Kifaru 357 mag to duplex light

I love the Kifaru Mag series for its versatility and configuration. I primarily use a 7k muskeg for Alaska and late season Montana hunts but wanted something smaller as a day pack with flexibility to go up to 4-5 days. When the 357 came out I loved the idea. Nearly the same size as 44 mag but a little smaller.

While extra cost was a bummer, the 357 being internal frame actually had me excited as it saves a little weight, still carries a lot of weight well, and leaves my frame to myself so I can use it as a backup pack for letting friends borrow or help me on a pack out when they don’t want to drop full price on an expensive bag yet. And also the chance to have my wife use it if I can ever get her to join me on a backcountry summer trip, but that remains to be seen. Maybe when the kids are grown a little.

I was curious about the possibility of it being used on an external frame should the need arise. Not that I have concerns over it’s weight hauling-that has proven to be really good. More so for space. If I’d use this on an early season or day hunt for deer or elk I want to be able to carry a lot of meat out and camp. To me this would be an elk quarter + camp, or potentially an entire mule deer + camp. I know I think Snyder said that a deer would be doable but I tend to think that would be too much to all fit inside the 357.

While it wasn’t a make or break on my purchase of the 357 I wanted to tinker with it this off season after using it this past September, but then surrendering to my Muskeg for the late season and AK.

I was able to get it to work pretty well. I’ve used it hiking around on a few trails and it honestly works quite well with something in the make shift ‘load shelf’. Where it isn’t super clean is when the 357 is tight on the frame. It doesn’t fit super snug but I think I may be able to come up with a solution and make it useful. The lumbar pad I found interesting as it almost seems like it’s made for this- real similar to the load shelf design.

Let me know your thoughts or input. I wouldn’t do this as my primary Kifaru bag, I’d just get the 44 mag, Hoodlum, or muskeg if I had to buy one, but I really like my choice of Muskeg & 357 for what I do.

Curious on what Aron’s thoughts would be. I’m guessing he’ll think I’m a moron and advise against this but you can’t deny the versatility of the mag bags. With compression straps anything is possible!