Adjusting Aluminum Frame Stays

[mt100gr.]

I have a Duplex Frame with aluminum stays in the "normal" curve configuration and I am feeling quite a bit of pressure on the top of the lumbar pad and unless I really crank down the waist belt, the bottom of the lumbar pad barely touches my back.

Who has adjusted the bend of their frame on their own to get the fit just right?
I figured out how to access the frame stays, but they are really tight in the frame slots? If I pull them out will they fit back in?

Would I be better off to swap them for the "mid-flatback" or "flatback" stays?

I have played around plenty adjusting Badlands and Eberlestock frame stays and have had good results but the Kifaru stays are beefier, for sure. Don't want to bite off more than I can chew...

 

[duchntr]

Different pack same concept http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93IDVv1NI_k -Hope it helps

 

[hammer0419]

If you have aluminum they are very easy to adjust. If the top is hitting you need to FLATTEN out the stays. That will SQUARE UP the lumbar pad and apply even pressure. I always used aluminum stays and adjusted them to my back. Then I purchased the carbon stays and ordered REGULAR. Came to quickly find I was getting severe pain from the lumbar pad. To peas digging in and bottom did not touch my back. Ended up exchanging it for FLAT BACK stays and it is perfect.

 

[mt100gr.]

Thanks guys. I got impatient early this AM and systematically started tweaking the AL stays to flatten out the curve. It's quickly becoming the most comfortable lumbar setup I have tried. I guess my back is flatter than I thought. I have taken quite a bit of the initial bend out and have just a touch more to go. Loving the Duplex Frame though!

 

[hammer0419]

Glad it is working for you. I too was surprised as to how flat my back may actually be?? Before I switched to the FLAT stays, I even switched out to a thinner lumbar pad. It did help but not totally correct my problem. Once I had flat stays I went back to the thicker lumbar pad with perfect results.

 

[mt100gr.]

Got it dialed this morning. Tools about 5 times pulling it all apart and making small adjustments, but it's sitting really comfortably now. Gonna load it up a bit tomorrow and see how that feels. I bet I am at "flatback" or flatter now. I really had to shapeshift those things. I definitely didn't the "flatback test" and there was plenty of daylight between my back and the wall. Just goes to show how different everyone really is and how one size doesn't fit all. It's awesome to have the options from kifaru to begin with but until I saw how pronounced the "normal" curve is I thought it would fit. I was sure I had a fairly concave lumbar but something about how that pack fits MY back doesn't follow the "normal" rule. I am just glad I went with aluminum!!