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).
Which one to buy
How you want to get into the bag is most of this decision. Both are $850 Kifaru multiday packs on the same carbon ARK frame and the same frame-height options, both take a bear canister, and they are within 3 L of each other. The 44 Mag opens as a clamshell with a horseshoe front zip; the Bedlam uses a near-full-length two-way side zipper that reaches anything without unpacking half the bag. The Bedlam is also 0.5 lb lighter complete.
The 44 Mag's G2 update is where it pulls ahead on features. It has a lid, two side pockets that each take a full-size spotting scope, a built-in weapon sleeve at the base, and compression straps moved outside the zippers so you can grab a jacket without unbuckling. A long-term field reviewer who tested it across several states called the redesign a winner. The Bedlam has no lid and no dedicated weapon carry, though its stretch side pocket doubles as rifle carry, and it puts the scope and tripod together in one enclosed pocket. Its extra-wide padded belt drew praise from a long-term reviewer as the most comfortable he had used.
The Bedlam's quirks are an asymmetric layout that takes learning, an interior Chamber pocket too small to be useful, and meat riding in the frame gap rather than a dedicated sling. A long-term reviewer puts its sweet spot at 3-4 days. Both share Autolock buckles that are hard to release with cold or gloved hands, unventilated backs, add-on hipbelt pockets and DWR-coated 500D Cordura. Out of the box the 44 Mag is the more complete pack, while the Bedlam asks you to buy its lid separately in exchange for the better side access.
Kifaru 44 Mag
For western multiday hunters who want a lid, two spotter pockets and a stock weapon sleeve included, with clamshell access to the main bag.
Kifaru Bedlam
A good match for 3-4 day hunts where side-zip access, a lighter system and an extra-wide padded belt matter more than built-in rifle carry.
| Spec | Kifaru 44 Mag | Kifaru Bedlam |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $850 | $850 |
| Rating | — | — |
| 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 | Not published by the manufacturer | Not published by the manufacturer |
| 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
- ✓A forum review of the Gen 2 (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 forum 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 Seek Outside when you're digging for layers or loading meat.
- ✓The dual 355 ci side pockets each swallow a full-size spotting scope — a long-term field 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.
- ✓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 $125-150 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 forum meetup or the Riverton, WY showroom.
- ✗Kifaru's Autolock buckles lock the strap so it can't slip, but a forum reviewer found them a genuine pain to release in the cold or with gloves on.
Kifaru Bedlam
- ✓A long-term field 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 one long-term reviewer had used.
- ✓It was designed in the open in a public owner 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 — a long-term field reviewer flagged this as where 'the Kifaru doesn't shine as brightly.'
- ✗Even the positive forum 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 forum 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 one long-term 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.
Kifaru 44 Mag vs Kifaru Bedlam: common questions
Which has better access to gear, the 44 Mag or the Bedlam?▾
Both avoid roll-top digging. The 44 Mag opens as a clamshell with a horseshoe front zip, while the Bedlam's near-full-length two-way side zipper lets you reach gear without unpacking half the bag. Side access suits hunters who live out of the pack on the move.
Does the Bedlam include a lid or weapon carry?▾
No lid comes with it, and there is no dedicated weapon carry, though its stretch side pocket can double as rifle carry. The 44 Mag G2 includes a lid and a built-in weapon sleeve.
How long a hunt can each handle?▾
A long-term reviewer puts the Bedlam's sweet spot at 3-4 days, and owners stretch it to 5-7 with an add-on lid. The 44 Mag is built for western multiday hunts and compresses down for day setups.