Kifaru Bikini Troubles

[Jdog]

Duplex frame eliminates your problem altogether but at a cost of added weight.

What is the added weight/comfort worth to you?

IMHOP--there is no perfect pack out there. If you start sacrificing structure to get super light--be willing to tolerate a few things and be happy your pack is lighter.

I have used my duplex frame on a couple DIY sheep hunts--never once have I looked at it and said--damn, let me shave some weight off that thing.

I need a no chit, zombie catastrophe pending, meat hauler when I am doing 50-60 miles on a 9d sheep hunt in the mountains...easy deal for me. DUPLEX.

 

[hammer0419]

The Bikini frame DOES NOT BARREL WHAT SO EVER. Objects poking through the stays is not barreling. The "barreling affect" happens with over stuffed packs with built in stays. Not an external framed pack.

 

[Travis1984]

So just an FYI, I started loading my new EMR and slipped the bladder into a wing pocket...problem solved.

 

[Wileycoyote]

Here is what I did, I just took and old arrow cut it to fit the frame width, chamfered it, and used paracord to hold them in position. Light and strong with no more bulge. Now the only bulge is self imposed, but this pack is awesome! Can't say enough good about it, so versatile for everything I do.

 

[bowinhand]

I got some 3/4" Velcro one wrap leftover from making some strap keepers and think I'll try it before the 550 cord as I can adjust the tension

 

[fillthefreezer]

Here is what I did, I just took and old arrow cut it to fit the frame width, chamfered it, and used paracord to hold them in position. Light and strong with no more bulge. Now the only bulge is self imposed, but this pack is awesome! Can't say enough good about it, so versatile for everything I do.

that is slick as hell!

 

[jquarnberg]

Sweet thank for sharing that. Great idea I may try something similar.

 

[Wileycoyote]

Yea thanks! If you didn't mind sewing on the pack itself you could sew one inch channels with Velcro ends and just slide the bracing in the slots, then they would be encased and just ride against the frame. But maybe kifaru's new bikini/plex frame sheet insert is going to address all this?

 

[jquarnberg]

Yea thanks! If you didn't mind sewing on the pack itself you could sew one inch channels with Velcro ends and just slide the bracing in the slots, then they would be encased and just ride against the frame. But maybe kifaru's new bikini/plex frame sheet insert is going to address all this?

That is something they have in the works? I am scared of the price, I am in to far already. Messed with some arrows last night, two of them in the slots you have them in would probably do the job. But I can see that right in the middle is the main spot it needs one.

 

[Phillip Hathaway]

Aron has mentioned that they are messing with a sheet or something. I would say do something temporary or call Aron and talk to him.

 

[snowcamoman]

Here's the fix I came up with for the issue of gear or a bag of de-boned meat pushing through onto my back. I cut and shaped a piece of 1/4" UHMW plastic to fit between the 4 loops on the frame. I then heated the sheet and formed it to match the contour of the bikini frame. Finally I cut and filed slots into the sheet so that they had a fairly tight fit onto those 4 loops. This is an absolute bombproof fix and easy to remove if you want. I tinkered around with cord and some tubing pieces, but it simply didn't feel stout enough for me. This isn't the lightest option for a fix, but it's foolproof and has tested out to work flawlessly for me so far. I might make another sheet and machine some material out of the middle to lighten it up a little bit, but in all honesty, this is so nice and functional, I'll likely just use it as is. If Kifaru made this out of Carbon Fiber it'd be the cat's meow!!

 

[fillthefreezer]

needs speed holes

 

[snowcamoman]

Good idea and simple to do.

 

[squeekieslayer]

Man, if you are going to the trouble and weight penalty of adding a full frame sheet to the bikini... why not just get the duplex? I have both and can tell you that other than weight i cannot tell a difference when carrying normal daypack stuff. When it comes to hauling heavy stuff like quarters where i think the gap in the frame could actually be an issue, the duplex is a better option anyway.

Joe

 

[snowcamoman]

I don't think the sheet adds quite as much weight as the Duplex weighs. That could be another day's worth of food on a fly out trip where there's a limit of 50 pounds. I'll lighten that sheet likely for flying out trips though. For my big heavy loads like moose quarters the Barney's freighter frame comes out. No need to mess around when lugging super massive loads and weight restrictions aren't in effect.

 

[stephen b]

If it was me- ( and I do not have a Bikini pack); I think I would just slip a piece of foam pad that I always have with me for sitting ( either a piece of Z- rest or ridge rest) into that space. It would be plenty wide enough, and could even attach some quick release cord on the foam to attach firmly to stays. I already carry this foam around with me for sitting anyways. Now if my pack contents, or even meat after having that foam placed there was somehow able to still push into that slot and push on to my back enough to cause a problem for me- that would have to be something I would have to see to believe. Because I do not see how it would cause a problem for me with a Thermarest foam pad.

But since I do not have a Bikini- this is still some conjecture on my part.

 

[fillthefreezer]

If it was me- ( and I do not have a Bikini pack); I think I would just slip a piece of foam pad that I always have with me for sitting ( either a piece of Z- rest or ridge rest) into that space. It would be plenty wide enough, and could even attach some quick release cord on the foam to attach firmly to stays. I already carry this foam around with me for sitting anyways. Now if my pack contents, or even meat after having that foam placed there was somehow able to still push into that slot and push on to my back enough to cause a problem for me- that would have to be something I would have to see to believe. Because I do not see how it would cause a problem for me with a Thermarest foam pad.

But since I do not have a Bikini- this is still some conjecture on my part.

thats very similar to what id did last year. i think ill rig some arrows this year though just for kicks

 

[squeekieslayer]

My point is that when it comes to Kifaru trying to develop an aftermarket frame sheet to fit in there, they are kind of trying to shoe-horn the bikini into a niche that is fulled by the duplex. I understand something light like the arrows or the paracord just to hold the water away from your back... but when you are looking for a "bombproof" sheet, I don't feel like anything will be as bombproof as the Duplex and still offer the weight savings.

IF anything they could just try to figure out how to lighten the duplex. There is only 1.255 pounds different between the frames. My guess is that if they went with the 3/4 inch webbing and made a few other tweaks they could make the duplex even closer in weight to the bikini.

On the other hand, I am in a position where I have access to both, so it is easy for me to say. It just seems like if you put an aftermarket sheet in there, without ever taking it off, you may just be better off with the duplex.

Joe

 

[snowcamoman]

Thanks for the ideas Joe, it's always handy to have all products in hand, which I do not. I know the Duplex has an excellent history of hauling big loads successfully.

 

[fillthefreezer]

i think everyone is making this into a much bigger deal than it is. the first month i had the pack it bothered me. throughout the rest of the year i didnt notice it.


squeekieslayer: if anything id like a bikini with 1in webbing!