Durston Kakwa 55
The Kakwa has been a crowd-pleaser for a reason, and I’ve loved it on the trips I’ve done with my older version. I’ve got the updated Kakwa 55 coming because I want to see how it addresses the hip hot spots and capacity quirks I ran into before.
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Pros
- +Sub-2 lb pack in a strong value tier
- +Durable, mostly-waterproofish fabric that’s great for desert hiking
- +Well-regarded design from Dan Durston
Cons
- -Older version gave me hip hot spots due to minimal padding
- -Earlier sizing/capacity felt maxed out for my load style
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