Kifaru 357 Mag vs Mystery Ranch Sawtooth 45
Quick take: The Kifaru 357 Mag carries more (56 vs 43 liters); the Kifaru 357 Mag is lighter (4.8 vs 5.1 lbs).
| Spec | Kifaru 357 Mag | Mystery Ranch Sawtooth 45 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $550 | $550 |
| Rating | 5★ (7) | 4.9★ (331) |
| Type | Hunting Pack | Hunting Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 56 L | 43 L |
| Weight | 4.8 lbs | 5.1 lbs |
| Max Load | 80 lbs (owners report 100+) | No official rating (reviewers report 75–85 lbs on the Overload shelf) |
| Torso Fit | Short or Long shoulder-strap options (Long fits 18 in+ torsos), interchangeable Omni/Duplex belts in multiple waist sizes | S–XL frame sizes with adjustable yoke (S/M ~15–20 in, L/XL ~17–24 in torsos); women's sizing available |
| Material | 500D CORDURA with PALS webbing; made in USA | 330 HT CORDURA 5PM and 330D Robic Kodra ripstop with YKK zippers and SJ Autolock buckles |
| Back Panel | Kutthroat-derived suspension with 24 in composite stays and 3 load-lifter attachment points, sewn-in (not a swap-frame system) | MYSTERIUM frame with carbon-fiber vertical stays, adjustable yoke and segmented five-piece hipbelt |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | Yes |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | No | No |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | Kifaru lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship | Mystery Ranch lifetime guarantee against manufacturing defects |
Pros & cons
Kifaru 357 Mag
- ✓Rokslide regulars call it the best internal-frame pack Kifaru has ever made, retiring comparisons to the Late Season, Timberline, and Tarryall lines.
- ✓The Kutthroat-derived suspension is repeatedly described as the most comfortable internal frame going at 60 lbs and under, and owners report clean 100+ lb pack-outs despite the 80 lb comfort rating.
- ✓Full panel access plus top access makes packing and digging for gear dramatically easier than the roll-top-only routine on a Kifaru Reckoning or Sky 5900.
- ✓Dual 530 ci side pockets swallow a full-size spotting scope and tripod each — stock optics carry that Stone Glacier needs its front pocket and Exo needs accessories to match.
- ✓The belt is fully modular: run the burly Duplex belt for heavy hauls, the slim Omni to cut weight, or delete it entirely for truck-stand days.
- ✓Interior K-clip tabs let you strap a deboned deer tight against the back panel, and one Kifaru reviewer called it '6/5 stars for deer' hunting.
- ✓At 4.8 lbs complete and $550 all-in, it's both the lightest and cheapest pack in the flagship class — no separate $500 ARK frame purchase required.
- ✓Made-in-USA 500D CORDURA construction with Kifaru's lifetime warranty and PALS webbing everywhere earns it a perfect 5.0 rating from site reviewers.
- ✗At 3,400 ci (56 L) it's barely more than half the capacity of a Metcalf 75 or Sky 5900 — weeklong backcountry hunts force ruthless packing or a move to the 44 Mag.
- ✗There's no external load shelf between bag and frame like Stone Glacier and Exo offer, so elk quarters ride inside the bag against the back panel — Rokslide threads openly debate whether it can handle a full quarter.
- ✗Past roughly 80 lbs the limited upper attachment points let the load get 'floppy' up high, a documented complaint from heavy pack-out owners.
- ✗It carries bulky in day mode with minimal gear — nothing like the Sky 5900's cinched-down bivy mode, and Rokslide users say a 14'r day pack does light duty better.
- ✗Weapon carry isn't stock: the famous Gun Bearer and Sherman Pocket are paid add-ons, and Kifaru's accessory ecosystem inflates the real price fast.
- ✗The suspension is sewn in, so unlike Kifaru's Duplex Lite/ARK bag-and-frame owners you can't upgrade the frame later — a notable trade in the year Kifaru launched the ARK.
- ✗Minimal retail presence means almost no one tries one on before buying, and the 5.0 rating rests on just 7 site reviews versus 500+ for the Exo K4.
- ✗Price-per-liter is the worst of the flagship group — $550 for 56 L versus $575 for the Metcalf's 75 L — so you're paying for the suspension, not space.
Mystery Ranch Sawtooth 45
- ✓Man Makes Fire scored it 4.9/5 and called it 'near perfect' after 120+ miles — a roomy daypack, a capable overnighter, and an excellent load-hauling hunting backpack in one.
- ✓The Overload shelf genuinely hauls elk quarters between frame and bag, with the long-term reviewer estimating 75-85 lb loads carry comfortably — huge capability for a 5 lb day pack.
- ✓The U-shaped 270-degree zipper gives wide-open, suitcase-style access and can even be worked from the side while wearing the pack — a repeated advantage over top-loading rivals.
- ✓The 2025 MYSTERIUM refresh swapped to lighter 330D Robic Kodra with a CORDURA 5PM weatherproof coating; Outdoor Life's testing found the coating kept contents dry and the fabric shrugged off abuse.
- ✓Outdoor Life praised the five-piece segmented hipbelt and flexible carbon-stay frame, writing that a loaded pack 'barely felt like wearing' — weight distribution is a class strength.
- ✓One of the highest-rated packs on Mystery Ranch's own site at 4.9 stars across 331 owner reviews.
- ✓Organization beats minimalist day haulers: 11 pockets including internal mesh, front organizational pockets, and MOLLE webbing on the hipbelt.
- ✓Built-in compression straps carry a bow or rifle cleanly for hands-free hiking, and the adjustable yoke across four frame sizes dials in fit that one-size whitetail packs can't match.
- ✗Frame squeak near the shoulders and hips was Outdoor Life's headline complaint — noise they warned 'could be a deal breaker' on a final stalk.
- ✗At 5.1 lbs it is heavy for a day pack — a Stone Glacier Avail 2200 weighs 3.5 lbs and a Kifaru Minikeg 2.9 lbs, and the weight penalty rides along on every hunt that doesn't end in a packout.
- ✗As of mid-2026 it is out of stock direct at mysteryranch.com with only a waitlist/backorder option, so buyers may have to hunt retailers for their size and color.
- ✗The fabric is water-resistant, not waterproof — the Man Makes Fire reviewer got soaked contents in sustained rain and recommends budgeting for the separate Pack Fly raincover.
- ✗No lid is included; Rokslide users note that adding Mystery Ranch's accessory lid pushes the combo price into bigger-standalone-pack territory.
- ✗No hipbelt pockets come stock — rangefinder and calls go elsewhere while Exo and Stone Glacier include belt storage.
- ✗The price has crept from $519 at the Mysterium launch to $550 ($600 in OPTIFADE), which is serious money for a day pack when full bag-and-frame systems start around $650.
- ✗Despite the name, Mystery Ranch's own spec sheet lists 43 L (2,625 cu in) — slightly under both the '45' badge and the outgoing version's 2,745 cu in.