Ark vs Duplex, a comparison review ***Updated 5/29/24***

[svivian]

I’ve put a lot of miles on the ark so far. I don’t necessarily want to give away the review before I write it, but the ark has definitely grown on me.

I’ve packed ~30 animals in 3 years with the duplex and it fits me like an old pair of tennis shoes. After the first couple trips with the ark I liked my duplex better. Now after getting used to the ark, I realize that the duplex was my “comfort zone”. I’ll put a few more packs on the ark before writing the review.

I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of people that sent back the ark and kept their duplex didn’t give the ark enough time.

The lumbar pad on the ark has a different feel and shape. It’s stiffer and more square than the duplex. When I first put on the pack it felt like it was “jabbing” me in the back.

This is part of my previous post where I talked about the duplex being more comfortable because I was used to it. The lumbar pad on the ark, while not as “comfortable” as the duplex pad that’s more of a crescent shape, holds in the small of my back much better than the duplex with 60 plus pounds.

I believe the rounded edges of the duplex allow it to slide down toward my butt, while the right angles of the duplex do a better job locking it into place.

While talking to Aron about this, he agreed and said that if the stiffness of the ark pad is bothersome, you can put a 45 pound plate on the pad overnight and it will break it in. I was able to do the break in through wearing it, but if someone has an issue with the ark pad, give it a shot!

How is the pad breaking in? personally I think manufactures seem to be going towards stiffer sturdier foam for longevity. I know that was one of my biggest complaints for Exo and Stone glacier was having to replace the lumbar pad frequently.

 

[Ucsdryder]

How is the pad breaking in? personally I think manufactures seem to be going towards stiffer sturdier foam for longevity. I know that was one of my biggest complaints for Exo and Stone glacier was having to replace the lumbar pad frequently.

I think that’s the big question. Longevity of the new foam. Both Aron and Anders talked about the new foam and finding a solution to long term use. It’s definitely on their mind, but time will tell if the new foam is more durable. I don’t think we’ll know for a couple of years, even the old foam lasted most heavy users multiple years and light users a lot longer!

I will say one of the testers I had play with the new frame is DEFINITELY a candidate for a new belt, lumbar pad, and shoulder straps. He wanted so badly for his duplex to be as good and as comfortable as the new ark, but with worn out padding it was shocking how much of a difference it made. I think a lot of guys might fall into the same category. Over time, he didn’t realize just how bad the foam got, until he compared it to a new frame!

 

[TheBootBowhunting]

I did 5 miles with 60 pounds with the Ark yesterday, glad I went ahead and grabbed one. The lumbar sticks in my lower back and doesnt move. It was firmer than the one I tried on at Tac, but by the end it felt like it had started to more or less conform to my lower back. I did another 2.5 with my DL and to me the Ark feels more stable side to side, mostly because of the flat vs contoured lumbar. As ucsdryder said, the DL does have a worn in boot feel to it that makes it feel comfortable.

I didnt notice too much difference in the density of the foam on the shoulder straps. I do think the Ark breathes better as the ark straps stop midway down the frame creating more air flow back there. The Ark just frame just generally feels more streamlined.

I use a bottle pocket on 1 side of the belt, and a hip belt pouch on the other. I tried the Kifaru mini and small belt pouch, hill people gear medium admin pouch and an exo k4 pouch and pretty clearly prefer the K4 pouch on my left side. The Kifaru mini was damn near impossible to close 1 handed. The small/medium belt pouch really needs 6 wide molle to be taut enough to open and close easier - works fine on my DL with the extra column. I believe the large ark belt has 6 columns so the current belt pouches should work fine if you wear a large. I do think Kifaru needs to up their belt pouch game for the ark to work better with 4 columns like the K4, and add some rigidity so its a smoother 1 hand operation like the K4 pouch.

This really isnt good or bad, but the Ark belt goes from loose to full cinch faster than the DL because of the denser lumbar foam. With the DL you tighten the belt, and you also have to decompress the lumbar pad in the process to get it cinched - so you can almost feather the tightness a bit better with the DL (if that makes any sense). I can see this being something that might be a preference thing between the frames.

I sold my backup DL, but Im definitely fine keeping my other DL/Stryker XL to go with the Ark/Bedlam. The Ark will be the go to, but Id be perfectly fine with the DL. That said, $50 extra for the Ark over the DL is a no brainer. It’s far easier to adjust, more durable, lighter and for me the lumbar is more comfortable. Used DL vs new Ark, that’s a budget thing, but the DL is still a damn good frame.

As far as fit and finish of the ark frame sheet, mine has zero imperfections. Even the chamfering around the slots in the frame seem a bit more uniform than some of the early pics. Probably no functional difference, but it does look...cleaner.

 

[realunlucky]

I had both Aron and Anders on the Rokcast and they addressed this head on. Pretty interesting conversation https://www.rokslide.com/tt29-everything-kifaru-with-aron-snyder-and-anders-christianson/

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

 

[Ucsdryder]

I had both Aron and Anders on the Rokcast and they addressed this head on. Pretty interesting conversation https://www.rokslide.com/tt29-everything-kifaru-with-aron-snyder-and-anders-christianson/

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

Just listened. Well done!

 

[Ucsdryder]

Here are some pictures of the load sling as a meat shelf. The positioning is perfect, high and tight.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Gian's review is live!

Kifaru ARK Frame vs Kifaru Duplex Frame

 

[TheBootBowhunting]

Solid review @Ucsdryder

Ive done 6 training hikes so far with the Ark at anywhere from 4-12 miles and 40-85#. I agree with everything he said. The lumbar pad to me is the biggest difference. I did stadium stairs with the Duplex and Ark, both with 60# - both with the stryker XL. I did 350 stairs with each with squats at the top of bottom of the football stadium rows, and while this is unscientific, I didnt readjust the ark once, while I felt some slipping with the Duplex and had to readjust twice. The ark was exactly where I wanted it on my lumbar, the Duplex has always felt like it settled slightly lower than where I wanted it.

I like both frames. Both are top of the line. I def prefer the Ark as well.

 

[Hunter26]

Thanks for the review! With the price of items like backpacks I like the idea of looking at the difference between new and old and giving pro’s and con’s. You got my wheels turning and it might be time to update my set up!

 

[TravelinBri74]

I just had an ark frame and ku4300 bag show up this weekend. I’ll be doing a compare and contrast between the newest frame and bag vs a kifaru duplex and nomad and mountain warrior. My goal is to objectively, and subjectively, help answer the question, “is upgrading to the ark frame and KU bag worth it?”

I’d love to have the opportunity to do this review over the big game seasons this fall, but the timing isn’t right so it’ll go on some shed hunts, turkey hunts and training hikes over the next couple of months.

Here are some of the questions that I hope to answer.

1. Specifications of each, including weight, range of adjustability, easy of adjustability
2. Fit and finish of the new frame, cosmetic condition out of the box, susceptibility to scratches and gouges
3. Noise of the KU material vs the cordura, in temperatures above and below freezing
4. Waterproofness and water absorption of the KU vs cordura
5. Rigidity and torsional flex of both frames under weight, light, moderate, and heavy
6. Fit on different body types (I have 3 other people lined up that are all different builds)

I’ll include lots of pictures of course.

What else would you like to see from a comparison standpoint, or just questions I might be able to answer about the new frame and/or bag?

***Update 5/29/24*** Kifaru ARK Frame vs Kifaru Duplex Frame

View attachment 692363

Fully understanding this was a comparison between two frames, where the new Ark frame clearly won, I would love to see a comparison with the K4. Most reviews on this site - while comprehensive - are overwhelmingly positive making it difficult to compare (for instance from the K4 to the Ark Frame to the Akek; all of which got glowing reviews).

 

[Ucsdryder]

Fully understanding this was a comparison between two frames, where the new Ark frame clearly won, I would love to see a comparison with the K4. Most reviews on this site - while comprehensive - are overwhelmingly positive making it difficult to compare (for instance from the K4 to the Ark Frame to the Akek; all of which got glowing reviews).

I think that would be a great review as well! I was impressed with the k4.

 

[TheBootBowhunting]

I think when you get to the top 3-5 or so packs, its becomes so personal that it really doesnt do much good in having 1 or 2 people comparing them. Id love to compare K4 and Ark - I just have no reason to get a K4. Maybe if I had a K4, I wouldnt have and Ark. I compared K3 and Duplex and preferred the Duplex - but the K3 was still an excellent pack. But ultimately, I wonder if you had 10 people compare them, if youd end up with half preferring 1 and half the other.

Someone did a pretty exhaustive pack review on here a few years ago. I used 3-4 of the packs in his review, and I probably wouldve ordered them nearly opposite of the way he did. And thats no knock on him. But like everything else, you have different body shapes and preferences. I think we live in the golden era of frame packs, theres a lot of good ones.

All that said....lets do it.

K4 vs Ark.

 

[Ucsdryder]

I think when you get to the top 3-5 or so packs, its becomes so personal that it really doesnt do much good in having 1 or 2 people comparing them. Id love to compare K4 and Ark - I just have no reason to get a K4. Maybe if I had a K4, I wouldnt have and Ark. I compared K3 and Duplex and preferred the Duplex - but the K3 was still an excellent pack. But ultimately, I wonder if you had 10 people compare them, if youd end up with half preferring 1 and half the other.

Someone did a pretty exhaustive pack review on here a few years ago. I used 3-4 of the packs in his review, and I probably wouldve ordered them nearly opposite of the way he did. And thats no knock on him. But like everything else, you have different body shapes and preferences. I think we live in the golden era of frame packs, theres a lot of good ones.

All that said....lets do it.

K4 vs Ark.

^^^ yep

It’s like comparing ZEISS, swaro, Leica. They’re all badass!

 

[JNDEER]

I think when you get to the top 3-5 or so packs, its becomes so personal that it really doesnt do much good in having 1 or 2 people comparing them. Id love to compare K4 and Ark - I just have no reason to get a K4. Maybe if I had a K4, I wouldnt have and Ark. I compared K3 and Duplex and preferred the Duplex - but the K3 was still an excellent pack. But ultimately, I wonder if you had 10 people compare them, if youd end up with half preferring 1 and half the other.

Someone did a pretty exhaustive pack review on here a few years ago. I used 3-4 of the packs in his review, and I probably wouldve ordered them nearly opposite of the way he did. And thats no knock on him. But like everything else, you have different body shapes and preferences. I think we live in the golden era of frame packs, theres a lot of good ones.

All that said....lets do it.

K4 vs Ark.

There have been group pack tests I have watched on YouTube (no idea who they are sponsored by) that and Form has stated he and his groups have done extensive testing- all ends up being subjective to the person ultimately.

I think for longer torso guys over time the 26” K4 is a no brainer to beat out the 25” ARK. I said it before and I will say it again- I just don’t see how a 25” frame fits 90%+ of people. I am only 6’- but I get Soo little load lift on a 25” frame compared to the 26”- maybe people like the feel of a secure pack and more weight on their shoulders than on there hips? Either way it would take a large group of diverse body shape guys to get a good conclusive result on which frame is better.

 

[TravelinBri74]

I agree - pack frames are a personal choice and not everything works for everyone. That being said, prior to the Ark Frame coming on the market, I feel that the K4 was consistently winning out on all of the hunting pack comparisons. Would love to see if the new Ark Frame changes that at all; but the point that they are all really good and at some point it is personal preference and body shape is a very valid one.

 

[Aghunter]

Good intel

 

[CarlitoElPipo]

Do you suggest one over the other depending on the loads you’re carrying?

 

[Ucsdryder]

Do you suggest one over the other depending on the loads you’re carrying?

Simple answer is ark. I think kifaru does a great job building all of their frames to support heavy loads, but the rigidity of the ark frame makes it superior for maximum loads. The thickness and the stiffness of the lumbar pad does a better job of holding the frame in place with heavy loads as well.

 

[CarlitoElPipo]

Simple answer is ark. I think kifaru does a great job building all of their frames to support heavy loads, but the rigidity of the ark frame makes it superior for maximum loads. The thickness and the stiffness of the lumbar pad does a better job of holding the frame in place with heavy loads as well.

So I am looking to purchase a set that'll last me forever but will be adjustable for any situation that I may run into. I typically hunt or camp in Florida but who knows if I end up in Wyoming or in Georgia and need a heavy duty frame. Would an ARK frame be overdoing it or is the frame just based off quality.

 

[Ucsdryder]

So I am looking to purchase a set that'll last me forever but will be adjustable for any situation that I may run into. I typically hunt or camp in Florida but who knows if I end up in Wyoming or in Georgia and need a heavy duty frame. Would an ARK frame be overdoing it or is the frame just based off quality.

I don’t think anybody can answer that for you. I know some guys out west like to hunt with a day pack then have a separate meat hauling pack. I prefer to have one pack for everything so my first load out is heavy! Here is the pack in day pack mode. It compresses down to almost nothing.