Kifaru Absaroka vs Kifaru Hellbender
Quick take: The Kifaru Hellbender costs $2 less; the Kifaru Absaroka carries more (108 vs 37 liters); the Kifaru Hellbender is lighter (6.1 vs 6.2 lbs).
| Spec | Kifaru Absaroka | Kifaru Hellbender |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $877 | $875 |
| Rating | 4.9★ (9) | 4.8★ (13) |
| Type | Hunting Pack | Hunting Pack |
| Frame Type | External Frame | External Frame |
| Capacity | 108 L | 37 L |
| Weight | 6 lbs 4 oz (bag + medium 25-in ARK frame) | 6.1 lbs |
| Max Load | 100+ lbs (owner-reported; no official rating) | 100+ lbs (owner-reported; no official rating) |
| Torso Fit | Combo ships with the 25-in ARK frame (recommended 5 ft 8 in+); XS-XL belts cover 22-46 in waists, and the bag also mounts to the 22-in frame for shorter hunters | Two ARK frame heights: 22 in (14-18 in torsos) and 25 in (18 in+), with XS-L belts covering 22-46 in waists |
| Material | 500D CORDURA with Ultragrid and EPX400 panels for weatherproofing and puncture resistance; made in USA | 500D CORDURA with X-Pac load sling, Autolock buckles, YKK zippers; made in USA |
| Back Panel | Carbon-fiber ARK frame sheet with high-density foams in the shoulder straps, belt, and lumbar pad; load shelf between bag and frame for meat hauling | Carbon-fiber ARK frame sheet with high-density nitrogen-enriched foams; wipe-clean X-Pac meat sling rides between bag and frame |
| 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 | No |
| Warranty | Kifaru lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship | Kifaru lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship |
Pros & cons
Kifaru Absaroka
- ✓Ultragrid/EPX400 construction is a real step past the plain 500D Cordura on the Hoodlum and 44 Mag — owners report 'the material is as waterproof as I have seen' and 'no issues with water and we got wet plenty' on a 12-day Colorado hunt.
- ✓Dual access via front horseshoe zipper plus snow collar means you can reach the main compartment without unloading — the flexibility Stone Glacier and Seek Outside roll-tops give up.
- ✓Integrated front zippered pocket and dual Nalgene pockets provide organization without buying belt pouches — a rare escape from the usual Kifaru accessory tax.
- ✓Huge real-world range: one owner runs it from compressed day hunts out of base camp to 10+ days of gear, saying 'the capacity of this bag seems more than it states'.
- ✓At 6,580 ci it edges out the Hoodlum as Kifaru's biggest ARK bag while the bag itself is about 3 oz lighter, and the 6 lb 4 oz complete system undercuts a Stone Glacier Terminus 7000 setup.
- ✓Stock weapon carry — .75-in autolock compression straps over the front pocket secure a rifle or bow without a $50 Gun Bearer add-on.
- ✓Proven on hard hunts in its first seasons: a Colorado mountain goat hunter packed all gear plus a life-size cape in one trip, and a Rokslide owner hauled front and hind elk quarters simultaneously on the frame.
- ✓4.9 from 9 kifaru.net reviews with zero below 4 stars — one multi-pack Kifaru owner calls it 'my favorite pack from Kifaru to date'.
- ✗At $877 complete it's the most expensive of Kifaru's expedition combos — $150-250 over a comparable Exo K4 or Stone Glacier Sky system, and $27 over the larger-name Hoodlum.
- ✗The KU lid shown in product photos is not included — true top-lid storage is another purchase.
- ✗The combo only ships with the 25-in frame; hunters under 5 ft 8 in have to source the 22-in ARK frame separately.
- ✗Rokslide owners find the long autolock side buckles clumsy — in compressed day mode the bag 'flopped loose and hung away from the frame' until one owner swapped in aftermarket ladder locks.
- ✗Load lifters and belt attach through the bag, so using the ARK as a bare meat-hauling frame means juggling four loose webbing pieces (a documented Rokslide annoyance).
- ✗Launched in 2024, so it lacks the Hoodlum's five-plus years of guide-season track record — long-term durability of the EPX/Ultragrid panels is still being proven.
- ✗No hipbelt pockets and zero back ventilation — standard Kifaru trade-offs carried over unchanged.
- ✗Only 9 reviews and sold essentially direct-only, so most buyers commit $877 without ever trying one on.
Kifaru Hellbender
- ✓A Rokslide guide's dedicated thread names it 'the most versatile whitetail pack' — she hauls blinds, lock-on stands with sticks, saddle gear, camera equipment, and layers on the load shelf, then uses the same rig for western spot-and-stalk.
- ✓The load sling is X-Pac instead of Cordura specifically so it wipes clean after a bloody pack-out — a direct, deliberate upgrade over the Stryker XL sling.
- ✓A kifaru.net owner packed out his brother's entire cow elk in one trip and reports it performs 'whether the pack is almost empty or loaded with more than 100 lb' — on a bag that's nominally a daypack.
- ✓The Bane-style front stash pocket is absurdly versatile: one long-term owner has carried boots, a food canister, sheds, an arrow quiver, a spotting scope, a fly rod, and even a rifle in it.
- ✓Compression straps relocate from the main bag to the back seam for the pack-out, so your optics stay protected inside while quarters ride the shelf — a detail no Exo or Stone Glacier day bag replicates.
- ✓A working guide on kifaru.net calls it her 'new favorite guide pack': day gear stays organized, and after the client shoots, the bag slides away and the meat shelf loads in seconds.
- ✓Belt-pouch matrix above the stash pocket, front zip pocket with key hook, dual bottle pockets, Chamber pocket, and bladder sleeve with dual hose ports give it real organization for a hauler.
- ✓Rated 4.8 from 13 kifaru.net reviews with 100% recommending, and one meticulous owner says Hellbender + ARK + Camp Bag + Claymore lid is 'THE best combination' he's found for carrying camp in, hauling meat out, and day hunting early through late season.
- ✗At $875 complete ($375 bag + $500 ARK frame) it's the priciest of Kifaru's day-size bags, and even fans wince — a Rokslide user cracked that at this price 'it better rub my feet when I'm done using it.'
- ✗Kifaru publishes almost no specs for it — Rokslide users had to measure and weigh it themselves (~2,250 ci, ~3 lb bag), which the same thread called out as a real annoyance at a $900 street price.
- ✗The X-Pac sling has some slop and noise when empty — one owner k-clips the compression straps directly to the ARK frame to 'nearly eliminate the slop and noise,' a workaround you shouldn't need at this price.
- ✗Around 6.1 lbs complete, it's heavier than an Eberlestock Modframe/Vapor combo (~6 lbs) and well above a Mystery Ranch Pop Up 28 (~4.9 lbs) that fills the same treestand-hauler role for hundreds less.
- ✗37 L can't do true multiday trips — stretching it means buying the Camp Bag and Claymore lid, at which point you're within sight of 44 Mag money.
- ✗No lid, no hipbelt pockets, and no dedicated weapon carry come standard; the Gun Bearer and pouches are extra, and Kifaru's Autolock buckles are fiddly with cold or gloved hands.
- ✗Owners note it's overkill when nothing heavy is on the menu — the foam-on-carbon back has no ventilation and the 500D Cordura build is denser than modern ultra-weave day bags.
- ✗Direct-only sales with 13 total site reviews means most buyers commit $875 without ever trying the fit, versus try-on-in-store options from Mystery Ranch at big-box retailers.