Front loading the kakwa
Hey everyone, I’m in the market for my 1st pack for multi days. I expect my typical load to be around 15kg (33 lbs), but I need the option to carry more. The Kakwa 55 is high on my list because it can comfortably handle that weight. However, I really love the concept of Aarn packs and storing gear on the front of the body to act as a counterweight and and be super easily accessible while offering more volume than standard hipbelt pockets. I'm not looking for pockets as big as the full sized balance pockets, something more compact but a bit bigger than the standard shoulder strap pockets on the kakwa with volume of a few litres. I actually asked Dan about this, and he suggested checking in here to see if anyone has experimented with this setup. Has anyone successfully rigged their own front-loading setup / balance pockets onto a Kakwa 40 or 55? Did the pack feel more comfortable on your body, or did it make no difference at all? If you haven’t done it, how would you go about front loading the Kakwa's shoulder straps/hipbelt without messing up the carry? Appreciate any insights or DIY rigging tips.
Thanks, all.