review: kifaru ku3700 backpack.

[JV3]

specs: 3,700 cubic inches - 2 lbs., 9 oz or 60.6 liters - 1.19 kg. load out = 70+ lbs/32 kg.

here's kifaru's page for it: http://www.kifaru.net/KU3700.html. i've been using the g2 zxr (here's my review of it: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/837192-review-kifaru-g2-zxr-backpack) as my main hiking pack for about 1.5 yrs. now (20+ day hikes and 12+ overnighters) and recently switched all my gear to lighter weight so the ku3700 is now my main hiking pack...after 3 overnighters and a day hike (with overnight load out) here's a detailed look at the ku3700 and my impressions.

if you already own a pack from the military line and just want to know the differences between it and the ultralight line then skip to post #6.

i'm 5'9" and ordered the 24" ultralight composite stays (you have an option of 22" or 24" aluminum or ultralight composite stays)...you can buy different stays and change them out yourself.

there's an included bungee cord in the front.

notice the highly contoured back...they didn't just slap on some thick foam padding and called it a day.

front of the pack.

side view with the two compression straps.

one on each side is a bottle pouch attachment point (the pouch is extra).

it doesn't have bottom compression straps to save even more weight (the lash kit is available separately and can be used here as well as on different parts of the pack - more on that later).

the pack is made of two layers - the inner being white.

...i thought it was a gimmick at first but it really does help seeing inside the pack.

not just made in the usa...it's berry-amendment compliant (everything has to be made in the usa down to the threads, fasteners, etc. not just assembled here).

the main compartment fits an 18" long machete or a 25" long axe perfectly.

there's a separate compartment for a water bladder (in this case an insulated 3-liter camelbak).

anchor point for the water bladder.

notice the drawstring closure is towards the back and also serves as the routing point for the water bladder's hose. this is new to the ultralight line since the military version of their packs all have it towards the front like most backpacks are...future change to the 3rd generation military line?

on top of the bladder compartment is a small chamber pouch (for keys, wallet, etc.) that's removable so you can buy a larger one.

the chamber pouch hangs via this metal 3-bar.

just turn it sideways to release it...the ku3700 has these attachment points all over the pack.

size reference of the chamber pouch.

adjustable torso length...more on the suspension/stays later.

normal type of shoulder straps this time unlike the zxr with it's quick release buckles.

 

[JV3]

the top lid is fixed unlike some of the military line's top loaders.

mine is the 110th ku3700.

there's a small opening behind the top lid for the water bladder's hose.

another change from the military line is the top lid's buckles are located at the bottom.

 

[JV3]

kifaru asks your height, weight, inseam, etc. when you order a pack and pre-adjusts the torso length for you and also provides an appropriate-sized waist belt...when i tighten it the padding wraps around my entire waist - there's no one-size fits-all deal here! the pack is custom-fitted to your specs.

upper and lower delta straps...makes a huge difference in shifting the weight closer to your back. notice the steep angle of the upper strap too - most packs i see the angle is too shallow to be effective.

the belt pouch from the military line also fits the ultralight's waist belt.

the waist belt is the only 2" wide strap on the whole pack...the rest of the pack uses 3/4" wide. this might be problematic though since most aftermarket buckles and strap keepers like itw are built for 1" wide straps. if you damage something, you'll have to contact kifaru for a replacement part instead.

there's velcro behind the single-row molle.

 

[JV3]

the lumbar pad is the same design as the military line (depending on the model, the thickness varies to reflect the different load-carrying specs).

changing the waist belt or stays is as simple as undoing the 3-bar on each side of the lumbar pad.

the waist belt is completely off here, exposing the composite stays...you can't use this pack without the waist belt by the way since the stays and shoulder straps connect to it.

 

[JV3]

wood and carbon fiber composite stays...i opted for the 24" (you have an option of 22" or 24" aluminum or ultralight composite stays). the only downside with the composite stays is you can't custom-bend it to your back unlike the aluminum ones if you have a weird shaped back.

the back reflects the stays' highly contoured shape.

the waist belt is completely off the pack...you can order a different size in case you gain/lose weight down the road.

at the top of the pack, here's the slot for the 22" stays.

and the slot for the 24" stays...you can always re-adjust the torso length.

where the stays connects with the waist belt. i can't find where i read it from but i think it's made from hypalon (same material as those inflatable boats they take on whitewater rafting, etc.). i'll edit this post with a link when i find the exact specs.

 

[JV3]

here are the major differences between the zxr (from the military line) and the ku3700 (from the ultralight line)...zxr on the left, ku3700 on the right:

they have the same exact suspension but the ku3700 (on the right) has thinner/smaller padding:

ku3700 on top.

the zxr's lumbar pad (on the left) is about 30% thicker than the ku3700's:

the zxr's waist belt (on the left) is about twice as thick as the ku3700's:

same waist belt shape and straps though but only one strip of molle webbing on the ku3700 (on the right):

the shoulder padding are the same thickness but the ku3700 (on the left) doesn't have the quick-release buckles in the zxr:

according to kifaru the ku3700 is made with a "proprietary double layer mil-spec ultra high tenacity american nylon" and "it's not silnylon, it's much tougher and maybe even lighter" - it's the same material as their shelters basically. i still don't know the exact specs/strength of that material (lots of speculation from competing makers' users/lots of heated debates on the boards, and kifaru is keeping their formula secret)..anyway, the zxr is made with 1000 denier cordura.

ku3700's (top) wood & carbon fiber composite stay compared to the zxr's aluminum (both are 24" long):

the 24" ultralight stays is 17 oz lighter than the 24" aluminum stays (pair).

 

[JV3]

ultralight long pocket top zip. specs: 500 cubic inches - 4.5 oz. here's kifaru's page for it: http://www.kifaru.net/longpocket.html.

here it is docked in front of the ku3700...you can fit 2 on each side, 1 in front, 1 on the top lid, and 1 on the bottom of the ku3700.

next to the military line's long pocket (it's 150 cubic inches larger and 9.5 oz heavier).

the ultralight has no molle webbing on the back though.

instead it has anchor points for the 3-bar.

one of the straps from the lash kit can be used as a shoulder strap.

the military line's shoulder strap kinda works but the ultralight's webbing is a tad too narrow that the female buckle can slip off.

all the strapping on the ultralight line uses 3/4" webbing (except for the waist belt which uses 2" wide webbing). the military line uses the standard 1" wide webbing (top one in this pic).

more loop options on the front (i used the orange paracord to show it).

real world capacity is a 900 ml pot and about 7 mountain house pro-pak freeze dried meals...although i use it to store my shelter (8'x10' tarp with cordage and stakes), first aid kit and my knife with survival kit for quick access so i don't have to open up the main pack and dig for it.

 

[JV3]

the lash kit consists of 2 straps (anchor point to anchor point it is 57" or 4'9" long) with quick-release buckles on both ends and a small ultralight pullout for storage (here's kifaru's page for the pullouts: http://www.kifaru.net/pullouts.html). it can connect to 5 positions on the main body, or on the top lid or at the bottom of the ku3700. here's kifaru's page for it: http://www.kifaru.net/KU_straps.html.

quick-release buckle on each end and it's anchored by a 3-bar to the ku3700.

bottom anchor points...there's also a set on the top lid.

there's 5 sets of these anchor points on the main body (2 on each side and 1 in front).

the straps are super long - enough to strap down 3 of the thermarest foam pads or anything that bulky.

 

[JV3]

update: i've used it on several overnighters now and i think i'll probably order the ku5200's thicker padded belt for this down the road. not from trip to trip but when i compare the ku3700's belt with the zxr's on the same day, i can tell an increase in comfort with the zxr's thicker padded waist belt even with 20 lbs or less load.

also, another thing i wish they built into the ku3700 is a pair of bottom compression straps instead of the optional lash kit (to save more weight, owners can just cut the straps off)...when it's nowhere near loaded to capacity (like on a day hike) i can't quite cinch the bottom down tight enough with the lash kit since the dual quick-release buckles are already touching. what happens is that most of the contents then migrates to the very bottom of the pack rather than distributed inside just the way i like it...built-in compression straps would've been able to cinch it down tight...too bad kifaru discontinued the 2200 recently, otherwise that'd be a better day hike pack than a fully-compressed ku3700.

the ku3700 is still my preferred overnighter pack but i'm now in the hunt for a better day hiking pack (pm me if you have a new ku2200 for sale!).

 

[JV3]

[ placeholder for future comments, if any ]

 

[Mossyhorn]

A superb revue. I'd like to see some updates later on how well the ultralite material holds up. I noticed a long time ago that packs with a light colored material inside the pack allow for much better viewing of the interior much better than the standard black. The composite stays remind me of the limbs on a longbow. I think that they're a good idea on an ultralite pack. I also appreciate that you took the time to take quality photos.

 

[fmajor007]

Nice review JV. It's cool watching how you're growing in your knowledge of the various backpacking gear. Your reviews are always a pleasure to read (lotsa pics - everyone likes pics!).

 

[Daniel L]

Great pics. What's the weight difference between the aluminum stays versus the wood/CF stays?

 

[ROCK6]

JV3, you need to let Kifaru see these pictures, these are great review pictures!

ROCK6

 

[JV3]

A superb revue. I'd like to see some updates later on how well the ultralite material holds up. I noticed a long time ago that packs with a light colored material inside the pack allow for much better viewing of the interior much better than the standard black. The composite stays remind me of the limbs on a longbow. I think that they're a good idea on an ultralite pack. I also appreciate that you took the time to take quality photos.

thanks! i'll be sure to update this thread a year later or if something happens to the material. what i like is that it's already waterproof (except the seams) so i don't have to take a rain cover with it...i already hiked in the rain twice with it and my gear stayed dry although i'll still seam seal it later.

one damage i already saw on the kifaru forum is when an owner strapped it down on an atv on a hunting trip and the cordage rubbed a hole through the material.

Nice review JV. It's cool watching how you're growing in your knowledge of the various backpacking gear. Your reviews are always a pleasure to read (lotsa pics - everyone likes pics!).

thanks! this might be my last review though since i finally have all my gear sorted out.

Great pics. What's the weight difference between the aluminum stays versus the wood/CF stays?

thanks! the aluminum stays (pair) is 17 oz heavier than the composites.

JV3, you need to let Kifaru see these pictures, these are great review pictures!

ROCK6

thanks! i'll probably post the same pics over on the kifaru forum to help future owners although i'm not happy with the lighting on most of the pics.

 

[fmajor007]

thanks! this might be my last review though since i finally have all my gear sorted out.

All sorted for now....... Come back in 4 years and if you haven't changed your mind a bit and/or bought another pack i'd be quite surprised!

 

[JV3]

update: i've used it on several overnighters now and i think i'll probably order the ku5200's thicker padded belt for this down the road. not from trip to trip but when i compare the ku3700's belt with the zxr's on the same day, i can tell an increase in comfort with the zxr's thicker padded waist belt even with 20 lbs or less load.

also, another thing i wish they built into the ku3700 is a pair of bottom compression straps instead of the optional lash kit (to save more weight, owners can just cut the straps off)...when it's nowhere near loaded to capacity (like on a day hike) i can't quite cinch the bottom down tight enough with the lash kit since the dual quick-release buckles are already touching. what happens is that most of the contents then migrates to the very bottom of the pack rather than distributed inside just the way i like it...built-in compression straps would've been able to cinch it down tight...too bad kifaru discontinued the 2200 recently, otherwise that'd be a better day hike pack than a fully-compressed ku3700.

the ku3700 is still my preferred overnighter pack but i'm now in the hunt for a better day hiking pack (pm me if you have a new ku2200 for sale!).