Sg 7900?

KHntr

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Apr 24, 2014
Location
Northern British Columbia
Anyone running one of these yet?
I'm curious about the pocket configuration, and how well it actually works. In theory I see how that could be beneficial, having your rifle offset the weight of the spotter and tripod, I'm just curious how well it works real-world.

I'm currently using the 7400, but am contemplating going to the 7900.

Thoughts from anyone who has handled one?
 
Looks pretty sweet, is that really the point of having one side pocket? To offset the weight of the rifle?

I like the looks of the sky talus better to be honest but I was thinking of getting a 7900.
 
Looks pretty sweet, is that really the point of having one side pocket? To offset the weight of the rifle?

I like the looks of the sky talus better to be honest but I was thinking of getting a 7900.

Take all of this with a grain of salt, because mine arrived after hunting season and I’ve only packed it with gear and weights, and gone on a few training hikes, but...

I’ve got one and think it’s great. After it arrived, and I toyed with it for a while, I sold my solo, 6200, Kifaru hunting frame and tahr, and all Kifaru accessories, because the 7900 does everything those other packs could do and more. In bivy mode, it’s just about the same size as a solo; without lid, it does everything the 6200 and tahr did. It weighs significantly less than the Kifaru hunting frame with pack, lid, grab it, pockets, etc. and it packs down small enough for day hunting. And with the full kit, lid, etc. it balloons out to hold enough gear for an extended back country hunt in winter conditions, and the load shelf could add even more room. Feels much larger than the 6200. Personally, I don’t spend time glassing and do not see much use for the side pocket. I have not yet figured out how I’m going to use it. But what sold me was versatility and the panel opening. Much easier to use when in bivy mode than a single zipper down the middle. I have relied on Kifaru for more than six years, and I never thought I’d let go of the hunting frame. I’m still never selling my xing. But in terms of functionally and versatility, the SG 7900 is the best framed pack I think I’ve ever owned.


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I hear you, I love my kifaru stuff but every time I mess around with my SG solo setup it makes me really think hard about ordering up a 7900 or a 6800 (or whatever the sky talus is) and committing 100% to SG.

That being said, the new ultralight kifaru frame has my attention, if they made the fulcrum in that xpac stuff that would be cool too, although very similar to a SG.

One area I think my kifaru setup wins out is in durability. It just seems more stout and I’d rather have it out in the thick alders looking for moose than the SG, although for mountain hunts the SG wins hands down. Really what I should do is get a 7900 and compare it head to head with the fulcrum.
 
Take all of this with a grain of salt, because mine arrived after hunting season and I’ve only packed it with gear and weights, and gone on a few training hikes, but...

I’ve got one and think it’s great. After it arrived, and I toyed with it for a while, I sold my solo, 6200, Kifaru hunting frame and tahr, and all Kifaru accessories, because the 7900 does everything those other packs could do and more. In bivy mode, it’s just about the same size as a solo; without lid, it does everything the 6200 and tahr did. It weighs significantly less than the Kifaru hunting frame with pack, lid, grab it, pockets, etc. and it packs down small enough for day hunting. And with the full kit, lid, etc. it balloons out to hold enough gear for an extended back country hunt in winter conditions, and the load shelf could add even more room. Feels much larger than the 6200. Personally, I don’t spend time glassing and do not see much use for the side pocket. I have not yet figured out how I’m going to use it. But what sold me was versatility and the panel opening. Much easier to use when in bivy mode than a single zipper down the middle. I have relied on Kifaru for more than six years, and I never thought I’d let go of the hunting frame. I’m still never selling my xing. But in terms of functionally and versatility, the SG 7900 is the best framed pack I think I’ve ever owned.


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I went through the same discovery with my 5900. Works great and I sold all my other packs including my Kifaru, love the bivy mode and the panel and way you can access the bag. It is a very flexible pack.


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I’ll have my 7900 in hand Friday and am excited. I really like the one side pocket idea as my Barneys frame pack that I love and have used the past 9 years (two different bag versions) is set up the same way. Have carried some monsterous moose and head-in brown bear packs in the Barney’s frame pack—not pleasant when you start pushing 200lbs, but can’t imagine another pack carrying it better.

But it was also just how the pack is laced out. Long pocket on one side for spotter and/or puffy/rain gear, and rifle on the other. It had always balanced out so nicely and when I went looking for the same in an internal frame mountain pack, I was simply out of luck. Really wanted to love the Kifaru, which admit I did love the frame, just couldn’t settle into a bag that I was happy with.

It’s funny that I was standing in Barney’s early last season with a buddy and my 6yo as we all three tried on a 6900 (looked quite amazing on my 6yo daughter) and was telling my buddy how I really liked the pack, but so wished I could just delete the side pocket on my rifle side. Fast forward to seeing the 7900 and immediately knew I was going to have to try one out this year.
 
I used the 7900 last season a lot and it works extremely well. The balance with the spotter pocket on one side works superb and the layout and panel access is second to none. The thing is massive and I can easily go 2 weeks or longer with it. I've had zero durability issues with any of my SG's and I've done some brutal Alder hiking to get above treeline.
 
Snowcamoman- can you compare the 6900 to the 7900? How much larger is the main bag on the 7900? How about the side pocket? Thanks.
 
Anyone running one of these yet?
I'm curious about the pocket configuration, and how well it actually works. In theory I see how that could be beneficial, having your rifle offset the weight of the spotter and tripod, I'm just curious how well it works real-world.

I'm currently using the 7400, but am contemplating going to the 7900.

Thoughts from anyone who has handled one?

So I personally run the sky archer 6200 and I am in love with my pack. I have used many pack company's and by far SG is the best for me. Very comfortable and very lightweight. I used to run a frame pack to carry all my gear then ran a day pack strapped to that and let me tell you it sucked!!! Once I drop camp I break down my bag to bivy mode and my sky archer 6200 is my day bag. If your going to get one I tell you this go up a size or 2 cause they compact to nothing and price point is great! The new 7900 is awesome if your looking to be out in the backcountry for 7 or more days then go with the sky guide 7900.
 
So I personally run the sky archer 6200 and I am in love with my pack. I have used many pack company's and by far SG is the best for me. Very comfortable and very lightweight. I used to run a frame pack to carry all my gear then ran a day pack strapped to that and let me tell you it sucked!!! Once I drop camp I break down my bag to bivy mode and my sky archer 6200 is my day bag. If your going to get one I tell you this go up a size or 2 cause they compact to nothing and price point is great! The new 7900 is awesome if your looking to be out in the backcountry for 7 or more days then go with the sky guide 7900.

Oh believe me, I've tried them all now. I was pretty big into that other Montana based company's gear and owned most of their bags at one time or another. I've also used Eber/Barn/Cole/Kif/.... You get the idea. And I'm a believer in the SG gear as far as fit and finish go. I was just looking to see if the one sided pocket was as good in practice as it is in theory.

I'm a fairly dedicated Stone Sheep hunter, as is my gf. She has a 5900 for the season coming up, after retiring her 3300. I'm just torn on tripping my 7400 to try the 7900 is all. I have had zero complaints with the 7400 after 3 seasons on it.
 
I hear you, I love my kifaru stuff but every time I mess around with my SG solo setup it makes me really think hard about ordering up a 7900 or a 6800 (or whatever the sky talus is) and committing 100% to SG.

That being said, the new ultralight kifaru frame has my attention, if they made the fulcrum in that xpac stuff that would be cool too, although very similar to a SG.

One area I think my kifaru setup wins out is in durability. It just seems more stout and I’d rather have it out in the thick alders looking for moose than the SG, although for mountain hunts the SG wins hands down. Really what I should do is get a 7900 and compare it head to head with the fulcrum.

I too feel that Kifaru seems super tough. Perhaps overbuilt. But I’ve never had issues with sg durability. In fact, I actually ripped a hole into a Kifaru tarryall.

I had a fulcrum and sold it. Too heavy and strappy for me. I prefer to run as minimalist set up as possible. This is how I paid for the sg frame. And that is what started the migration to sg across the board.


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I just sold my DT1 bag and kept my duplex frame with intentions of ordering the crater bag for my frame. But after looking hard at the SG guide 7900 I think I like the layout better than any of the kifaru's. I also love my frame but the Xcurve has caught my eye...I Want to see some pics of the 7900 expanded to get an idea of how big this bag is compare to the sky talus 6900 I tried of my buddy's if y'all have any. Thanks
 
Durabilty is not an issue with SG. Ive owned 4 Kifarus and 2 SG packs and have only ripped or torn one and it wasn't a SG
 
Oh believe me, I've tried them all now. I was pretty big into that other Montana based company's gear and owned most of their bags at one time or another. I've also used Eber/Barn/Cole/Kif/.... You get the idea. And I'm a believer in the SG gear as far as fit and finish go. I was just looking to see if the one sided pocket was as good in practice as it is in theory.

I'm a fairly dedicated Stone Sheep hunter, as is my gf. She has a 5900 for the season coming up, after retiring her 3300. I'm just torn on tripping my 7400 to try the 7900 is all. I have had zero complaints with the 7400 after 3 seasons on it.

If the 7400 works then keep using it there's no need to change something that already works. Really the only difference between the two is an extra 500 cubic inches. That is just going to tempt you to add more unneeded stuff in there and create extra weight. I mean if you do want to get that bag give me call I can help you out on it, but you can always sell your 7400 and get the 7900. I'd say do it just for the extra space. Means more food or water and so on. It's all personal preference. It is nice to have that room if you don't mind the weight.
 
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