KS Ultralight Gear R-50 Backpack Review

Thanks Adam.

Was there a benefit to the “Joker Hat” closure system over the typical dedicated load lifters?

It looks OK, from a weight perspective, if still a little heavy. The hip belt padding looks pretty good. Light padding is really the way to go to prevent slipping/movement with straps and belts. But the shoulder harness padding is a bit too heavy. At around .4in this is a bit too heavy with .25 (1/4″) high density foam being about my ideal. After a few days of hiking, pack movement becomes more important to comfort/efficiency than initial paddings. And the narrow shoulder harness (2.6″) would really start bothering me after a hundred miles or so, even though I am well used to packing. I consider a 3″ width to be about the minimum for comfort.

The “add-on” or modular design of the packs by KS Ultralight is interesting. I like the idea, but it has GOT to raise hell with manufacturing. I am betting they will reduce these, much as ZPacks has, with increased sales volume. In some cases, it will increase weights a lot. Otherwise they hold promise for a true UL/SUL pack (35-40L and <.45kg, or, 20-30L and <.25kg.) Keep on workin’ on it!!

The joker hat closure is an alternative to a dry bag style closure. You just just close the opening with a cord, roll down the top of the bag and and secure with a strap. Like a dry bag style closure but simpler. It is easier to use than the dry bag type but not water tight to the same extent, though it keeps rain away fairly well if not stuffed to the top. I prefer the joker hat style over dry bag style, but I have to use separate drybags for the things I need to keep dry anyway to be prepared for day-long rains, so I don´t really rely on the backpack to be 100% watertight.

Gunnar

I can see where it would be a good closure system, have you used it’s other function as a load lifter?

In my experience with a ~40L pack size from KS Ultralight (they are very well made packs by the way…worth getting), the joker hat system works best when the pack is more full. If its underfilled, as the pack is frameless, their function as load lifters is meaningless. Usually if you are underfilled you don’t really need load lifters of course.

Personally I think I won’t get them again, as if I’m accessing the pack a lot the process of unclipping twice, unrolling, to get something out then doing the reverse is a bit annoying. Though my next pack from them will probably have a frame and dedicated load lifters anyway.