Mods to new Kifaru ARK / Absaroka and thoughts on overall function

[nphunter]

I’m not sure if I’m the only one or not that hates these long self locking buckles on the newer packs. I just got and ARK and Absaroka pack and in day mode the pack just flopped loose and hung way away from the frame.

I found some new heavy duty quick attach ladder locks on marsupial gears website. I bought enough to replace all of the side straps on the pack.



I also replace the new load lifter clips on the frame since you have to pull them anytime you want to put meat on the frame. The Kifaru ones are a huge PITA and I can’t imagine using them with cold bloody hands or gloves on. The new ones are super easy and quick to use once handed.


I also pulled some old buckles out of the spare parts bag and made an extra strap to go with the load panel. Next I’ll replace the top 3/4” cross strap with a 1” strap with regular buckles. I don’t think the 3/4” straps aren’t going to be long enough for some of the stuff I put in the pack.


With all the loose straps cleaned up and buckles swapped out I feel the the pack compresses nicely.


I also pulled the buckles off the lid and connected it straight to the load lifter straps.


I also used the same clips to connect the bottom of the load shelf and tie the top of the bag to the frame to keep it from flopping down.



Hopefully the pack works well, I’m not 100% sold on the frame yet. It’s annoying that I have to carry extra parts to reconnect the load lifters once I pull the bag and extras to connect the frame to the belt. Seems like a poor design or just lazy to me compared to how some other manufactures are doing it.

 

[bozeman]

I like some of these mods. Thanks for sharing. I do however like the current load lifter clips, seem more robust. The gatekeepers which you added/changed to are a TOTAL pain with cold hands.....didnt like them at all.

 

[nphunter]

I like some of these mods. Thanks for sharing. I do however like the current load lifter clips, seem more robust. The gatekeepers which you added/changed to are a TOTAL pain with cold hands.....didnt like them at all.

It's all I had that would work, I know the factory load lifter clips are way harder sitting in my living room. I'll be using it to pack out an elk in a couple weeks and should get a good idea on how they work in somewhat cold weather. I would think the Kifaru ones would be more difficult when cold as well, I may end up with something different altogether, I pack out several animal each fall and know that I don't want to deal with those factory ones.

I'm sure Kifaru has put in research and chose them for a reason but they seem way too much of a PITA to me. The biggest annoyance is that I have to pull them on and off everytime I take the bag loose. If I end up keeping the bag I will probably just cut it and add a velcro strip underneath the load lifter so I can easily remove the bag and put it back on like I can my current K3 on my Duplex without disconnecting the load lifters.

 

[roosiebull]

Looks good!

I personally like gatekeepers, and there is a fairly easy technique using them with cold, slow hands… not that big of a deal, if you are relying on finger strength to use them, I assume they would be tough to use

I would like to see kifaru address the little quirks so people don’t have to modify their packs to make them straightforward and intuitive, they certainly have the brain power, they just need to focus on that particular aspect

Look forward to what you think of the new frame once you’re loaded down. The first time you have a long trip out of the woods with over 80# in it, you get to see if you like it or not… that is extremely hard to simulate by training

 

[nphunter]

Looks good!

I personally like gatekeepers, and there is a fairly easy technique using them with cold, slow hands… not that big of a deal, if you are relying on finger strength to use them, I assume they would be tough to use

I would like to see kifaru address the little quirks so people don’t have to modify their packs to make them straightforward and intuitive, they certainly have the brain power, they just need to focus on that particular aspect

Look forward to what you think of the new frame once you’re loaded down. The first time you have a long trip out of the woods with over 80# in it, you get to see if you like it or not… that is extremely hard to simulate by training

Thanks, I’m taking my sister and brother in law on an elk hunt on the 30th and if she fills her tag its a 2-3 mile pack out. Odds of her filling her tag are high and I’m looking forward to trying it out.

I agree, I really don’t like sloppy loose fitting bags, I’ve also never had a regular buckle slip loose unless it gets hung up on something,I think the locking buckles are overkill.

On function alone that exo does the best job making packs. My K3 bag fits my Kifaru frame better than any bag Kifaru has ever made. This bag is by far the best Kifaru has ever made IMO. The old timberlines are my next favorite.

 

[sndmn11]

Gatekeepers for the win. So much easier to use than side release buckles, you cut out about 1.5" in compression distance, and you can put them anywhere.

 

[roosiebull]

Thanks, I’m taking my sister and brother in law on an elk hunt on the 30th and if she fills her tag its a 2-3 mile pack out. Odds of her filling her tag are high and I’m looking forward to trying it out.

I agree, I really don’t like sloppy loose fitting bags, I’ve also never had a regular buckle slip loose unless it gets hung up on something,I think the locking buckles are overkill.

On function alone that exo does the best job making packs. My K3 bag fits my Kifaru frame better than any bag Kifaru has ever made. This bag is by far the best Kifaru has ever made IMO. The old timberlines are my next favorite.

I’m with you on auto locks, I despise them. The ones exo sells for k4 are my favorite, but I still only have one on my pack, and that’s the top strap I use for my tripod… the stock kifaru auto locks are unnecessary and cumbersome to use

 

[nphunter]

So far here’s the rundown so far after packing some salt and a couple bulls. Having the load lifters connected to the bag is dumb, you have to carry two pieces of webbing to connect the load lifter to the frame once you remove the bag, same for the hip belt attachments. So 4 extra pieces of webbing floating around that you need to keep track of.

I’ve been using it as meat hauler so I don’t have the bag on right now. I hauled out a front and hind quarter off of a six point bull two weeks ago at the same time. 1200’ downhill in 3/4 mile, went up a few hours later and packed the front and rear quarter of a spike about 1.5 miles for another friends bull. It carries weight well but I had to tighten up the belt several times and it didn’t stay up as well as the old frame. It’s also new and I’m sure the foam will soften and cinch down better as it gets worn in, those were also heavy loads.

I feel like the arc wants to fall backward as well when I loosen the load lifters. With the duplex I can swap from hips to shoulders just by loosening the lifters and shoulder straps while walking and keep it comfortable. The arc when I take all the l weight from the shoulders it felt like it wanted to lean back. I noticed this when hauling 50lb bags of salt a couple miles to a cam as well. Not really a big deal but not use to that coming from the duplex, my duplex also has carbon arrows for stays so it’s flat which may be why it’s this way.

The bag works great with the clips I installed to replace the buckles. One annoying thing is the blood just runs down the carbon into the hip belt and the holes allow it to run down your back. It’s easy enough to disassemble but I never had that issue with the duplex, any blood in the frame was always on the back and it was easy to clean off. I had to totally pull the frame apart and washed everything in my washing machine after packing our two bulls. I think my duplex needed pulled apart and cleaned like twice in the last 8 years and dozens of animals. Maybe it’s just the light brown material allows you to see every bit of blood and the black hid it. I just never felt the duplex got that bad and it was mostly isolated to the upper frame and grab it which could be easily cleaned.

I’ll use it next year and see how it goes with the bag and pack combo. I may just cut the bag and put Velcro under the load lifter like the K3 bag if I decide to keep it.