Backpack Shootout - 9 Backpacks Go HEAD to HEAD ***Updated 8/5/2020***

[HNTR918]

Great Job. Keep it Up!

I love when these types of third party reviews have comparisons.
Fan boys will get hurt, but that's what happens when you are biased to a brand.

 

[OldGrayJB]

I'm impressed that a couple of the hip belts stayed in place with that much weight. That's more than I'll ever carry. I'm not surprised that the SG carried weight so well, but a little surprised by the Kuiu. This might destroy their mid tier reputation and put them in a class with the industry leaders.

 

[spfarr]

Thanks for the time and energy put into reviewing all these packs.

 

[BenHankins]

Great review!


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[bozeman]

Great info! I am a chart/graph nerd, so I appreciate 'scratching that itch' with the data presentation. Looking forward to part 2.

 

[PMcGee]

Before the second part of your test, you should see if kifaru will send you an XS belt. I ran into similar issues as you and have a similar build. Swapping the xs for the small solved it for me. Thanks again for the reviews


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Same here


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[twall13]

Before the second part of your test, you should see if kifaru will send you an XS belt. I ran into similar issues as you and have a similar build. Swapping the xs for the small solved it for me. Thanks again for the reviews


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I'm a 32" waist and with a heavy load I'm awfully close to bottoming out my size small Kifaru belt so I'd be curious to see how that effects things for the OP as well. Either way, awesome review. It's fun to see so many quality packs put to the test.

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[DOESLAYER]

I'm surprised with the results so far...

 

[RockChucker30]

Thanks for all of the effort put into the review. Looking forward to seeing Part 2. I wonder if the seek would have been quicker to load in the revolution platform vs integrated, and how the xpac fabric would have done in the water test vs the spectra. On the load test, were you using any of the frame extensions, or just the standard 24" frame?

There are a couple things you can do to speed up the loading. I'm working on a packing heavy loads video that will cover some of it. The elevated external load shelf is the fastest method I know of.

X-Pac vs. Spectra....honestly in that test I don't know there would be a lot of difference. You could see water beading up on the Spectra fabric, it didn't look like it was penetrating. Meaning it was coming through the seams. I'd love to seam seal our pack and repeat the test. It'd also be interesting to see weight before water test and weight after.

 

[Read1t48]

Great review, Zach. Lots of work. Thanks.

 

[Felix40]

Great work.

 

[Rokwiia]

X-Pac vs. Spectra....honestly in that test I don't know there would be a lot of difference. You could see water beading up on the Spectra fabric, it didn't look like it was penetrating. Meaning it was coming through the seams. I'd love to seam seal our pack and repeat the test. It'd also be interesting to see weight before water test and weight after.

Was it required it not be seam sealed?

 

[IDWapiti]

Thanks for the energy you put into this! One BIG Q: The apparent winner is KUIU, but it's sort of odd you chose to review the ULTRA, rather than the PRO. The ULTRA isn't even listed on their site anymore and the PRO equivalent (w 6000 ci bag) is listed at 5lb, 13 oz - a full 1.6 lbs more than the tested ULTRA. For those looking to buy based on the review, KUIU is seemingly nullified - IF weight is a decision driver. Just wondering. Thanks again.

 

[sivart]

Did you notice a noise difference bet the packs with the shoulder strap material?

 

[Texasbuckeye]

As everyone else, appreciate the info and the time you spent putting it together. Part two
Will be very interesting if not similar.

I think the thing we will all find is packs are like boots, some packs fit better for some people and some Packs fit better for others. The impressive thing I found was the ability for most of the packs to carry 157# with out them all acting like the few that did it poorly. I would have guessed it the other way around. Lots of good options out there it seems

 

[Zach Herold]

Before the second part of your test, you should see if kifaru will send you an XS belt. I ran into similar issues as you and have a similar build. Swapping the xs for the small solved it for me. Thanks again for the reviews


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I currently have the XS belt on it.


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[Zach Herold]

Same here


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It has an XS belt on it.


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[Zach Herold]

Thanks for the energy you put into this! One BIG Q: The apparent winner is KUIU, but it's sort of odd you chose to review the ULTRA, rather than the PRO. The ULTRA isn't even listed on their site anymore and the PRO equivalent (w 6000 ci bag) is listed at 5lb, 13 oz - a full 1.6 lbs more than the tested ULTRA. For those looking to buy based on the review, KUIU is seemingly nullified - IF weight is a decision driver. Just wondering. Thanks again.

KUIU didn’t get back to Robby in time to start the test so I used what I was able to get my hands on. In Part 2 it will be a newer pack from KUIU with the exact same suspension as the one I used. As far as top packs, I was most impressed with Sitka, Stone Glacier, Seek Outside, and KUIU.


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[Zach Herold]

Zach, did you have a xs kifaru belt or was it a small?


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XS


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[SkunkCabbage]

Might be splitting hairs honestly.