Our camp on night time one was about 4 miles and a pair of,000 vertical ft from the trailhead. Nothing epic, however at 12,000 ft, nothing to trifle with, both. Add about 50 kilos of drugs, together with a rifle, and it was a stout hike. That was day certainly one of my 2024 Colorado elk rifle season and the primary day of testing of the Kifaru Absaroka.
After 5 days of adverse looking and a variety of miles lined, I got here to understand the Absaroka’s versatility as a lot as its 6,580-cubic-inch (108L) capability. This pack is massive. However it’s nonetheless nice for single-day hunts after camp is about. It compresses to a modest dimension to hold a kill equipment, meals, and water.
Whereas that is nonetheless an early evaluate, I’m impressed. The Kifaru Absaroka, mixed with the Kifaru ARK Body, is without doubt one of the higher backpack programs I’ve utilized in a few years of looking and mountain climbing.
The Kifaru Absaroka throughout a hunt in fall 2024; (picture/Sean McCoy)
In brief: The Kifaru Absaroka is an exterior body pack primarily based on the ARK Body system. It might probably carry an enormous load of 6,580 cubic inches inside a extremely water resistant, USA-made bag with one giant compartment and two smaller pockets. In my testing, I discovered the body, hip belt, and shoulder straps reliably comfy and able to a great deal of properly over 50 kilos.
The pack is sturdy and well-designed for easy group with bigger pockets and an enormous essential compartment. Whereas costly, it is going to be well worth the funding for individuals who haul a variety of gear and doubtlessly meat.
Buying round? Try our information to the very best backpacks for looking right here.
Weight:
5.99-6.25 lbs.
Quantity:
6,580 cu. in. plus meat shelf
Materials:
Carbon fiber, Ultragrid and EPX 400 material
Massive however compressible
Easy three-compartment group
Suitable with distinctive ARK body
Very water-proof, sturdy
Body (not included) doesn’t have water tube attachment
Reasonably priced bag requires costly body
Sean McCoy
Kifaru Absaroka Evaluate: An Expedition-Worthy Exterior Body Pack
Whereas Kifaru has been on my radar for some time, because of its distinctive Gun Bearer rifle carry system, this was my first expertise with the model’s packs. Sewn proper right here in Colorado and Wyoming, I used to be stoked to place the pack by means of its paces.
Upon receiving the pack, I set to work opening all of the straps and increasing the compartments to see what I used to be working with. The pack is comparatively easy, with an enormous, top-accessible essential compartment.
This compartment additionally has entry by means of a big U zipper on the entrance. On high of that panel are two different good-sized pockets, one about 10 L in dimension and the opposite about 5 L.
As soon as at camp, these two pockets can be important for organizing your day by day looking gear. I’ll talk about them later.
This whole pack is produced from extremely water resistant Challenger Outside EKOPAK EPX400 material. The material feels powerful and has a pleasant tight weave. It’s also 100% recycled, has no fluorocarbons, and is backed by a 70-denier ripstop grid.
The pack — offered independently of the body — prices $277. It mounts on the Kifaru ARK Body, which itself prices $500. I’ll dig deeper into the body under.
Kifaru Absaroka Pack: 3-Compartment Simplicity
Total, I like the truth that the Absaroka is a big, easy pack. I have a tendency to prepare my gear with a number of stuff sacks and dry baggage, and the cavernous essential compartment permits these giant gadgets, in addition to issues like a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, water filter, or different larger unfastened gadgets to suit simply.
I deliberate for a 5-day hunt when leaving the trailhead. The climate was heat — highs within the 60s, lows within the excessive 20s — so I didn’t want a lot further clothes. The pack was solely about three-quarters full once I left the trailhead, 50-odd kilos on my again, and a rifle using on the Gun Bearer.
Over a 4-mile hike up a tough, steep path, the pack took somewhat adjusting. I tightened and loosened the hip belt and cargo adjusters and clipped the chest strap. After a few miles, I discovered a snug level during which the load actually sat properly. Granted, it was nonetheless pretty heavy and didn’t really feel improbable on my hips and shoulders, however for a fairly heavy pack, it was totally tolerable for a number of hours.
Arriving in camp, I unloaded and ready to make use of it throughout my first night glassing session.
As a Day-Searching Pack
If you happen to hunt removed from a trailhead, likelihood is you’ll use your essential pack day-after-day. I personally by no means depart camp with out my pack, partly as a result of I take advantage of it to hold my rifle and partly so I’m not caught with no kill equipment or emergency gear removed from camp.
So, as soon as I unloaded camp (and all through the whole 5-day elk season), I used the Absaroka mounted to the ARK Body as my main looking pack.
And on this function, it’s nice. The primary compartment collapses down small because of neatly positioned compression straps. It features as a roll-top (it doesn’t ship with a lid, though one is offered as an non-compulsory add-on). With the highest rolled down, it sits properly under my head. With the compression straps tightened, it sits tight and near the again.
I principally used the 2 again pockets throughout my day by day hunts, even when away from camp for greater than 17 hours on two totally different events. I loaded the pack with 3 L of water, a filter, and a few meals. The smaller again pockets simply held a headlamp, knives, a first-aid equipment, some paracord, and meals for a day. I had a number of room to spare.
However the pack carries simply when empty. It’s not a shock, however it’s essential. It didn’t squeak. The material was quiet and didn’t crinkle a lot. And even the zippers didn’t make a lot noise when opened and closed.
Total, I discovered the Absaroka Pack perfect for my type of looking. It was giant sufficient to haul a long-term camp and had simply sufficient methods to prepare gear for day hunts. It appears very sturdy and well-made and weighs 3.12 kilos.
Kifaru ARK Body
The Kifaru AKR Body faraway from the Absaroka pack; (picture/Sean McCoy)
The whole pack depends on Kifaru’s new-for-2024 ARK Body. This body works with most of the model’s packs. It might probably additionally haul heavy, awkward objects like elk quarters or firewood, both through the use of your material pack as a meat shelf or by including a separate sling system.
Sadly, looking was sluggish, and I didn’t get the possibility to examine that mode with an elk. I’ll replace you when the chance arises!
Ladder locks on the carbon fiber stays make for simple dimension changes. Reconfiguring the pack in varied methods or just adjusting for dimension is straightforward.
However when success comes knocking, and you should haul meat, the pack shifts into meat-hauling mode. Whereas I wasn’t profitable this 12 months, I did take away the pack from the body and set it up for meat hauling.
It’s not precisely straightforward however it is vitally doable with a couple of minutes to puzzle over the system. Do that earlier than you’ve an animal on the bottom with any new pack, because it’s lots simpler in your garden with no climate or terrain points.
Whereas adjusting and reconfiguring the body is comparatively straightforward, it’s fiddly, too. Be ready to recollect the way it suits collectively! One draw back price noting is that it is advisable to carry somewhat bag of additional straps to connect the load lifters in hauling mode. Once more, not a giant deal, however one thing you must know earlier than hitting the sphere.
The Absaroka and different packs use a safe buckle system to connect to the ARK Body; (picture/Sean McCoy)
The ARK Body has a spine of carbon fiber. Excessive-density nitrogen-enriched foams present sturdy padding towards the shoulders and hips. All these supplies ooze high quality.
The foams are comfortable sufficient for consolation however nonetheless keep a variety of rigidity. That is an improve versus Kifaru’s older frames, and the model claims they add longevity to the system. Time will inform, however to date, they appear nice.
The body weighs between 2.87 and three.13 kilos, relying on dimension. Including this to the burden of the Absaroka, you’ll land proper round 6 kilos complete, which is absolutely cheap for such a sturdy, succesful backpack.
Kifaru Absaroka Evaluate: Easy But Refined
Wanting on the Absaroka, you’ll discover that there aren’t a variety of bells and whistles. Whereas the model does provide a lid as an add-on, it sells with a fundamental drawstring closure that additionally folds over like a roll-top.
It has a small inside bag inside the primary compartment for essential gadgets like keys or a pockets. And apart from that, it’s a easy three-compartment bag.
However easy shouldn’t be dangerous. The bag, its reference to the body, and the body itself are extremely refined. Engineers thought by means of all the things from adjustability to compression straps and zippers and the angle of the hip-belt-to-shoulder strap connection.
The Kifaru Absaroka blends in with the autumn colours of a excessive mountain meadow; (picture/Sean McCoy)
However I do have a few small criticisms. First, whereas the Absaroka does have an inside pocket and port for a water bladder, there’s nowhere to connect the hose on the shoulder strap. It’s a minor challenge, however for those who use a water bladder like I do in sizzling climate, you’ll be searching for someplace to clip it lots. I’d suggest bringing somewhat bungee to connect it to your shoulder strap.
The opposite criticism shouldn’t be on the pack however on the web site. The directions for the pack setup are considerably restricted to YouTube and principally shot by third-party creators. The model itself does not likely break down the shape and performance in any descriptive manner.
Each pack is totally different, and it takes somewhat time to determine easy methods to make changes and shift it from regular carry mode into meat-hauling mode. I’d like to see extra info in an easy-to-find spot on Kifaru’s web site.
In any other case, it is a darned near-perfect backpack for individuals who want a really giant bag but additionally need to use it as a day-hunting pack.
That is nonetheless an early evaluate that I’ll replace after extra testing this season. However I’m a giant fan and wouldn’t hesitate to suggest it. If you happen to’re searching for a giant, expedition-style pack to make use of for looking or hauling massive masses, the Kifaru Absaroka is one to research.
