Kifaru 22 Mag vs Kifaru 44 Mag
Quick take: The Kifaru 44 Mag carries more (77 vs 39 liters); the Kifaru 22 Mag is lighter (6.1 vs 6.4 lbs).
| Spec | Kifaru 22 Mag | Kifaru 44 Mag |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $850 | $850 |
| Rating | 4.8★ (10) | 5★ (8) |
| Type | Hunting Pack | Hunting Pack |
| Frame Type | External Frame | External Frame |
| Capacity | 39 L | 77 L |
| Weight | 6.1 lbs | 6.4 lbs |
| Max Load | 100+ lbs (owner-reported; no official rating) | 100+ lbs (owner-reported; no official rating) |
| Torso Fit | Built for the 25 in ARK frame (18 in+ torsos); runs on the 22 in ARK (14-18 in torsos) with 3 in of bag below the frame; S-L belts cover 28-46 in waists | Two ARK frame heights: 22 in (14-18 in torsos) and 25 in (18 in+), with XS-L belts covering 22-46 in waists and single-point shoulder-strap height adjustment |
| Material | 500D CORDURA with 500D/1000D Squadron laminate laser-cut panels, #8 and #10 YKK coil zippers, Duraflex buckles; made in USA | 500D CORDURA with laser-cut MOLLE laminate tracks, YKK zippers, Duraflex Autolock buckles; made in USA |
| Back Panel | Carbon-fiber ARK frame sheet with high-density nitrogen-enriched foams; full-length load shelf rides high on the frame to keep meat weight tight to the back | Carbon-fiber ARK frame sheet with high-density nitrogen-enriched foams in the shoulder straps, belt, and lumbar pad; Loop Lock strap attachment and load shelf between bag and frame |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | Yes |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | No | No |
| Removable lid | Yes | Yes |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | Yes |
| Warranty | Kifaru lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship | Kifaru lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship |
Pros & cons
Kifaru 22 Mag
- ✓The full-zip clamshell panel opens the whole bag like a suitcase — Rokslide owners who cross-shopped it against top-loaders consistently pick the 22 Mag for organization, with one calling it simply 'a great pack' for exactly this reason.
- ✓A Rokslide owner packed an elk rear quarter, a backstrap, and full day gear — 105 lbs total — on his 22 Mag and frame and reported it 'balanced nicely,' then finished the whole bull in three more trips.
- ✓The current version adds a full-length load shelf positioned high on the frame, keeping meat weight tight to your back instead of sagging low like bolt-on shelf setups.
- ✓A bottom carry sleeve for rifles, tripods, or trekking poles is built in — dedicated weapon carry that the Stryker XL and Hellbender still need the Gun Bearer accessory for.
- ✓Carry-on compliant on the 22-inch ARK frame, which makes it one of very few real load-hauling systems you can take in an airline cabin for travel hunts.
- ✓Dual water-bottle pockets plus horizontal compression straps secure a tripod or spotting scope against the bag, and the included 150 ci lid with mesh organizer keeps small essentials out of the main bag.
- ✓Owners on Rokslide stretch it past day use — one runs full day gear plus one-night spike-out kit for solo elk hunts, processing at night and packing out in the morning.
- ✓500D Cordura with Squadron laminate reinforcement, made in the USA, with Kifaru's lifetime warranty — the same build quality as the flagship 44 Mag in a smaller envelope.
- ✗$850 complete ($350 bag + $500 ARK frame) buys a 39 L daypack — that's more than complete 75 L+ flagship systems from Exo, Stone Glacier, or Mystery Ranch cost.
- ✗There's almost no public review record: GOHUNT's 22 Mag Combo listing shows zero reviews and kifaru.net doesn't display a rating for it, so the rating here is an estimate from scattered owner posts.
- ✗At roughly 6.1 lbs complete it's a heavy day rig — a Mystery Ranch Pop Up 28 does the treestand-and-load-shelf job at around 4.9 lbs, and simple 2 lb daypacks embarrass it when no meat is on the menu.
- ✗Some Roksliders who owned both sold the 22 Mag and kept the Muskeg 2800, preferring the Muskeg's side zipper and expandable snow collar for the same day-hunt role.
- ✗The fixed panel-loader shape has no roll top or collar, so unlike the Muskeg or a compressed multiday bag there's zero overflow capacity when a hunt goes sideways.
- ✗Kifaru sized it around the 25-inch frame — on the carry-on-friendly 22-inch ARK the bag hangs 3 inches below the frame, and one owner noted the load shelf sits noticeably high on taller frames.
- ✗Hipbelt pockets, belt pouches, and the Sherman pocket are all paid add-ons, and the foam back panel has no ventilation for early-season heat.
- ✗The bear-canister question is a squeeze: the main bag is 25 x 11 x 8 inches, so a BV500 distorts the panel zip rather than dropping in the way it does in the 44 Mag or Bedlam.
Kifaru 44 Mag
- ✓Rokslide's official Gen 2 review (Tony Trietch, fall 2025) calls the redesign 'a winner' after multi-state testing — he ran the original 44 Mag for years and says the G2's changes are all real improvements.
- ✓The ARK frame under it earned its own glowing Rokslide review: a full boned-out mule deer plus day gear pushed triple-digit weight and the reviewer 'honestly can't remember packing out an entire old buck with less discomfort.'
- ✓Full clamshell main compartment plus a horseshoe front zipper beats the roll-top-only routine on a Stone Glacier Sky 5900 or Seek Outside when you're digging for layers or loading meat.
- ✓The dual 355 ci side pockets each swallow a full-size spotting scope — Rokslide's reviewer carries a Swarovski 95mm with lens adapter in one, carry that Exo and Stone Glacier need add-on pockets to match.
- ✓G2 adds a built-in weapon-carry sleeve and autolock strap at the base of the pack — bow or rifle carry that used to require the $50 Gun Bearer accessory is now stock.
- ✓Compression straps moved outside the main zippers on the G2, so you can grab a rain jacket without unbuckling anything — and the straps now release fully for easier load-shelf use than the sewn-in Gen 1 straps.
- ✓Laser-cut laminate tracks replace old-school MOLLE and cut just under 5 ounces from the Gen 1 bag; complete system weight is 6 lb 6 oz, lighter than a Mystery Ranch Metcalf 75 system.
- ✓Kifaru.net owners rate it a perfect 5.0 — one packed an elk hind and front quarter 'cattywampus in the shelf' and said it held the weight comfortably and securely, another calls it the 'perfect for every situation' bag because it shrinks down for day setups.
- ✗At $850 complete ($350 bag + $500 ARK frame) it costs $150-250 more than a comparable Exo Mtn Gear K4 or Stone Glacier Sky 5900 system, before you touch Kifaru's accessory catalog.
- ✗500D Cordura is bombproof but behind the times — Stone Glacier and Seek Outside have moved to lighter, near-waterproof ultra-weave fabrics, and Kifaru relies on a DWR coating that wears off.
- ✗The review base is thin for a flagship: 8 reviews on kifaru.net and 2 at GOHUNT versus hundreds for the Exo K4 5000 or Mystery Ranch Metcalf, so most buyers order sight-unseen.
- ✗Hipbelt pockets aren't included — the laser-cut belt slots take Kifaru pouches at $45+ each, and the accessory ecosystem (Sherman pocket, belt pouches, Grab-It) inflates the real price fast.
- ✗The foam-and-carbon back panel has zero ventilation, and owners accept a sweaty back as the price of Kifaru's load transfer.
- ✗Only two frame heights (22 in and 25 in) with no micro torso adjustment — hunters between sizes get less dial-in than Exo's adjustable yoke offers.
- ✗Kifaru sells almost entirely direct with minimal retail presence, so trying one on before spending $850 is nearly impossible outside a Rokslide meetup or the Riverton, WY showroom.
- ✗Kifaru's Autolock buckles lock the strap so it can't slip, but Rokslide's own reviewer found them a genuine pain to release in the cold or with gloves on.