Kifaru Bedlam vs Kifaru Hoodlum
Quick take: The Kifaru Hoodlum carries more (107 vs 80 liters); the Kifaru Bedlam is lighter (5.9 vs 6.4 lbs).
| Spec | Kifaru Bedlam | Kifaru Hoodlum |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $850 | $850 |
| Rating | 5★ (4) | 5★ (9) |
| Type | Hunting Pack | Hunting Pack |
| Frame Type | External Frame | External Frame |
| Capacity | 80 L | 107 L |
| Weight | 5.9 lbs | 6 lbs 7 oz (bag + medium 25-in ARK frame) |
| 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; three loops adjust load-lifter height on the bag | Two ARK frame heights: 22 in (under 5 ft 8 in) and 25 in (5 ft 8 in+), with S-L belts covering 28-46 in waists and single-point shoulder-strap height adjustment |
| Material | 500D CORDURA with 4-way stretch Tweave in high-stress pockets, #8 YKK zippers, Duraflex Autolock buckles, mil-spec webbing; made in USA | 500D CORDURA nylon with laser-cut laminate panels and #10 YKK zippers; made in USA |
| Back Panel | 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 | 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 |
| 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 | Yes |
| Warranty | Kifaru lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship | Kifaru lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship |
Pros & cons
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.
Kifaru Hoodlum
- ✓Genuine guide pedigree since 2019 — a kifaru.net reviewer ran it fully loaded at 67 lbs through a 16-day Alaska Dall sheep hunt and called the weight distribution 'exactly where it needed to be, 10/10'.
- ✓The Gen 2 full-length main zipper fixes the one gripe long-time owners had — Rokslide called it 'their best bag with a long overdue update,' and reviewer Jordan Budd fit layers, a bear quarter, backstraps, and a full hide inside on a spring hunt.
- ✓Dual 580 ci zippered side pockets swallow a full spotting scope and tripod with one-handed access — organization Kifaru's own minimalist Gnargali and most Stone Glacier roll-tops can't match.
- ✓1,000 ci expandable snow collar takes it from 5,500 to 6,500 ci, putting it in Stone Glacier Sky Talus 6900 territory while keeping zip access those roll-top bags lack.
- ✓Bag weighs just 3 lb 5 oz for 107 L of 500D Cordura — the 6 lb 7 oz complete system undercuts a Mystery Ranch Marshall by well over a pound.
- ✓Compresses hard for day hunts — a Rokslide owner says it 'cinches down as tight or more as any 2200-size pack out there today,' so it genuinely covers day trips to expeditions.
- ✓Laser-cut Belt Pouch Matrix and MOLLE panels take Kifaru's full accessory catalog, and the ARK load shelf hauls owner-reported 100+ lb loads between bag and frame.
- ✓Perfect 5.0 across 9 kifaru.net reviews — one long-term owner: 'When this one wears out, I will buy another Hoodlum.'
- ✗$850 complete is $150-250 more than a comparable Exo Mtn Gear K4 or Stone Glacier Sky 5900 system, before Kifaru's accessory catalog starts adding up.
- ✗Early Gen 2 reports on Rokslide include a main zipper that creeps open during the day under load — a new-design teething issue the old top-entry bag never had.
- ✗No lid included — the snow collar is the only top closure, and owners add a Claymore pocket or Guide Lid ($60+) for lid storage.
- ✗Plain 500D Cordura with DWR is behind Kifaru's own Absaroka, which gets weatherproof Ultragrid/EPX400 fabric for only $27 more per bag.
- ✗No hipbelt pockets included — the Belt Pouch Matrix takes Kifaru pouches at $45+ each, a familiar Kifaru accessory tax.
- ✗Zero back ventilation from the foam-and-carbon panel — a sweaty back is the accepted price of Kifaru's load transfer.
- ✗Rokslide ARK owners gripe about the long autolock buckles and loose bag-to-frame feel in compressed day mode — several modify with aftermarket ladder locks.
- ✗Only 9 reviews and direct-only sales — you're ordering an $850 system sight-unseen unless you can reach Kifaru's Wyoming showroom.