Kifaru 44 Mag vs Kifaru Bedlam
Quick take: The Kifaru Bedlam carries more (80 vs 77 liters); the Kifaru Bedlam is lighter (5.9 vs 6.4 lbs).
| Spec | Kifaru 44 Mag | Kifaru Bedlam |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $850 | $850 |
| Rating | 5★ (8) | 5★ (4) |
| Type | Hunting Pack | Hunting Pack |
| Frame Type | External Frame | External Frame |
| Capacity | 77 L | 80 L |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs | 5.9 lbs |
| Max Load | 100+ lbs (owner-reported; no official rating) | 100+ lbs (owner-reported; no official rating) |
| Torso Fit | 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 | Two ARK frame heights: 22 in (14-18 in torsos) and 25 in (18 in+), with XS-L belts covering 22-46 in waists; three loops adjust load-lifter height on the bag |
| Material | 500D CORDURA with laser-cut MOLLE laminate tracks, YKK zippers, Duraflex Autolock buckles; made in USA | 500D CORDURA with 4-way stretch Tweave in high-stress pockets, #8 YKK zippers, Duraflex Autolock buckles, mil-spec webbing; made in USA |
| Back Panel | 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 | Carbon-fiber ARK frame sheet with high-density nitrogen-enriched foams, extra-wide padded belt and oversized lumbar pad; meat stashes between bag and frame |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | Yes |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | No | No |
| Removable lid | Yes | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | Kifaru lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship | Kifaru lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship |
Pros & cons
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.
Kifaru Bedlam
- ✓Rokslide's official reviewer, alternating it with his Seek Outside during 70 lb ruck training, concluded the Kifaru platform is 'the best load hauler of any pack I've used' — and noted nearly every Alaska sheep guide he saw ran Kifaru or Barneys for exactly that reason.
- ✓The near-full-length two-way side zipper reaches gear without unpacking half the bag — access that roll-top competitors like the Stone Glacier Sky 5900 and Seek Outside Divide simply don't offer.
- ✓The enclosed spotting-scope pocket swallowed the reviewer's Swarovski ATS 65 and its tripod together, while the opposite stretch pocket holds two 32 oz Nalgenes or doubles as rifle carry.
- ✓Owners praise the layout as the best in Kifaru's line — one who has 'run a ton of Kifaru packs' calls it his favorite, citing the side zip, enclosed scope pocket, and how small it collapses for day hunts.
- ✓The extra-wide, heavily padded belt with single inward-pull straps and an oversized lumbar pad drew specific praise as more comfortable than any belt the Rokslide reviewer had used.
- ✓It was designed in the open on a famous Rokslide thread with direct end-user input, and owners report getting 5-7 days out of it with a Guide Lid or Claymore added to the 4,900 ci base.
- ✓The DWR-treated 500D Cordura survived a full dunking during a river crossing on a Bob Marshall traverse with the contents bone dry, and shrugged off 30-mile, 14-hour days at race pace.
- ✓At 2 lb 12 oz the bag undercuts the 44 Mag by half a pound while carrying 180 ci more, making the $850 complete system Kifaru's best volume-per-pound and volume-per-dollar hauler.
- ✗Weight is the honest tradeoff: about 5.9-6 lbs complete versus roughly 4.5 lbs for a similar-volume Stone Glacier system and under 4 lbs for a Seek Outside — Rokslide's reviewer flagged this as where 'the Kifaru doesn't shine as brightly.'
- ✗Even the positive Rokslide review pegs the sweet spot at 3-4 days — the reviewer chose a different pack for his Brooks Range Dall sheep hunt, so expedition hunters may still outgrow it despite the 80 L rating.
- ✗The interior Chamber pocket is too small to be useful for first-aid and toiletries — the reviewer said doubling its size would fix it.
- ✗Kifaru's Autolock buckles can't slip, but they're genuinely hard to release in the cold or with gloves — a repeated Rokslide gripe across the line that stings most on a strap-heavy bag like this.
- ✗It comes in exactly one color (Ranger Green) and one size of bag, with no lid included — the Guide Lid or Claymore that owners use to stretch trips are extra purchases.
- ✗500D Cordura bucks the industry trend toward lighter, near-waterproof ultra-weave fabrics, and its DWR coating wears off and needs refreshing.
- ✗Just 4 reviews on kifaru.net (albeit all 5-star) is a thin public record for an $850 direct-only purchase you likely can't try on first.
- ✗The asymmetrical layout takes learning — even the Rokslide reviewer joked about the 'front' pocket being in the back, and meat hauling uses the frame gap rather than a purpose-built X-Pac sling like the Hellbender's.