KIFARU... Waste of my money?

[alabamahunt]

I have been looking for something to better carry my lone wolf climber and kept seeing people saying get a kifaru. While working in Connecticut I found one on Craigslist for 85 bucks up here and am now wondering did I waste my money? It looks to be an oldER model and I haven’t been able to find anything about it. I was looking to buy the Stryker to attach to it but will it even fit it? I just saw $85 and thought I needed to sweep it up. Also you can see in the pictures the frame looks bent is it useless or is that normal? Seems comfortable and has very very little use. Also has a “modular pack shelf compression panel... whatever that is. Sorry for the lack of knowledge being from AL pack hunting isn’t that big of a thing. Thanks for any help y’all!

 

[Bubblehide]

I'll take it!

The frame does not look bent or broken.

 

[TCUHunter34]

Email the pictures to Kifaru and they will help with anything you need. Seems you got a good deal and will not end up regretting it

 

[Fatcamp]

Deal of the week for sure.

 

[easilyamused]

If you undo the lumbar pad and look at the bottom of the frame you can see if the stays are made of aluminum or their wood/carbon composite. If theyre aluminum its just a matter of gently bending the frame the same so they match again if they look different.

As far as attaching the new bags just give kifaru a call and they can set you up with the load lifter adapters for pairing the older frames to the new bags.

You got a steal of a deal on that for sure.

 

[alabamahunt]

Glad to know it was a good deal, I thought it was but after getting it home I second guessed it. And I just looked and they are aluminum. Thanks y’all. Can anyone mention any “must haves” for the pack? Think about the rain fly, small belt pouch and water bottle holder.

 

[alabamahunt]

Just bent it all back straight. Can anyone speak on the “modular pack shelf compression panel”? Would I keep it on the frame after I get the Stryker or would it have to come off?

 

[Sealee12]

Sir - you found yourself a deal!!!!!
Call Kifaru and they will get you set up right!

 

[trophyhill]

Looks like you got a helluva deal to me

 

[Chris B]

That's a Gen 1 original Long Hunter frame. The "compression panel" is a cargo chair load shelf .I'm not sure the newer bags will attach to that one . I paid $600.00 bucks for mine back in 2001 !

 

[LostArra]

Don't ditch the cargo chair. I used one on multiple packs. They are handy.

 

[Hunt4lyf]

Don't bend it back straight, it's supposed to be bent to follow the curvature of your back, if it's uncomfortable then it's possible the previous owner took them out and put them in backwards. I see those frames now and then on Ebay and they go for $150-$200 . If you don't want the chair let me know and I'll buy it from you to carry on my old Siwash pack

 

[Austink47]

Seriously they have the best customer service in the business and will be happy to help you out.

 

[Catahoula]

Call them...

 

[Erict]

Wonderbread?

 

[alabamahunt]

That's a Gen 1 original Long Hunter frame. The "compression panel" is a cargo chair load shelf .I'm not sure the newer bags will attach to that one . I paid $600.00 bucks for mine back in 2001 !

Thanks for the help man. I guess I’ll just have to call them and see what will fit the long hunter frame

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

Send it to me. I'll dispose of it properly.

That's an older Kifaru but a good pack frame. Worst case scenario you buy a strap kit from Kifaru and just strap your gear on. I cringed when I read that you straightened the aluminum stays out. They're bent to fit the curve of your back. That said, you can use them in a straight configuration (or you can swap in carbon arrows to make it lighter).

 

[Sealee12]

The nice thing about aluminum stays is that you can bend them back to the proper shape As it came from the factory, or modify them to fit the unique curvature of your back, or easily fix anything you may have straightened by mistake.

 

[NevadaZielmeister]

I personally found the Kifaru gear overpriced in general. This is not rocket science guys. The designs are mostly from previous ideas that they simply copied, which Aaron Snyder admits to (Dana designs, etc.). While I do not use Mystery Ranch in the backcountry, I think they are better priced, but I could be wrong. I sold my Kifaru pack and went to the Sitka Mountain Hauler, and LOVE that. But each person has their own preferences and body style.

I tried the Kifaru kool-aid and spit it out. Good luck gentlemen.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

I personally found the Kifaru gear overpriced in general. This is not rocket science guys. The designs are mostly from previous ideas that they simply copied, which Aaron Snyder admits to (Dana designs, etc.). While I do not use Mystery Ranch in the backcountry, I think they are better priced, but I could be wrong. I sold my Kifaru pack and went to the Sitka Mountain Hauler, and LOVE that. But each person has their own preferences and body style.

I tried the Kifaru kool-aid and spit it out. Good luck gentlemen.

Different strokes for different folks! Glad you found a pack that fits you!

That said, Kifaru has a reputation for a reason. They are hard to break, fit a lot of guys exceptionally well, and handle heavy loads well. As for being overpriced... I've hunted hard with the same pack and frame for 6 years and it still looks almost new. I could wash it well and sell it for 2/3 of what I paid for it. Hard to say that's money wasted.