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Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Duckslayer89 on September 20, 2015, 12:46:55 AM


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Title: Bad gear break down!
Post by: Duckslayer89 on September 20, 2015, 12:46:55 AM
2015 Kifaru hunting frame: worked flawlessly and amazingly comfortable, wore every dAy for 7 day elk hunt and 4 day deer hunt. EXCEPT stiching came apart where the belt is sewn around the frame sheet on the right side. Still carries everything perfect but shouldn't have happened. Other side is still good and intact.

Lathrop and sons synergy footbeds: been great and no blisters probably over 120+ miles on them this year until the top fabric part came off the gel portion causing slipping and annoying folding of fabric over gel. Not ok for 50 dollar insoles.

Trophy taker drop away rest: probably the most disappointing situation. My brothers bow with one of the trophy taker drop away prong rests broke 3 days before the end of the hunt. Sitting there in a meadow and looked down at his bow and the arm/prong that lifts the arrow up had completely sheered off at the base and his bow/hunt was over 6 miles into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Really pissed me off. He wasn't mad at all but I was disappointed for him. This was his week off too hunt. We buy the best too make sure it lasts and is reliable.

Emailed lathrop and sons. They want pics of the damage but say they will send a new pair out as soon as they can. Trophy taker hasn't emailed back yet. I'm not emailing Kifaru until the season is over because I know it will probably take 2 months to fix. I might just take it too a boot/shoe repair shop and have them sew it back up. Disappointing considering my dads 20 year old jansport backpack hasn't had any issues and has 20x the miles on it.
Title: Re: Bad gear break down!
Post by: jackelope on September 20, 2015, 01:31:01 PM
Id encourage you to get hold of Aron and see what he can do for you re: the Kifaru pack.


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Title: Re: Bad gear break down!
Post by: Duckslayer89 on September 20, 2015, 02:06:31 PM
Id encourage you to get hold of Aron and see what he can do for you re: the Kifaru pack.


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Ya I don't want to complain about it but it's only 2 weeks old. Maybe design flaw but they say they have tested it for 3 years. Only took 2 weeks to rip with me and I took care of it.
Title: Re: Bad gear break down!
Post by: Tim in Wa. on September 20, 2015, 02:52:53 PM
Excellent thread,most guys won't complain about faulty gear just because they spent so much
Title: Re: Bad gear break down!
Post by: brocka on September 20, 2015, 07:22:46 PM
I'd be willing to bet that the pack isn't a design flaw. Most likely QA on the sewing is to blame.

These threads are great but I sure hope you follow up with how the company fixed the problems for ya!
Title: Re: Bad gear break down!
Post by: Dr. Death on September 21, 2015, 07:12:44 AM
PM me, I can help you with your Trophy Taker issue.  :tup:
Title: Re: Bad gear break down!
Post by: ctwiggs1 on September 21, 2015, 07:32:48 AM
Sometimes manufacturing defects just happen.  It sucks but in the end if humans are involved mistakes can happen.
Title: Re: Bad gear break down!
Post by: Duckslayer89 on September 28, 2015, 10:56:03 PM
UPDATE: LATHROP AND SONS: Sent a new pair of footbeds as soon as I emailed them pictures of the faulty footbed. They were seriously fantastic even after the little seperation, no blisters or hotspots. New pair arrived today!

TROPHY TAKER: says they are going to warrantee the rest out, I emailed them pictures yesterday. Waiting on the email saying they sent a new rest...

KIFARU: Still haven't even notified them. To much of the season still to be without my pack. Wondering if I might just stick with my idea of having boot repair shop resew and inform KIFARU and let them know what happened. Idk I really don't want to send the pack back its like 30 bucks in shipping and takes 4 weeks to return maybe more for a repair?? Boot repair shops really know how to sew too! Especially the one in Bonney Lake by Safeway I had him fix a super nice oiled canvas browning gun case for my grandpas old model 1895 original 30-40 Krag. He did amazing job hand stiched everything.
Title: Re: Bad gear break down!
Post by: Booyah13 on September 29, 2015, 07:29:33 AM
Had to take my Trophy Taker Smackdown Pro rest apart once and re-tighten everything 3 times this season. Luckily I packed allen wrenches. Frustrating buying the best only to have it fail like cheap trash.
Title: Re: Bad gear break down!
Post by: bracer40 on September 29, 2015, 07:35:36 AM
Sorry to hear about equip. Failures. I've always been real happy with my Trophy rest as have by buddies.
Title: Re: Bad gear break down!
Post by: Stein on September 29, 2015, 07:37:34 AM
It won't be pretty, but if you fix it with this it will stayed fixed for a very long time.

http://www.amazon.com/Speedy-Stitcher-1125-Sewing-Awl/dp/B000HGIJQ4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443537439&sr=8-1&keywords=sewing+awl
Title: Re: Bad gear break down!
Post by: DIYARCHERYJUNKIE on September 29, 2015, 08:07:25 AM
My spotHogg release failed this year and when I switched to my old wrist release it hit three feet left.......  120$ release and it fails first season...  Tried to take it apart to free up the hinge but I dropped most of the hardware in the grass trying to fix it. 
Title: Re: Bad gear break down!
Post by: Duckslayer89 on September 29, 2015, 09:03:39 AM
Had to take my Trophy Taker Smackdown Pro rest apart once and re-tighten everything 3 times this season. Luckily I packed allen wrenches. Frustrating buying the best only to have it fail like cheap trash.

My XTREME FC has been great but now you have me worried...
Title: Re: Bad gear break down!
Post by: RadSav on September 29, 2015, 09:42:32 AM
My spotHogg release failed this year and when I switched to my old wrist release it hit three feet left.......  120$ release and it fails first season...  Tried to take it apart to free up the hinge but I dropped most of the hardware in the grass trying to fix it.

Change release and hit 3 feet left?  Where you shooting at 150 yards? :tung:  I change releases all the time.  Never more than a few inches different at 40 yards.  3 feet - That's Crazy!
Title: Re: Bad gear break down!
Post by: DIYARCHERYJUNKIE on September 29, 2015, 10:36:03 AM
Ones a thumb release and ones a wrist release. 
Title: Re: Bad gear break down!
Post by: RadSav on September 29, 2015, 11:51:21 AM
Ones a thumb release and ones a wrist release.

That's usually what I carry too.  I like having both with me in the field.  Wrist while walking and still hunting.  Thumb (shot as pinky) for sitting or on stand.  Saturday Night Special has always been a good release for me.  Surprised you had issues.  Very weird indeed!
Title: Re: Bad gear break down!
Post by: DIYARCHERYJUNKIE on September 29, 2015, 01:10:04 PM
That's the one.  Three finger.  The clasp was HARD to get out.  Pre season it flipped out fine every shot.  For months.  Then during season it got wet and banged on everything I own as it flops around, a lot more than I'm use to.  It was just tough to get out and close it.  Then I figured no difference and threw the wrist release on and broke the bucks back at 60 meters.  Had to walk up to him and stick him at five feet.  No left then.  I'll just get closer for the wrist release.   :chuckle:  I still have yet to check on the target but both shots taken at 50 and 60 where ridiculous as far as left goes.

Maybe cause you release w the outer part of your hand (pinky) for both releases you don't get the variation?  It switches the trigger side of the release.  Thumb on the right and finger (wrist) on the left.  I had to move the sight ten or so clicks to the right when I switched releases.
Title: Re: Bad gear break down!
Post by: D-Rock425 on September 29, 2015, 01:15:42 PM
Sounds like an anchor point problem to me.  If I switch from a wristband to a t handle I'm off target a ways simply because of my anchor point.  But normally up and down more so then left and right.
Title: Re: Bad gear break down!
Post by: JustinC on September 29, 2015, 02:24:21 PM
UPDATE: LATHROP AND SONS: Sent a new pair of footbeds as soon as I emailed them pictures of the faulty footbed. They were seriously fantastic even after the little seperation, no blisters or hotspots. New pair arrived today!

TROPHY TAKER: says they are going to warrantee the rest out, I emailed them pictures yesterday. Waiting on the email saying they sent a new rest...

KIFARU: Still haven't even notified them. To much of the season still to be without my pack. Wondering if I might just stick with my idea of having boot repair shop resew and inform KIFARU and let them know what happened. Idk I really don't want to send the pack back its like 30 bucks in shipping and takes 4 weeks to return maybe more for a repair?? Boot repair shops really know how to sew too! Especially the one in Bonney Lake by Safeway I had him fix a super nice oiled canvas browning gun case for my grandpas old model 1895 original 30-40 Krag. He did amazing job hand stiched everything.

I wouldn't call Aron right now. He will be headed out to continue a goat hunt shortly, and can be hard to get a hold of this time of year. (He's out testing gear)

If you call the Kifaru shop and let them know about your problem, they will take care of you. I have destroyed some of their gear, and never waited 4 weeks for a repair. Ask for Frank when you call. I also have an extra that you are welcome to use while yours is being repaired, or replaced. Looks like I just live a few miles from you. PM me if you would like to go that route.
Title: Re: Bad gear break down!
Post by: stromdiddily on September 29, 2015, 02:30:43 PM
KIFARU: Still haven't even notified them. To much of the season still to be without my pack. Wondering if I might just stick with my idea of having boot repair shop resew and inform KIFARU and let them know what happened. Idk I really don't want to send the pack back its like 30 bucks in shipping and takes 4 weeks to return maybe more for a repair?? Boot repair shops really know how to sew too! Especially the one in Bonney Lake by Safeway I had him fix a super nice oiled canvas browning gun case for my grandpas old model 1895 original 30-40 Krag. He did amazing job hand stiched everything.

I'd be willing to bet good money they'd let you keep your pack for the rest of the season before  sending it back. Found a hole in my First Lite shirt first weekend of deer season and they just said to return it whenever I was done hunting. When small companies like that charge as much as they do most are willing to work with you when it comes to returns/exchanges.
Title: Re: Bad gear break down!
Post by: Karl Blanchard on September 29, 2015, 03:49:06 PM
Like has been said before, manufacturing defects happen.  Doesn't mean they are bad products, it just happens.  I guarantee Kifaru will back there stuff 110%.

I just got a pair of the First Lite Kanab 2.0 pants and the first time I wore them, the crotch blew out.  I was gonna have my wife stitch them back up, but being the smart woman she is, she called them to make sure that sewing them wouldn't void any warranty coverage.  We'll she was right.  We sent them pics, told me to wear them through my Idaho hunt and then return them and they will replace them.  So if it were me, I WOULD NOT have your pack frame sewn, as it may void the warranty for any future issues you may have.
Title: Re: Bad gear break down!
Post by: jedbuzz on October 02, 2015, 02:34:21 PM
regarding the trophy taker smackdown pro...  If the actuator string is too tight a couple of the bolts will work loose.. Thing has to be set just right...
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