Kifaru DT frame and cargo panel/pockets for day hunting

[bowuntr]

That Highlander is pretty cool... I'm gonna get one... Ed F

 

[hammer0419]

I have recommended the Hills People Gear here before. I use a 2200 cui Ultralight bag from them on my Duplex frame and my Bikini. It weights nothing, is very compressible, and is of the highest quality. You can grab one now for $45!! ALL of their products mount to Kifaru gear and is every bit the high quality of Kifaru.

 

[SDHNTR]

Just for the record, I'm about 90% sure that the DT3 bag is the following:
Main bag: 2200 ci
Side pockets: 600 ci each
Front pockets: 300 ci each
So 2200 + 1200 + 600 = 4000 ci.

The side and front pockets collapse/compress down to nothing. So you have a sub 2500 ci pack (single area of space) with the ability to expand to 4000 ci without adding any more weight or pouches. No need to introduce a smaller timberline/highlander in my opinion.

Also as a side note, the only time I choose the cargo panel over the grab-it is if I need to add more organization and/or cargo capacity than my duplex frame or DT3 can offer.

True, but at more weight and more expense.

 

[SDHNTR]

Those of you with the HPG Highlander and a DT frame... Does the bag attach to the frame in such a way that it creates a sling at the bottom? Or is the bottom open and you have to hopefully cinch your load down tight enough? I much prefer the sling design as a warm bag of boneless meat has a way of squirting out the bottom.

 

[dotman]

Just for the record, I'm about 90% sure that the DT3 bag is the following:
Main bag: 2200 ci
Side pockets: 600 ci each
Front pockets: 300 ci each
So 2200 + 1200 + 600 = 4000 ci.

The side and front pockets collapse/compress down to nothing. So you have a sub 2500 ci pack (single area of space) with the ability to expand to 4000 ci without adding any more weight or pouches. No need to introduce a smaller timberline/highlander in my opinion.

Also as a side note, the only time I choose the cargo panel over the grab-it is if I need to add more organization and/or cargo capacity than my duplex frame or DT3 can offer.

A smaller Highcamp that is $100 less then a DT3 would sell really well. Just look at the price point diff between the HC7 and DT1. So if they produced a 2000ci HC with pocket attachments it would be a pretty inexpensive bag compared to the DT3 but have the options from your existing supply of pockets to grow if needed.

 

[204guy]

Those of you with the HPG Highlander and a DT frame... Does the bag attach to the frame in such a way that it creates a sling at the bottom? Or is the bottom open and you have to hopefully cinch your load down tight enough? I much prefer the sling design as a warm bag of boneless meat has a way of squirting out the bottom.

There are 2 g-hooks on the bottom of the highlander that will attach to the bottom of the frame. I always have the compression kit on though so the "shelf" part of that attaches to the bottom of the frame and the highlander attaches to that. If you just attached the highlander to the bottom of the frame when using it as a sling you would lose a lot of the interior space. One note with the G-hooks I really love hate those things. They allow a much tighter bag to frame attachment and are quick to change attachment points. But if the are not under tension they will fall out of their attachment point. The 3 horizontal straps on the highlander are bad about this I can't tell you how many times I've been loading the bag and those straps will fall off, not a huge deal just annoying.

 

[SDHNTR]

There are 2 g-hooks on the bottom of the highlander that will attach to the bottom of the frame. I always have the compression kit on though so the "shelf" part of that attaches to the bottom of the frame and the highlander attaches to that. If you just attached the highlander to the bottom of the frame when using it as a sling you would lose a lot of the interior space. One note with the G-hooks I really love hate those things. They allow a much tighter bag to frame attachment and are quick to change attachment points. But if the are not under tension they will fall out of their attachment point. The 3 horizontal straps on the highlander are bad about this I can't tell you how many times I've been loading the bag and those straps will fall off, not a huge deal just annoying.

Thanks. Any chance you could post some pics of the attachment and the shelf that is created with the compression kit?

 

[204guy]

Thanks. Any chance you could post some pics of the attachment and the shelf that is created with the compression kit?

Sure, here is how I attach it when not hauling.



And here it is moved up the shelf.


So the highlander is still used as the compression panel but the bag is still usable. If I left it attached like in the first pic. the bottom of the bag would form around the bottom of the load and you'd lose most of the usable interior of the bag. There would also be a lot of pressure against whatever was in the bottom of the bag, if that makes sense.

 

[stephen b]

I have in the past made many bags work on different frames. Besides the matching Kifaru bags, I know of a ton of bags that work well on a duplex frame. Another ( all bit more expensive route- but the easiest ) is the Stone Glacier Solo bag on the Duplex frame. It worked about almost like it was meant for it. It only weighs all up right at 5.75 lbs total. So overall about 1 lb. less than a DT3 pack. The Solo bag alone weighs 1.3 pounds.

I tried the HPG route with the duplex and I found the SG Solo was markedly lighter than anything I tried ( cargo panels sil nylon bags etc). The SG Solo bag is in fact lighter and has more space than the either the HPG Tara or the Highlander bag and the Silnylon 25 bag that they have. And that is even without considering the compression kit straps. I know because I had one to try. I love the HPG- but the Highlander and the 25 ci Silnylon bag were heavier together than my Kifaru LH Guide bag. And that blew me away. This is with out the compression kit- HL bag and sil bag= 34 oz ( weighed on my scale) and my LH Guide bag (w/o lid) weighs 33 oz. I could not believe it. I looked at this huge 500 cordura LH Guide bag and this little silnylon bag and HL bag and could not believe what my eyes were seeing on the scale. But it did not lie.

I have done a lot of bag mods on different frames and I have to say the SG Solo bag goes on the Duplex real easy- a lot easier than many other bag conversions I have tried; and without a lot of fussing around. You have to use your head and small bit of hardware ( used straps etc. from cargo panel kit; and other hardware), but it is simple and then you have basically the same set up that the SG frame has. Of course the easiest route is the SG Solo on the SG frame. But I thought I would share this with those that have a Duplex frame. The following pics are from a PM message that I shared with someone last fall:

** note- ( Regarding over all wt. of 5.75 lbs- Wt. shown below also includes having heavier aluminum stays because they were more comfortable with flex and they work better for my back. Also pics show different shoulder straps that I had on the pack than the reg. Kifaru ones. The ones I had on were more comfortable overall. ( They are approx. 3 oz. lighter too- so the difference between composite stays and alum stays wt. and difference between the two different sh. straps might make frame shown below 3-4 oz. heavier than if it had the stock kifaru sh. straps and composite stays).

## 2nd note: ( Duplex frame shown is a MMR that is a 24" frame. The SG frame is a 26" frame, so the Solo's bag length matches that of a reg. standard Kifaru bag- 26". Although the Solo/MMR frame attachment was not difficult at all, I think it would actually be even an easier transfer to do with a Kifaru 26" length frame.

This one is a close up of the attachment point of the load shelf of the Solo attaching to the Duplex frame. Only needed a small piece of webbing and a 3 bar slider- very positive attachment point. This attachment point is about 7 1/2" up from bottom of the frame- so it does not sit low and raises the load.

 

[Aron Snyder]

That's assuming you already have the pockets; if not then it would be more costly to buy the highcamp bag and pockets.

Plenty of arguments for either side (suck it in or blow it out) for the bag sizes and modularity. I personally would just be surprised if Kifaru offered a smaller highcamp bag, given their current offerings. The timberline bag came out (current T1) first, and people wanted smaller versions if I remember correctly. Hence the T2/3. They answered that calling, but their decisions on what cubic inches to scale them at is telling. And why they didn't do 3 highcamps to start off with like the timberlines that are already a hit.

Also I know I've heard it requested a lot over the years to have an express/spike camp size bag for the duplex frame and it hasn't happened as of now.

I can explain a bit....

A smaller High Camp was an option, but we track sales and the smaller bags don't sell as well, BUT, we listen too!

Designing a smaller pack (2,000 CI) that will also hold a heavy weapon, bow, elk quarter and so on, would sell better So we figured getting a small pack with multiple options would be best.

At the rate we are growing, we try and offer the best option we can, but they all can't come out at one time and only 10% of what hits the design table will actually make it to the market.

So what I'm saying is....WE ARE LISTENING TO WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR! Just hold your horses! If we introduce another pack this year the rest of the company may poison Patrick and myself!

 

[eltaco]

I'd be on board for a daypack that connects to the bikini frame, as well... for whoever is listening

 

[stephen b]

I can explain a bit....

A smaller High Camp was an option, but we track sales and the smaller bags don't sell as well, BUT, we listen too!

Designing a smaller pack (2,000 CI) that will also hold a heavy weapon, bow, elk quarter and so on, would sell better So we figured getting a small pack with multiple options would be best.

At the rate we are growing, we try and offer the best option we can, but they all can't come out at one time and only 10% of what hits the design table will actually make it to the market.

So what I'm saying is....WE ARE LISTENING TO WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR! Just hold your horses! If we introduce another pack this year the rest of the company may poison Patrick and myself!

^^ This kind of service and truly listening and caring about their customers is what makes Kifaru a GREAT company!

Now- on a personal side note- any chance of a future Bikini with bendable custom ( aluminum) stays? Like some sort of cordura sleeve that they could slip in? I suppose it would not work with the cross members- but I can hope.

 

[Shrek]

I think a moldable aluminum bikini frame would be tough to make work. All of the rigidity is coming from the stays and cross members. With no frame sheet the aluminum would have to be so hard it would be very hard to form without tools. I don't know if you have handled a bikini yet but the frame is super rigid.

 

[ams]

I like the idea of the smaller highcamp bag used as a stand alone that can also be a compression panel. With a hanging meat bag it would be a real nice day hunt setup. Add a spotting scope side pocket (once someone makes one) and it could be a kick ass 3-4 pound scouting pack too.

Concerning the g-hooks, get a pair of pliers and bend the hook part down and they won't fall off even without tension.

 

[stephen b]

I think a moldable aluminum bikini frame would be tough to make work. All of the rigidity is coming from the stays and cross members. With no frame sheet the aluminum would have to be so hard it would be very hard to form without tools. I don't know if you have handled a bikini yet but the frame is super rigid.

Have not as of yet- but that rigidity and inability to mold the frame to me is what as yet keeps me from ordering one. I know with the duplex, the alum stays for me were a LOT better than the composites.

I know the KU line was a different sort of frame than the bikini, but even with those you could order and use alum stays if desired. Seems like you could have an external frame with ability to use alum stays. Heck- you could even have cross members set up the same way with bendable alum stays attached. Or have them housed with in a sheath that ended up at the top sewn on to the cross member. The duplex has a sheath that is attached to the HDPE sheet. I would maybe be willing to give up some rigidity for a frame that worked with external cordura bags and was at least as stout as the KU line frame. But for me I do not want the pre-bent and formed composite stays.

Maybe I should try one and see if would work for my back. Or maybe I could just order one with out the vertical composite stays attached and bolt on my own aluminum stays.

 

[Aron Snyder]

Have not as of yet- but that rigidity and inability to mold the frame to me is what as yet keeps me from ordering one. I know with the duplex, the alum stays for me were a LOT better than the composites.

I know the KU line was a different sort of frame than the bikini, but even with those you could order and use alum stays if desired. Seems like you could have an external frame with ability to use alum stays. Heck- you could even have cross members set up the same way with bendable alum stays attached. Or have them housed with in a sheath that ended up at the top sewn on to the cross member. The duplex has a sheath that is attached to the HDPE sheet. I would maybe be willing to give up some rigidity for a frame that worked with external cordura bags and was at least as stout as the KU line frame. But for me I do not want the pre-bent and formed composite stays.

Maybe I should try one and see if would work for my back. Or maybe I could just order one with out the vertical composite stays attached and bolt on my own aluminum stays.

Ask slim9300 about the fit .....he had same issue, but the bikini seams to be working.

 

[SDHNTR]

Sure, here is how I attach it when not hauling.



And here it is moved up the shelf.


So the highlander is still used as the compression panel but the bag is still usable. If I left it attached like in the first pic. the bottom of the bag would form around the bottom of the load and you'd lose most of the usable interior of the bag. There would also be a lot of pressure against whatever was in the bottom of the bag, if that makes sense.

Got it. Very helpful, thanks! Now the big question is when are they bringing back the compression kit?

Aron, thanks for chiming in. I hate to say it, but what I want is a pack that functions like a Crew Cab. A smaller, 1500-2000 ish ci, daypack that expands and has a sling of sorts for serious hauling. Hunt all day with a few pounds and the ability to hike out with a major load. Despite the boat anchor weight and short frame and a few other issues, I can't quit that Crew Cab as the basic design and functionality is exactly what I need. Make something similar, but lighter that goes on the DT frame and I will be in love. And the CC will hit the classifieds. That would be a huge winner!.

 

[castandblast]

Looking at this old thread and thinking that the Mtn. Rambler must have been conceived about then.

 

[mrbillbrown]

Just another testimony to Kifaru listening to feedback from customers. Granted, they don't succumb to our need for instant gratification but they are listening and when a product comes out it's solid.

 

[sr80]

Ive got a rambler on order, for me, its everything that I would want in a daypack/weekend trip pack. And being able to attach a couple pockets on the backside is a great option. Cant wait to stuff the meat shelf full of bear meat and hide!!