Everyone releasing new hunting packs and frames but Kuiu?

[akiroki]

Am I the only who thinks the Ranger is a combo of past packs? It feels like it's the hip belt from the Venture series with the bag of previous Icon/Pro 1850/2300 with an aluminum frame? It looks fine, but I used the Venture 2300 for a short time and comparing the two, one of the best features was the outside vertical zipper pocket on the back of the bag. This was the same pocket I loved about the Icon Pro line of bags for the frame packs prior to the updated "pro" line of bags they currently have. The Ranger feels like aluminum framed 2300 Pro bag, with less comfortable hip belts. That removable hip belt on the ranger and likely the Venture bag before it was wasn't super great for me.

Long story short I sold the Venture 2300 but it was a good day pack that the Ranger may not be improved upon. I have many Kuiu clothing items and I'm still trying to buy some of the OG pieces (I have a WTB in classifieds, but please PM me if you have a Chinook Verde 2.0 pant!) But as others have mentioned, it feels like since the loss of Jason, the company seems like it doesn't have a direction that inspires. I look at the lineup and I'm like how many non hunting "technical" travel pants, luggage, polo's, ect is missing in the world? Have we solved all the mountain hunting problems that we've moved onto travel, and athletic leisure wear now??? I get the branding clothing items, as everyone offers.

I agree. Kuiu needs to pick a target audience and stick to it.
I dont think they need a new frame to be honest. The frame is the only true carbon frame that isnt tied into some sort of fabric and its light and strong. The Pro frame had a part of Jason in it. I think that means alot as he truely was dedicated and did the biggest of hunts. I have had my 3600 loaded with about 40+ kg and it took it like a champ.
The Pro bags could be improved such as waterproof bottom and back like the ultras. The hip belt pockets could be improved too. The suspension suits me personaly but I think with these framed hunting packs people should get what feels right on their body. Some people say the hip belts dig in, for me they dont and are very comfortable.

But the thing I like most about Kuiu's frame is almost every single pack they have ever made is usable. K4 for example isnt compatible with previous gens, so you have you have to fork out a huge amount of money again to have the 'latest and greatest'. One should ask, what do you gain? At the end of the day, a framed pack wont carry the load for you. It is just a tool.

I am actually buying the 1850 Pro as we speak and hope it serves me well. Its been discontinued for a while now, but I still think it is one of the best framed day packs - even today.

 

[billysmals]

I agree. Kuiu needs to pick a target audience and stick to it.
I dont think they need a new frame to be honest. The frame is the only true carbon frame that isnt tied into some sort of fabric and its light and strong. The Pro frame had a part of Jason in it. I think that means alot as he truely was dedicated and did the biggest of hunts. I have had my 3600 loaded with about 40+ kg and it took it like a champ.
The Pro bags could be improved such as waterproof bottom and back like the ultras. The hip belt pockets could be improved too. The suspension suits me personaly but I think with these framed hunting packs people should get what feels right on their body. Some people say the hip belts dig in, for me they dont and are very comfortable.

But the thing I like most about Kuiu's frame is almost every single pack they have ever made is usable. K4 for example isnt compatible with previous gens, so you have you have to fork out a huge amount of money again to have the 'latest and greatest'. One should ask, what do you gain? At the end of the day, a framed pack wont carry the load for you. It is just a tool.

I am actually buying the 1850 Pro as we speak and hope it serves me well. Its been discontinued for a while now, but I still think it is one of the best framed day packs - even today.

I hope you find the 1850 big enough. I had it and it felt small to me. I was always strapping crap to the outside....and then changed to 2300. The 2300 was much more functional. Even that though I found myself going, "I need a little more room" and I bought the 3200 Icon Pro. It was the right size for a one size fits all pack when I used the Kuiu frame pack. I don't like the Pro 3600 they have now compared to the 3200. I also ran the 5200 as well at one point....hahaah maybe I should just evaluate what crap I take into the back country

I agree the Kuiu frame/bags aren't bad. You have a good point about them mostly being all compatible though. I watched a few video's of Jason testing the strength and durability of the frame. He ran over it with a truck at one point. I know some people really like the fit of the Kuiu packs, and I liked them when I used them, but I prefer the K4 I use now. I had a K3 as well. Personally, even if the K3 bag fit the K4 frame, I would have changed to the K4 bag as I like it's layout and zippers better. I know that's not everyone though. I also like that I can use any molle accessories on it, even if it's not EXO brand. It would be nice to have some molle options on the Kuiu packs for that universal application, but that might just be personal preference.

 

[Stache Attack]

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

My favorite was the first year I threw down on a k2. Buddy had a Kuiu frame and bag I thought was sweet. Packing out he made fun of my exo because it squeaked loaded. Their bonded Velcro to the frame separated and his belt buckle broke. It was a long 4 miles for him and ofcourse added miles for me as he stashed meat and I went back in. He kept the bag. Threw away the frame and attached the bag to a kifaru frame now he runs only kifaru.

 

[Mojave]

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.

Yes, I am a Kuiu fan boy. But daily I get bombarded by what I think is 93.5% of the exact same product form Kuiu.

I think they just saturate the market, with them hoping we will find something we need.

 

[akiroki]

I hope you find the 1850 big enough. I had it and it felt small to me. I was always strapping crap to the outside....and then changed to 2300. The 2300 was much more functional. Even that though I found myself going, "I need a little more room" and I bought the 3200 Icon Pro. It was the right size for a one size fits all pack when I used the Kuiu frame pack. I don't like the Pro 3600 they have now compared to the 3200. I also ran the 5200 as well at one point....hahaah maybe I should just evaluate what crap I take into the back country

I agree the Kuiu frame/bags aren't bad. You have a good point about them mostly being all compatible though. I watched a few video's of Jason testing the strength and durability of the frame. He ran over it with a truck at one point. I know some people really like the fit of the Kuiu packs, and I liked them when I used them, but I prefer the K4 I use now. I had a K3 as well. Personally, even if the K3 bag fit the K4 frame, I would have changed to the K4 bag as I like it's layout and zippers better. I know that's not everyone though. I also like that I can use any molle accessories on it, even if it's not EXO brand. It would be nice to have some molle options on the Kuiu packs for that universal application, but that might just be personal preference.

I hope so too.
However, I think it will be just perfect. I hunt/stalk in the victorian high country, down under in Aus. It is very rare that we see temps below 0degC. Most of the time it hovers around 5-10 degC ish even in the middle of winter.
Aslong as the 1850 Pro can carry a kill kit, first aid kit, a small power bank, rain jacket, strongleece 190 quarterzip (if i take it off), merino zip offs (if I need to wear them for the morning), small headlamp, beanie, a days worth of snacks and a 3L bladder (in the pro hydration rig), thats all I really need. With your experience using it, would you say those items fit?
When carrying all that in my 3600Pro, it is cinched down to the point where the buckles bottom out.

I agree that Exo, SG, Kifaru etc are all better and stronger but for my specific needs, I just cant justify double and sometimes triple the price when you factor in shipping to Aus.
Our largest game animal, and what I hunt is a Sambar deer (stags can weigh up to 300kg or 660lbs, which is a trophy and can stand 130cm tall or 4.75 feet but usually they are about 200kg, hinds being significantly smaller). I think the kuiu is all that is required and its super light. As Sambar deer are extremely difficult to stalk hunt due to being very cautious and having incredible sense of smell and hearing, being light and quiet is critical. Basically, if youre walking in a direction with the wind blowing from behind, there is no point in even continuing in that direction because they WILL smell you and run. Anything out of the ordinary like a twig snap and you get honked and they bolt. Having my 3600 Pro empty and flopping about just wasnt doing it.

 

[billysmals]

Ya I think those items should be fine for you in the 1850 for sure. The temperature varies a bit more at my hunts so at times it's like I feel I have to prepare for too many things. I think it's just me though. The 1850 should be good for you as it sounds like you do a lot of light a fast hunting. There is a Valo 1850 in the classifieds right now. That deer is still a big deer. It's like a small elk! It sounds like fun hunting!

 

[Shawn_Guinn]

I think for a pack system there’s a bunch of options in the US market and quite frankly the kuiu options never floated my boat. They are light but it felt like it flexed a lot for me under weight. I really like the fit and weight of Stone glacier but I’m a fan of initial ascent, if I was shopping today that’s where I’ld invest in a new pack system. Local to me too which I also like

 

[Tahr]

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

Not big? Sambar are one of the largest and heaviest deer species. 3rd behind Moose and Elk.
Most other deer species will fit into any 40 litre/2400 ci pack when boned out. Why anyone would want to carry bone any distance is beyond me. It doesn't have to be in a load sling. Stick your gear into a dry bag if you dont want it dirty, hang it on the outside or what ever. Wash your pack out when you get home although when in a game bag meat doesn't leak blood too badly anyway. That Kuiu Ranger pack or anything like it will do just fine as a day hunting pack which is what it's intended for. Without paying a fortune for the carbon framed meat sling models to attach it to (as suggested) or as an alternative.
There ought to be a balance between being practical and being dragged into consumerism.

 

[inyago]

I have been reading what aus is writing and depending on Sambar type or sub species they can be massive.
The problem is where the animals have been sourced from. India Bhutan, Sri LANKA, Burma Probably China has them certainly Laos and the Triangle down into Malaysia. All have variation in sizes. We have some big ones here in nzd as well.

 

[akiroki]

I have been reading what aus is writing and depending on Sambar type or sub species they can be massive.
The problem is where the animals have been sourced from. India Bhutan, Sri LANKA, Burma Probably China has them certainly Laos and the Triangle down into Malaysia. All have variation in sizes. We have some big ones here in nzd as well.

Yes, they can be. I stricktly hunt sambar with my crew. Google says they can be up to 300kg. That would be a trophy stag and are not 'common'. I have packed out a rear quarter and front leg with my 3600Pro many times. Hauling out 20-30kg clean meat is considered a very good harvest. Sambar are a big deer species but they are nowhere near a moose or elk. The big ones are rare, anyone who hunts them can attest to that.
Completely agree that there are many factors that influence the size. I have even heard red deer can mate with sambar.