Hootsma
Lil-Rokslider
For years I’ve wanted a camp bag setup with a smaller dayback/load sling for elk hunting. I started with the original Kifaru Nomad. But, the tube pockets just didn’t work well for my setup. So I sold it.
Then I bought a Exo Beavertail and had @Squirrels add a bunch of pals webbing and a few other mods to it to fit my desired setup. Squirrels did a perfect job in getting it stitched up to my liking and I highly recommend him if your wanting to mod some gear. But when I tried various pouches attached to the pals, it worked ok, but it was too strappy and unnecessarily complicated.
I then bought a Singer HD 4452 and gave it a go for myself. It’s maiden voyage was on a Mystery Ranch Mule. I added a couple of attachment points so it would work the way I wanted it to on my Kifaru Duplex frame. I also made a +/-5,000 ci roll top cordura camp bag to go with it. That worked out most excellently on my elk hunt last year and I thought I was done.
However, I've been seriously lusting after the Kifaru Stryker for elk hunting ever since it came out. But the configuration with the load sling so high up was a deal breaker. My 5,000 ci camp bag would sit a foot or more over my head because of the lack of length on the load sling.
Evidently I wasn't the only one who had an issue with it. Kifaru must have gotten a lot of complaints/suggestions from others with similar issues. So they came out with the Stryker XL, but they still offer the original version.
The bag is bigger (unnecessary in my opinion) and they added some length to the load sling. But if you look at the pictures, it's still not enough and unacceptable for my intended uses.
I stared at the pictures of the Stryker and XL for weeks, scheming of ways to modify it to my preferences. I came up with a basic plan and bought a used regular Stryker off of Rokslide from @ZackJoe89. The transaction went flawlessly and it was a pleasure doing business with him. Thanks again Zack! I stared at it for an hour or two once I got it in my hands to finalize my plan of alteration.
I spent the entire day yesterday cutting on it. It was pretty nerve racking cutting up a brand new bag. I bought is used from Zack, but Zack bought it new along with the XL to try out and it never left his house. So it was essentially brand new. Definitely looked and smelled like it came directly from Kifaru.
I added some straps on the back side near the top so I can cinch it down taught when I'm in day pack mode. I just use the two attachment points at the top that I added and 2 k-clips
at the bottom and I don't have to use any of the horizontal compression straps to secure my day gear. That gets rid of all the aggravating strappyness in daypack mode, but I still have the straps when I need to haul a load.
That was an easy non-invasive/non-destructive mod. The next mod required me to cut the thing in half. That was sketchy as hell and I hesitated good bit before finally saying "screw it" and dove in.
I cut the load sling off at the bottom of the bag and added 16" of Cordura to the load sling to get a large load to sit where it needs to be.
The configuration is absolutely perfect now. I'm surprised I got it right on the first try. However my sewing skill are pretty shoddy at best. I blame part of it on my lack of skill/experience, but most of the problems lie in my machine. It's just not cut out for the bulkyness of the gear I'm sewing.
I paid $200 new for it and it's labeled a Heavy Duty machine, but it struggles significantly with all the layers. I'm constantly ripping out stitches and redoing it because it gets stuck and just makes a horrible rats nest of a mess. So, my stitch lines look like hell, but they're totally bombproof.
I'm really happy with the way it came out, with the exception of the sloppy stitch lines. I think this one is the final iteration for me for elk hunting...hopefully?!
Then I bought a Exo Beavertail and had @Squirrels add a bunch of pals webbing and a few other mods to it to fit my desired setup. Squirrels did a perfect job in getting it stitched up to my liking and I highly recommend him if your wanting to mod some gear. But when I tried various pouches attached to the pals, it worked ok, but it was too strappy and unnecessarily complicated.
I then bought a Singer HD 4452 and gave it a go for myself. It’s maiden voyage was on a Mystery Ranch Mule. I added a couple of attachment points so it would work the way I wanted it to on my Kifaru Duplex frame. I also made a +/-5,000 ci roll top cordura camp bag to go with it. That worked out most excellently on my elk hunt last year and I thought I was done.
However, I've been seriously lusting after the Kifaru Stryker for elk hunting ever since it came out. But the configuration with the load sling so high up was a deal breaker. My 5,000 ci camp bag would sit a foot or more over my head because of the lack of length on the load sling.
Evidently I wasn't the only one who had an issue with it. Kifaru must have gotten a lot of complaints/suggestions from others with similar issues. So they came out with the Stryker XL, but they still offer the original version.
The bag is bigger (unnecessary in my opinion) and they added some length to the load sling. But if you look at the pictures, it's still not enough and unacceptable for my intended uses.
I stared at the pictures of the Stryker and XL for weeks, scheming of ways to modify it to my preferences. I came up with a basic plan and bought a used regular Stryker off of Rokslide from @ZackJoe89. The transaction went flawlessly and it was a pleasure doing business with him. Thanks again Zack! I stared at it for an hour or two once I got it in my hands to finalize my plan of alteration.
I spent the entire day yesterday cutting on it. It was pretty nerve racking cutting up a brand new bag. I bought is used from Zack, but Zack bought it new along with the XL to try out and it never left his house. So it was essentially brand new. Definitely looked and smelled like it came directly from Kifaru.
I added some straps on the back side near the top so I can cinch it down taught when I'm in day pack mode. I just use the two attachment points at the top that I added and 2 k-clips
at the bottom and I don't have to use any of the horizontal compression straps to secure my day gear. That gets rid of all the aggravating strappyness in daypack mode, but I still have the straps when I need to haul a load.
That was an easy non-invasive/non-destructive mod. The next mod required me to cut the thing in half. That was sketchy as hell and I hesitated good bit before finally saying "screw it" and dove in.
I cut the load sling off at the bottom of the bag and added 16" of Cordura to the load sling to get a large load to sit where it needs to be.
The configuration is absolutely perfect now. I'm surprised I got it right on the first try. However my sewing skill are pretty shoddy at best. I blame part of it on my lack of skill/experience, but most of the problems lie in my machine. It's just not cut out for the bulkyness of the gear I'm sewing.
I paid $200 new for it and it's labeled a Heavy Duty machine, but it struggles significantly with all the layers. I'm constantly ripping out stitches and redoing it because it gets stuck and just makes a horrible rats nest of a mess. So, my stitch lines look like hell, but they're totally bombproof.
I'm really happy with the way it came out, with the exception of the sloppy stitch lines. I think this one is the final iteration for me for elk hunting...hopefully?!
