Kuiu bags on K4 frame

[MuleyFever]

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 the original buckle and attached it to the loop on the back of the frame.


On the lower side attachment I removed the original buckle that went to the frame. Then I took the strap that went across the bag and used it and one of the frame straps, attaching them to new buckles I purchased.


On the bottom of the bag I purchased buckles and used the loops on the bag and frame. These fit perfect and pulled the bag down right so the bag can't slip off the top of the frame. This may not be the same for all bags but you could also attach the bag using the loops at the very bottom of the frame and some straps




Parts used:
This is what I used for the top of the bag. I didn't use the side release buckles.

Amazon.com

These are the side release buckles I used for the side of the bag but any side release buckles should work

Amazon.com

These are the smaller buckles I used for the bottom of the bag.

Amazon.com

 

[Snowhunter11]

Any pictures of the pack loaded up? Interesting combo you got there. I also like the kuiu bags

 

[CMF]

That is interesting... I got a kuiu for my daughter and then picked up another for me/my son, both LT4000. I like the bags as well and the entire pack is about a 1lb. lighter than my exo k3 4800. I also like the integrated lid on Kuiu. The stretchy pouches are better on exo.

Curious what is the finished weight?

 

[MuleyFever]

The frame with 2 belt pouches and a Kifaru gun bearer is 3lb 11oz. The bag and lid are 3lb 5oz.

 

[sneek-ee]

Are the kuiu bags all 3/4 inch webbing and buckles on their standard pack bags? I've been wanting to do this with a divide 4500 and a seek outside frame. Just haven't dared try it yet. Seek uses 3/4 and i was thinking kuiu did as well. I have an exo k4, so I guess I wouldn't be out anything knowing it would at least work on that frame if it didn't match up with the seek.

 

[MuleyFever]

Any pictures of the pack loaded up? Interesting combo you got there. I also like the kuiu bags

Not of me wearing it but here it is with a bag of water softener salt in it.

 

[MuleyFever]

Are the kuiu bags all 3/4 inch webbing and buckles on their standard pack bags? I've been wanting to do this with a divide 4500 and a seek outside frame. Just haven't dared try it yet. Seek uses 3/4 and i was thinking kuiu did as well. I have an exo k4, so I guess I wouldn't be out anything knowing it would at least work on that frame if it didn't match up with the seek.

I have a pretty old Icon Pro 5200 bag and it's all 3/4. I don't know if the new bags are different.

 

[sebastian.cassell]

Wow thanks for this thread. I loved my kuiu bag but the frame wasn’t great with heavy loads. I feel the exact opposite about my K4 where the frame is awesome but the bag leaves a lot to be desired. I’m going to try this combo

 

[fngTony]

Are the kuiu bags all 3/4 inch webbing and buckles on their standard pack bags? I've been wanting to do this with a divide 4500 and a seek outside frame. Just haven't dared try it yet. Seek uses 3/4 and i was thinking kuiu did as well. I have an exo k4, so I guess I wouldn't be out anything knowing it would at least work on that frame if it didn't match up with the seek.

I believe so, looked at a new bag recently and they didn’t look different. Should be easy with the seek frame. It was also easy when I swapped my kuiu bag over to 1” to match my SG frame but going back to 3/4 to fit my kuiu frame took some nice folks at kuiu to send me a pack of buckles. You could always use those 3/4 gatekeepers? That Seek uses.

@MuleyFever did you do anything at the bottom center where kuiu has a hook to keep the bag from pulling up off the frame?

 

[CMF]

about my K4 where the frame is awesome but the bag leaves a lot to be desired.

I wish they'd make a lighter version bag with an integrated lid

 

[MuleyFever]

@MuleyFever did you do anything at the bottom center where kuiu has a hook to keep the bag from pulling up off the frame?

I did not. The 2 buckles I put at the bottom are spaced perfectly to put good tension on the bag and it stays pretty tight. This may not be the case with other sized bags, not sure. Then the 2 side attachments provide good compression if needed.

 

[mgstucson]

Great thread. I have several Kuiu bags 500 up to 7200. The frame is good with light day packs, but the rounded bottom on the Kuiu Frame allows the pack to pivot back and forth at the belt, which makes the pack sway back and forth under a heavy load which can throw your balance off when the pack shifts while climbing rocks or deadfall. It also increases discomfort and fatigue as the pack sways back and forth as you walk under heavy load.

I love the Kuiu bags though and consider them the best fit for what I need in a pack. I consider Kifaru belts top of the line for weight bearing comfort with heavy loads, and K4 belt pads seem to be of similar construction, even though the frame to belt connection is very different on the Kuiu, Kifaru and Exo. At first I thought about ways to use a Kifaru belt on a Kuiu frame, but settled on the decision to mount Kuiu bags to Kifaru frames. That is much simpler and works great. Connection points on the Kifaru frame are 1" webbing, and connection points on Kuiu bags are 3/4". Kuiu uses proprietary 3/4" buckles, but I have found fairly simple ways around that. All the pluses of the Kuiu bag, with great heavy load support of Kifaru frame. However, I really admire the K4 system and want to do the same as the OP. I am really glad to know how well it works. I wondered how the top of the Kuiu bag would mate up to the K4 frame, but this post answered that question. Thanks for posting.

The Kuiu bags on Kifaru frames work great, but I really think the Kuiu bags on the K4 frame might be even better. I hope the OP will post more about the comparison between using a Kifaru frame vs a K4 frame with Kuiu bags.

I am waiting until BF sale to pick up a K4 frame and do the same thing as OP. I am working on a way to use a K4 frame mounted on a Kifaru belt with a Kuiu pack. That is probably where I will end up, but that is probably going to involve some cutting and sewing, but fortunately I have the stitching machines for that kind work. I will keep Franken-packing around until I get what I want.