Kifaru Absaroka vs Kifaru The Maniml
Quick take: The Kifaru The Maniml costs $2 less; the Kifaru Absaroka carries more (108 vs 50 liters); the Kifaru Absaroka is lighter (6.2 vs 6.7 lbs).
| Spec | Kifaru Absaroka | Kifaru The Maniml |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $877 | $875 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Hunting Pack | Hunting Pack |
| Frame Type | External Frame | External Frame |
| Capacity | 108 L | 50 L |
| Weight | 6 lbs 4 oz (bag + medium 25-in ARK frame) | 6 lbs 11 oz (bag + Cinch + 25-in ARK frame) |
| 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 (under 5 ft 8 in) and 25 in (5 ft 8 in+), with XS-XL belts covering 22-46 in waists and single-point shoulder-strap height adjustment |
| Material | 500D CORDURA with Ultragrid and EPX400 panels for weatherproofing and puncture resistance; made in USA | 500D CORDURA with laser-cut MOLLE tracks and four-way stretch side pockets; 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 foams in the shoulder straps, belt, and lumbar pad; full-length pleated load shelf runs to the top of the 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 The Maniml
- ✓The full-length load shelf runs to the top of the frame with a pleated bottom — a kifaru.net owner says 'paired with the ARK frame packing out is no problem' and the weight distribution is 'unbelievable', hauling ability no Exo or Stone Glacier day bag matches.
- ✓Includes the 750 ci Cinch breakaway daypack and Chamber Pocket organizer — the Cinch compresses the main bag or pops off as a standalone bag with stowed shoulder straps.
- ✓The forward-opening dual-zip lid opens from inside or outside, closed or open — designed with Levi Morgan specifically for accessing gear while hanging in a saddle or tree stand.
- ✓Ships with a K-clip strap kit so the bag also mounts on Kifaru Duplex and Newplex frames, not just the ARK.
- ✓Sewn-in .75-in autolock compression straps carry a bow, rifle, tree stand, or climbing sticks stock — owners strap platform, sticks, and saddle on with room for layers inside.
- ✓Owner-proven toughness: one reviewer fell 30 feet — 'the Maniml pack and ARK frame were fine, I wasn't' — and another calls it 'tougher than nails'.
- ✓Serves the whitetail/saddle niche the western pack brands mostly ignore, with a perfect 5.0 on kifaru.net and 100% recommend rate.
- ✓Four-way stretch side pockets and laser-cut MOLLE take bottles, spotter, tripod, bugle tube, or full-size belt pouches for match-your-hunt customization.
- ✗Rokslide's reception was skeptical: hard to justify against Kifaru's own Stryker XL, Hellbender, 22 Mag, and Minikeg — 'it looks like a 22 Mag without the full horseshoe'.
- ✗A Rokslide member's direct comparison: the Exo K4 3600 is over a pound lighter, has better access, roughly 1,700 more cubic inches, and costs $200 less.
- ✗Top-loader only — no horseshoe, tri-zip, or panel access, a step backward from the 22 Mag and Hellbender for digging out gear.
- ✗At 6 lb 11 oz complete it outweighs the 77 L 44 Mag combo (6 lb 6 oz) while carrying far less — a lot of pack weight for a day system.
- ✗The main bag alone is only 2,200 ci; one verified buyer found it 'a bit smaller than I thought', and the 50 L figure depends on counting the Cinch.
- ✗Quality niggle from a verified buyer: the burned zipper pull cords fray — three came apart within the first few uses.
- ✗Only 4 reviews since its 2024 launch — the thinnest track record of any Kifaru ARK bag.
- ✗$875 all-in is serious money for a whitetail day pack, and the ARK frame is overkill unless you actually drag deer out on your back.