KIFARU ARK FRAME review

[Fedster]

It’s funny to hear someone say that. After spending a small fortune on the ARK frame and Fulcrum pack, with all the goodies, I found the exact same thing as you. Literally to a T. After packing an Osprey Xenith for all of the 2023-2024 season, and eventually busting the frame through the fabric, I was in the market for a new pack. I did days of research, and came to the conclusion that the Kifaru Ark frame was going to be a buy once and forget about it type of pack. My initial impression was that the dense foam, and shape of the lumbar pad, tapering away toward the bottom, didn’t fit my tall, skinny frame well at all (6’1” 185lbs 30.5” waist). All of the contact was made on the top 2”, of the lumbar pad, it took irregular posture adjustment and 40+lbs to get the pad to compress into my back a bit better. But it isn’t fitting right, no matter how much I want it work. The frame and pack is made with incredible quality, and if it fit me right, I’m sure I’d be incredibly happy. Regardless, I think I’ll be trying a Stone Glacier, EXO Mountain, or Mystery Ranch and keeping the pack that rides the best.

keep the frame and see if you can put a different belt and shoulder straps on it. That is my plan in case it does not fit me well -- I'm after the frame not the belt.

 

[doc holiday13]

..................
All of the contact was made on the top 2”, of the lumbar pad, it took irregular posture adjustment and 40+lbs to get the pad to compress into my back a bit better. But it isn’t fitting right, no matter how much I want it work..............

I got my Ark frame last night. I'm a touch taller than you but got you by a bit on weight. I'm 235#. I attached a Ma Duece to the frame and put my 3 year old in it. She's sub 40#.. The frame seemed to pivot on the lumbar pad and shift a little bit side to side. I tightened the should straps a bit and it fixed the shifting but I think having the straps like that, it was a bit too tight.

My conclusion is that I need to probably drop 70#+ in the bag to get the lumbar pad to "break in" and conform a bit better. I'll have a longer review and conclusion hopefully by next monday.

 

[plebe]

I got my Ark frame last night. I'm a touch taller than you but got you by a bit on weight. I'm 235#. I attached a Ma Duece to the frame and put my 3 year old in it. She's sub 40#.. The frame seemed to pivot on the lumbar pad and shift a little bit side to side. I tightened the should straps a bit and it fixed the shifting but I think having the straps like that, it was a bit too tight.

My conclusion is that I need to probably drop 70#+ in the bag to get the lumbar pad to "break in" and conform a bit better. I'll have a longer review and conclusion hopefully by next monday.

Someone mentioned that Aaron stated you can break in the foam by putting a weight on it. Baseball mitt kind of stuff.

 

[adamsjordan78]

Was curious about this

 

[jmillr1]

View attachment 670240
I was able to hunt with the new Kifaru ARK frame in 2023 and winter of 2024. Click below to read my review.

Kifaru ARK Frame Review

Good review. How wide is the frame itself? I’m trying to locate a duffle for flying with it but don’t have the frame in hand

 

[Tony Trietch]

Good review. How wide is the frame itself? I’m trying to locate a duffle for flying with it but don’t have the frame in hand

At the widest point it is 10.75"

 

[mthomasondpt]

Got my ARK in yesterday. I can definitely tell what some guys have mentioned about the top of the lumbar pad. However, that seemed to settle in really quickly after putting it on a hand full of times with 45+ lbs in the pack. My biggest question for everyone is have you tried setting it up to simulate carrying meat on the meat shelf? I went to do this to load my sand bag there and couldn’t figure out how to set up the top connections between the bag and the frame. I could set up the load lifters on the frame with those tab loops, but couldn’t figure out how to set up the bag to frame connections. Anyone know how to do this? Haven’t seen a video from Kifaru in this yet…

 

[TheBootBowhunting]

Can one of you that has a k4 pouch on your ark belt take a picture of it?

 

[doc holiday13]

Got my ARK in yesterday. I can definitely tell what some guys have mentioned about the top of the lumbar pad. However, that seemed to settle in really quickly after putting it on a hand full of times with 45+ lbs in the pack. My biggest question for everyone is have you tried setting it up to simulate carrying meat on the meat shelf? I went to do this to load my sand bag there and couldn’t figure out how to set up the top connections between the bag and the frame. I could set up the load lifters on the frame with those tab loops, but couldn’t figure out how to set up the bag to frame connections. Anyone know how to do this? Haven’t seen a video from Kifaru in this yet…

When in "meat shelf" mode the bag does not slip over the top of the frame. you cinch your bag side straps to hold the meat up against the frame. The load lifter attach to the frame itself use the tabs that came with the frame

 

[mthomasondpt]

When in "meat shelf" mode the bag does not slip over the top of the frame. you cinch your bag side straps to hold the meat up against the frame. The load lifter attach to the frame itself use the tabs that came with the frame

I knew that much, just could not figure out how they did the bag-to-frame connection. Aron got back to me on an IG DM and showed me a video they have on YouTube that Kenneth did. It’s a very short video, but explains it. You have to double up two of the tab loops at the top. So, will try it out when I can.

 

[MuleyFever]

I knew that much, just could not figure out how they did the bag-to-frame connection. Aron got back to me on an IG DM and showed me a video they have on YouTube that Kenneth did. It’s a very short video, but explains it. You have to double up two of the tab loops at the top. So, will try it out when I can.

Link to video would be great.

 

[mthomasondpt]

Link to video would be great.

Toward the end of the video.

 

[doc holiday13]

Well I did a true 95# ruck yesterday. 1 mile loop . 50ft of elevation gain and loss. Nothing "extreme" , but I need to repack the weight a bit better because i had a 30# lever(my child) hanging waaay off the back. I had to lean forward a bit to walk, but the weight sat in a distributed fashion. Nothing was "digging in". I had to lean forward a bit to keep from falling backwards. I'll probably have to scoot the child carrier up a little higher and to fix this.

My front hip muscles are a touch sore today

 

[bozeman]

95# weighted bar on your shoulders for a mile is the 'meet yourself mile'....cuz after a mile @ 95# on you; you finally know who you are.

 

[doc holiday13]

95# weighted bar on your shoulders for a mile is the 'meet yourself mile'....cuz after a mile @ 95# on you; you finally know who you are.

If its on my shoulders I might actually be able to do it faster because it would be on my shoulders.. not hanging 18" off the back

My 3 year old had the gall to ask me "why are you stopping daddy?"

 

[Lone Coyote]

I'm thinking the ARK and a straight jacket as a good day pack, multi day (with a dry bag) combo......anybody got this setup? Thoughts?

I be e been researching the options like crazy and have come to the exact same conclusion. Use the straight jacket as a meat pack out. But also have the option of using a small to large dry pack duffle to carry gear. I’m going to use a KUIU dry duffle to pack in gear when needed. But use the straight jacket for multiple other uses. Biggest problem = finding a good Straight Jacket!
But I agree with your assessment 1000%! Perfect setup.

 

[KentuckyHuntsman]

How’s the durability/strength under heavy loads seem for the Ark, the metal stays on the duplex always gave me a level of comfort that I didn’t feel could be replicated with a composite frame.

 

[SkunkCabbage]

I be e been researching the options like crazy and have come to the exact same conclusion. Use the straight jacket as a meat pack out. But also have the option of using a small to large dry pack duffle to carry gear. I’m going to use a KUIU dry duffle to pack in gear when needed. But use the straight jacket for multiple other uses. Biggest problem = finding a good Straight Jacket!
But I agree with your assessment 1000%! Perfect setup.

Straightjacket

Designed as a truly functional day pack with full seven day expedition capabilities and endless options in between. The base Straightjacket is best suited for day gear, spotting scopes, tripods, etc. Add the Guide lid, Bane, and Camp Bag to expand the Straightjacket capacity for multi day...

kifaru.net

Seems to still be in stock

 

[robby denning]

How’s the durability/strength under heavy loads seem for the Ark, the metal stays on the duplex always gave me a level of comfort that I didn’t feel could be replicated with a composite frame.

not sure if you already saw this thread/review from a member who did his own review against the duplex. Might answer some questions

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

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...

rokslide.com

 

[egreen4257]

Thanks for the review!