Finally Built My Ultimate Day Pack. Kuiu Pack, Exo K4 Frame, Kifaru belt

[GT3]

Very nice. Looks good

 

[mgstucson]

@GT3
Thanks

@Fish_monger,
Great Question. There were a few slight modifications and adaptations, but nothing that can't be reversed so that all the EXO K4 stuff still works just as intended, and all the KUIU stuff works just as intended.

Mounting KUIU bag and shoulder straps to EXO K4 frame and belt

Top of Bag Attachment

1. Notice the tops of the stays on the K4 frame only have a short stub that the bag can slip over, there is a buckle on the stay that will prohibit the KUIU bag stay pockets from fully seating onto the tops of the K4 stays.



2. These 2 buckles on the tops of the K4 stays will need to be relocated. These are for the load lifter straps on the shoulder straps. KUIU load lifter buckles are located on the bag not the stays (fortunately) so these buckles will not be used with the KUIU bag. These buckles can be twisted so that the back of the buckle is exposed from under the connecting loop on the stay. Then a small section of the back of buckle that was under the loop can be cut away with a dremel cutoff wheel, being careful not to cut the connecting loop on the stay, nor over heating the metal buckle (dip in water occasionally.) Then the buckles can be slipped off the connecting loop to allow use of the frame with a KUIU bag. The buckle can also be slipped back into the stay loop when using frame with K4 bag. Notice there is a vacant loop on top of the frame, between the stay an the carry handle in the second picture.

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NOTE: It is NOT necessary to cut and relocate the buckles as described BELOW. The KUIU bag can be used on the K4 frame just as shown in the picture ABOVE. The K4 bags fit to the top of K4 stays down to the buckle EXACTLY as pictured ABOVE.
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3. Both buckles can be relocated to these vacant loops by the carry handle, then flipped over the top of the frame and left between the frame and the KUIU bag out of the way, but available if needed. They will be used from this new position when the hauling meat between the K4 frame and the KUIU bag.



4. Now the tops of both stays on the K4 frame will fully seat into the stay pockets on the KUIU bag, The width between the stays on the K4 frame and the width between the pockets on the KUIU bag are a perfect fit. The size of the stays and the size of the pockets are a very nice tight fit.


5. Now the load lifter straps from the KUIU shoulder straps can be connected to the buckles on the top of the KUIU stay pockets on the KUIU bag.



The KUIU bag is now connected to the top of the K4 frame.

 

[mgstucson]

Mounting KUIU bag and shoulder straps to EXO K4 frame and belt

Bottom of Bag Attachment
1. There is no attachment point on the K4 belt for the 2 buckles circled in red. These help side to side stabilization of the bag. Since the K4 frame has more and bigger side of bag straps that secure the bag to the frame, I don't think it is any problem. A strap could be attached to one of the molle attachment points on the belt without much trouble. I use this KUIU bag and K4 frame with a KIFARU belt, and it has attachment straps for these buckles, as does the original KUIU suspension system.



2. These 2 straps are borrowed from the KUIU suspension system.



3. Take the male buckle off the strap, then thread the strap through the bottom slide buckle in the K4 belt, then replace the male slide end of the KUIU buckle back on the strap. The strap is now attached to the bottom of the K4 belt. Now take the male end of both straps and snap them into the female buckles on the back of the KUIU bag,



Now the bottom of the KUIU bag is attached to the bottom of the K4 frame and belt and can be tensioned top to bottom with these straps.

Now the straps from the middle of the K4 frame can be unclipped and wrapped around the KUIU bag and snapped again and tensioned side to side. The K4 frame has 4 of theses straps on each side the bag, where the KUIU frame only has 2 on each side. The KUIU straps hook to the sides of the bag, putting stress across the front of the bag. The more weight in the bag, the greater the stress, If you haul meat in the KUIU system, it crushes everything in the bag, and puts even greater stress on the bag and the 3/4" staps and buckles. The K4 system is better because there are more straps, the straps are 1" on the K4 as opposed to 3/4" on the KUIU, and the straps wrap all the way around the bag and connect to each other, rather than connecting to the bag. This actually supports the bag instead of putting it under weight and stress. This will increase durability of the bag. This also means there are half as many buckles to fool with per strap because they snap to each other in the middle of the front of the bag, instead of snaping to the bag down each side like in the KUIU system. There are also 2 straps down each side to connect the bag to the frame, and 2 extra independent straps on each side to connect meat to frame on pack out. This makes the meat more secure to the frame, and as mentioned, alleviates a great deal of stress on bag and contents while hauling meat. This K4 system is vastly superior to the KUIU system in several aspects.



The K4 shoulder strap bottom sections are sewn to the belt at the bottom and connect to the padded KUIU shoulder strap uppers via the black strap slides with the spring release clip connection through the existing loops on the bottom of the KUIU shoulder pads. Note the 3/4" metal strap slides remain attached in the same loops, but unused, unless theses straps are used again in the KUIU suspension system.



The EXO K3 lid attaches to existing K4 attachment points on the back of the frame. The lid attaches to the front of the KUIU bag on an existing loop using another after market black spring clip delrin plastic clip.


When you use the KUIU bag on the EXO K4 frame with the K4 belt, all pieces can be used again in their respective KUIU or K4 systems. There are no permanent modifications which make any piece unusable in its original system and configuration. Only a few additional after market loop connectors, slides, or triglides are needed. All purchased on Amazon and relatively inexpensive.


The only part of using the KUIU bag with a K4 frame and belt that needs any tools at all is cutting a slot in one side of the buckles on the top of the K4 stays with a Dremel tool. The buckles remain usable, but are now able to be moved to different loops or back to the same loops as needed. AS NOTED IN POST ABOVE, CUTTING THE BUCKLE IS NOT NECESSARY TO USE KUIU BAG ON K4 FRAME (EDIT: SEE @MuleyFever POST BELOW FOR USE OF KUIU BAG ON K4 FRAME WITH K4 SHOULDER STRAPS WITHOUT RELOCATING BUCKLE FROM ORIGINAL POSITION.) I just like being able to take advantage of the deep stay pockets on the KUIU bag, and being to move those K4 buckles and straps to whatever loop I want to use on the K4 frame. Of course I can remount the buckles in their original position and still use K4 shoulder straps after I have cut the buckles, or use the same modified K4 frame with K4 bags if I wish in the future.

 

[MuleyFever]

I put a KUIU on my K4.

Thread 'Kuiu bags on K4 frame'

Dec 29, 2024

I have always been a fan of Kuiu bags. I have a Kuiu bag modified to fit a Kifaru frame. This year I decided to grab a K4 on the BF sale so I started messing with getting it on the K4. Turns out it was pretty easy.



The top of the frame lined up perfectly. The only issue is that the pocket on the bag is deeper than the length of the part that goes into it. So the bag just folds over a little.


The bag has loops at the top for buckles so I added some and this allows the bag to be detached for using the meat shelf.


On the top side attachment I used...

• MuleyFever
• Replies: 12
• Forum: DIY Gear Modifications

• 

 

[mgstucson]

I put a KUIU on my K4.

Thread 'Kuiu bags on K4 frame'

Dec 29, 2024

I have always been a fan of Kuiu bags. I have a Kuiu bag modified to fit a Kifaru frame. This year I decided to grab a K4 on the BF sale so I started messing with getting it on the K4. Turns out it was pretty easy.



The top of the frame lined up perfectly. The only issue is that the pocket on the bag is deeper than the length of the part that goes into it. So the bag just folds over a little.


The bag has loops at the top for buckles so I added some and this allows the bag to be detached for using the meat shelf.


On the top side attachment I used...

• MuleyFever
• Replies: 12
• Forum: DIY Gear Modifications

• 

Nice job. I see you used the K4 shoulder straps. There is always more than one way to skin the cat.

 

[JP_PutterButt]

This is 100% what my plan is! I love this idea!!!

 

[C Bow]

What does this weight

 

[jamie_wil]

very nice. love all the detail!

 

[mgstucson]

@ JP_Putter_Butt I don't know if you are addressing your comment to MuleyFever or myself. Much appreciated either way.

@C Bow IIRC it is about 5 pounds 12 ounces or 6 pounds 12 ounces. I forget. Old guys do that you know. I will have to check again.

@ jamie_wil Thanks, I really think it is going to turn out to be the best day pack I have ever used by far. I have a whitetail hunt coming up in Nov. Down here the whitetail stay above 4500' and the mule deer come to the lower elevations. So I will get a good workout in the mountains with it. Hopefully get to do my first pack out with it. We will see how that goes. Gotta start some training hikes to get ready. Thats reality of being an old man.

 

[Cgoodma5]

I really like KUIU bags, but not so much their frames and belts. The horseshoe zip on the bag and internal pockets and internal packing straps are great. The KUIU package, as is, is a minimal weight for a frame pack this size, but becomes uncomfortable and fatiguing when under moderate to heavy weight due to the belt design and side to side pack sway under weight. Also, I never liked the fact that for packing meat out, there are no dedicated meat to frame straps for the meat. You just use the 3/4" pack straps to secure everything. This puts a LOT of UNNECESSARY weight and stress on the already minimal size and number of straps. I have been using KUIU bags on KIFARU Duplex Lite frames and tactical frames. On these frames, there are plenty of places to strap meat to frame with 1" straps, while securing the pack to the frame with its own 1" or 3/4" straps, which decreases stress and increases durability on the KUIU bags. This KUIU/KIFARU combination is GREAT, and is comfortable across all weight ranges, but the frames are a little rigid. I really like this KUIU/KIFARU combination, especially under heavy weight, and it is still a really workable heavy duty option for me, especially with the big 6000 or 7800 KUIU bag full of gear, and meat pack out.

While I am keeping and continuing to use this KUIU/KIFARU combination, I was looking for something a little more handy for a lite day pack. I really like EXO K4 frames, and their belts are good, but I like KIFARU belts better. So I was thinking my ultimate outfit would be a KUIU pack, a EXO K4 frame, and a KIFARU belt. So I cut the back panel off an EXO K4 belt that was too small for me, that I picked up here on Rokslide with some other stuff I bought. I ordered a carbon fiber panel off fleabay. and spent the afternoon hooking everything up. I really like the result, but I haven't field tested it yet. I may make some minor fitment adjustments to customize fit to my body type, although it feels like a great fit when I try it on already.

First pic, KUIU 4000 Pro LT bag on a straight up EXO K4 frame and belt, with an EXO lid in hunters orange
This is a great option, but I like the KIFARU belt better than the K4 belt.

View attachment 919384


Next pic, the same KUIU pack and EXO lid, EXO K4 frame, but with the KIFARU belt, with K4 lumbar pad. I can also use a KIFARU lumbar pad if desired. I find the KIFARU belt just a little more comfortable for my body type, and it has a LOT more molle connections for belt pouches, handgun holsters, rifle bearers, etc., so I made a way to use the KIFARU belt with an EXO frame.

View attachment 919385


Same pack opposite side. As you can see, I am using the KUIU shoulder straps. I can also use K4 shoulder straps, but I already had the KUIU ones and they seem to work even better on the EXO frame than on the KUIU frame.


View attachment 919386


The K4 frame holds the pack and lower part of the strap pads off my back a little more for much appreciated added ventilation. The KUIU frame holds the straps in full contact with my body all the way up and down, There is a little ventilation right up the middle between the 2 strap pads. The KIFARU Duplex frame has a little better ventilation than the KUIU frame, but using the KUIU shoulder straps on the EXO K4 frame nearly doubles the space between the 2 pads on the shoulder straps as opposed to using on KUIU frame, and there is more room to adjust the angle of the pads, in addition to the extra ventilation. BTW the KUIU bag attaches to the frame via the stay pockets on the top of the KUIU bag, KUIU strap lifters on top of the frame, and uses the 2 KUIU buckles on the back of the pack for strap to frame connection on the bottom. I had to relocate a couple of strap attachment points on the K4 frame to allow the KUIU stay pockets on the bag to seat all the way down onto the K4 stays. These KUIU strap buckles on the bottom back of the pack allow the bag to be drawn tight onto the frame with top to bottom tension. There are also 2 KUIU bottom side strap connection points, and there are convenient straps on the side of the KIFARU belt that hook up to the side buckles on the KUIU pack. PERFECTION (the K4 belt has no bottom side straps, like the KIFARU belt does.) This makes the KIFARU belt a little more stable option to use with the KUIU bag than just using the KUIU bag on a straight up K4 frame and belt. The side straps in the middle of the bag in the pic above, are the standard K4 frame side straps. This still leaves 2 other 1" straps in the middle of the frame dedicated for strapping meat to the frame on a pack out. I like this arrangement, because when I need to get in the main or side compartments in the KUIU bag, I just have 2- 1" buckles on the front of the pack to release, instead of the 4- 3/4" buckles, 2 buckles on each side of the pack, when using the KUIU standard straps and buckles. I was going to add the KUIU straps to the EXO K4 frame that would allow use of standard KUIU middle bag 3/4" side straps AND leave FOUR 1" straps for attaching meat to frame. I still may do it so I can use either option. but for now I kind of like using the K4 side straps instead.

MY new KUIU/EXO/KIFARU is the best combination I have found yet for my ultimate day pack. It may even be better for heavy loads as well, but I won't know until I field test it. I think I would still go with my KUIU/KIFARU Duplex Tactical Frame or Lite Frame option when carrying the really big packs like the KUIU 7800.

Looks awesome !