Disappointment and Frustration

[Shrek]

The Duplex is completely adjustable to the point of it being confusing. The aluminum stays can be formed to any back and the lumbar pad increased or lessened. Each shoulder strap is individually adjustable for different height shoulders. There isn't much you can't adjust for but finding the combination of adjustment is daunting when you are a little out of the ordinary profile it comes adjusted for. Don't give up you just need to find the right tune for you.

 

[NVCHUKAR]

If it slides down that far it sounds like the torso is to long for your back. Shorten it up so that when its positioned where its supposed to be and you have your shoulder straps adjusted just snug, your 3 bar slider is lined up with your collar bone. The shoulder straps will prevent it from sliding down but you should still be able to keep 80% of the weight on your hips.

 

[eLightfoot]

the belt on my duplex does the same thing. I pull the straps straight out and they don't cinch down real well. i have to work at them to get them tight. Just pulling on them only squeezes my hip fat in with out cinching down on the buckle well. I've tried to work it in by pulling really hard over and over and the strap just started to bunch up and crinkle. Once they are tight they are tight though. Just kind of disappointing because the power pulls are what I was really looking forward to. Is there any what to remedy this?

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

My belt does the same thing. I'd like a solution as well.

 

[dotman]

I have had this happen, had to send the belt in for warranty and have the powerpull rings re sewn, they were not tight and at a slight angle which would crumple the belt nylon. Each time it was fixed perfect, had to do it on my ku5200 and first bikini belt.

 

[colonel00]

Interesting that there are this many reports. I thought it was just me and my unique situation. So it sounds like it doesn't happen to everyone though, correct? For those that have the issue, is this on newer frames? Mine is from this spring.

 

[mt100gr.]

I bought mine this spring as well. My belt works as it should as long as no loose clothing is in the way and there isn't to much slack in the belt to begin with. I am very happy with the power pull setup. Sometimes loosening it tAkes a bit of inching the webbing back through, though

 

[boom]

where do you live colonel?

so it sags where enough where the load lifter angles are non existent?

 

[boom]

i think i have this problem too..but it doesnt cause me much discomfort.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

Mine is a used belt which I figured was the issue but I guess not. Its not that the power pulls don't function at all, they pull but then start to bunch and I have to wiggle a little for them to unbunch.

 

[5MilesBack]

I never had a problem with the power pulls, in fact I'm having trouble even imagining having trouble with them. They worked like a charm......pull forward, and they tighten down until I stop pulling. My problem was I hated the lumbar pad. With the pad out it felt great but Aron said to never use it without the pad. So fully set up and riding where I wanted it, the top of the Bikini frame was at the top of my head. Hated that too.......and I'm 6'6". Any lower and the pack would slip with heavy weight with the pad. It actually held better without the pad.......but then again, I've carried elk quarters out over my shoulders. So most any pack works better than that, with or without a lumbar pad.

 

[colonel00]

where do you live colonel?

so it sags where enough where the load lifter angles are non existent?

I am in KC. I wouldn't say that it sags in the sense that the load lifters no longer have an angle. Essentially I end up cranking down on the shoulder straps and load lifters to the point where the pack is essentially held in place by squeezing my shoulders between the straps and the pack. Then, every hundred yards or so I have to choose to either try to get the belt back up on my hips or just live with the weight on my shoulders.

I will definitely play around with some of the modification ideas suggested here.

 

[jmez]

Judging by that picture you don't have a flat back just a flat ass. With the way that stay is bent and your back conformation it looks to me like the top of the pack would be flush against your back and then the stays are actually pushing the pack away from your lower back. That would cause the thing to want to slide down all the time. I think you need standard back stays with some extra curve at the lower back in them.

 

[tstowater]

There should be other Roksliders in the KC area. Unless he moved, dotman should be fairly close to you and worth sending him a PM.

 

[colonel00]

There should be other Roksliders in the KC area. Unless he moved, dotman should be fairly close to you and worth sending him a PM.

Yeah, I talk to dotman all the time. Unfortunately he seems to think he is too busy with a baby that is due any day (if it hasn't come already). It's not like he really has anything to do with the whole process though Anyway, I am sure we will have time to hook up later in the fall.

 

[colonel00]

Judging by that picture you don't have a flat back just a flat ass. With the way that stay is bent and your back conformation it looks to me like the top of the pack would be flush against your back and then the stays are actually pushing the pack away from your lower back. That would cause the thing to want to slide down all the time. I think you need standard back stays with some extra curve at the lower back in them.

Yes! There is some truth to this I guess. Here is what I feel when I put the pack on (now this was mostly before with the standard stay bikini and duplex before bending the stays). Usually I would tighten the belt and it would pull the pack way back away from my shoulders. I think have to tighten down the shoulder straps and load lifters which essentially seems to torque everything back and this causes a lot of pressure on the fronts of my shoulders as mentioned before. At this point my shoulders are wedged in so tight, as mentioned before, that they are supporting a lot of the weight via compression.

As to your suggestion about the curve, I have straightened the stays out almost all the way, are you saying to add a little curve back? I will see if I can get a picture of the stays against my back this evening to show the current fit and maybe that will allow you all to suggest some more tweaks. I don't know why it took me this long to post this thread as I already feel better about trying to get this modified to fit me. As Shrek said earlier, it is so customizable that it is almost overwhelming trying to figure out where to start.

 

[JWP58]

Maybe grow some glutes?

Have you been to a place like REI to have a pack fitting? It might be helpful to go hands on with someone that gets paid to fit packs to people.

 

[Hunt'nFish]

Man Brad, after reading about your issues, I'm kinda like'n my big bones, wide hips & fat ass.
From what I see, you need more contact area w/ the belt. One that wraps a little farther around the sides. And/Or maybe a belt w/ less cushion, different material w/ more friction, no lumbar pad, etc.

Has any one tried a Hill People Gear waist belt on a Kifaru in these NO BUTT situations?
As I understand it, you can add/remove/change the padding in their waist belts and they don't have a lumbar pad.
Hunt'nFish

 

[Phillip Hathaway]

Give Kifaru a call and ask for Joe he will take care of you. I was in the same boat as you they had to readjust some things.

 

[El Gavilan]

Just watching your little short video clips I noticed that when you pull the belt tight that it usually slips back very easily. The webbing adjusters that is slips through should not let it go back so easily so I am wondering if you have the belt webbing going through the adjusters incorrectly? Seems something is not right.

Mike