ChrisAU
WKR
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2018
- Location
- SE Alabama
Disclaimer: Yes, my pool table is dirty. Its used more for this kind of stuff than it is pool.
So Kifaru sucked me back in with the recent sale after using Kuiu for a few years. I had moved to Kuiu for weight and economic concerns. Weight has become less of a concern as my experience has grown, and with the sale economics was less of a factor. I didn't have any specific complaints from my Kuiu other than being a little short on space at times. I can tell the Kifaru will be much more comfortable under heavy weights, something I knew when I switched to my Kuiu in 2019. After my first experience in 2018 with Kifaru I didn't expect to be carrying heavy loads much - well thats all I've done since I switched ha. Two elk and two antelope in 3 total trips. My Kuiu was the pro suspension with an older Ultra 4000 bag. I made it work fine for 5-6 night trips. We always made multiple trips with an animal down and wound up strapping some stuff to the outside.
The Stryker/Stryker XL system intrigued me as a system with an easily accessible load shelf and a moderately sized main bag for day hunts. You can put just about as big as a bag you want in the load sling to make it a big enough bag for however long you need. I also love the modularity of Kifaru, there probably aren't many setups that are just like another after the owner has had it a few days.
These are the bags I got to try out with manufacturer claimed specs:
Kifaru Camp Bag - 3540 ci - 19.2 oz
Hill People Gear Small Decker Pack Bag - 2500 ci - 10.4 oz
Z-Packs Pack Liner - 2800 ci - 1.8 oz
Z-Packs Small Pack Liner - 1650 ci - 1.4 oz
Left to Right - Z-Packs Pack Liner - Z-Packs Small Pack Liner - HPG Small Decker Pack Bag - Kifaru Camp Bag
So, to decide what to keep and see how it works for me I did a mock pack - a few of them. I gathered most everything I'd take for a 6 night/7 day backcountry elk hunt. I grabbed most things but omitted a few smaller items that would wind up in a belt pouch or a my bino harness. Rifle was not included for obvious reasons. I did forget to grab a fleece mid layer, but it would have easily fit in the Stryker XL's main bag.
I then separated what I'd put in the Stryker XL's main bag and in the camp bags. Here is what I had slated aside for the camp bag:
2021 Lanshan 1 Plus Tent
Six Moon Designs Tent Pole (I like my trekking poles)
Hammock Gear 20* Quilt
Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insualted Regular Sleeping Pad
Sea to Summit Pillow
Extra Pair of Boxers
6 Dehydrated Meals
5 Food Day Bags Stuffed with Packing Peanuts (almost as yummy as what I normally bring)
Toaks 550 Pot with Esbit Tablets and Ti Stove Inside
Spork
Toaks Wind Shield rolled over an Opinel Saw
First up is the small Z-Packs liner - I figure if it works, then no reason for me to try the regular/large. As you can see I opted to drop the "pointy" items from the above list due to fabric concerns. Otherwise everything fit fine with minimal stuffing, could fit more in it if needed, and then I decided to not use the large - if your camp is appreciably bigger than mine then yes, the large would work great for you if this is what you wanted to use.
Pros:
Super Lightweight at 1.4 oz
Waterproof
Cons:
Loud Material
Potentially Less Durable
Here are some pics with the pack fully loaded out:
Next up is the Hill People Gear Small Decker Pack Bag.
Once again, everything fit great. I really like the top zip of this, the grab handle, and really really like that it has side pockets - this allows me to put tripod, tent poles, extra water bottles, whatever in the side pockets like you would on any other pack. This wound up my favorite for its moderate size and the aforementioned features.
Pros:
More Durable
Side Pockets
Zip Access
Cons:
Not Waterproof
Moderate Weight
Side pocket verastility:
One criticism I've heard of the Stryker is where do you put meat if you are packing out camp all at one time? We'd likely never do this as I do multiple trips, but lets say you wanted to take out a load of meat and 100% of camp - no problem with the Sherman. The weight certainly starts to get further away from your back, but nothing unmanageable. I'd rather have a longer turn radius than be wide anyway. There is a size Large FL Solitude bib in the Z-packs bag here. Could stuff much more in it.
Now, the Kifaru Camp Bag.
It's so big I just put the Decker straight into the Camp Bag. Obviously fits well, as it is made to. I do like integrated points on it for attaching straps if needed, you can get creative with compressing the load in the Kifaru Camp Bag if needed. I'm keeping this as an option for longer extended hunts in the future.
Pros:
More Durable
Very Large for Longer Hunts
Cons:
Not Waterproof
Heavy
And lastly, what you're all wondering - but what if I'm insane and like to whitetail hunt in spots that required boot foot waders?? Well, here's my Size 12 Regular Sitka waders in a Rogers wader bag:
Perfect! Ha
Also a couple side notes on my hip belt configuration - I found the Marsupial Small Shotgun Shell pouch to be a nicely sized pouch that only takes up 3 PALs rows. I easily put my Outdoorsman's pistol grip and two pairs of thick gloves in here:
I'm also a big fan of the Kifaru Gun Bearer upper piece but never like the lower as it had the one strap in the middle that allowed the butt of the rifle to rotate too much in my experience. The last few years I helped solve this issue by using the Kuiu lower, but this year found that the Initial Ascent lower is even better - it has a slightly larger cradle and is better constructed:
So Kifaru sucked me back in with the recent sale after using Kuiu for a few years. I had moved to Kuiu for weight and economic concerns. Weight has become less of a concern as my experience has grown, and with the sale economics was less of a factor. I didn't have any specific complaints from my Kuiu other than being a little short on space at times. I can tell the Kifaru will be much more comfortable under heavy weights, something I knew when I switched to my Kuiu in 2019. After my first experience in 2018 with Kifaru I didn't expect to be carrying heavy loads much - well thats all I've done since I switched ha. Two elk and two antelope in 3 total trips. My Kuiu was the pro suspension with an older Ultra 4000 bag. I made it work fine for 5-6 night trips. We always made multiple trips with an animal down and wound up strapping some stuff to the outside.
The Stryker/Stryker XL system intrigued me as a system with an easily accessible load shelf and a moderately sized main bag for day hunts. You can put just about as big as a bag you want in the load sling to make it a big enough bag for however long you need. I also love the modularity of Kifaru, there probably aren't many setups that are just like another after the owner has had it a few days.
These are the bags I got to try out with manufacturer claimed specs:
Kifaru Camp Bag - 3540 ci - 19.2 oz
Hill People Gear Small Decker Pack Bag - 2500 ci - 10.4 oz
Z-Packs Pack Liner - 2800 ci - 1.8 oz
Z-Packs Small Pack Liner - 1650 ci - 1.4 oz
Left to Right - Z-Packs Pack Liner - Z-Packs Small Pack Liner - HPG Small Decker Pack Bag - Kifaru Camp Bag
So, to decide what to keep and see how it works for me I did a mock pack - a few of them. I gathered most everything I'd take for a 6 night/7 day backcountry elk hunt. I grabbed most things but omitted a few smaller items that would wind up in a belt pouch or a my bino harness. Rifle was not included for obvious reasons. I did forget to grab a fleece mid layer, but it would have easily fit in the Stryker XL's main bag.
I then separated what I'd put in the Stryker XL's main bag and in the camp bags. Here is what I had slated aside for the camp bag:
2021 Lanshan 1 Plus Tent
Six Moon Designs Tent Pole (I like my trekking poles)
Hammock Gear 20* Quilt
Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insualted Regular Sleeping Pad
Sea to Summit Pillow
Extra Pair of Boxers
6 Dehydrated Meals
5 Food Day Bags Stuffed with Packing Peanuts (almost as yummy as what I normally bring)
Toaks 550 Pot with Esbit Tablets and Ti Stove Inside
Spork
Toaks Wind Shield rolled over an Opinel Saw
First up is the small Z-Packs liner - I figure if it works, then no reason for me to try the regular/large. As you can see I opted to drop the "pointy" items from the above list due to fabric concerns. Otherwise everything fit fine with minimal stuffing, could fit more in it if needed, and then I decided to not use the large - if your camp is appreciably bigger than mine then yes, the large would work great for you if this is what you wanted to use.
Pros:
Super Lightweight at 1.4 oz
Waterproof
Cons:
Loud Material
Potentially Less Durable
Here are some pics with the pack fully loaded out:
Next up is the Hill People Gear Small Decker Pack Bag.
Once again, everything fit great. I really like the top zip of this, the grab handle, and really really like that it has side pockets - this allows me to put tripod, tent poles, extra water bottles, whatever in the side pockets like you would on any other pack. This wound up my favorite for its moderate size and the aforementioned features.
Pros:
More Durable
Side Pockets
Zip Access
Cons:
Not Waterproof
Moderate Weight
Side pocket verastility:
One criticism I've heard of the Stryker is where do you put meat if you are packing out camp all at one time? We'd likely never do this as I do multiple trips, but lets say you wanted to take out a load of meat and 100% of camp - no problem with the Sherman. The weight certainly starts to get further away from your back, but nothing unmanageable. I'd rather have a longer turn radius than be wide anyway. There is a size Large FL Solitude bib in the Z-packs bag here. Could stuff much more in it.
Now, the Kifaru Camp Bag.
It's so big I just put the Decker straight into the Camp Bag. Obviously fits well, as it is made to. I do like integrated points on it for attaching straps if needed, you can get creative with compressing the load in the Kifaru Camp Bag if needed. I'm keeping this as an option for longer extended hunts in the future.
Pros:
More Durable
Very Large for Longer Hunts
Cons:
Not Waterproof
Heavy
And lastly, what you're all wondering - but what if I'm insane and like to whitetail hunt in spots that required boot foot waders?? Well, here's my Size 12 Regular Sitka waders in a Rogers wader bag:
Perfect! Ha
Also a couple side notes on my hip belt configuration - I found the Marsupial Small Shotgun Shell pouch to be a nicely sized pouch that only takes up 3 PALs rows. I easily put my Outdoorsman's pistol grip and two pairs of thick gloves in here:
I'm also a big fan of the Kifaru Gun Bearer upper piece but never like the lower as it had the one strap in the middle that allowed the butt of the rifle to rotate too much in my experience. The last few years I helped solve this issue by using the Kuiu lower, but this year found that the Initial Ascent lower is even better - it has a slightly larger cradle and is better constructed:
