Kifaru 357 Mag vs Seek Outside Gila 3500 2.0
Quick take: The Seek Outside Gila 3500 2.0 costs $10 less; the Seek Outside Gila 3500 2.0 carries more (57 vs 56 liters); the Seek Outside Gila 3500 2.0 is lighter (3.2 vs 4.8 lbs).
| Spec | Kifaru 357 Mag | Seek Outside Gila 3500 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $550 | $540 |
| Rating | 5★ (7) | 4.9★ (18) |
| Type | Hunting Pack | Hunting Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | External Frame |
| Capacity | 56 L | 57 L |
| Weight | 4.8 lbs | 3.2 lbs |
| Max Load | 80 lbs (owners report 100+) | 100+ lbs |
| Torso Fit | Short or Long shoulder-strap options (Long fits 18 in+ torsos), interchangeable Omni/Duplex belts in multiple waist sizes | Field-adjustable frame height 24 / 26 / 28 in; hipbelts S-XXL (27-48 in) |
| Material | 500D CORDURA with PALS webbing; made in USA | Ultra laminate / X-Pac, roll-top closure |
| Back Panel | Kutthroat-derived suspension with 24 in composite stays and 3 load-lifter attachment points, sewn-in (not a swap-frame system) | Revolution external frame with interchangeable bag mounting |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | Yes |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | No | No |
| Removable lid | No | Yes |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | No |
| Fits BV500 bear can | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | Kifaru lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship | Seek Outside lifetime warranty on workmanship; 30-day return policy |
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.
Seek Outside Gila 3500 2.0
- ✓Strip the cross stay and gatekeepers and owners weigh it at 2 lbs 11 oz — remarkably light for a pack that carries triple-digit loads.
- ✓It carries far past its size class; owners have watched friends with bad knees hike out over 100 lbs on one.
- ✓The hipbelt is bolted to the frame rather than floating, which is the structural reason it handles weight the similarly-priced Flight cannot.
- ✓Owners who also own Stone Glacier and Exo packs call its comfort every bit their equal.
- ✓The side pockets are large and reachable while wearing the pack — owners stow a Nalgene plus a tripod or spotting scope on each side.
- ✓The bag is interchangeable on the frame, so owners run a Unaweep 6300 bag on the same suspension when they need volume.
- ✓The frame is field-adjustable between 24, 26, and 28 inches, with hipbelts from S to XXL — a wider fit range than most hunting packs offer.
- ✓It stays comfortable at light loads too, which owners attribute to the frame's articulation rather than sheer stiffness.
- ✗A reviewer's scale read 51.5 oz against a claimed 42-47 oz — the largest spec discrepancy found on any Seek Outside pack.
- ✗Seek Outside's ventilation claims do not hold up for everyone; one owner reported just as much sweating as any internal-frame pack.
- ✗The redesigned hipbelt adds two long straps that tangle with each other during adjustment unless you add tri-glides.
- ✗The roll-top closure is slow to open and close compared to a lid-and-drawstring pack.
- ✗The dual hipbelt buckles divide owners — some prefer them to a single belt, others consider the arrangement a downgrade.
- ✗Dialing in the harness fit takes real effort, and Seek Outside's fit system generates entire forum threads of owners troubleshooting it.
- ✗It is not a natural meat hauler — with no breakaway shelf and a modest bag opening, owners say it is rarely anyone's first pick for packing quarters.
- ✗It costs and weighs more than the Flight 3, which makes it a hard sell for anyone whose loads stay under about 35 lbs.