Kifaru Bikini – and the dream setup

I've been considering a Kifaru pack for winter use, but not many reviews by bpers it seems. Lots of money to put out, but it sure would shave a few pounds off my 5 lb. Epperson pack that has failing zippers now after 20+ years.
Duane

My coworker just bought one for hunting. I played around with it a bit, but haven't walked anywhere with weight in it. It looks ok, but not as special as the price would indicate. The padding is bulbous and not 'sculpted' or particularly ergonomic/anatomical. I guess it will squish against you and conform to your body when you are carrying the elk hind quarter. Nothing about it made me want to run out and buy one to replace my other packs. I even prefer my own hunting pack (a heavily modified GG Nimbus Core) to the Bikini for the critters I would be after.

"I've been considering a Kifaru pack for winter use"

Why not a ULA Epic?

I need some volume. My Epperson pack was supposed to be around 5500 ci. I can get by with less now that I have updated my winter pads. No rush, just money.
Duane

According to the tracking info my Kifaru Bikini frame will be here Friday afternoon. Kifaru packs fit me like a glove and are very comfortable. I'll use it next weekend with the Kifaru Pack bag on a hike to Thousand Island Lake. I will post a little review of how it worked for me.

Good choice Mike. I can't wait for your review. phil

Neat design. Looks like it has the best suspension for heavy loads you can buy – 100lbs loads? Wow. It would render the other custom makers obsolete. Just add whatever bag you want.

when the ula site comes online again after their 24 hour shutdown, I'll check out the Epic. I see it has to be used with a dry bag, still lighter than my current old winter pack. I'll have to do the box up the gear thing, to calc the volume. Packs look so much bigger in the store.
Duane

Fair enough, Scott. But the OP mentions long stretches carrying food and water which means no re-supply. Probably not 100 lbs, but 40 to 50 for a couple of weeks. If that is the case, I venture that a pack that carries 100 lbs well would do very well with 50. But yes, that is some hellacious weight. I find it remarkable at how light the harness is for the carry.

Scott said, "This website is about ultralight backpacking. Why do you want to carry a 100 lbs? "

Nobody does. Should we not talk about a high quality pack that weighs the same as my ULA Circuit, just because it can comfortably carry weight when I want it to? I will have a choice to run any size light weight dry bag, pack bag ect.

"This website is about ultralight backpacking. Why do you want to carry a 100 lbs? "

That's a very myopic view. Some ultralight backpackers also hunt. Not hard to get up to 100 lbs when you're packing out a kill.

Why do UL backpackers like to pause their trip and deal with people and stores ?

That is like, the opposite of self sufficient.

Sigh. Dreams.

The title had me expecting a beach bunny in a camo bikini….

Cheers

To me hunbting means carrying a rifle. But I like both hands on my walking sticks too.

So that means my best choice is one of several Eberlestock packs with a center-of-the-back scabbard. This pack scabbard permits fast withdrawl of the rifle WITHOUT removing the pack.

My preference is the "Dragonfly" because it is versatile in load carrying ability.
No, these aren't light packs but the much lighter "Just One" Eberlestock pack is looking good as well. I have other packs for 3 season (REI Cruise UL 60), winter (Dana Designs Terraplane), and backcountry skiing (much modified Camelbak Commander) so a dedicated backpacking-while-hunting pack like the Just One is my preference.

I owned one of the larger Kifaru UL packs when they first came out. They are VERY well built, light and the suspension system is great. I had up to 55lbs in mine and well, it is still 55lbs, but it carries pretty well. Just like other UL stuff you have to be careful of the material. On a 6 day trip in the Sierras I got one small rip through the first layer when I caught it on something. Not a huge deal since the material is double layered. The pack wound up too high a capacity for my current gear list, so I sold it.

If you need a pack for winter or hunting, I highly recommend checking them out.

Unfortunately, the KU series has been discontinued. I have the KU 3700 and very glad I was able to get it. For 2 1/2 lbs I feel as though I have a very versatile pack that has been on many different kinds of trips including all of Elk Archery season last year. This is one of my favorite packs that I own.

I have the same pack. Love it!

Doug got me looking at the Epic from ULA. Seems the weight is low, at least a little over half my current winter packs weight, much cheaper than the Kifaru. Got get some truck tires first since I got too big a cut in a tire last weekend on a dirtroad to repair. Thank you Doug for saving me some dough.
Duane

Check out the Granite Gear Vapor Flatbed. Or, if going for heavier loads the Stratus Flatbed. Between the two, and a couple of drybags, I am set-up for anything from going to work, to a 10 day traverse with no resupply. The bikini looks awesome because it weighs as much as the Vapor, while carrying loads like the Stratus.

I have had my bikini frame for about 6 months now and absolutely love it. Best item I have purchased to date. Most comfortable pack/frame I have ever used, especially with heavy weights. It was expensive, but I feel it was money well spent.

I routinely just use the frame with a silnylon dry bag and the kifaru grabit and weigh in around 2.8lbs or so. I also have the highcamp bag for my winter trips and for hunting trips.

The Bikini weights 37 oz. skeleton only, then add in weight of a dry bag or whatever. Cost is $376 plus shipping I'm sure. The ULA Epic is 42.5 oz. with the max 70 liter dry bag, cost $275 plus shipping I guess. From the start the Epic is cheaper by $100 and more when the Bikini needs a dry bag to complete. I'll have to do more research on fit and carry quality of the Epic.
Duane

I love to modify my gear, and one benefit to the Bikini is that it looks like an endlessly tweakable platform.