Kakwa 55

Description

Due to unexpectedly high interest we are sold out of the M and L sizes of the Kakwa 55. The small size is available, as are all sizes in the Kakwa 40. We are working on another run of the Kakwa 55 that will be ready in late summer/early fall. Please sign up to be notified when they are available:

The Kakwa^TM 55 is a premium ultralight, multi-day pack designed from the first principles of load carrying and ergonomics to provide the greatest function, comfort and usability for an ultralight pack. Developed from Dan Durston’s attention to detail and thousands of miles of backpacking experience, the Kakwa 55 has class leading load carrying, materials, and pocket design while weighing just 1.8 lbs (29 oz / 825 g).

Load Carrying and Comfort
The Kakwa 55 brings genuine load carrying capability into the sub 2 lbs weight class. Other packs this light generally sacrifice load carrying ability by omitting load lifters, lacking horizontal structure, and relying on less ergonomic shoulder strap and hipbelt shapes. The Kakwa 55 solves this tradeoff through more efficient design and advanced materials including UHMWPE fabric and hollow aluminum tubing. Hollow aluminum tubing is a more efficient use of structural weight than the solid metal bars found in competing packs, so we use this material to create a rigid frame with both vertical and horizontal structure at the same or less weight than competing packs expend for just vertical structure. This frame connects directly to the hipbelt for maximum load transfer and directly to the load lifters, which are rare on packs this light yet highly functional for shifting more of the weight off your shoulders and onto the hips. A capable structure is nothing without an ergonomic connection to your body, which is why the shoulder straps have a carefully developed S shape to contour around your upper body, while the hipbelt uses a dual strap design which cups your hips and has reverse pull 2:1 leverage for easy tightening. The result is a pack that comfortably and effectively manages loads up to 45 lbs.

Effective Pockets
Efficient access to your gear is a hallmark of modern pack design as it allows you to move more efficiently through the wilderness. What is needed is not simply a high quantity of pockets but rather a pocket layout that has been carefully considered to compliment each other and allow for a diverse range of storage possibilities while remaining simple enough to stay organized.

For this, the Kakwa 55 has four types of pockets to optimize on-the-go access to your gear so you can keep covering miles instead of taking off your pack. That starts with the hipbelt pockets, which are designed to reliably operate one handed and easily accommodate medium sized items such as snacks, sunscreen, phones, and headlamps. That storage is augmented by dual top opening shoulder strap pockets which provide an optimized place for your phone for quick photos and navigation. These top loading pockets also work well for small water bottles, sunglasses, and bear spray. Additionally there is the innovative QuickPocket which consists of an easily reached compartment in the sidewall of one side pocket where you can stow even larger items are normally too bulky to be quickly accessed on other packs, such as hats, mitts, maps and bulky snacks. Finally, a mesh style front pocket quickly swallows the largest items like rain gear, tents, and cook sets where you need to take your pack off anyways to use these items but the external storage here mean you still don’t need to open your pack. Collectively, the Kakwa’s pockets are carefully considered so you can hike all day with maximum efficiency.

Materials and Quality
In our backyard in the Canadian Rockies we often spend more time off trail than on, so durability in materials and construction is a top priority. With the Kakwa 55 we are using the innovative Ultra 200 fabric from Challenge Outdoor, where the face fabric is dominantly woven UHMWPE fibers (more commonly known by the brand name Dyneema®) which is several times stronger and more abrasion resistant than traditional nylon pack fabrics. This material is laminated with an eco-friendly adhesive to a backing film to build a material that is incredibly durable, lightweight, and waterproof.

Simply using a tough fabric is not enough if the pack has weak points in the stitching or supporting materials. That why the Kakwa 55 is fully double stitched with heavyweight thread by the same factory that builds packs for Arcteryx, and uses stronger folded seams. We’ve also used the same tough Ultra 200 material for the hipbelt pockets, and side pockets so these exposed areas also have maximum durability. The front pocket is generally less exposed to the brush, but still we’ve sourced the most durable knit mesh for this pocket that is much tougher than typical lycra mesh.

Overall, the Kakwa 55 genuinely offers the highest load carrying and usability in a 55L multiday pack to support your adventures. When similarly optioned, comparable packs are heavier, less durable, and more expensive while typically lacking the best-in-class load carrying and refined feature set of the Kakwa 55. It’s everything you need in a pack for just 29 oz /825 g.

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Due to high interest we are sold out of the large size of the Kakwa 55. The small and medium sizes are available, as are all sizes in the Kakwa 40. If you are interested in the Kakwa 55 in large, please sign up below for an email notice when they are available: