Everyone releasing new hunting packs and frames but Kuiu?

[akiroki]

Hey,

I noticed Kuiu just release the Ranger 2200 day pack. Personally, I think its a good looking, well thoughtout pack. You can tell alot of engineering and customer feedback went into it.
My question though is, why not make it compatible with the carbon frame? Looking close up on the ranger, it would have taken literally 4 buckles sown in?
EXO just release the K4, SG just released new pack. Everyone is working in this space. Kuiu is still making new things.
I am from Australia so maybe I dont understand how people hunt in the States.
We primarily stalk and its usually Sambar, Red, Fallow or Hog deer. Obviously when the hunt is successful we haul all this meat out which is simply impossible to do without the load sling mode, unless youre gonna bone stuff out and put it in your pack and ruin your gear.

I see Kuiu is releasing day packs with internal frames. What I would like to know is who is the target audience here? What do they hunt? How do they haul their meat home? Or is the meat just left there? Anyone from the US this is a genuine question and would love to know how its done.
Would have loved one of these new ranger 2200 packs on the PRO frame and suspension. Also love the charcoal colour of the pack, really works in Aussie woods.
Has anyone tried to mount a standard kuiu pack to a PRO frame?
The divide 4500 is the latest release Kuiu frame compatible pack and I feel like it was designed for the rich owners of Kuiu haha. Literally only covered their needs and thats it. Not a single other new size, just a weird pocket to put a spotter in (fairenough), but a rifle? Doesnt it make way more sense to side mount the rifle?? The divide pocket is so far away from the frame. Even a spotter and tripod, they arent light. Thats pocked and the locker zippers was literally their punch line, they were so prpud of it and it straight out sucks. So embarrasing. Maybe for a very small use case, but for all other hunting, wasteful.
I am literally so close to just giving up and moving to an SG or Exo. But then Kuiu puts all their packs on sale and releases the Ramger 2200. Anyone else thinks Kuiu maybe working on something quietly?

Armin

 

[wnelson14]

This is only speculation, but I would say roughly 25-30% of hunters in the US actually need a frame pack for hauling meat and the amount of side by side, truck, outfitted, guided, day hunt hunters is way greater. But that’s what I think. Rokslide is probably the complete opposite of that.

 

[WeiserBucks]

KUIU is always coming out with some new piece of gear to get people excited and spend their money. Most of it is very redundant and pushed by marketing.

 

[roadrunner]

Well, there goes the "buy once, cry once" logic to hunting packs...

 

[akiroki]

This is only speculation, but I would say roughly 25-30% of hunters in the US actually need a frame pack for hauling meat and the amount of side by side, truck, outfitted, guided, day hunt hunters is way greater. But that’s what I think. Rokslide is probably the complete opposite of that.

So even for day hunts in the US hunters are able to down a deer within a short walk to their cars? I guess the laws are probably the difference, especially the gun laws.
Here in Aus, we can only hunt in state forrests or private land and there are tracks to get to a camping spot, but we still have to hike many kilometres to get to some nice hunting ground. And the hauling meat part with the boys is what its all about... Atleast for me it is.

 

[WeiserBucks]

So even for day hunts in the US hunters are able to down a deer within a short walk to their cars? I guess the laws are probably the difference, especially the gun laws.
Here in Aus, we can only hunt in state forrests or private land and there are tracks to get to a camping spot, but we still have to hike many kilometres to get to some nice hunting ground. And the hauling meat part with the boys is what its all about... Atleast for me it is.

The USA has a huge variety of hunting. Everything from 50 feet from a house to 20 miles into the wilderness to flying into a huge roadless areas. That's kinda why there's so much crap marketed to hunters, someone thinks they have use for every new gadget that hits the shelves.

 

[akiroki]

KUIU is always coming out with some new piece of gear to get people excited and spend their money. Most of it is very redundant and pushed by marketing.

Yep, shame. It was really a top contender. I still think they have the best and lightest frames. I used to lay carbon fibre myself for years. Aside from the disgusting hand dremmeled holes in the ears, they really are great for the weight.
However, the last PRO pack that was released aside from the 4500 divide was in 2019....
The frame is good, heck, even the suspension is still competitive. But the lack of updated frame compatible packs - especially in solid colours like phantom, ash or gunmetal just doesnt make sense from a business perspective. Im sure they would sell way more updated Pro packs than they would upland vests, or the many internal frame day packs that cant haul meat. Makes zero sense. The 1850 Pro was genius, could be used with or without frame. Multi-use and discontinued very quickly.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Try an EXO K4 and you might forget KUIU even makes packs.

 

[grfox92]

Kuiu probably shouldn't release anymore packs, considering they never made a good one.

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[Jethro]

It was really a top contender.

I don’t feel that most here consider Kuiu a top contender for packs. More like tier 2.

 

[akiroki]

I don’t feel that most here consider Kuiu a top contender for packs. More like tier 2.

Yeah, youre right. The previous gens were a disaster but the Pro frame and suspension release atleast had them in the same conversarions and videos comparing all these packs. Kuiu is significantly cheaper and at the end of the day, gets the job done. In Aus, our largest game animal is a Sambar Deer. Very elusive and the hardest deer to hunt out of all deer. However, they arent very big, so Kuiu, despite being Tier 2 is awesome bang for buck.

I probably would go with Exo or SG now, but ive spent years investing

 

[grfox92]

I don’t feel that most here consider Kuiu a top contender for packs. More like tier 2.

Kuiu might work well for a guy who comes out west for a 1 week hunt every other year. But if you live out here and spend alot of time in the mountains they fall apart. Ask me how I know.

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[WeiserBucks]

KUIU is cheaper because they're made in Asia. All the USA packs are more money and much better quality in my opinion.

 

[intunegp]

If only there was a specific section for backpack discussions

 

[wh0cansay]

Get an HPG or Exo K4 and forget the other brands even exist.

 

[Braaap]

Kuiu might work well for a guy who comes out west for a 1 week hunt every other year. But if you live out here and spend alot of time in the mountains they fall apart. Ask me how I know.

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I’m actually curious how you know, because I like talking shit about my buddies Kuiu pack!
Please share if you’re willing.

 

[grfox92]

I’m actually curious how you know, because I like talking shit about my buddies Kuiu pack!
Please share if you’re willing.

They just fall apart. Get sloppy, dont cinch tight, roll around while your moving no matter how tight you make them. Certain ones have issues with frames breaking.

I have buddies who have had them and they have all moved on to Exo or Kifaru ect. Like I said, they will work for light use, but they dont last under hard use.

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[KurtR]

Yep, shame. It was really a top contender. I still think they have the best and lightest frames. I used to lay carbon fibre myself for years. Aside from the disgusting hand dremmeled holes in the ears, they really are great for the weight.
However, the last PRO pack that was released aside from the 4500 divide was in 2019....
The frame is good, heck, even the suspension is still competitive. But the lack of updated frame compatible packs - especially in solid colours like phantom, ash or gunmetal just doesnt make sense from a business perspective. Im sure they would sell way more updated Pro packs than they would upland vests, or the many internal frame day packs that cant haul meat. Makes zero sense. The 1850 Pro was genius, could be used with or without frame. Multi-use and discontinued very quickly.

Compare the number of upland hunters to back pack hunters and i bet they sell way more upland vests.

 

[SirChooCH]

Its something like 70% of hunting tags sold in the US are for whitetail deer.

From that huge number almost 90% of deer shot in the midwest are on private land. This is usually out of preset tree stands or shooting shacks. So these venture packs are used for taking clothing layers, snacks, and kill kit basically to and from stands. Not walking very far or heavy, and probably not to haul out animals. I don't know anyone that cuts up their deer and packs it out here unless its one time for an instagram post to say they did it. Almost all animals end up at the butcher or garage whole or just gutted as they are drug out on a plastic sled, wheeled cart, or just drove up to with a vehicle.

I have a Kuiu Divide 2000 and its good for this use case of layers/extra trail cam/kill kit to and from stands. If you put more than 40 lbs on it gets uncomfortable. I prefer rucking and take a Kifaru actual frame pack out west. I would be leery of this new Kuiu venture frame that is only an aluminum loop with no center support bending if you put real weight on it or banged it around too much...

 

[displacedtexan]

This is only speculation, but I would say roughly 25-30% of hunters in the US actually need a frame pack for hauling meat and the amount of side by side, truck, outfitted, guided, day hunt hunters is way greater. But that’s what I think. Rokslide is probably the complete opposite of that.

Exactly what I thought.

Lots of people flat won't hunt somewhere they can't get a truck/quad/sxs/tractor...

People literally don't understand the concept of being willing to quarter/bone out in the field and pack it on your back.

Shoot, I've been told you can't kill deer without a stand and feeder.

Plus the market of people who will shop a brand they like/trust.