Kifaru's 44 Mag is Back and Better Than Ever

Kifaru, the backcountry gear lords who believe your gear should outlast your knees, just dropped the relaunch of a legend: the 44 Mag. Originally introduced in 2019, this pack was built for the hunter who needs one bag to do it all. And I should know — I’ve dragged mine across more states and more seasons than I can count.

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I’ve strapped that original 44 Mag to my back in Kodiak, Alaska, chasing blacktail across wind-shredded cliff edges and through rain-soaked alder hell. I’ve loaded it down with meat, gear, and more regret than I care to admit after steep hikes on whitetail hunts. I’ve used it in training sessions leading up to every season since, and no matter what I threw at it, that pack never complained. It never shifted, never failed, and it certainly never asked for a day off.

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So when I heard Kifaru was relaunching the 44 Mag? My eyebrows raised. How do you improve something that already flirted with perfection?

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Turns out, they found a way.

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The new 44 Mag is more than just a remix — it’s a strategic overhaul with upgrades that make sense for real hunters who live in their gear.

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Highlights Include:

• Laser-Cut MOLLE System: Less weight, more modularity, and a sleeker profile. Your straps and pouches will thank you.
• New Carry Options: A back compression strap and bottom pouch that can haul your bow, rifle, tripod, or poles — basically anything long, awkward, and essential.
• Hydration Compatible: Dual exit ports and a bladder sleeve mean you don’t have to fight your hydration setup every time you load out.
• Reworked Storage: External lid pockets and repositioned mesh zippers make grabbing that headlamp or snack mid-hike less of a blind dig-fest.
• Still Bombproof: 500D Ranger Green Cordura + burly #10 and #8 YKK zippers = peace of mind when bushwhacking through terrain that wants to shred your gear.
• Frame-Friendly: Compatible with ARK, Duplex Lite, Hunter, and Tactical frames.

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All this in a 6-pound, 6-ounce package (when paired with the Medium 25” ARK Frame), packing a spacious 4,720 cubic inches with an expandable load shelf. Yes, it still hauls like a beast. No, it won’t make you stronger. But it will make you feel like it.

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The Kifaru Difference — Now With Less Sway

If you’ve ever hiked along a scree slope with a lopsided load threatening to yeet you into a ravine, you know the value of a well-balanced pack. That’s the magic of the 44 Mag. Even in its first-gen form, it was a dream on hazardous terrain. Now, with the added features and compression upgrades, I’m genuinely looking forward to strapping in and seeing just how much more refined it feels under a real-world load.

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I don’t know how they made it better, but I’m glad they did. The original earned its place in my gear closet through seasons of punishment, and this new version feels like a worthy successor — built not just to survive the wild, but to thrive in it.

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Launch Details:

• Available: April 24, 2025
• MSRP: $350 (bag only) / $850 (pack + frame)

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Whether you’re charging up ridge lines in search of elk, or tiptoeing around your kid’s Legos on the way to pack your truck, the new 44 Mag is ready. It’s still made in America, still built like a tank, and still everything a serious hunter wants — with a few tricks up its Ranger Green sleeve. ~ KJ

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