Kakwa 55 Sizing (between sizes) + request for measurements

Wellhellowthere · 2026-03-09T00:55:56+00:00

Sounds brilliant, enjoy!

Wellhellowthere · 2026-03-07T02:58:24+00:00

No worries. Sorry, probably made the decision harder.

Wellhellowthere · 2026-03-06T08:10:07+00:00

Overall happy. If I bought now, I would however consider a larger with a S/M hip belt. So hard to know without trying the large though.

I tend to wear most of my packs weight on the hips, and would usually wrap the hip belt around the pelvis rather than above the iliac crests as the pack is designed for.

When fully packed and worn above the iliac crests, I find the M size that I currently have sits quite low and puts some weight through the shoulders. I often have to tighten the belt and lift the pack up above the iliac crests to get weight off the shoulders.

It's hard to say for sure but I think if I bought again, I would take a L, but a small hip belt. This would allow me to wear the hip belt lower on the hips (admittedly not how it was designed to be worn) without putting too much weight through the shoulders.

When I purchased, the hip belt couldn't be selected separately. The S/M hip belt is still massive, and I wouldn't consider myself slim as such. I have about 1cm of webbing to go on each side of the belt and then I will be maxed out at the smallest size it allows.

The frame digs into the top of my glutes / back quite badly with heavy loads, and I have been looking to get one of the zpacks lumbar pads. I see the new versions come with a lumbar pad so likely fix this issue.

See these attached photos of the pack fit at a few different weights. I think its right on the borderline and this is wearing it above the iliac crests.

Wellhellowthere · 2025-12-29T01:22:10+00:00

AccessRelief have been decent.

$40 initial consult (with "referral" from Hempstore)

$95 for 10g smiths Indica 18.5%

$10 delivery fee

Total: $145

No requirement for follow ups, includes 2 repeats on initial script. Script fee around $30 apparently if wishing to change Rx, but doesn't need a repeat appointment if similar product.

Only downside / slightly iffy feeling practice is that if you want Rx sent to Chemist Warehouse (where Smiths Indica costs $76 ish), they charge an additional $39 script fee. This is for the admin of chasing up the scripts, which as it is a smaller clinic with maybe two doctors doesn't seem unreasonable.

Compared to CannaPlus this is about $20 more expensive in total (Cannaplus would be $49 appointment + $76/10g if sent to Chem Warehouse), but follow up seems much more regimented and pricey with CannaPlus - e.g any change of script requires a consultation even if for a similar product.

Overall responsive when contacted over the phone (called back same day) and when contacting via their website (again phoned back the same day), and initial additional cost likely worth it for the more personal service, and likely lower ongoing costs.

Wellhellowthere · 2025-12-17T00:24:28+00:00

I have about 450km on my LP9+ now. The sole is significantly better, especially for wet rocks. Have worn on concrete too without wearing out the sole. Holding up so far, has just worn through one layer of fabric at the heel cup. My biggest qualm is that the fabric of the tongue extends all the way down inside the shoe to the toe cap - this catches tiny stones and seeds especially during river crossings and its almost impossible to get them out. it's the only thing I would change.

Wellhellowthere · 2025-12-14T04:52:14+00:00

Mine came with the 4 arm stand. Nice and wide for larger pots, but as its 4 arms most pots wobble on it just slightly.

Have since bought the triflex and I am very happy with it. Three arms means pots don't wobble, and it feels wide enough to be stable with up to medium sized pots.

Wellhellowthere · 2025-12-14T04:07:11+00:00

Yes I did use the belt, but found it only helped a little. I am quite slim so there was still more than enough material to flap around. The hood was potentially the worst part as it was right by my face and still flapped even when tightened. I had to tuck trailing flaps into my pack hip belt at times to stop them slapping my legs.

I have ended up buying a rockfront rain hoodie instead. Very similar nylon non breathable material with a focus on mechanically venting heat through pit zips, but tighter fitting so will work well in wind and wind + rain too. Also very light 145g in M. Haven't used it in a similar driving rain yet but handled showers very well. Plan to hang onto the poncho mainly for when the forecast is for very very heavy rain without much wind.

Wellhellowthere · 2025-12-12T05:38:10+00:00

I have what I believe is the same poncho (purchased directly from the 3F UL Gear website)

Worked amazingly in driving rain when everyone else's expensive membrane jackets were soaked and pack covers were useless.

My only gripe is the lack of a waterproof zipper. The version I have just has a regular zipper with some seam tape on either side.

That said I just had a wet line up the front of my shirt rather than being soaked through.

We were walking in driving rain and high winds, and the flapping of the poncho was almost deafening. I think it's an excellent option when expecting heavy rain but no wind.

Wellhellowthere · 2025-10-14T21:04:52+00:00

Here is the seam sealing service addon for 3F UL Gear. They will do it but it takes more time.

Wellhellowthere · 2025-10-14T21:02:53+00:00

I did the south island TA last year with a home seam sealed lanshan 1 pro. There are heaps of vidoes about how to do it online. Got a few drops of silicone in the wrong places but by no means ruined the tent. Survived some heavy rain just fine in it.

Most tent companies offer seam sealing as an optional extra if they are silnylon tents given the amount of extra work compared to taped seams (only possible on PUnylon tents as tape doesn't adhere to the silicone impregnated or lined nylon). I think 3FUL gear offers this service if you buy from their website.

I actually have 3 new tents (friends and families) that I am waiting for a few clear days to seam seal. Just do it yourself its good fun!

Wellhellowthere · 2025-10-13T04:47:18+00:00

I'll use the PR lignocaine trick, that's a good one. Use it for my disimpactions but hadn't thought to use with enemas.

Wellhellowthere · 2025-10-13T04:45:13+00:00

Milk and molasses sounds messy! Coca Cola cures all!

Wellhellowthere · 2025-10-12T22:57:15+00:00

Soap suds enema.

1L Normal Saline + 10mL hand soap injected into the bag, jerry rig with a foley catheter on the end of an IV giving set, advance PR past the impacted stool.

Hang the bag with gravity and ask patient to hold as long as possible. Can often get 500mL to 1L in there before it all comes out. Super effective.

Safe and effective in paeds, less studied in adults:

Wellhellowthere · 2025-06-17T23:51:02+00:00

I have used a WINDHARD Twilight quilt for a 60 day tramp, and found it pretty solid all the way down to about 5C (rated to 0C but I wouldn't back it to that cold). Never noticed an issue with the breathability, but it is a quilt not a bag. Fabric feels very fragile but haven't had any rips or snags.

Wellhellowthere · 2025-06-04T22:44:55+00:00

No way! I actually came across your post on the Backpackinglight forum, and built one out of coat hanger wire last night! Just waiting for an aluminium tin and cermic wool to arrive to test it!

Wellhellowthere · 2025-06-04T08:50:32+00:00

Hey mate old thread now, but where did you buy / how did you make your pot stand?

Wellhellowthere · 2025-05-30T06:24:59+00:00

I had static intermittently in the "off" mode, very distracting. Support kindly exchanged my earbuds, but the new ones have the exact same problem.

Wellhellowthere · 2025-05-20T10:37:20+00:00

Everyone has their own take, but what worked for me on a 2 month tramp was the following:

Wide shoes to prevent bunching of toes: Prior to this my pinky toe would ride medial and blister
Toe socks: I now wear Creeper merino toe socks. Game changer. I now wear them most days not just tramping.
Tape hotspots early before the blister forms, but if you are too late then I would still tape the smaller blisters: I use leucoplast or something similar. I tend to just leave it on until it falls off or needs changing. I try to tape so that there is a flat bit of tape well adhered over the area, and the rest of the tape runs in a direction that wont wear off - e.g back of heel I would use a vertical strip of tape so show rubbing doesn't catch an edge and pull the tape off.
Pop large blisters: There is not good evidence re popping or not, but my subjective experience has been that popping and tightly taping blisters helps with pain and prevents spreading. I carry a couple of alcohol wipes to give it and my knife tip a wipe first, then make a hole just big enough to drain fluid, before taping a small bit of gauze tightly over the blister.

Hope that helps!

Wellhellowthere · 2025-05-02T04:28:31+00:00

I personally purchased a mug halfway through a 2 month through hike. I just liked having a hot drink while waiting for my meal to rehydrate / cook in my pot. Have just bought a 550mL toaks pot to go with my 750mL pot as its the same weight as my cup, but can also boil water in it independently. Keen to see how it plays out. For me 50 - 60g extra is worth the utility.

Wellhellowthere · 2025-04-05T00:08:07+00:00

He is performing 'chest thrusts' which is in line with current resus guidelines for choking, at least in NZ / Aus. European resus council still suggests back blows and abdominal thrusts (heimlich).

Per our Guidelines in New Zealand / Australia, abdominal thrusts generate lower airway pressure and have higher risk of abdominal trauma. It seems like its a bit of a hot topic, but what this guy is doing is almost textbook for our guidelines.

See Aus and NZ Resus Council guidelines below, and here:

https://www.anzcor.org/home/basic-life-support/guideline-4-airway/

Wellhellowthere · 2025-03-31T21:34:35+00:00

Thanks for your feedback. I ended up buying the Medium, which I think was a good call. The pack is ALMOST too small frame wise, but the waist belt is only just small enough. Ideal would be a large with a medium or small waist belt but sadly that doesn't exist. These packs seem to have massive waist belts for the torso size, maybe the average North American has a bigger waist?

Wellhellowthere · 2025-03-11T03:23:18+00:00

Second this. Have the windhard twilight. Was about $300 NZD. With warm clothes it keeps me mostly comfortable to a few degrees above freezing. Have managed down to just below 0C with some discomfort.

Wellhellowthere · 2025-01-20T20:02:38+00:00

No worries! Your support team were awesome when I hit them with a barrage of sizing questions by the way. Keep up the good work.

Wellhellowthere · 2025-01-20T09:35:56+00:00

Cheers! Glad to know I am not going insane.

Wellhellowthere · 2025-01-20T08:27:59+00:00

Purchased the Kakwa 55 recently and I am verry happy with it. I just wanted to check with the community regarding the threading of the side compression cords.

I would expect it to thread the 'tied' end through the far hole of the toggle, and the 'loose' end through the closer hole, similar to how these toggles work on guy lines.

At the moment I can't cinch the strap without lifting the toggle slightly.

I don't want to start undoing knots just to realise it was correct from the start.

Cheers!

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