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As ever, the world of outdoor tools is evolving.
This time, we will be bringing you the first review in Japan for a next-generation backpack made from new materials that have been a hot topic among outdoor gear lovers, mainly in the real North American continent over the past year or two.
DURSTON GEAR, an up-and-coming brand that is no exaggeration to say that it is a driving force behind the current lightweight mountain equipment scene, mainly in North America, has quickly gained solid status with its unique and practical products among the cottage brands* ( see the recent review of Lightweight Shelter for more details ).
*An outdoor manufacturer that produces cutting-edge gear on a small scale focusing on new activities, styles, or niche needs.
The Kakwa 40 a new hiking backpack developed by Darston . This model, which is named after the north end of the Great Divide Trail, one of North America's three major long trails, is of course notable that it uses the new material "Ultra Fabric", but other than that, it is still Durstone. It's not just "light" and its meticulously calculated high level of perfection makes me feel like I've hit my knee countless times. Unfortunately, unfortunately it is not available in Japan yet, so the only way to try it is to import it by personal import, but I can't help but check out this game, which is undoubtedly the world of hiking and backpacks, as an Outdoor Gearzine.
So this time I tried out the cutting edge of this lightweight backpack and walked through the low mountains in spring, so I'll start a review.
table of contents
Main features of the DURSTON GEAR Kakwa 40
This hiking backpack uses the new Ultra 200 fabric, a new material with ultra lightweight, wear resistance and tear strength, and is weighing less than 800 grams, yet has an incredibly high load-bearing capacity. The back panel has a removable lightweight U-shaped aluminum frame and foam cushion, making it a highly stable back structure that allows you to firmly place your center of gravity on your waist even with heavy loads. The main compartment has approximately 40L and the external pocket has a total of approximately 15L storage, making it lightweight enough to accommodate long-term tent stays. The stretch pockets with a deep bottom that are easy to put in and take out, side zip pockets that can be put in and take out while standing, hip belt pockets on the left and right, mesh pockets on the shoulder straps, and sufficient external storage is designed with every detail in mind for ease of use while you are taking action.
Favorite points
- With its proper load position and outstanding stability, it makes it comfortable to carry, which is hard to believe is a lightweight backpack.
- Load-bearing performance that can withstand more luggage than competing models
- It's light weight that is hard to imagine from the premium feel to carry.
- Lightweight yet extremely durable and water resistant fabric
- Double strap reverse-retractable hip belt for easy tightening and excellent fit
- Side pocket with zipper pocket that is easy to store and easy to take out
- Elastic shoulder strap pocket
- A reasonable price
Interesting points
- The back is not breathable
- The roll top must be opened and closed to access the main storage.
- Limited customizability of external attachments
- There is no hydration sleeve and the hydration holes are quite small
Main Specifications and ratings
| Item name | DURSTON Kakwa 40 |
|---|---|
| capacity | Approximately 40 liters (External storage gauge: Approximately 15 liters) |
| weight | M size: 775 g (including frame 90 g, foam pad 15 g) |
| material |
|
| Models for women | none |
| Size/Length of the back |
|
| Rear panel | Removable U-shaped aluminum frame |
| Maximum recommended load capacity | Approximately 20 kg |
| Hydration sleeve | × * Hydration holes are available |
| Main Access | Roll top type (with Y-shaped top strap) |
| Rain cover | × |
| Pocket attachment |
|
| evaluation | |
| Comfort | ★★★★☆ |
| Stability | ★★★★★ |
| Storageability | ★★★☆☆ |
| Functionality (ease of use) | ★★★★☆ |
| Durability | ★★★★★ |
| weight | ★★★★★ |
| Extensibility (customization) | ★★★☆☆ |
Detailed review
The new material "Ultra 200 Fabric" makes it lighter and more durable
The introduction of new fabrics and materials in any era will have a huge impact on the world of outdoor gear. Ultra 200 fabric used in this backpack .
Developed by Challenge Outdoor, this fabric is a 200-denier fabric woven by blending ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber, familiar from the Dyneema® brand name, with high-strength polyester fibers. For this reason, the feel when touched is similar to that of ordinary nylon fabrics (as is obvious). The fabric that comes to mind as an ultra-lightweight and highly durable material is DCF (Dyneema composite fabric), but the one that comes to mind is laminated non-woven fabric, which is crunchy and thicker and stiffer. My first impression was that it's easier to handle and compact in comparison. Conversely, it can be said that the firmness of the fabric is weak, so this can be said to be part of my preference.
However, it is said that Ultra Fabric has several times stronger and abrasion resistance compared to Cordura nylon a variety of grassroots testing has been conducted , and although it is not particularly strong, it seems unlikely that it is at least clearly inferior). Furthermore, the lining is laminated with recycled RUV™ film, providing excellent waterproofness as a fabric (but be careful as the seams are not seam-taped, so it is not completely waterproof as a backpack).
lighter and more resistant to scratches, water, and UV rays compared to the ultra-lightweight and highly durable fabrics that have been used up until now .
If you actually hold this backpack, you'll see that it's as light as you would expect. It weighs a whopping 775g. It is one of the lightest framed backpacks. Despite this, it can withstand approximately 20kg of luggage and is stronger than the most powerful fabrics such as Cordura nylon and Dyneema, so your brain won't keep up with the bugs in its specs.
Furthermore, it is not simply that the fabric is made of durable, but that the sewing is made of double stitched with thick thread as shown in the photo below, so that the seams are easily unraveled (even though the fabric is strong) (by the way, the manufacturer says that the backpack is manufactured in the same factory as Arcteryx).
From this point, we can see a glimpse of the unique philosophy of "lightness that does not compromise durability" that is unique to Durstone, with the Canadian Rockies, who often spend the harsh off-trails.
Size
Following the size reference on the official page, I bought the M size, with a slim figure of 176cm, 63kg and a 50cm long back. As a result, it fits perfectly and without any problems (photo below).
Comfort to carry: Despite being ultra-lightweight, it is overwhelmingly easy to carry and high stability
Kakwa a very clear and new style of the latest technical fabric, but in reality, several backpacks using Ultra Fabric are made by cottage brands, and it is true that it has become less and less uncommon in the past 1-2 years. However, the reason why I still love this backpack so much that I cry is the true charm of this backpack, "it 's terrifyingly sophisticated, comfortable and stable to carry."
I have carried many backpacks that are said to be "ultra-lightweight," but this may be my first time carrying a backpack so far that I can carry it as a normal mountain climbing backpack. Despite being surprisingly light, there's nothing more than a great help to me, not having to give up on carrying anything over 10 kg of luggage, as I don't have the stoic eager to reduce weight (though this is not for lazy people like me).
The secret to this perfect carrying experience lies in the detailed rear panel structure, including a molded U-shaped aluminum frame, a road lifter and a dual strap hip belt.
U-shaped aluminum frame and foam pad rear panel
First, on the back is a built-in U-shaped frame made of tubular aluminum, curved along the waist of the back. The same area also contains light, thin foam padding, which serves as a cushion to protect your back (photo below).
By keeping the outer circumference of the back flat in this way, the aluminum frame prevents the back of the pack from curling up into a barrel (when packing it in, it also plays an excellent role in placing the center of gravity on the waist close to the body.
Both can be removed, but considering this exquisite comfort, it's not a great option to sacrifice it by sparing just 100 grams of weight.
Shoulder strap and road lifter
The shoulder straps have a subtle S-shaped curve along the body lines, making them less likely to interfere with upper body movements. Furthermore, the left and right straps are not sewn individually but are joined by yokes, which distributes the load throughout the seams, contributing to increased durability at the base of the strap (photo below).
The shoulder is equipped with a road lifter, which is rare for ultra-light backpacks (photo below). By tightening this load lifter, you can move the center of gravity at the top of the pack back to your back to bring the entire load closer to your body, and by preventing blurring, you can increase stability under heavy loads. What a luxurious thing (sigh).
Reverse-looking dual strap hip belt
Finally, the hip belt. This is connected almost directly to the tip of the frame, allowing the load on the lower back to be transmitted without escaping (photo below).
The inside of the hip belt is made of breathable mesh with pads that have a slightly uneven feel. It's not incredibly fluffy, but it's not that luxurious.
More importantly, the hip belt strap is the most important thing to watch out for. The double-layered straps can be fastened around the waist by the entire hip belt, and the two straps pull forward can be tightened with less force than pulling with just one, making it extremely comfortable around the belt (photo below). I hope all hip belts are like this now.
Maximum recommended load
kakwa to achieve excellent load-bearing performance of an incredible nominal up to approximately 20 kg for an ultra-lightweight pack.
However, as far as I have actually tried it out, even if the frame can withstand a 20kg load, the shoulder and hip belt bite tight, making it a bit harsh. At most, I think I'll be at the limit of about 15kg. However, common sense doesn't mean you'll probably be able to reach 20 kg, so unless something really important happens, you won't have to worry about it.
In any case, there is no doubt that it is extremely comfortable among the lightweight backpacks I have carried (below 1.2 kilograms). It's safe even if there are few water areas and you have to take a deep route where you will need to carry a large amount of drinking water on your back.
Storage and ease of use: Smart storage that keeps usable beyond the standard even after cutting to a minimum
To put it simply, kakwa 's storage system could be considered "the bare minimum necessary." I felt that I wasn't good at this point at first, but as I continued to use it, I still haven't had any fatal complaints, and I'm impressed in a sense that it's a rational, lean construction that doesn't even make it feel so inconvenient even with a truncated storage (although of course I think there are preferences).
Main storage
First of all, there is nothing special about main storage except for the roll-top type. It has the characteristic of preventing water and dirt from entering and expanding the capacity according to the amount of luggage, but as usual, opening and closing operations are a bit cumbersome. Personally, I would like to see a zipper that allows access to the main storage (it's already 2023).
There is also a double adjustable Y-shaped strap here, allowing bulky items such as tent mats to be secured to the top.
Side pockets
Asymmetric side pockets are well thought out and easy to use. The left pocket has a deep bottom, allowing you to securely store bottles and long items, and has a zipper pocket that can hold even larger items. You can access paper maps, gloves, caps, snacks, and large smartphones while carrying the pack (photo below).
The right pocket has an angled opening, making it easy to access while standing (photo below). Incidentally, both the left and right pockets are large enough to be about two water bottles, and they are stretchy so they have a decent fixing force.
Front stretch mesh pocket
The front mesh pocket is made of highly durable polyester material, and the bottom has a gusset, so it is usually flat, but can be expanded when storing large items. It can hold anything more than you would expect, from rain jackets to food, sandals, water bottles, filters, garbage bags, etc., making it very convenient (photo below).
Hip belt pocket
The hip belt has large pockets on the left and right that open and close with a YKK AquaGuard water-resistant zipper. It was wider and deeper than it looked, and was very large enough to fit food, sunscreen, headlamps, hand towels, as well as my own 6.7-inch smartphone, which was very helpful.
Shoulder strap pocket
The shoulder strap has a daisy chain in the center and a stretch mesh pocket, allowing you to store small items you want to keep on hand, such as smartphones, cameras, soft flasks and plastic bottles. It's becoming commonplace these days, but I'm grateful that they're keeping that in mind.
Bungee cord loop
From the front to the bottom, there are about six small loops where you can add bungee cords and other items. However, this loop is very small enough to barely fit two bungee cords of about 3mm, so it may not be very flexible. However, you can still expand your storage to a certain extent by adding new trekking pole loops you have prepared yourself, as shown below (photo below, bungee cords are sold separately).
Hydration compatible
The kakwa has holes for letting the hydration tube out from inside the main storage, and there is also a strap to secure the tube in the shoulder strap. For this reason, although basic use is not a problem, unfortunately there is no hydration sleeve inside (photo below).
Summary: The standard for lightweight backpacks for the future, combining top-class lightness and comfort
The DURSTON GEAR Kakwa 40 a high-quality, sophisticated, ultra-lightweight backpack that perfectly meets the recent greedy needs of "being lighter, but not as much of a stretch, comfort and convenience as possible," and is a high-quality, sophisticated, ultra-lightweight backpack that perfectly meets the recent greedy needs of "the lighter ones, but also not want to give up on other factors (sturdy, comfort, and convenience)." The forefront of ultra-light backpacks, which are lightweight yet durable and easy to use as regular mountain climbing backpacks, has the potential to be accepted by a wide range of hikers, not only for serious UL hikers, but also for UL beginners who are looking to try backpacks made from ultra-lightweight materials.
The new scenery that kakwa has shown is that by adding just a few hundred grams to the weight of an extremely frameless, ultra-light backpack, you can achieve the same comfort as a classic mountaineering backpack (the ultimate price is also reasonable). Looking back at this once again, it is a groundbreaking experience, and it is no exaggeration to say that with the introduction of this backpack, ultra-light backpacks have entered a new era that they have never been able to attend. The boundaries of the previous ultralight and traditional hiking have been faded away, and the distinction becomes increasingly unnecessary. Why not try this backpack that will give you a new and inspiring look at such a future?
