Drop/Durston Pack

[Jaco]

The name can be a bit deceiving. Kakwa 40 wrestles with the big boys category volume wise.

I'm a wee bit skeptical of the outside pockets fitting 15l as my (wife's) DD40 can't do it, and as far as I know the side pockets aren't bigger on the Kakwa, although the mesh might be. Here's the DD40 filled up for a week, which expands into the floating pocket's space; that 1 litre bottle alongside wouldn't fit in the pockets many times

 

[Odd Man]

I'm a wee bit skeptical of the outside pockets fitting 15l as my (wife's) DD40 can't do it, and as far as I know the side pockets aren't bigger on the Kakwa, although the mesh might be. Here's the DD40 filled up for a week, which expands into the floating pocket's space; that 1 litre bottle alongside wouldn't fit in the pockets many times

View attachment 40403

I think Dan said that right side pocket fit 2 1l smart water bottles. Then the left side pocket is taller, with an additional zip pocket. Might be that the new shoulder strap pockets have been counted in as 2x 500ml = 1l?

 

[dandurston]

We don’t put an official capacity rating on the external pockets because it’s pretty wonky on how you measure it and it’s inconsistent with how packs have historically been rated. However, a lot of competing packs are rating that capacity and often even including it in the headline spec (eg Arc Haul 60).

So on the website I say “approx 15L” and then in more detail (such as on forums like this) what I usually say is that the external pockets would ‘typically be rated at about 15L as that is what many similar competing packs add”. That provides some more for customers info without adopting that system of putting a hard number on it and counting it as part of the main capacity.

Anyways, the Kakwa 40 is similar to other “60L packs” like the Mariposa, ULA Ohm, and Zpacks Arc Haul 60 - but still is substantially smaller than a traditional 60L pack. I’d rather we didn’t call any of these packs 60L becomes it’s inconsistent with historical norms and confuses people new to light/UL packs.

The new mesh pocket does hold a bit more than the DD40 front pocket.

 

[Jaco]

I think Dan said that right side pocket fit 2 1l smart water bottles. Then the left side pocket is taller, with an additional zip pocket. Might be that the new shoulder strap pockets have been counted in as 2x 500ml = 1l?

Interesting point, I didn't consider the front pockets, which are indeed a bit larger and more useful.

We don’t put an official capacity rating on the external pockets because it’s pretty wonky on how you measure it and it’s inconsistent with how packs have historically been rated.

Yeah, the volume claims for some packs seem really nebulous and I think that saying 'this pack has exactly this much volume in the main pocket and overall holds as much as these competing ones' is fair enough so that you're not selling yourself short, but it would be good if the standard was what fits inside the pockets of a full pack.

As an aside, on a forum (Drop?) someone asked if the DD40 could hold enough for a week and you replied with something along the lines of 'yes, but you have to have your gear dialled in'. That was super-useful for me and perhaps it could be added to the website FAQ? How much can the Kakwa 40 hold: for a typical three-season hike with the medium pack and lightweight gear & food, up to one week is a reasonable limit, <here's> an example gear list.

Anyways, I don't mean to be picky and as it happens I'm going to the Scottish Highlands tonight for a week, with the DD40 in the pic above loaded up to the gills. It's an oldie but a goodie

 

[pie]

The Atompacks Mo 50 has a main body of 45l compared to the Kakwa 40's 40l.

Much prefer it when manufacturers do it the traditional way of just giving the volume of the main body. The ultralight standard of adding on some random amount for the additional pockets is annoying.

 

[dandurston]

....perhaps it could be added to the website FAQ? How much can the Kakwa 40 hold

Added. Thanks.

 

[pie]

.

 

[Padstowe]

The Atompacks Mo 50 has a main body of 45l compared to the Kakwa 40's 40l.

Much prefer it when manufacturers do it the traditional way of just giving the volume of the main body. The ultralight standard of adding on some random amount for the additional pockets is annoying.

Have they changed the Mo then? It used to be 40L internal with 5L rear pocket and 2 x 2.5L side pockets.

 

[MattK]

I guess it makes sense if you have a synthetic quilt and bear canister. Atom Packs ought to make a Mo70 as I reckon the frame and harness can manage heavy loads.

Once you've factored in the front mesh you're pretty close to 70L on the Mo60 as it is, if you go for bullet mesh. My Mo60 is probably in the region of 75L with all the pocket customisations I had.

On the Challenge last month, when fully laden for 4-5 days, it carried well but I was finding the webbing at the bottom end of the shoulder straps was slipping over time. So the frame and harness can handle a heavy load, but it feels like the straps are on the edge. At one point I had 19kg on board.

 

[MattK]

Have they changed the Mo then? It used to be 40L internal with 5L rear pocket and 2 x 2.5L side pockets.

Atompacks don't include the front mesh pocket in the volume - it's main body plus 5L for the side pockets = headline capacity (ie number in the model name). So you always get at least 5L extra for the front mesh, or 10L if you go bullet mesh.

 

[Robin]

Once you've factored in the front mesh you're pretty close to 70L on the Mo60 as it is, if you go for bullet mesh. My Mo60 is probably in the region of 75L with all the pocket customisations I had.

On the Challenge last month, when fully laden for 4-5 days, it carried well but I was finding the webbing at the bottom end of the shoulder straps was slipping over time. So the frame and harness can handle a heavy load, but it feels like the straps are on the edge. At one point I had 19kg on board.

I was thinking of a pack you might use in somewhere like Sarek where you would need 10-12 days food plus some colder weather gear. If I were doing something like that I think I’d use my Lightwave Ultrahike 60 which is way bigger on internal volume than my Mo50 and probably quite a bit bigger than the Mo60. My GG Mariposa has quite a bit more volume in the main compartment than the Mo50 too, but don’t think it would carry the weight that a Mo could. Interesting about the straps.

 

[MattK]

I was thinking of a pack you might use in somewhere like Sarek where you would need 10-12 days food plus some colder weather gear. If I were doing something like that I think I’d use my Lightwave Ultrahike 60 which is way bigger on internal volume than my Mo50 and probably quite a bit bigger than the Mo60. My GG Mariposa has quite a bit more volume in the main compartment than the Mo50 too, but don’t think it would carry the weight that a Mo could. Interesting about the straps.

Yeah, they look to have tried to shave a bit of weight off the straps. Never been a problem on my Atom+ or Mo50, and I don't think it's just the increased size/load on the 60, although clearly that will have some bearing.

 

[Padstowe]

Atompacks don't include the front mesh pocket in the volume - it's main body plus 5L for the side pockets = headline capacity (ie number in the model name). So you always get at least 5L extra for the front mesh, or 10L if you go bullet mesh.

I know when I ordered a custom Mo with 50L internal a mistake was made and I got the standard at the time 40L internal, it got sent back, but this was 4 yrs ago I think.

 

[MattK]

I know when I ordered a custom Mo with 50L internal a mistake was made and I got the standard at the time 40L internal, it got sent back, but this was 4 yrs ago I think.

All 3 of my Atompacks are newer than that, so I guess they standardised how they measure/quote it since you bought yours then.

 

[pie]

Have they changed the Mo then? It used to be 40L internal with 5L rear pocket and 2 x 2.5L side pockets.

Must have because now it says 45l main body for the Mo 50.

 

[Jon Fong]

Quick update on the shipping: Kaviso did have more conservative weights/dimensions in their calculator and I worked with them on this, so the international rate are a bit lower now. Should be closer to $40 USD now instead of $50-$55.

Dan, I am flying overseas. Is a lighlty filled pack able to be carried on? I think the limits are 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches.

 

[dandurston]

The frame heights are 20, 22, and 24 inches for S, M and L. So only the large is over that 22" limit. Technically that is too tall but at least here in North America no one is actually measuring or checking.

 

[Odd Man]

The frame heights are 20, 22, and 24 inches for S, M and L. So only the large is over that 22" limit. Technically that is too tall but at least here in North America no one is actually measuring or checking.

You clearly haven't flown with EasyJet or Ryanair.

 

[Jon Fong]

The frame heights are 20, 22, and 24 inches for S, M and L. So only the large is over that 22" limit. Technically that is too tall but at least here in North America no one is actually measuring or checking.

Thanks. I went ahead and placed an order (L). I figured that I might be able to take the frame and pad out and store it in my checked lugage. I am flying from the US to Italy so we will see.

Ha, Ha. I just booked a flight from Sardinia to Milan on RyanAir.

 

[Odd Man]

Thanks. I went ahead and placed an order (L). I figured that I might be able to take the frame and pad out and store it in my checked lugage. I am flying from the US to Italy so we will see.

Ha, Ha. I just booked a flight from Sardinia to Milan on RyanAir.

Read the fine print. They charge for anything extra such as printing boarding passes for you at the airport etc....

 

[dandurston]

Yes you can get the large size to be shorter than 22" if you remove the frame. The 24" height is from the bottom of the pack to the load lifters, so if you rolled it down to the shoulder shoulder straps it would be 21".

 

[Jon Fong]

Yes you can get the large size to be shorter than 22" if you remove the frame. The 24" height is from the bottom of the pack to the load lifters, so if you rolled it down to the shoulder shoulder straps it would be 21".

So, RyanAir will allow you to take a carry on that measures no more than 55 cm (or 21.65") for an incremental cost of ~$14 for my 1 hour flight. Good to go.

 

[pie]

No one is checking baggage sizes in the UK. Every time I fly there are blatant violations, those people don't get paid enough to care. These days there aren't enough of them to even do the minimum let alone challenge their own customers.

 

[Dave V]

No one is checking baggage sizes in the UK. Every time I fly there are blatant violations, those people don't get paid enough to care. These days there aren't enough of them to even do the minimum let alone challenge their own customers.

I've flown with Logan Air recently and larger bags have made it to the aircraft but on two occasions the cabin crew have told the passengers they have to place the bags in the hold due to the size. The overhead lockers on a erj145 are pretty small and some of the bags are way way over the advertised limits.

 

[Jaco]

The right-hip side frame stay is abrading the VX21 fabric on our DD40. Any suggestions for how to prevent it getting worse? The plastic end cap is/was in place on the stay.