load transfer, slippage, discomfort, etc. They try to offset this shortcoming by adding a ridiculously thick lumbar pad, which in turn places the load away from your center of gravity, causing even more slippage. It's just a bad design overall. Don't like it maxing out at 25" either. Come on, some of us are taller than 6'.

I have a Fulcrum and Duplex Lite frame, I love my setup now but I had to mod it quite heavily:

- Replaced composite stays with 7075 aluminum that I can fit to my spine
- Cut the lumbar pad down to 50% thickness
- Replaced those awful, cardboard-like shoulder straps with the brilliant Hill People Gear harness
- Made the wings removable
- Removed all but 2 straps and buckle sets and replaced them with a paracord compression system that utilizes the Sherman as a de facto compression panel
- Swapped the last two irritating Autolock buckles for regular ones

Down to 7 lbs. including Sherman Pocket, belt pouch, HPG water bottle holder, and chamber pocket - carries like a dream now. Wish I could ditch the heavy center zip and cut even more weight but that's probably a bit too much Frankensteining for my tastes.

Taking all that into account, I don't think Kifaru is worth even close to what you pay for it, and dealing with their customer service gave me cluster headaches for months.

In hindsight, I should have just bought an HPG Qui-Ya and called it a day, but OK. Live and learn. Still have an Eberlestock Mainframe gathering dust in the closet as a reminder of how uneducated I once was.
 
Well when I bought my k3 and my k4 they didn’t have one. I specifically remember asking.

Do you know how much it is because SG is 25%. I’m looking into Kifaru right now.
Last weekend for Memorial day they did 20% off. You didn't ask the right person when you bought your others because they've offered mil discounts since they started selling packs

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EXO also offer MIL / LEO discount.
 
If you only want one bag and frame then I'd probably say Exo and SG...and that's coming from a guy that runs and Kifaru Ark set up currently. The bags in Kifaru just aren't engineered as well to go from small to big..I have a massive Dall bag. Shaped like a barrel. Does great when full to the brim. But when you go day mode on it it's built like a barrel and doesn't have all the strategic folds and things like a SG that makes in streamline. It looks like a giant empty trash bag hanging off you back with 40 buckles lol. Again this is coming from a guy that runs a Kifaru...love the frame. Hate the bags. But if your all about multiple bags and options and configurations then Kifaru is your guy. I'll be honest I change my mind a lot. Some days I love having lots of bags and options and other days I just want one I use 90% of the time and then maybe a monster bag for those trips in that 7-10 day range that I do...albeit rarely. I've had them all. Exo SG and obviously Kifaru. Can't go wrong. See what fits and see what hits your bag needs. I'm honestly thinking of picking up an SG keux short frame for day hunting just cause I know 98% of the time I'll love it. And 2% will be pack and honestly it only has to do one load and I can grab a bigger frame I already own.

Ps...I own to much crap but I use it
 
I've used kifaru for about eight or nine years.
Pros hauls weight very well. I've packed out two deer in one trip before solo.
Bombproof
Options for extra pouches

Cons
Heavy
Too many compression straps
The pack belt chaffed by hip bones raw at times.

I'm trying SG this year. Might get the kids exo for my daughter.


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Last weekend for Memorial day they did 20% off. You didn't ask the right person when you bought your others because they've offered mil discounts since they started selling packs

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Yeah that’s a bummer. I was a store walk in multiple times. Doesn’t matter I guess…They offer one now, so that’s all the matters!
 
I love my Kifaru Ark Frame and Absaroka. Hands down my favorite pack I’ve run. Disagree with the carbon fiber comment above about fitting, it’s curved, you adjust the frame to your body and if you’re running heavy loads it is the best on the market imo.

I also have the Kifaru Shape Charge with Sherman Pocket and multiple pouches which which I love for day hunts hunts/stalks, whitetail hunts, and pretty much anything else outdoors. I’ll be bringing the Kifaru Shape Charge to Tanzania for 21 days beginning of August and it’ll perform great for 10+ mile tracking days for dangerous game. Also, imo best bino harness in the market. Contours to your chest and doesn’t have a big box along with their flip lid forward. Kifaru’s modularity is a key win for me.

Everyone likes different brands and those 3 are all top of the food chain. I’ve run them all and Kifaru was the win for me and will be for foreseeable future as I’m more than happy with the Ark/Absaroka expedition pack (it can tighten down to a day pack too) and Shape Charge…kinda cover all the spectrum of durability, modularity, water resistance, and comfort for me across all types of hunts.
 
I was a kifaru die hard since before exo and SG were a thing. Will not buy another, they customer service went to crap.

Stuff breaks on packs. I’m not paying 500 for a frame to be told to just buy a new one when stitching fails.
 
I was a kifaru die hard since before exo and SG were a thing. Will not buy another, they customer service went to crap.
Yeah pretty disappointing to see all of the comments about poor customer service and lack of engagement. I was hoping to see the company turn things around with recent changes now that Anders, Eric, and Kenzie are in charge, but seems like comments like this keep popping up.
 
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