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Kifaru Ultralight Composite Stays
"Flexible” pack stays simply are not suitable in a real backpack.  With any load at all they collapse downwardly, wrecking the contour of the pack and inevitably placing it’s weight onto your shoulders instead of your hip girdle where it belongs.  After long research we abandoned pure carbon fiber and developed an innovative and proprietary stay consisting of a hybrid laminate of carbon fiber and exotic wood.  This composite stay was developed to provide exactly the same rigidity as the rugged aircraft aluminum stays that have been part of the legendary comfort of our regular packs—but at drastically less weight.  This long road traveled means you get exactly the same comfort from our KU packs as our standards, a worthwhile achievement indeed.  They are so good we are offering them as an option at order time on all our regular packs as well.  They are also available as retrofits for all our older packs. 

Our variable stay length options for each KU Pack ensures you receive the right "lift" function at the top of your shoulder straps.  (Hence the name Precision Lift PLUS for the system.)  The over-arching idea is to transfer the pack's weight to your hip girdle, which is far better able to handle weight than your shoulders--allowing you to travel father, faster, and be less tired along the way and especially at your destination. 

 The "lift" comes from a mechanism attached along the length of our rigid pack stays; these stays also support the whole pack and give it the correct contour so that our anatomical lumber pad and waistbelt cushions its ride on your hip girdle AND serve as the anchor points this shoulder strap lifting system.  The system connects from the stays to the top fronts of the shoulder straps, and when engaged, literally raise the straps off your shoulders so that no weight is bearing downward onto them.  For this to work the stays must be higher than your shoulders.  The height must be tall enough to allow for an angle between the tops of the shoulders and the location of the lifting mechanism on the stay.  This angle is important.  If there is no angle, the lifter strap functions more as a "snugger" strap.  Much taller and the lift angle makes the pack less secure.  Our system is unique--it is the only system that allows for infinite up-down adjustment so that you get precisely the right lift angle that suits you. 

All of this must account for your anatomy, especially your height and to some extent your torso length within your height profile since the pack rides on your upper body.  Shorter people need shorter pack stays to achieve a correct lift angle; taller people need longer stays to accomplish this.

The Dual Stay Program Our proprietary dual stay program means you can use two different stay lengths with the same pack.  The stays are interchangable at home, or in the field.  A second set for your son...or a second set for expedition-weight loads?  Etc.  You decide, the option is there.  With your Kifaru Ultralight Pack You can choose the correct stay height for your height and load-out needs. For your Traditional (non-KU) Kifaru Pack These composite stays will also retrofit any Kifaru pack you may own and shave up to 9 ounces off your pack weight. Order stays here if: 1. you'd like a set for your traditional Kifaru pack 2. you need a longer or shorter set for your KU pack 3. you have a flat back and need the aluminum stay option. Price: starting at $68.00 pair

Your Back Profile Most packers have a "normal" back profile that will work with these composite stays. However, if you have a "flat back", we can fit you perfectly with lighter ¾” aluminum stays with a “flat back” contour - saving you weight( as compared to our standard 1” stays) and provide you with what is still a significantly lightweight pack that actually fits your unique anatomy—a very good thing.We do not have a "flat back" option on our brand-new Composite stays at this time, but will reduce the price of your KU pack, as aluminum stays are less costly than our new composite versions. stay intro construction swapping stays

• 5200
• 3700
• 2200
• Fit

KU5200 Precision Lift Plus System
Two stay lengths available: 24" and 26"  

24 inch stays The KU5200 will easily carry 100+ pound loads. Of course you don't have to carry that much - the pack will feel wonderful with typical full boat backpack loads which will not be nearly that much. Still, that can be 60 pounds if the trip is long - select the 24 inch stays if you are around 6 ft. tall or less.

26 inch stays This length will accommodate men well beyond 6'6". It is also the length you'll want if you anticipate carrying seriously heavy loads and are somewhat shorter than 6'6", and if you are close to that and have a long torso. As always, if in doubt, select the longer stay. Click here for more Stay information

KU 3700 WrapTech Plus Suspension
Two stay lengths available: 22" and 24" 

22 inch stays For folks up through about 6' with light to moderate loads up through around 30lbs.  Men from about 5'11" who wish to carry up to and beyond the 2200's load rating of 40+ pounds would be better served with the 24" stay option.  (Heavy loads will inevitably push the pack downward just enough to call for a bit more stay length to put the lift angle where it should be.  Remember, our lifters adjust up-down so you can always position them "just right", light or heavy load.)  At the taller end for this stay length (5'11"/6') long torso guys should opt for the 24" stay.

24 inch stays Users from around 6'1" and up need this stay length. Six footers and a bit shorter if a long torso.  Men over 6'6" (or long-torso 6 1/2 footers) will find the 2200 with 24" stays comfortable even without the correct lift angle for the shoulder straps--as all the other comfort elements are exceedingly well designed.  Click here for more Stay information

 

KU 2200 Omni Precision Lift Plus Suspension
Two stay lengths available: 22" and 24"

22 inch stays For folks up through about 6' with light to moderate loads up through around 30lbs.  Men from about 5'11" who wish to carry up to and beyond the 2200's load rating of 40+ pounds would be better served with the 24" stay option.  (Heavy loads will inevitably push the pack downward just enough to call for a bit more stay length to put the lift angle where it should be.  Remember, our lifters adjust up-down so you can always position them "just right", light or heavy load.)  At the taller end for this stay length (5'11"/6') long torso guys should opt for the 24" stay.

24 inch stays Users from around 6'1" and up need this stay length. Six footers and a bit shorter if a long torso.  Men over 6'6" (or long-torso 6 1/2 footers) will find the 2200 with 24" stays comfortable even without the correct lift angle for the shoulder straps--as all the other comfort elements are exceedingly well designed.  Click here for more Stay information

 

		do we give them instructions here to determine their own torso length? even more confusion?