Kakwa 40
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.
Ultra 200 Fabric
This 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 to a film backing to make the material waterproof.
Hollow Aluminum U Frame
The hollow aluminum inverted U frame provides vertical and horizontal structure at less weight than frame stay systems for more effective load transfer and comfort at loads up to 45 lbs / 20 kg.
Dual Strap Reverse Pull Hipbelt
This hipbelt design cups your hips, and makes tightening the belt much easier with 2:1 tightening leverage and an ergonomic direction of pull.
Shoulder Strap Pockets
These pockets provide an ideal place for your phone, bear spray, sunglasses, small water bottles and more. We attach them permanently for a more solid and user friendly connection.
Quick Pocket
The Kakwa's unique Quick Pocket is easily opened while on the move and provides quick access to larger items like hats, mitts, oversized phones, maps, and snacks.
Specifications
SPECIFICATIONS
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.
Main Fabric
Ultra 200 or UltraGrid
Front Pocket Mesh
Heavy duty polyester knit mesh
Torso Length:
Small: 14.5 - 17.5 " (37 - 45 cm)
Medium: 16.5 - 19.5 " (42 - 50 cm)
Large: 18.5 - 21.5 " (47 - 55 cm)
Hipbelt (Min - Max Circumference):
Small: 27 - 46" (69 - 117 cm)
Medium: 28 - 47" (71 - 119 cm)
Large: 29 - 48" (74 - 122 cm)
Hipbelt (Recommended Hip Size):
Small: 28 - 38" (71 - 97 cm)
Medium: 29 - 39" (74 - 99 cm)
Large: 30" - 40" (76 - 102 cm)
Circumference (Top / Bottom)
36" (91 cm) / 31" (79 cm)
Unrolled Height (S / M / L)
31" / 33" / 35" (79 / 84 / 89 cm)
Internal Volume (S / M / L)
33L / 36L / 39L
External Volume (S / M / L)
12L
Total Volume (S / M/ L)
45L / 48L / 51L
Features
FEATURES
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.
The inverted U frame provides both vertical and horizontal structure while the hollow aluminum tubing makes it lighter than flat frame stays.
Load lifters are often omitted on lightweight packs but are a key component of the Kakwa's exceptional load carrying ability.
The shoulder straps use an ergonomic S shape that fits almost everyone better than straight straps.
The dual strap hipbelt cups your hips while the 2:1 leverage and reverse pull make it easy to tighten.
Y shaped top strap allows items like bear canisters and tents to be strapped on top.
Eight attachment points around the pack make it easy to attach a wide range of items.
Dual hipbelt pockets are standard and have a refined design that operates easily with one hand.
Shoulder straps pockets are standard and provide handy storage for phones, bear spray, sunglasses, and small water bottles.
Unique QuickPocket on the left side provides on-the-go access to larger items than previously possible, such as hats, mitts, and maps.
A hydration port enables compatibility with bladders.
The front pocket uses a durable knit mesh that creates volume with pleats (folds) instead of using a less durable stretch mesh.
Pack is assembled with the highest quality including double stitching and bound seams at the same factory that builds Arcteryx packs.
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).
Kakwa 40
Main Competitors
Inverted U frame provides vertical and horizontal support
Flat bars provide only vertical support (prone to barrelling)
Yes
Sometimes
Yes
Rarely
Yes
Rarely
45 lbs
30 - 35 lbs
Yes
Usually
Yes
Optional ($)
Yes
Rarely
Yes
Sometimes
Ultra 200X (dominantly UHMWPE fibers) or UltraGrid (UHMWPE ripstop).
Usually Hybrid DCF or UltraGrid (dominantly polyester or nylon fibers).
Yes
Rarely
Yes
Sometimes
Yes
Sometimes
$189 - $250
$350 - $500 (with similar spec)
26 - 30 oz / 750-860 g
30 - 35 oz / 850 - 1000 g
FAQ
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).
Customer Reviews
Greetings! When can we expect the backpack ultragrid in size M to order?
I have used it about three times on my mountain trips, and I like it so far, but I noticed that the tip of the frame has punctured through the fabric during packing. I suspect that this issue might occur frequently with this kind of design. Or is it just a problem with my particular item? I hope this tear does not spread or become a bigger problem.
Sorry to hear about this issue. The problem is that the frame is not properly installed. The backpack has two sets of channels to hold the frame (upper and lower). In this case, the frame tip is not in the lower channels, so it is not in a reinforced area. Instead it is outside of that channel so it is not protected and can poke and damage the pack like this. Since the lower frame channels are hard to see when installing the frame, we have a warning tag inside the frame pocket to caution people to install it properly if they are removing it.
Did you possibly remove the frame and not install into the lower channels? If so, this is unfortunate but if you open the frame pocket, lift up the frame, and then guide it into the lower channels then the pack will work well again. The hole is unfortunate but it can be used like this and a dab of Seam Grip smeared/pushed into the fabric will seal and reinforce that spot so it'll be hardly noticeable. If you think it was misinstalled from the factory, that is very rare but let us know and we can support.
Hope that helps,
Dan Durston
I so wanted to like this pack. Just got back from 4 days in Havasu Falls. 10 mile hike each way in and out. Loaded with 20.9 lbs of gear. Plus 2.5 liters of water. Started to feel the pack after mile 6. Which is normal for a trek. By mile 8 really felt it in the shoulders. Redistribution of weight ended up making it feel heavier. There is not much give inside the pack between the hip and shoulder straps. It was hard to place bulkier items in the middle of the pack. Was disappointed that it was hydration compatible, but no loop or pocket for the bladder (I assume for weight) Hose would keep getting pinched inside the pack as the bladder decreased in volume. Ditched the bladder on the way out and went to squeeze bottles. Overall the design is minimal, which was the selling point to begin with. Most everything is well thought out. Will definitely use for shorter trips in the future
Thanks for the feedback Anthony. For the weight on your shoulders, this may be related to the sizing or adjustment. To evaluate that, what I suggest is:
1) Load up the pack with a realistic load of 20+ lbs
2) Loosen all straps
3) Snug up the hipbelt where you like it.
4) Snug up the shoulder straps until they just start to apply a bit of weight onto your shoulders.
5) Snug up the load lifters until they lift that weight mostly back off, but not so much they lift the shoulder straps off to create a gap.
6) Adjust the height and length of the sternum strap to suit.
Go for a proper 5 minute walk around the block and then have a look in the mirror to see where the shoulder straps are sitting. If the connection to the pack is above your shoulders then the size is likely too big. If it's a bit below that is good. If it's so far below that the load lifters are below your shoulders then it's too small. Each size is 2' different so changing sizes will move the shoulder strap connection by 2'.|
If the sizing it right, the pack should put the weight almost entirely on your hips if it is adjusted right, but could have weight on the shoulders if the shoulder straps are too snug.
Regarding the hydration, we do provide that port so it is possible but not a sleeve or hook because it adds weight and most people don't use bladders. If you do want to use a bladder, there are aftermarket hooks for the Kakwa on Etsy.
Hope that helps,
Dan
I really like the size and material of this pack. I've been section hiking (2 week intervals) the AT and this pack is showing much less wear than my previous 55 of another vendor. I have made 2 adjustments to better suit my needs. I fold my X-mid in a longer, skinnier sack and put it outside in the right (water) pocket. This helps both setting up tent in rain and stowing a wet tent as my pack interior is kept dry. I also have a strap water bottle holder that I installed on top of the left shoulder pocket for easier bottle access. Both are shown in photo. With the tent on the outside, I find the 40 easily holds the same gear that I was carrying in a 55 but in a smaller profile which helps the rock climbs.
Just finished a 22 day thru hike of the Kungsleden in Sweden, which was partially to shake down some new gear, including this pack. I'm female, 5'6", average build. Purchased a small.
The good:
The pack carries extremely well. I usually forgot it was there. Granted, my weight was never more than about 18-20 pounds, but I was really impressed. My comparable pack before the Kakwa was a Kumo 36 which always caused pain in my shoulders at some point during the day, but I was pain-free in this pack the entire hike. I expect (hope!) this would be the case at a higher carry weight (i.e., more food/water).
Everything cinches down nice and tight, and the pack feels compact and streamlined.
The okay:
All the pockets feel a bit too small - the hip belt pockets, the side pockets, the mesh pocket. And I can't reach the side pockets when I'm wearing the pack, so had to carry my water in one of the strap pockets (850ml smart water fit perfectly). This was okay, but I like to use the strap pockets for other things so it messed with my organisation a little bit. Going to try adding a hydration tube to my water bottle so it can stay in one of the side pockets and see if that works for me. And smaller is probably better in the long run -- keeps me honest in what I bring :) But I do wish there was a bit more stretch in the back mesh pocket.
I seam-sealed the pack before my hike but still ended up with some water inside. I used a pack liner just in case, so it wasn't the end of the world, but I wish I could figure out what I did wrong... I'd love it if the pack was waterproof b/c I hate carrying a pack cover. I'll wear a poncho on my next hike so that will solve that.
I have everything tightened down to the last possible mm, so there's nowhere to go if I get any smaller, which is a bit worrisome.
I had no idea the chest strap was adjustable until just now when I read that in someone's review!
All in all, I was very pleased -- and got lots of compliments and inquiries from my European fellow-hikers. They came to talk about my XMid, but stayed to investigate my pack.
Thanks, Dan!