Kifaru

Expedition and hunting pack maker in Colorado, Kifaru is the absolute reference for heavy load carrying systems. Everything handmade in the USA, with a modular pouch system and signature external frame.

Patrick Smith founded Mountainsmith, a brand of mountaineering packs that became a reference at REI and in the backpacking world. But Smith is a hunter. His entire life, he adapted his mountain packs for hunting. In 1997, he created Kifaru in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, to do what he truly wanted to do: packs designed specifically for backcountry hunters. "Kind of like truly coming home," he said in a podcast.

The mission was clear from the start: everything manufactured in the United States, from materials to needle, from thread to labor. The Kifaru external frame system is designed for one thing: carrying inhumane loads in the mountains. Elk hunters bringing 50 kg of meat back across the Rockies swear by them. "The most comfortable frame I've ever worn."

Smith also invented the Gun Bearer, the first integrated rifle carrying system for packs. The modular pocket system allows configuring the pack for each type of hunt. It's custom-made without being custom-made.

Aron Snyder and Chad Shumway, two hunters deeply connected to the brand, bought Kifaru from Smith. Snyder created the Kifarucast, a go-to podcast for hunting and outdoor gear. He even appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience (episode 1499). The Kifaru community is small but devoted.

The prices are insane. A complete pack with frame and accessories easily exceeds 700 dollars, often more. But in this world, no one disputes the price. When you carry 50 kg of elk meat at 3,000 meters altitude, the frame's comfort is not a luxury, it's a matter of survival.

Kifaru tried urban EDC at one point. It didn't work. They returned to their hunting roots. Wise decision.