Kakwa 40

$250.00 USD

Buy on Kaviso.com

The Kakwa 40 is sold exclusively by our partners at Kaviso.com. They have the UltraGrid version in stock and the Ultra 200X version arriving in January 2025.

The Kakwa 40 is our premium ultralight, multi-day pack design. Its design is informed by Dan’s thousands of miles of backpacking experience to give the Kakwa 40 excellent load carrying, materials, pocket design, and quality – all while weighing a mere 27 oz / 775 g.

LOAD CARRYING

The load carrying and comfort of the Kakwa 40 is unprecedented for a pack weighing under 2 lbs.

Other packs in this niche commonly sacrifice comfort and load transfer by omitting load lifters, possessing only vertical frame components (no horizontal structure), and relying on rudimentary shoulder strap and hipbelt designs.

The Kakwa 40 is a stark contrast to this. It uses an inverted U shaped frame built of hollow aluminum that is a more efficient use of structural weight than the commonly flat frame stays, and provides a rigid core with both vertical and horizontal structure.

This frame connects directly to the hipbelt for optimal load transfer and directly to the load lifters, which are rare on packs this light yet essential for shifting more of the weight off your shoulders. A robust 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 to cup your hips and with reverse pull leverage for easy tightening. The result is a pack that comfortably and effectively manages loads up to 45 lbs.

EFFICIENT ACCESS

With an ultralight pack, efficient access to your gear while on the move is a hallmark of good pack design. For this, the Kakwa 40 has four types of pockets to optimize on-the-go access to a wide range of your gear so you can keep covering miles instead of digging through your pack.

That starts with the hipbelt pockets, where a large shape easily accommodates numerous medium sided items such as snacks, sunscreen, 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 shoulder strap pockets also work excellently for bear spray and provide a safe place for fragile items like sunglasses.

Additionally there is the innovative QuickPocket which consists of an easily reached hidden compartment in the side pocket where you can stow items that are too large to be quickly accessed on other packs, such as hats, mitts, large cameras and plus sized phones. Finally, a mesh style front pocket quickly swallows the largest items like jackets and cookwear so you can hike all day without opening your pack.

Collectively, the Kakwa’s suite of pockets is carefully thought out and refined to enable rapid and efficient access to everything you need on the move.

BackpackingLight

Favorite Carry

"A sleek, pleasing aesthetic....The only backpack in the sub 2 lbs weight class that was capable of carrying more than 50 lbs without torso collapse. This pack has my favorite carry feel".

Section Hiker

Impressive

"The low weight is impressive for a framed pack....and it provides excellent weight transfer to the hips. The pocketing is fantastic for accessing what you need during the day without stopping."

The Trek

I Could Not Be Happier

"I’ve become a huge fan. It has smart places to put all the stuff, and carries all that stuff comfortably. I could not be happier to have it for the remaining 2,000 miles of the Eastern Continental Trail this winter."

Adventure Alan

Incredibly Well Designed

"The Kakwa has a famously excellent load carry. The whole setup is just so dang comfortable and user-friendly. It is in contention for best ultralight backpack on the market."

MATERIALS & QUALITY

In our background in the Canadian Rockies we often spend more time off trail than on, so durability in the materials and construction is a top design priority.

With the Kakwa 40 we are using the innovative Ultra fabrics from Challenge Outdoor, where the face fabric uses UHMWPE fibers for most of the fabric (Ultra 200) or as a ripstop grid (UltraGrid) which are several times stronger and more abrasion resistant than traditional nylon pack fabrics.

Simply using a tough fabric is not enough if the pack has weak points in the stitching or supporting materials. That why the Kakwa 40 is fully double stitched with heavyweight thread by the same factory that builds packs for Arcteryx. We’ve also used the same tough materials for the shoulder straps, 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 a very durable knit mesh for this pocket that won’t stretch out.

Specifications

SPECIFICATIONS

WEIGHT

Complete Pack (oz)

Ultra 200: 26.5 oz (S), 27.3 oz (M), 28.2 oz (L)

UltraGrid: 29.6 oz (M), 30.3 oz (L)

-

Complete Pack (g)

Ultra 200: 750 g (S), 775 g (M), 800 g (L)

UltraGrid: 840 g (M), 860 g (L)

-

Removable Items

Frame (3oz / 90 g) and backpad (0.5oz / 15 g) are included but removable.

MATERIALS

Main Fabric

Ultra 200 or UltraGrid

Features

FEATURES

Ultra Fabrics

The Kakwa is available in two fabrics: Ultra 200X and UltraGrid.Ultra 200X is dominantly woven UHMWPE fibers (known by the brand name Dyneema®) which is several times stronger and more abrasion resistant than traditional nylon pack fabrics. This material is laminated to a film backing to make the material waterproof. This pack uses the new 'X' version which adds a tougher inner film.

UltraGrid is a nylon based pack fabric that is not as tough as it's Ultra 200X sibling, but still is a very durable pack fabric with a ripstop grid of UHMWPE fibers and a waterproof PU coating. It offers a smoother feel, tighter weave, and more affordable price.

Hollow Aluminum Frame

The inverted U frame provides both vertical and horizontal structure while the hollow aluminum tubing makes it lighter than flat frame stays.

Load Lifters

Load lifters are often omitted on lightweight packs but are a key component of the Kakwa's exceptional load carrying ability.

Compare

COMPARE

The Kakwa 40 provides best-in-class load carrying, usability, and durability for a sub 2-lbs pack. To illustrate this, the table below compares the Kakwa 40 to what is typically seen in this niche (40L packs under the 2 lbs mark with premium fabrics).

LOAD CARRYING

Kakwa 40

Main Competitors

Frame structure

Inverted U frame provides vertical and horizontal support

Flat bars provide only vertical support (prone to barrelling)

Load lifters

Yes

Sometimes

FAQ

Browse the FAQ to learn more or get in touch if you have further questions.

Contact Support

Q) How do I fit the pack?

We recommend measuring your torso with the method here and comparing that to the recommended torso length for our sizes under our specifications tab. If you are in between sizes, we recommend choosing the size you are more in the range for.

If you are planning on using the pack without the hipbelt then the sizing doesn't matter as much since either way you are carrying the weight fully on your shoulders.

Q) What has changed with the 2024 version?

We are continually updating our gear with new ideas and in response to customer feedback to be as good as possible. For the 2024 Kakwa 55 we have substantially enlarged the front mesh pocket, added drain holes to the side pockets, changed to Ultra 200X fabric with a more durable internal film, added more attachment points, enlarged the attachment points with tougher webbing, added even more double stitching to the pack, and changed the side tensioners to LineLoc3's for smoother operation.

Q) How much can this pack hold?

Ultralight hikers (e.g. <10 lbs of gear) with kits that are compact (e.g. down sleeping quilt) will find they can fit 5-7 days of food reasonably and can stretch that to 10 days with a quite full pack (e.g. strapping the tent on top). Conversely, hikers with light but not ultralight baseweights (e.g. 10-15 lbs) will find it is a good weekend pack. Traditional hikers with ~20 lbs baseweights will find this pack to be too small and should opt for the 55L version.

Q) Is this pack waterproof?

The Ultra 200 material is 100% waterproof with an impenetrable plastic backing on the Ultra 200 fabric that is much more durable than traditional PU coatings. However some water can seep in via the seams which are not taped. We do not tape the seams partly because we use seam binding which makes them stronger but too bulky to tape, but also because our more capable frame requires seams that are too complex to be seam taped (e.g. many layers of material sewn into the seams). As a result, the pack ends up being water resistant but not fully waterproof. If it rains for hours, a bit of water will seep into the pack.

We suggest to keep your sensitive gear like clothes and sleeping bag in waterproof sacks and then everything else will be fine, but for greater protection you can use a pack liner or seam seal the pack yourself.

Q) What is not to like?

The Kakwa 40 is the complete package for a lightweight or ultralight hiker. However, it is not ideal for hikers heading out for longer periods or with heavier baseweights who will need a larger pack like our Kakwa 55.

On the other end of the spectrum, hikers with extremely light baseweights and preferring shorter hikes will find the Kakwa 40 excessive for their needs and will be better served by a frameless pack.

Q) What does the “Kakwa” name mean?

The word "Kakwa" has it's origins in the Cree language where it means porcupine. This word is used to name the Kakwa region in the Canadian Rockies where you'll find Kakwa Park, Kakwa River, Kakwa Falls and more. It's usage to name this pack is primarily a nod to the northern terminus of the Great Divide Trail (the most scenic and wild thru hike in North America) which ends at Kakwa Lake.

Q) Should I choose Ultra 200X or UltraGrid fabric?

Both are excellent fabrics for backpacking, with some advantages to each.

UltraGrid is a robust 210D nylon pack fabric with a ripstop grid of UHMWPE fibers (really strong) for added durability. It is a well proven and long lived pack fabric. Ultra 200X takes durability to another level by using about 2/3rds UHWMPE fibers, which makes it an uncommonly rugged fabric. This makes it better for severe use (e.g. bushwhacking). For most backpackers both materials will be more than durable enough.

For waterproofness, Ultra 200X uses an interior film while UltraGrid uses a PU coating. Both are waterproof fabrics, but user seam sealed is required to make the pack waterproof.

The main advantage of Ultra 200X is the exceptionally high durability (although most backpackers won't need this). The advantages of UltraGrid are the more affordable price, it has a softer/less wrinkly feel, and the tighter weave gives it stronger seams.

Overall, we recommend UltraGrid for regular backpacking while Ultra 200X is recommended for more severe use (e.g. bushwhacking).

Kakwa 40 Dimensions

The Kakwa 40 seems to be the ideal backpack for me (for multiple days hiking). But, what is the exact exterior dimensions? I am concerned about the "new" rules for carry-on luggages in planes...

Hi Fernando. The frame is 20' / 22' or 24' tall (depending on the S, M or L size). So offically the L is slightly too tall for carry on while S and M are legal. That assumes you don't have them all the way full, but can roll it down to the frame.

The width and depth are no problem. It is about 11' wide and 6' deep.

Cheers,
Dan

2025 Version

Will there be a 2025 version of the Kakwa 40 with the same updates as the Kakwa 50? If so, when might that be available? Thanks

We are always updating our gear. The Kakwa 40 was updated recently with a few changes like a larger front pocket. The 55L does have a more yet (e.g. larger hipbelt pockets) which will be coming to the 40L in January 2025.

Love love love this pack!

Recently took this pack on its first trip. Went 3 nights and 50 miles in the smokies. Carried 25-30 pounds depending on water carries. This pack carries so unbelievably well directly on my hips! Like it’s some sort of dark magic. I think my hips were a little more sore than normal just from all the weight centered but its way way better than on your shoulders. The pockets are great. I do wish the front mesh pocket was bigger but doesn’t take away from the whole experience. The biggest thing is that this bag is sub 2 pounds and it carries unbelievably well like shockingly well!!

Thanks for the kind words Nathan. Glad you're loving the pack. I also appreciate the feedback. We did increase the size of the front mesh pocket a couple months ago because we did get some requests for this.

Thanks for using Durston gear,
Dan Durston

Kakwa 40 CDT review

Used the very first version/release of this pack for about half my 2023 CDT thru. Had some minor holes develop the first week at where the frame stays met fabric towards the bottom which Dan assured me was a kink with the first model. Within a day of my initial email he actually offered to send me a new one if it because a problem while I was in the Bob Marshall.

Those holes never grew at all and I’m still using the pack for weekend trips. I think it’s a real toss up between this design and ULA for me going forward doing weekly fly fishing backcountry trips to the smokies. I’ve used HMG, ULA, you name it over the years and I would say this design has a very clear edge when it comes to load bearing comfort in the 25-40lb range.

Very excited to grab a newer version once mine finally wears out.

Thanks for the kind words and report. Glad the pack is working well. We've steadily improved them over time so we did resolve that wear issue on the first batch packs, along with quite a few other improvements. Congrats on your CDT hike.
- Dan

Kakwa 40

Overall, not happy with the pack. I am not able to reach a water bottle without taking the pack off. And there isn't a bladder pocket. The pack was comfy though, and I did like the hip belt strap set up.

Thanks for sharing your feedback. For the issue with reaching the side pocket, are you referring to both sides? Or the lower side? We have different pockets on each side where one is taller to be more secure and hold taller objects (e.g. trekking poles) while the other side pocket is lower and designed to be easy to reach.

With both side pockets we use a flat bottom design rather than a pocket that pinches to nothing at the bottom (like many comparable packs), so that the bottle will sit as low as possible (the bottom of the bottle will be level with the bottom of the pack). And then on the side of the pocket we angle it down on one side of the pack as much as we can while still keeping enough sidewall to keep the bottle reasonable secure. So I think the lower side pocket is as good as possible for reaching the bottle (the front of the pocket is only 5.5' above the bottom, while most packs are 7-10') but how well it works does depend on pack fit and individual mobility.

For the bladder, we don't have a bladder pocket because most people don't use these, but we do have a port for the hose and there are aftermarket bladder hangers available on Etsy if you search for 'Durston Kakwa'.

Thanks for trying our gear,
Dan Durston

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