Kifaru do I need a flat back or a curved?

[montanaoutdoorsman]

Hey all,

just wondering how I can tell what kind of stay I need for their packs. Any help will be much appreciated!

 

[*zap*]

 

[twunt]

The beauty part is that if you go with Alum stays you can bend them to custom fit your exact back profile. A tweak here or there can pay dividends when loaded down heavy.

 

[Jbehredt]

I started with normal composite stays. Found out that uphill, with a load I’d get a hot spot in my lumbar area. Picked up some alum stays on here and spent some time tweaking them. I’m sold on that idea. Perfect fit.

 

[montanaoutdoorsman]

Thanks guys!

 

[JLesniak]

I prefer the aluminum stays too because of the ability to custom fit. Well worth the slight increase in weight!

 

[*zap*]

If you watched the video I think that a very important thing was mentioned. If you take out a aluminum stay to change it you want to mark on the stay top or bottom and front or back so you know the way it goes back in and you want to trace the outline of the stay on a piece of cardboard before you do any changing to it. My 26" with aluminum stays just came yesterday....like new/used purchased on here.

 

[Bighorner]

I take it the only difference between a flat back a d normal back are the stays? Essentially any kifaru frame can be changed back and forth simply by reducing the stays? Thanks. Pardon my ignornace.

 

[AButler88]

If you're skinnyish, and have no ass, you'll probably need flat stays... I asked Arron Snyder which ones I needed because I didn't want to buy the wrong ones, and he was very helpful. Long story short, my assles self needed flat stays.

 

[Jbehredt]

If you watched the video I think that a very important thing was mentioned. If you take out a aluminum stay to change it you want to mark on the stay top or bottom and front or back so you know the way it goes back in and you want to trace the outline of the stay on a piece of cardboard before you do any changing to it. My 26" with aluminum stays just came yesterday....like new/used purchased on here.

I went for a test hike with my stays in wrong..... well I started a test hike. Didn’t take long to realize I’d goofed. Had the good fortune of having my composite stays to refer back to for the original profile when I started tweaking. It doesn’t take much bend to really change things.

 

[Jedgar]

Great info!

 

[stevewes2004]

This is good stuff, I’m a pack newbie!

 

[ozyclint]

the extra weight of alloy stays is more than offset by the ability to achieve a truly custom fit.

 

[Hot_Rod51]

Thanks for the post and video. It appears that even if you have a normal back curvature, you guys suggest getting the aluminum for minor tweaks. I like the idea of shedding ounces, but there's a legit conversation about versatility and custom fit trade off. I just wish I didn't live so far away from the showroom. I'd love to get a custom fit. Especially for the money.