New Frame and Bags from Kifaru International

[bobhunts]

Glad to hear as I ordered the DT1. I looked hard at the new pack that is lighter. When you start adding pockets and such you end up being right back where you started.Bob.

 

[ohhiitznik]

It makes me chuckle with the guys ordering the highcamp bag and then adding 3 lbs in pockets/pouches etc. That thing is made for being streamlined! Hell, after I cut my DT1 bag all up I have it sub 2.75 lbs with a hacked up XTL lid. Still have exterior pockets and such for organization. With my bikini frame I'll be right at 5lbs4oz's with a medium belt pouch and my DT1 bag without anything hanging off that sucker!

 

[bowinhand]

How would you strap a long gun to the High camp bag? Gun bearer, compression straps, or put it between the frame and the bag?

 

[HellsCanyon]

How would you strap a long gun to the High camp bag? Gun bearer, compression straps, or put it between the frame and the bag?

I believe both the standard and auxiliary gun bearers will work.

Ohhittznik,
Did you get rid of the snow collar, water bladder, extra strap material and.....? If I could do it over again I'd get the BT1 set-up but an happy with my T1.

Mike

 

[ohhiitznik]

I believe both the standard and auxiliary gun bearers will work.

Ohhittznik,
Did you get rid of the snow collar, water bladder, extra strap material and.....? If I could do it over again I'd get the BT1 set-up but an happy with my T1.

Mike

I cut off sleeping bag divider, water bladder compartment, snow collar, and the common loops on the bottom of the pack. I cut my XTL lid into just a lid with a pocket attached. Map pocket, along with the protective cinching collar is all gone. Along with the compression straps on the top and basically everything else. Its 6.5 ozs. I love my setup as I will always have use for the two back pockets on my DT1 bag, and the slot pockets are lighter than buying a tripod/spotter pocket and lashing it to the high camp. And I can use them for quick gear access as well. If you watch arons video on hacking up the DT1 I basically did everything he did to the bag. I toyed around with the idea of getting a high camp, but my pack is 6500 CI or so... and its 3 lbs. I'm also getting two nylon loops sewn onto the top so I can make it a roll top lid with using female buckle adapters that I have from my horizontal lashing kit. Should work out great and be very light.

 

[HellsCanyon]

I cut off sleeping bag divider, water bladder compartment, snow collar, and the common loops on the bottom of the pack. I cut my XTL lid into just a lid with a pocket attached. Map pocket, along with the protective cinching collar is all gone. Along with the compression straps on the top and basically everything else. Its 6.5 ozs. I love my setup as I will always have use for the two back pockets on my DT1 bag, and the slot pockets are lighter than buying a tripod/spotter pocket and lashing it to the high camp. And I can use them for quick gear access as well. If you watch arons video on hacking up the DT1 I basically did everything he did to the bag. I toyed around with the idea of getting a high camp, but my pack is 6500 CI or so... and its 3 lbs. I'm also getting two nylon loops sewn onto the top so I can make it a roll top lid with using female buckle adapters that I have from my horizontal lashing kit. Should work out great and be very light.

Thats about what I figured. Been thinking of getting rid of my sleeping bag divider, shortening straps, and water bladder sleeve. I like the snow collar for right now but have contemplated getting rid of it. Can think of situations where I'd like to have it, and other situations where just the compression of the top lid would work fine but at the current 5 lbs 9 oz (?) I'm not really going to notice any real benefits physically by lightening it up another 6-8 oz or so and resale will stay relatively good with it in its current situation.

As you say I really like my side pockets for quick access to an extra layer or two, the back zippered pockets usually house my essentials for the day and I just picked up a Med belt pouch which I think will compliment the pack perfectly. Would like to possibly pickup a pouch to add to the top lid just for ease of access when the pack is compressed but doubt I'll really need it.

Mike

 

[pyroducksx3]

How would you strap a long gun to the High camp bag? Gun bearer, compression straps, or put it between the frame and the bag?

If you are hanging them off the belt it will work but the high camp doesnt have the mole webbing that the timberline series has on the bag itself. I have a T2 and I use the auxillary and attach it the bag and the use the pocket straps to strap down the rifle. So the auxillary isnt really compatable with the high camp bag.

 

[ohhiitznik]

Thats about what I figured. Been thinking of getting rid of my sleeping bag divider, shortening straps, and water bladder sleeve. I like the snow collar for right now but have contemplated getting rid of it. Can think of situations where I'd like to have it, and other situations where just the compression of the top lid would work fine but at the current 5 lbs 9 oz (?) I'm not really going to notice any real benefits physically by lightening it up another 6-8 oz or so and resale will stay relatively good with it in its current situation.

As you say I really like my side pockets for quick access to an extra layer or two, the back zippered pockets usually house my essentials for the day and I just picked up a Med belt pouch which I think will compliment the pack perfectly. Would like to possibly pickup a pouch to add to the top lid just for ease of access when the pack is compressed but doubt I'll really need it.

Mike

I wouldn't put a pouch on your lid. I'm telling you I thought I would want a snow collar too. But that thing really just gets in the way. And anything that is loaded that high you can just compress with your lid and straps. You'll put the pack right in the 4 lb 12 oz range if you cut up the things that I did. Its quite a bit of savings if you think about it. Its close to 3/4 day of food. And when you go light everywhere else all the Oz's add up. I've been trimming weight where I can and I've got my pack for a 7 day hunt including my bow and optics worn on my chest (not including my clothes/boots im wearing on my body) is 45 lbs. If I go for 10 days, I'll have my pack right at 49.5-50 lbs. That is literally 20 lbs lighter than last years 10 day hunt. Granted in that 49.5 lbs Im not carrying a spotter or tripod. But if I want to add those, it'll add 3-4 lbs depending on if I get a 60MMKowa or a 50MM Nkon ED50 or the 50MM Razor

 

[dotman]

It makes me chuckle with the guys ordering the highcamp bag and then adding 3 lbs in pockets/pouches etc. That thing is made for being streamlined! Hell, after I cut my DT1 bag all up I have it sub 2.75 lbs with a hacked up XTL lid. Still have exterior pockets and such for organization. With my bikini frame I'll be right at 5lbs4oz's with a medium belt pouch and my DT1 bag without anything hanging off that sucker!

Hey no reason to laugh at what works for others

 

[mtbshark]

I need to ask what is the E&E?

 

[dotman]

I need to ask what is the E&E?

Look in the tactical section . Here ya go http://www.kifaru.net/escape-evade.html

 

[mtbshark]

HAHA thanks! I looked all over except the tac section.

 

[Lawnboi]

HAHA thanks! I looked all over except the tac section.

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?4324-Kifar-E-amp-E-as-a-lid-continued

And this will give you an idea of how me and dotman are adding 1.5lbs to our packs

I cant wait to get this frame too cause now I can take the E&E off as a lid, and for day hunting I can mount it to the frame with a grab it and iv got the perfect setup for day hunting out of a spike camp, and for working out in all summer.

 

[ohhiitznik]

Hey no reason to laugh at what works for others

Hey now, I'm not laughing at what works for you! I'm just pointing out the self defeating choices of going with the super light bag, and then slapping 4 pockets on it and making it heavier than the timberline! The logic is what makes me chuckle!

 

[ohhiitznik]

Hey no reason to laugh at what works for others

I know you and lawnboi love your E&E's because you'll actually use it as a backpack. I've found I'll never go anywhere without my frame so I opt to not use the E&E. I would use that E&E chasing whitetails around here though.

 

[Lawnboi]

I know you and lawnboi love your E&E's because you'll actually use it as a backpack. I've found I'll never go anywhere without my frame so I opt to not use the E&E. I would use that E&E chasing whitetails around here though.

I agree, with adding a bunch of heavy pockets though! Especially to the 7000 bag. Shoot if I got the 7000 bag id be up around 8500ci, that's HUGE!

To my HC, other than the E&E, which I wont always have on, ill only have 2 medium belt pockets, both KU. That's 4oz or so.

I'm keeping the E&E cause I hate shooting my bow with a frame on, or fishing with a big frame on, or even covering ground from spike camp when I don't need the frame on (for scouting and backpacking). Maybe its cause im a smaller guy, but when im strapped to a frame style pack i feel like im strapped to a board. Now I wish Kifaru would come out with a 500d E&E lid that weighs half of what the tac one does but that may never happen.

 

[ohhiitznik]

I agree, with adding a bunch of heavy pockets though! Especially to the 7000 bag. Shoot if I got the 7000 bag id be up around 8500ci, that's HUGE!

To my HC, other than the E&E, which I wont always have on, ill only have 2 medium belt pockets, both KU. That's 4oz or so.

I'm keeping the E&E cause I hate shooting my bow with a frame on, or fishing with a big frame on, or even covering ground from spike camp when I don't need the frame on (for scouting and backpacking). Maybe its cause im a smaller guy, but when im strapped to a frame style pack i feel like im strapped to a board. Now I wish Kifaru would come out with a 500d E&E lid that weighs half of what the tac one does but that may never happen.

i agree on the board thing. I just would hate myself if I'm 4 miles from camp and I have an elk down :O

 

[HellsCanyon]

I shot my bull this year with my T1 on my back. Never noticed it once I heard him bugle from a couple hundred yards out... never worn the duplex or bikini frame though so can't comment.

Mike

 

[a3dhunter]

I shot my bull this year with my T1 on my back. Never noticed it once I heard him bugle from a couple hundred yards out... never worn the duplex or bikini frame though so can't comment.

Mike

Same here, shot my bull with the T1 on my back. Never noticed it.
I wouldn't have taken that shot with the duplex frame, I remember how I felt shooting with one on my back.

 

[Lawnboi]

I thought my t1 was pretty comfortable shooting with it on. I did like the flexibility of the t1 that's for sure, and im hoping the bikini is as comfortable with normal loads as aron says. But still being a smaller framed guy, those frames are likely much bigger on me at 5'7 than bigger guys.

If I were hunting id never drop my frame except for the final leg of the stalk. That's where the E&E would come with, with anything I might need on that stalk as well as navigation equipment and survival kit in case I get separated for an extended period of time, my Nalgene, and a few snacks. Basically enough to prepare me, so that If I took a shot right at dark, I could stay put till the morning.