Kifaru vs Kuiu frame

Where's Bruce?

Where's Bruce?

WKR
Joined
Sep 22, 2013
Messages
6,387
Anyone compared the Kuiu Ultra carbon frame to the new Kifaru frames? Opinions? I've read complaints about the carbon frame being noisy and/or breaking easily. True? Also heard it cannot handle the weight as well. Anyone used both?
 
Where's Bruce? said:
Anyone compared the Kuiu Ultra carbon frame to the new Kifaru frames? Opinions? I've read complaints about the carbon frame being noisy and/or breaking easily. True? Also heard it cannot handle the weight as well. Anyone used both?
Click to expand...

My wife and I both have new Duplex frames from Kifaru as well as Kuiu Carbon frames with Ultra 6K bags on them. Really depends what we are wanting to do. For example we are leaving for a 50 mile packraft/hike on Sunday and the Kuius will be getting used for this trip....

Both serve their purpose.
 
Where's Bruce? said:
Anyone compared the Kuiu Ultra carbon frame to the new Kifaru frames? Opinions? I've read complaints about the carbon frame being noisy and/or breaking easily. True? Also heard it cannot handle the weight as well. Anyone used both?
Click to expand...

I have the Icon pro 5200 and yes it does squeak while hunting with minimal weight. Once I had it full of meat ( a whole Mule deer boned out) the noise was gone, but my hunt was over so moot point. As far as how it handled the weight I would adequate but not perfect. In the process of mounting the Kuiu bag on the Kifaru frame.
 
I've been running the Icon Pro 5200 with the carbon frame with no issue since they were released for sale. The Ultra and Icon Pro use the same carbon frame. I have had it loaded to just north of 80 lbs with no issue, other than 80 lbs is a heavy pack out in the middle of the night. I train with 70-75 lbs with no issues with the frame or noises. I have read a few reviews of people stating their Kuiu set up squeaks at times. Also read that keeping the top of the stays and stay pockets clean and dust free will keep the noise away. Can't compare to Kifaru since I have never used one. In my opinion, the Kuiu Icon Pro is a solid set up.
 
Maybe the new spread tow fiberglass frames did away with the squeak, not sure but since the frame was updated this year you'd think they would have addressed the squeak. The new fiberglass is said to be stronger.
 
Not sure why I put fiberglass, I was looking at the new pack a couple hours before the op posted should have gotten that right. They don't even look the same, either way the new spread - toe carbon fiber is said to be stronger.
 
Mischief209 said:
Not sure why I put fiberglass, I was looking at the new pack a couple hours before the op posted should have gotten that right. They don't even look the same, either way the new spread - toe carbon fiber is said to be stronger.
Click to expand...

Stronger than the Kifaru frame? I thought carbon was easier to fracture. Heard one guy broke his just sitting down on a rock.
 
I have no idea to be honest, and I've heard many stories of the kuiu frame cracking. I just know this year they have a new carbon they clame is stronger then the past frames. According to there website they worked with a rocket scientist or something similar to develop the new one. How true that is I'm not sure. I'm not even sure the new frame is even shipping yet so it's gonna be difficult to get a real answer until a few months down the road when they have been put to the test. I also seen a video of them throwing the new pack down a mountain. I know they wouldn't do it in the past. Not sure if that was you tube or their website.
 
c348563acaf9aeb361daeb350c8790d2.jpg
first generation frame had its share of growing pains. Umpteenth time redesign seems to be functioning much better or they are much better playing Internet defense. Moffat's have put one though the paces without failure and Luke did a nice review of it on here

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
The post in the link above regarding hauling moose quarters that you are referring to is dated March 2013.
The Icon Pro frame was not available until 2014 (pretty sure but not 100%)

The Icon Pro / Ultra frame is a very different frame design than the Icon frame from 2013 and previous years.
 
Personally, I've never used a Kuiu pack. However, I have a number of friends (6) that use them. All are accomplished hunters and all have carried weight over 75lbs without issue. One has carried well over 100lbs of meat on multiple elk hunts with whatever Kuiu frame he owns (I don't know the names/models of these packs). None are broken, none of these guys complain about noise and none of them have any intention of changing packs simply because the packs they use work for them.

There are better packs in my opinion, but I'm not going to try to convince them that they should change because I like a different pack.
 
Where's Bruce? said:
There is some decent commentary at http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/archive/index.php/t-92852.html. It's funny how some guys state as fact what the Kuiu CF "can do" and the comments from the guys who actually did it (like hauling moose quarters using one). LOL
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link. It looks like the first frames had issues. But they don't sell that frame anymore. I'm not sure why people are regurgitate information about a product that no longer exists, and has been upgraded 2-3 times since coming out to fix the issue.
 
I do not have a kifaru so can't euly compare the two but I do have KUIU ultra with 6000 bag. Bought it second hand for my hunt this year so no meat hauling experience but I train with it all the time. I've done a dozen or so hikes from 3-5 miles carrying anywhere from 35-55 lbs and have also done some short hikes carrying up to 100lbs. Took me a while to get it fit just right but it hauls pretty comfortably (as comfortable as 80-100lbs can be) and I have no squeaking issues or signs that frame can't handle that weight. I usually do heavy training with an 80lb bag of sacrete sling loaded and 15-20lbs of gear in the bag. As long as I take a few minutes to get everything situated correctly and the load lifters correctly pulled it hauls well and I've never experienced anything that doesn't make me think the pack may fail at that weight.
 
the squeaking I have experienced has been with about 20 pounds and while walking, My hips rotating as the belt pivots causes a squeak , Ive read if you put dry graphite on the pivot point it will stop.
 
I haven't had any squeaking with my Ultra or Icon Pro packs. I also don't have any concern about the frame breaking. It seems solid to me. It's nice that they continue to improve with the new even stronger frame.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk
 
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