New Packs from Kifaru 2024

[StopMakingSense]

I never used the load shelf on my Bedlam. Half a goat on the early season pack. The other one had a full cape and another half a goat deboned. I just sandwiched the 50lbs of meat on both, worked like a charm.

Pumped for the KU4300... perfect for my needs in lightweight mountain hunting.

 

[Kentucky]

Am I right or wrong? none of this stuff is out, this is an entire thread of opinions?? 17 pages of opinions…here is my opinion

I always thought they where higher on price because there was obviously more labor in their frames and bags…

So now they release a system with way less labor, and still charge more…I get it…they could put out shit sandwich on preorder and there would be guys using PayPal credit to buy them…

I’m a kifaru guy too…they have always in the past had a good product…but I’ve also had crappy service…I had a connection point come off a medium belt pouch, just pulled off after about a week, it was about 10 days before a hunt… I sent a pic and asked for a new one… they said I would have to send that in for them to look at and then send out another or repair that one… that was trashy to me, why not send me a new one…

The new Ark frame looks cool, bags look lame…

As long as Hong is still working there is hope for quality product!!! Hong has never let me down!!!

 

[MightyWhitey]

Ol Hong sure has pumped out some merchandise.

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

I understand how to do it but your earlier post made it seem that you were anti load shelf with an already full bag

Definitely not anti what I was saying if you use a load shelf like stone glaciers the bag detached from frame top and bottom then gets pulled over meat. This creates a lever because the bottom of bag is sticking so far off your back.

 

[sr80]

Ol Hong sure has pumped out some merchandise.

I always wondered if "hong" was hong kong?

 

[plebe]

Am I right or wrong? none of this stuff is out, this is an entire thread of opinions?? 17 pages of opinions…here is my opinion

I always thought they where higher on price because there was obviously more labor in their frames and bags…

So now they release a system with way less labor, and still charge more…I get it…they could put out shit sandwich on preorder and there would be guys using PayPal credit to buy them…

I’m a kifaru guy too…they have always in the past had a good product…but I’ve also had crappy service…I had a connection point come off a medium belt pouch, just pulled off after about a week, it was about 10 days before a hunt… I sent a pic and asked for a new one… they said I would have to send that in for them to look at and then send out another or repair that one… that was trashy to me, why not send me a new one…

The new Ark frame looks cool, bags look lame…

As long as Hong is still working there is hope for quality product!!! Hong has never let me down!!!

Once the packs are out and in use, there will be some actual feedback….but much of the discussion will still center on opinion.

As well, some of what’s being looked at here is not opinion, it’s observation. For what it’s worth.

Anyway, I’ve never had to service a pack yet from any maker. I’d like to think they’d have shipped a new belt pouch to you if you just got it a week earlier. It’s not a big financial risk to do that. I also understand why standard practice would be for them to have the item in hand though.

I’ve always had the impression Kifaru was recognized for quality customer service. How do other pack companies handle this kind of stuff I wonder?

 

[roosiebull]

But can’t a Kifaru frame/pack be set up to carry the same way as the EXO? Albeit, EXO’s velcro system is slightly more convenient for detaching the top sleeve. (And there are no holes in the EXO frame which may be preferable to some.)

I would assume you could, it would certainly be a lot better than their current solution

 

[plebe]

I would assume you could, it would certainly be a lot better than their current solution

Kind of rhetorical. A K3 bag on a Kifaru frame is basically a matter of swapping buckles on some compression straps. Then add a couple of compression straps to the tab loops, and it’s set up like the K4. Basically the same with Kifaru bags.

 

[Kentucky]

Once the packs are out and in use, there will be some actual feedback….but much of the discussion will still center on opinion.

As well, some of what’s being looked at here is not opinion, it’s observation. For what it’s worth.

Anyway, I’ve never had to service a pack yet from any maker. I’d like to think they’d have shipped a new belt pouch to you if you just got it a week earlier. It’s not a big financial risk to do that. I also understand why standard practice would be for them to have the item in hand though.

I’ve always had the impression Kifaru was recognized for quality customer service. How do other pack companies handle this kind of stuff I wonder?

That’s what I thought, it’s a belt pouch…. But I get the standard practice thing too… At the same time, they go on hunts more than most…

Most big name places have good customer service…and I’m sure all have had there negative reviews too…can’t make them all happy

 

[tim tarras]

Am I right or wrong? none of this stuff is out, this is an entire thread of opinions?? 17 pages of opinions…here is my opinion

I always thought they where higher on price because there was obviously more labor in their frames and bags…

So now they release a system with way less labor, and still charge more…I get it…they could put out shit sandwich on preorder and there would be guys using PayPal credit to buy them…

I’m a kifaru guy too…they have always in the past had a good product…but I’ve also had crappy service…I had a connection point come off a medium belt pouch, just pulled off after about a week, it was about 10 days before a hunt… I sent a pic and asked for a new one… they said I would have to send that in for them to look at and then send out another or repair that one… that was trashy to me, why not send me a new one…

The new Ark frame looks cool, bags look lame…

As long as Hong is still working there is hope for quality product!!! Hong has never let me down!!!

How do you know it is less labor? Do you know the process that is being used to manufacture it? Cost of the materials?

 

[Dobermann]

I haven't read all of this thread ...

But my .02 is that I hope they stop using the stretch nylon fabric - that stuff ain't gonna last. I LOVE my Checkpoint and travel a lot with it, but the stretch side pockets make me wince every time.

While I'm at it, not sure what happened with their new website build, but on some screens/browsers it's barely readable. Can't say I've seen that on sites much in the last 10 years, so I hope they get it sorted soon.

 

[Hectocotylus]

How do you know it is less labor? Do you know the process that is being used to manufacture it? Cost of the materials?

They said in the videos it is 90% less work to put together


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Kentucky]

How do you know it is less labor? Do you know the process that is being used to manufacture it? Cost of the materials?

He plainly stated it…and it don’t take a genius to see that there is 1/5 of the stitching in the shoulder, belt and frame, etc…molle webbing is labor intensive and timing consuming…the switch to laser cut hypalon is a massive reduction in labor buy itself… the. The frame stays, frame sheet liner, tab loops…the list goes on…

 

[plebe]

They said in the videos it is 90% less work to put together


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I didn’t find that. What video?

I do see where Aaron says it is 80% less time to assemble, which speaks to a simpler more user friendly design. A good thing.

 

[StopMakingSense]

He plainly stated it…and it don’t take a genius to see that there is 1/5 of the stitching in the shoulder, belt and frame, etc…molle webbing is labor intensive and timing consuming…the switch to laser cut hypalon is a massive reduction in labor buy itself… the. The frame stays, frame sheet liner, tab loops…the list goes on…

What are you stating then?

 

[plebe]

We can argue pricing all day, but for reference:

Kuiu CF frame that people rag on = $199
Kuiu Pro suspension = $199

Aside from design, Kifaru is using more premium materials (higher density foam, squadron) and the CF build is more substantial.

Does it cost them $100 more to build it? I don’t know the margins.

However, I had and liked the Kuiu well enough, but am willing to pay 20% more for what the ARK brings to the table.

 

[plebe]

He plainly stated it…and it don’t take a genius to see that there is 1/5 of the stitching in the shoulder, belt and frame, etc…molle webbing is labor intensive and timing consuming…the switch to laser cut hypalon is a massive reduction in labor buy itself… the. The frame stays, frame sheet liner, tab loops…the list goes on…

There’s a fair bit of labor, time, and cost needed to produce a finished laid-up CF part.

I don’t see how stitching components together as below could be 90 percent more labor/time intensive.

 

[Kentucky]

There’s a fair bit of labor, time, and cost needed to produce a finished laid-up CF part.

I don’t see how stitching components together as below could be 90 percent more labor/time intensive.




View attachment 669332View attachment 669333

Your right… have a good one

 

[prm]

My WAG: Producing a Duplex-lite would require some tooling for stays, some production costs, some materials, and quite a bit of Kifaru labor. The Ark would require really expensive tooling, a little more production costs, and almost no labor by Kifaru once received.

Kifaru just builds and attaches the belt and shoulder straps.

Just a difference in where the labor is being done. It’s all expensive, and a lot more expensive if done in the US of A.

 

[prm]

More details Thursday.