Pack Advice: Barneys vs Kifaru vs Crossfire

[double_barrel]

Hi Guys,

I just joined the forum after following it for a long time. This seems the best place to discuss packs so I wanted to join and ask some questions.

I'm looking to get my first quality hunting pack. I will also be using it for camping and rucking. I basically live out of my backpack full time, e.g. I keep all of my clothes and small belongings in it full time - so it has a base weight of about 25 - 30 lbs. The new spot we hunt is a 200 acre property in Ontario that borders Algonquin park - owned by a friend. There's no trails or sections large enough to bring an ATV, so it's all on foot, though some spots closer to camp you can wheel a small game cart. We go for Deer, Wolf, Moose, and Black Bear - heavy Black Bear and Wolf population - pretty much a guarantee you'll fill the tag. Long term we'd like to do a guided Polar Bear hunt some day. Sorry for the digression, onto the pack questions.

After looking at Exo, SG, Kifaru, KUIU, Barneys, MR, and Crossfire - I've worn it down to three packs. I'm between the Barneys Yukon Bag/ Freighter Frame combo, Kifaru Ark + Hoodlum + Lid, and a Crossfire MKVII. I know the Crossfire is a military style bag, but I've read nothing but good things regarding the DG16 frame.

Price wise the Barneys and Kifaru setups come out the same, the Crossfire is 1k CAD. I have no issues dropping the coin on the Barneys or Kifaru though.

I'm very much a buy it for life sort of person, I want something quality that will last, but most importantly is comfortable for daily wear.

After combing through many of the old threads on here, it seems like the Barneys is the thing of myth and legend, so to speak, though I do see cases of people selling it to go Kifaru - and not vice versa.

While looking at the Barneys options I saw the UL model, which is made with Sail Cloth. I tried reaching out to Kevin, I believe, at Barneys via email asking how it compares to the original bag as far as durability, water resistance, construction, etc - but did not receive a reply.

If you had to pick one of these three setups to basically live, hunt, camp, and travel out of. Which would you go with and why?

Thanks in advance for any replies, and my apologies for the long drawn out first post.

 

[tony]

I had a crossfire DG3, these are more geared towards military.
The Kifaru will give you the option of a "shelf" to haul game and extra gear.
Barneys I'm not familiar with.

 

[double_barrel]

I had a crossfire DG3, these are more geared towards military.
The Kifaru will give you the option of a "shelf" to haul game and extra gear.
Barneys I'm not familiar with.

Thanks for the reply. I was planning on using a dry bag of sorts and just putting the meat in the main body of the bag.

Comfort wise, how would you say the Kifaru setup compared to the Crossfire? Did you notice any downward slippage from the waist belt?

 

[plebe]

I had a crossfire DG3, these are more geared towards military.
The Kifaru will give you the option of a "shelf" to haul game and extra gear.
Barneys I'm not familiar with.

Crossfire does offer the DG Mule load panel, but it’s way overbuilt compared to the likes of say an EXO crib.

 

[hereinaz]

EXO K3 is my choice after trying Kifaru, Kuiu and Stone Glacier. They are all good packs, but I sold the others and stuck with EXO.

The K4 that my buddies bought is an upgrade, but I won’t be hurrying to sell my K3.

The EXO carries loads like a beast. I carried huge loads with a Kuiu one year. It worked but not as comfortably as my EXO. It’s been very durable as well.

 

[rickyw]

I have the Barney’s, and I like it. It’s very durable. Its downsides are it is big, and heavy at about 9lbs. I’ll probably end up with a stone glacier for sheep hunting, but will continue to use the Barney’s for other hunts

 

[double_barrel]

EXO K3 is my choice after trying Kifaru, Kuiu and Stone Glacier. They are all good packs, but I sold the others and stuck with EXO.

The K4 that my buddies bought is an upgrade, but I won’t be hurrying to sell my K3.

The EXO carries loads like a beast. I carried huge loads with a Kuiu one year. It worked but not as comfortably as my EXO. It’s been very durable as well.

I've looked at Exo K4. I read people sayings it's better for thinner people, but I'm not sure.

I'm 5'11", 255 lbs, 36" waist, 48" chest. Ex football player, went to the Argos camp (CFL). I use to squat 680 lbs before I hurt my back.

 

[Jake Larsen]

Of the packs you’re interested in, Kifaru has a big leg up in terms of versatility. If you end up doing a hunt you’re not currently expecting, or end up not liking the layout or size of the hoodlum, you can easily switch to something else without having to sell the entire kit. All the bags they make fit onto any of their frames.

Also, I’ve personally carried heavy loads in Stone Glacier, mystery ranch, Exo, Kuiu, and Kifaru is significantly better IMO. The waist belt and lumbar support is amazing.


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[double_barrel]

I have the Barney’s, and I like it. It’s very durable. Its downsides are it is big, and heavy at about 9lbs. I’ll probably end up with a stone glacier for sheep hunting, but will continue to use the Barney’s for other hunts

I noticed the Barneys has a separate lumbar pad. Did you notice any downward slippage under load without it? The frame looks like it forces your upper back forwards, judging from the photos. Can you stand up straight with it?

 

[rickyw]

I noticed the Barneys has a separate lumbar pad. Did you notice any downward slippage under load without it? The frame looks like it forces your upper back forwards, judging from the photos. Can you stand up straight with it?

Yes it slips downward without it under 100+ lbs of load. I packed a grizzly hide out this last fall over three days and I ended up stuffing a fleece back there to give me some support. You just reminded me that I need to go pick up that lumbar pad.

Regarding the frame forcing the upper back forwards, I tweaked the fit on me enough that it doesn’t seem to do that much, if at all. I feel I can stand up straight until the weight gets super heavy

 

[tony]

Crossfire got popular in the past few years, revamping the line up and raising prices.
The frames are 2 sizes, basically the dg 3 and dg 16.
These are great packs no doubt. But not the 1st,2nd choice for hunting. You could do it sure. A sack of meat and gear would require the big pack they have.
Better choice would be exo, Kifaru, even mystery ranch (running some good deals on camofire)

 

[double_barrel]

Of the packs you’re interested in, Kifaru has a big leg up in terms of versatility. If you end up doing a hunt you’re not currently expecting, or end up not liking the layout or size of the hoodlum, you can easily switch to something else without having to sell the entire kit. All the bags they make fit onto any of their frames.

Also, I’ve personally carried heavy loads in Stone Glacier, mystery ranch, Exo, Kuiu, and Kifaru is significantly better IMO. The waist belt and lumbar support is amazing.


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Thanks for input, it's hard to find people that have tried several makes. What's your opinion on the durability of the Ark frame, seeing as it's carbon fibre. My only experience with carbon is in automotive, and I find it's rather delicate to twisting and impact.

I saw a video where they threw a Kifaru off a mountain, but I believe it was the duplex or tactical frame.

 

[Ferrulewax]

Never used the crossfire but I would throw that thing off of my list immediately. No load lifters and a short frame suck for everything but military use- if you just want to be uncomfortable on purpose you can spend a lot less money on an Alice pack and be just as miserable. There is a reason 9/10 people on here suggest Exo/kifaru/SG.

Barneys seems like a one trick pony as a load hauler. Or at least a heck of a lot of pack to haul around unless you really need the capacity and the frame for lashing down a large load.

Personally of those 3 kifaru is the only one I would even consider.

 

[Jake Larsen]

Thanks for input, it's hard to find people that have tried several makes. What's your opinion on the durability of the Ark frame, seeing as it's carbon fibre. My only experience with carbon is in automotive, and I find it's rather delicate to twisting and impact.

I saw a video where they threw a Kifaru off a mountain, but I believe it was the duplex or tactical frame.

I’ve been running the ARK since it came out. I also happen to know they tested the crap out of that thing. Not your standard carbon fiber. Their duplex frame had composite stays which were basically indestructible. The ARK is more of a sheet or panel. It’s considerably more comfortable with loads in the 35-50lb range, and still stays rigid enough for the really heavy stuff. Kind of a dynamic feel to it that moves with you better than the duplex did.


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