New Kifaru Pack – less then 3lbs, 5200 ci, will carry 100+ lbs!

This was when I packed out the de-boned elk with the 5,200 KU

as several have mentioned, as a hunter reducing weight is as much goal of mine as it is with backpacking

I don't typically cover near the miles hunting as I do hiking, but 99% of the time the miles I do cover are much more difficult- reducing pack weight would certainly be beneficial in steep/uneven terrain

many moons ago I had the opportunity to carry a very heavy pack for multi-days and long distances, as a wilderness ranger in the Bob Marshall at the start of a ten day hitch it wasn't uncommon to have a pack in the 70-80 lb range- things like a single buck saw, pulaski and other tools add up the lbs quickly! those loads were never comfortable, but at times bearable- if this pack (or the Ti Goat or the Kuiu) does what it claims, it would certainly be welcome not only to hunters, but a whole host of other folks

for those that haven't- go the Kuiu site, not a lot of info on the upcoming pack- but some pretty impressive shots of the carbon frame

"I still hope to be carrying under 25-30lbs starting total carried weight."

Totally reasonable for a 10 day trip,IMO, Mike. That's about where I end up for trips of that duration.

Anyone know the fabric? Is it Cuben or the Dyneema type stuff?

Another UL backpacker/hunter here. My preferred trip is to go in light and come out heavy…grin. I find it refreshing that hunters and vegetarians coexist so well on this forum

Well I hope we keep coexisting:)
I see hunting gear as somewhat different because the goals are somewhat different (finding an animal not traveling for its own sake). I doubt hunters would want to belly crawl through thick brush in the ultralight gear I use for example. On the other hand there a lot of overlap and room to share ideas. Half of what I know about the outdoors I learned from an old hunter who was a virtual mountain man.

Looks like silnylon from the outside to me, but some of the pics I saw showed a different texture/color on the inside so it may be some sort of laminate?

Same fabric as the tipis from what i read on kifaru forum.
But my english isnt good enough : i am not sure if its 2 layers or double thickness,

I'll only note that I've never once heard Patrick or Mel of Kifaru speak dismissively about somebody else's product in order to advance one of their own. Particularly if their own wasn't quite in production.

Patrick's and Mel's gentlemanly attitudes make me glad to give them my business. Vendors without such attitudes, not quite.

David,

I couldn't agree with you more. In many years of communications with Patrick Smith I can testify that he is a real gentleman. I have also never once heard him say a bad thing about another company's product.

Some posters on this board and others could take note. Those who would dismiss Kifaru's new line as less than what it's portrayed need to read Patrick Smith's history of the KU line at https://kifaru.net/KU_notes.html. BTW, he explains why he dismissed carbon fiber frames.

I suspect some of the naysayers have never used a Kifaru product. I have and can say that they are second to none. I can say that in over a quarter century of backpacking and hunting (and using over a dozen different packs from different designers) nothing else is in the same league.

Like David I will willingly give my business and hard-earned cash to someone of Patrick's integrity. That means much more than a few ounces, a flashy name or any amount of brow-beating on any forum.

+1 on that David!

Here is a link to the packs.

https://kifaru.net/KU.html

From Kifaru's website:

"mil-spec ultra high tenacity American nylon" that is silicone treated/impregnated

This is just a high grade silnylon right? I read one post from Kifaru that made it sound like they use a super-duper fabric no one else can get or use.

Just wondering.

Russell,

I believe you are making an assumption on the silicone part. The part in quotes is from the Kifaru site. Did you pull the silicone treated bit out of the air? If you have a link to that info on the Kifaru site I would appreciate it otherwise you're simply making stuff up to denigrate something you don't know anything about.

Actually, with a little searching on the Kifaru forums I found this posting from Patrick Smith himself:

http://www.kifaruforums.net/showthread.php?23909-Kifaru-Ultralight-Packs!!!/page9&highlight=tenacity

"The fabric is the same as we use for our tipis. It is NOT silnylon. It's mil-spec Ultra High Tenacity American ripstop nylon. Double the strength of silnylon, at least, and double layer in all the packs and pockets, which dramatically strengthens the whole package. The packs have a third layer of "armor" on the bottom and lower front/sides of Cordura. Yes, the fabric is waterproof, so if you seam seal the seams, stitch lines, bar-tacks and so forth it should be waterproof."

Russell,

Please don't make up stuff and spread it around – it reeks of disinformation.

Thanks Vernon, you found the quote from Patrick that started me thinking. He also posts that you could seam seal the fabric with silicon to make the pack waterproof.

So I'm just putting "nylon" and "silicon" together and figuring it is a silnylon. In addition, I have purchased one of his shelters and several of his storage sacks made from the fabric and it definitely seems like a silicon nylon to me.

Maybe you can share what kind of fabric and finish it is?

My guess is Patrick doesn't want to use the "silnylon" tag because while his fabric is indeed a nylon coated/impregnated with silicon, it is a higher grade. We all know there is a lot of junk generic silnylon out there.

Vernon,

Here is a link to a site who also thinks Kifaru uses a siliconized nylon.

http://www.militarymorons.com/equipment/kifaru/kifaru3.html

Of course, maybe they're out to misinform as well. :-)

Does it really matter?

Id say that the poor dead goat staring back at us is quite a testament to the strength of the pack

im trying to think of any other 3 lb pack that can carry a goat

now if they can stuff a bear in one id be most impressed

Russell,

I'm still not getting you. First, the quote I gave does not have Patrick saying to seam seal with silicone. He just says to seam seal it. Now I realize that may be with silicone but he doesn't say that so you're injecting words once again.

Secondly, what part of "It is NOT silnylon" do you not understand?

I should probably confess my agenda in asking about Kifaru's fabric. Having used a Kifaru Paratarp for a couple of years I have really grown to like the fabric. For its weight, the stuff is remarkable. I am in the process of putting together some materials to make a light weight inner "bug" tent for my Akto and would love to use the fabric for the floor.

So if anyone knows of a source for it, or something comparable, drop me a PM.

"Trust me, it is very slick."
Freudian slip?

Well Russell I guess that explains a lot. I'm just trying to keep things straight.

BTW, the guys at the Military Morons site call it silicone impregnated paraglider fabric which is a guess on their part also. Paraglider fabric can refer to many different things as you will see if you spend even a few minutes on a paraglider site.

Vernon,

I tend to use the word "silnylon" as a generic term for any nylon fabric coated/impregnated with silicon. So I think we are getting hung up on semantics. You've got to admit "mil-spec ultra high tenacity American nylon" is a mouthful.

Having used his fabric and from my research, I stand by my claim that it is a nylon coated/impregnated with silicon.

See last sentence:

"Shelter Fabrics & Colors

Ultralight Fabric (Ultralight Kifaru Tipi )
The Ultralights utilize a unique fabric that has proven to be extremely lightweight and durable.
History: We are enormously pleased with this fabric, and have had a test Tipi in use since 1998, and it has held up remarkably well. Our Ultralight Tipis have been in production since summer of 2000.
Durability: A ultra high thread count makes it harder to tear or puncture (it stretches, rather than pops) and is much lighter than Ripstop.
Waterproofing: It is coated on both sides with silicone, making it even more waterproof than Ripstop."

This quote can be found at the following:

http://www.kifaru.net/TIPI2009.html

David, Vernon, Raymond

;-)

Kifaru's M-SUHTAN is some nice stuff. i had a paratarp (discontinued?), which for its size was comparatively light as the usual 1.5 silny i'd say. and i thought it actually stretched less and pulled less from tie-out threads when really cranked down upon the tensioners as compared to some other UL stuff. different nylon threads?

the new packs look cool. good to see the Kifaru hunting&tactical crowd lightening up. KU3700 37oz carries 70lbs. I've carried 70 in one of my 4200" 30oz circuits (now completely trashed from climbing) while packing in trail maintenance tools/food/water/fuel, and due to an extra long torso length 90% was on the hips. those weights sure suck, especially to an ULer with hipbones emaciated by a recent thruhike, but if you want trails without blow downs strewn everywhere…

good compression, good stays, good hipbelt needed for weight carry. somebody could get similar durable results and trim it lighter.

?

" ? "

This is starting to sound like a political campaign, and I hate most politicians.

–B.G.–