Kuiu owners, what pack did you go to next?

[TimberHunter]

I’ve had the Kuiu pro system for 6 or 7 years. Likely packed out 20 ish animals over those years. The pack has worked but the padding has compressed and the bags are getting a bit hammered. Frame still in good shape

When packing I’ve gotten up to 99lbs (weight on scale) but that’s about my top end. I do much better with 60/70 lbs so I don’t necessarily need a pack that can do the 150+ lbs because I don’t/can’t

Hoping to hear from the Kuiu backpack guys why they went to a different brand and how their experience has been?


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[WeiserBucks]

I went to EXO K3, then Kifaru, then SG, then Exo K4, then SG and finally back to K4 now. All better than KUIU for my use.

 

[go_deep]

K4

 

[jzeblaz]

EXO. My buddy's pack broke packing out my bear and he landed on an EXO when he replaced it. We love 'em.

 

[TimberHunter]

Listening to the latest gohunt podcast with initial ascent. They made a comment how the bottom of the load shelf or where the meat is supported, needs to be at the same elevation as the top of the hip belt or higher

Kuiu packs definitely don’t allow for that. Majority of the bottom support for game quarters is the two steps that go from the bottom of the frame to the bottom of the bag.

Stone glacier comes to mind on their location of the load shelf being at or above the top of the hip belt. Any others?


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[Salmon River Solutions]

I run a K4 5k for daily use, and the IA 5k if I'm packing very heavy. The IA shines with 80+ lbs. But I dislike the bag layout.

Ken

 

[camelcluch]

Kifaru then Exo K2 and 3 then Exo K4 and IA. All are much better than the Kuiu frame.

 

[IdahoBeav]

Listening to the latest gohunt podcast with initial ascent. They made a comment how the bottom of the load shelf or where the meat is supported, needs to be at the same elevation as the top of the hip belt or higher

I think even at the top of the hip belt is too low. You want the center of mass higher in the upper back and close to the body. Low and outward is bad.

 

[TimberHunter]

I think even at the top of the hip belt is too low. You want the center of mass higher in the upper back and close to the body. Low and outward is bad.

Yeah I’m starting to realize why on my pack out with the Kuiu, I have to bend forward for most of the pack out. That was my body’s way of compensating for how low the weight (meat) was on my body

I also get pretty bad dull muscle fatigue pain in the right hip area(where my femur attaches to my hip) when I have heavy pack outs with the Kuiu. I think that’s due to 1) how low the weight(meat) is carried in the Kuiu and 2) me not having the hip belt high enough on my hip bone (until today, top of waist belt was in the middle of my hip bone)


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[TimberHunter]

Kifaru then Exo K2 and 3 then Exo K4 and IA. All are much better than the Kuiu frame.

How do you like how the IA carries the meat (pannier) vs how the K4 used straps and the bag? Looks like the IA or SG would be able to keep the meat at a higher elevation compared to K4/KUIU


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[camelcluch]

The K4 hold weight extremely well. However, the IA is just different. The pack seems to get better under load. A 62 year old friend of mine did lunges with 150# on. He said he couldn’t even come close to that with his kifaru.
It really hard to wrong between the two. Would come down to some personal preference stuff.

 

[45-70govt]

Went to Kifaru from my Kuiu Pro. What a difference in comfort when your at anything over 35 pounds.

These days a Kifaru, EXO or Stone Glacier wouldnt do you wrong at all. Initial Ascent is spending alot of money on influencers to push that product. Havent seen one in person yet and i take online reviews from people on company payroll with great skepticism but the potential is there. At the end of the day a guy needs to try some of these on to see what you like. I was able to test run my buddies Kifaru and it worked excellent so i took that dive.

 

[Tahr]

How do you like how the IA carries the meat (pannier) vs how the K4 used straps and the bag? Looks like the IA or SG would be able to keep the meat at a higher elevation compared to K4/KUIU


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I find the IA load balances very well above the hip belt and doesn't sag during the carry. Very happy with mine. This is the set up I use for day hunts.

 

[htlt_surfboards]

Went from a Kuiu to a Stone after I broke the carbon frame on the kuiu (they replaced for free). Stone has been way more comfortable on heavy pack outs and your observations are correct that when using the load shelf the stone puts the weight in the right spot.

 

[TCMach]

SG here. After running it for a handful of years I'm much happier with it. I've used Kifaru and Exo a couple times in that period and both are nice, SG just fit me better. As mentioned above, if you can test run them even a little one will probably stand out.

 

[Gpw]

Exo k4

 

[Desert Island Gear]

EXO K4

 

[Solowhunter]

Kuiu has been my go-to since 2019, my scouting pack is a Pro LT 4000 and currently I have 2 seasons on a Pro LT 7000 for multi day trips (10 days has been my max), also add that I've owned (tested) many different pack sizes up to the Pro LT 7000. I've packed multiple (deboned) deer and 3 (deboned) rag horned bulls with the Kuiu system and you wont find lighter imo.

That being said, I have noticed shoulder fatigue coming off of my most recent trips. I've gotten my pack weight to just under 49 lbs 4 oz "all in" and coming out this last weekend I was constantly adjusting the shoulder strap positioning. I also ruck a 70lb Kuiu Venture Divide 3000 3 - 4 times a week.

Note: I've had rotator cuff pain for a year and cant blame that on a particular pack.

I've been doing a ton of research and have narrowed my interest to the Kifaru system. Looking at a Duplex Light frame and suspension (used) and haven't nailed down the bag but from what I'm seeing I'll be looking at an add of +-2 - 3 lbs in pack weight (I'm aware that the Rokslide community feels pack weight isn't important......... I call BS as far as that goes, pack weight means a lot to me). If I gain comfort, I'll figure out the weight delta. Kifaru seems to produce quality gear (I own a bino harness and field quiver), but man are the packs expensive, I'm going there anyway and if I find that there's nothing to gain with Kifaru I'll stick to Kuiu.

For what its worth, I'll be into the Kifaru for the rifle hunts this year and will circle back with my "opinions".

 

[Tradchef]

I used an IA 5k last season . I packed out 8 animals with it. It does haul really well but so does the SG and Kifaru. My harness popped off the frame packing out my bull. It's held on by adhesive to the carbon and not attached like kifaru or exo. The customer service was good but having that happen on an elk solo sucked so I can't have that nor should anyone. But they did handle it well. I have a K4 now. Seems solid thus far. Only humped out a turkey so far and lots of backpacking trips up to 20 miles. I start my season next week due to work so hopefully I can get some elk and bear quarters in it before too long. I liked SG a lot and it put the weight up higher like IA. the K4 seems to combat that issue with a larger lumbar pad. It's comfy but I'm not completely in love with it. That being said it just seems to work well. Lots of guys praise it for sure. Seek Outside positions the load up higher. I'd like to see what they are all about but I know they got pretty political a few years back and not for the hunter so I'd rather my money goes to the guys at EXO.

 

[Solowhunter]

Kifaru then Exo K2 and 3 then Exo K4 and IA. All are much better than the Kuiu frame.

Kuiu guy here looking to go to a Kifaru Duplex Light frame........ what makes them better?