Thanks for sharing your experience. With regard to the hipbelt coming apart, this was an issue in our 2022 version packs because the Ultra fabric does have a looser weave and thus is more prone to unravelling at the edges. We updated the pack about a year ago (for 2023) to increase the seam allowance here which has addressed this problem. The warranty for the Kakwa 40 is handled by my partners at Kaviso. If you get in touch with them they should be able to help you out with a replacement where we have updated the design.
Good call. You are an upstanding guy to offer to replace his pack. That puts a cherry on top of his banana split sunday reviews of your product. Nothing lasts forever if it's used a lot, especially with the limitations of UL. It's a good reason for others to buy one too.
I will contact them. This pack has almost 2600 miles on it, so I'm not screaming warranty. Still love the pack. I was able to sew it when I reached Monarch Pass at the Butterly House Hostel. Made it the rest of the trail. Thanks. Keep Smilin'
@@packtoter Congratulations on a major milestone in your life! That's a big goal and it looks like the journey was an amazing experience. I'm glad that hip belt held until you were able sew it. I know what that's like, but not on a thru hike. I took an old seat belt sewed it from the hip belt to the frame and it's holding up even though the main bag is finally finished for it's usable life. It's from a different company who makes large packs. I had heavier loads in mine, but there's no way it would go 2,500 miles. I'm sure the video provides valuable information to the owner/designer of your pack on ways to reinforce that highest wear/ stress point. I would but guess that a strip of non stretch webbing sandwiched in there would provide the lightweight reinforcement at nominal production cost. That was nice of him to chime in and offer to take care of you and replace your pack even though you didn't ask.
Thank you for your honest update on this pack The Kakwa 40 is an expertly crafted pack and folks have to weigh the decisions between UL gear and more rugged heavier longer lasting gear. Durston has truly done an excellent job with designing and curating a balance of both lightweight and highest quality material at their weight point. 2,500 miles is quite the journey and you're paying a dime every mile you walk with it, seems like a good deal to me also the competitors want to charge 350-500 for packs that might not last that long, it all is so variable Love your videos and your approach to backpacking! I am learning a lot from you!
Thanks for doing an update on the Kakwa. I'm a new Kakwa 40 owner and have only taken it on a couple short backpacking trips so far this summer. I don't have any thru-hikes in the near future, so I think this one should last me quite a while.
Great pack. If you see other comments, there is the possibility the damage happened during one of my falls on the Colorado Trail. The rest of the pack is still in good shape after a lot of hard miles. Keep Smilin'
Seems like most thru-hikers replace their UL packs after completing a 2k+ mile trail, certainly if they’re planning on starting another 2k+ mile trail. This includes Hyperlite, Gossamer Gear, Osprey, etc. I’ve seen ULA packs go further, but as they update their materials past performance cannot be a predictor of the future. Nothing really to defend here from a manufacturer’s POV, IMO. It’s like someone saying they drove their car 500k miles and it’s time to get a new one. Expected.
Another viewer just made a good point. I might have done that damage when I fell a few days earlier into a bunch of rocks on Copper Mtn. and just never noticed it. They rest of the pack is still in great shape and I was able to sew it at the hostel on Monarch Pass. Still love all of Dan's products. If you want to see then all in action, just hike the CT this year, they are everywhere. Keep Smilin'
I really like and appreciate your realistic attitude. This is ultra light cutting edge stuff designed with great details and crafted with high standards - but nothing that lives on the Ultra Edge can last forever. And for a long thru hike that is great indeed at the weight that these products come in at. Thanks for the update.
Correction, Ultra 200 is NOT sailcloth. It's made by a company called challenge sailcloth and shares a similar construction to sailcloth, but it was designed specifically to be a technical, outdoor gear fabric.
Good to know. I still love the fabric. 90% of the pack is still like brand new. The areas of wear are mostly on the bottom where it contacts the ground so often. Thanks for the clarification. Keep Smilin'
Ever since I got injured a year ago I haven't been able to do and trails more than 10miles long before my sciatica starts killing me. So this pack being as light as it is helps quite a bit and I never had issues with the load transfer but also I'm never carrying more than 13lbs usually. I think its a good ultralight pack, I just wish it was waterproof.
Very interesting. I have only used my Kakwa a few times but it is up for sale already. Nothing to do with wear and tear or quality but I am not convinced these ultralight packs carry well. My load is never less than 12.2kg (no idea what that is in Flintstone speak) which isn't all that much but for me it doesn't effectively transfer the load through to the hips. I think I may be too broad across the shoulders for it but, whatever the reason, I will be going back to a pack with a fully adjustable harness system.
I transfel the load to my hipbelt most of the time. The Kakwa 40 seems to do a good job of it for me. I have always found it very comfortable. For me, when I don't think about the load, I must be packed right, and the pack must be doing it's job. I never have felt uncomfortable with this pack. Hope you find what works for you. Keep Smilin'
Someone explained to me the difference between 200 & dyneema. I guess 200 isn't a sailcloth. Regardless, I've found it a great pack material so far. Keep Smilin'
That is a real shame. I'm trying to figure how that degree of failure happened so suddenly. Does it appear to be related to where the frame connects? Did it happen while tightening the belt? Could there have been damage when you took a tumble in the previous day(s)? Very concerning.
That is very true. It could have happened in one of my falls. I was able to repair with needle and thread at hostel. The rest of the pack is still in great shape. Thanks for the thought. Keep Smilin'
Thanks for sharing your experience. With regard to the hipbelt coming apart, this was an issue in our 2022 version packs because the Ultra fabric does have a looser weave and thus is more prone to unravelling at the edges. We updated the pack about a year ago (for 2023) to increase the seam allowance here which has addressed this problem. The warranty for the Kakwa 40 is handled by my partners at Kaviso. If you get in touch with them they should be able to help you out with a replacement where we have updated the design.
Good call. You are an upstanding guy to offer to replace his pack.
That puts a cherry on top of his banana split sunday reviews of your product.
Nothing lasts forever if it's used a lot, especially with the limitations of UL.
It's a good reason for others to buy one too.
I will contact them. This pack has almost 2600 miles on it, so I'm not screaming warranty. Still love the pack. I was able to sew it when I reached Monarch Pass at the Butterly House Hostel. Made it the rest of the trail. Thanks. Keep Smilin'
@@packtoter Glad you were able to finish the trail.
@@packtoter Congratulations on a major milestone in your life! That's a big goal and it looks like the journey was an amazing experience.
I'm glad that hip belt held until you were able sew it.
I know what that's like, but not on a thru hike. I took an old seat belt sewed it from the hip belt to the frame and it's holding up even though the main bag is finally finished for it's usable life. It's from a different company who makes large packs. I had heavier loads in mine, but there's no way it would go 2,500 miles.
I'm sure the video provides valuable information to the owner/designer of your pack on ways to reinforce that highest wear/ stress point. I would but guess that a strip of non stretch webbing sandwiched in there would provide the lightweight reinforcement at nominal production cost.
That was nice of him to chime in and offer to take care of you and replace your pack even though you didn't ask.
Thank you for your honest update on this pack
The Kakwa 40 is an expertly crafted pack and folks have to weigh the decisions between UL gear and more rugged heavier longer lasting gear. Durston has truly done an excellent job with designing and curating a balance of both lightweight and highest quality material at their weight point.
2,500 miles is quite the journey and you're paying a dime every mile you walk with it, seems like a good deal to me also
the competitors want to charge 350-500 for packs that might not last that long, it all is so variable
Love your videos and your approach to backpacking! I am learning a lot from you!
Agreed. Sewed it yesterday at hostel. Think I'm good to go. Keep Smilin'
Thanks for doing an update on the Kakwa. I'm a new Kakwa 40 owner and have only taken it on a couple short backpacking trips so far this summer. I don't have any thru-hikes in the near future, so I think this one should last me quite a while.
Great pack. If you see other comments, there is the possibility the damage happened during one of my falls on the Colorado Trail. The rest of the pack is still in good shape after a lot of hard miles. Keep Smilin'
I hope Dan chimes in here. I'm still a member of the cult of Durston.
Seems like most thru-hikers replace their UL packs after completing a 2k+ mile trail, certainly if they’re planning on starting another 2k+ mile trail.
This includes Hyperlite, Gossamer Gear, Osprey, etc. I’ve seen ULA packs go further, but as they update their materials past performance cannot be a predictor of the future.
Nothing really to defend here from a manufacturer’s POV, IMO. It’s like someone saying they drove their car 500k miles and it’s time to get a new one. Expected.
Another viewer just made a good point. I might have done that damage when I fell a few days earlier into a bunch of rocks on Copper Mtn. and just never noticed it. They rest of the pack is still in great shape and I was able to sew it at the hostel on Monarch Pass. Still love all of Dan's products. If you want to see then all in action, just hike the CT this year, they are everywhere. Keep Smilin'
I really like and appreciate your realistic attitude. This is ultra light cutting edge stuff designed with great details and crafted with high standards - but nothing that lives on the Ultra Edge can last forever. And for a long thru hike that is great indeed at the weight that these products come in at.
Thanks for the update.
Agreed. Still like the pack. Stitched it up at a hostel, finished the trail, and it's still hanging in there. Keep Smilin'
Correction, Ultra 200 is NOT sailcloth. It's made by a company called challenge sailcloth and shares a similar construction to sailcloth, but it was designed specifically to be a technical, outdoor gear fabric.
Good to know. I still love the fabric. 90% of the pack is still like brand new. The areas of wear are mostly on the bottom where it contacts the ground so often. Thanks for the clarification. Keep Smilin'
Ever since I got injured a year ago I haven't been able to do and trails more than 10miles long before my sciatica starts killing me. So this pack being as light as it is helps quite a bit and I never had issues with the load transfer but also I'm never carrying more than 13lbs usually. I think its a good ultralight pack, I just wish it was waterproof.
It's actually very water resistant. But I still cover with my Patrol Poncho in a heavy rain. Keep Smilin'
Very interesting. I have only used my Kakwa a few times but it is up for sale already. Nothing to do with wear and tear or quality but I am not convinced these ultralight packs carry well. My load is never less than 12.2kg (no idea what that is in Flintstone speak) which isn't all that much but for me it doesn't effectively transfer the load through to the hips. I think I may be too broad across the shoulders for it but, whatever the reason, I will be going back to a pack with a fully adjustable harness system.
I transfel the load to my hipbelt most of the time. The Kakwa 40 seems to do a good job of it for me. I have always found it very comfortable. For me, when I don't think about the load, I must be packed right, and the pack must be doing it's job. I never have felt uncomfortable with this pack. Hope you find what works for you. Keep Smilin'
Dyneema is also a sail cloth
Someone explained to me the difference between 200 & dyneema. I guess 200 isn't a sailcloth. Regardless, I've found it a great pack material so far. Keep Smilin'
That is a real shame. I'm trying to figure how that degree of failure happened so suddenly. Does it appear to be related to where the frame connects? Did it happen while tightening the belt? Could there have been damage when you took a tumble in the previous day(s)? Very concerning.
That is very true. It could have happened in one of my falls. I was able to repair with needle and thread at hostel. The rest of the pack is still in great shape. Thanks for the thought. Keep Smilin'
What is the total weight of the backpack? Maybe you've made him too busy?
The pack weighs about 27 ounces. I carry under 30 lbs. in it.