Kuiu v kifaru

[justinspicher]

What about a USGI Alice pack and frame?

 

[Mk7mmSTW]

One is built to haul loads with packs designed with the input of backpackers, military and hunters and is a true work horse with a tried and true U.S. made frame. The other is designed in central, CA and made over seas with no custom options available and priced the same as U.S. made packs.

 

[justinspicher]

One is built to haul loads with packs designed with the input of backpackers, military and hunters and is a true work horse with a tried and true U.S. made frame. The other is designed in central, CA and made over seas with no custom options available and priced the same as U.S. made packs.

Pretty accurate statement there. ^^^^

 

[Phillip Hathaway]

Always go Kifaru after reading the horror stories of kuiu clothing on here plus American made


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[bojangles808]

if i had to go used kifaru route how would i know if im flat/curved back type or what frame/belt to get? dont want to waste their time calling them up if im not buying new. is it easy to put an icon bag on a kifaru frame?

 

[IdahoElk]

Always go Kifaru after reading the horror stories of kuiu clothing on here plus American made

Ok,sure

 

[Mk7mmSTW]

if i had to go used kifaru route how would i know if im flat/curved back type or what frame/belt to get? dont want to waste their time calling them up if im not buying new. is it easy to put an icon bag on a kifaru frame?

Call them. They do not care at all that your buying used. Second to none for customer service.

 

[luke moffat]

One is built to haul loads with packs designed with the input of backpackers, military and hunters and is a true work horse with a tried and true U.S. made frame. The other is designed in central, CA and made over seas with no custom options available and priced the same as U.S. made packs.

BHAHA....which US made packs are you comparing the Kuius to that are priced the same?

Name another pack that comes in at 6000 cu inches that is sub 4 pounds with such a stiff frame. Arcteryx, Gregory, and Osprey all can't come close to touching it those specs and especially at that price I mean they can be had for $280!

I have both Kuiu and Kifaru packs. Both are good, but I don't need a mack truck to haul groceries either.

So for general backpacking I will save the 3.5 pounds over my EMR 2 and use my Kuiu Ultra as it carries up to 70-80 pounds just fine and most of the time my general backpacking is 30-50 pounds so might as well save the weight.

But when it comes to general hunting sure the EMR 2 gets the nod cause I do hope to come out heavier than when I went in.

 

[luke moffat]

I have used the Kuiu 6000 for the last 3-4 years of guiding/hunting with no issues at all. Was a big step up in comfort from what I was used to. Very simple design and works well.

Thats pretty impressive since they were released to the rest of us schmucks in spring of 2014 and thus only been around 2.5 years.

 

[JP100]

Thats pretty impressive since they were released to the rest of us schmucks in spring of 2014 and thus only been around 2.5 years.

Haha you got me there. Meant seasons. Have hunted and guided nearly full time since I got mine when they first came out. 2 seasons in BC and 2 full seasons here and the rest of time hunting here nearly each weekend

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[luke moffat]

Haha you got me there. Meant seasons. Have hunted and guided nearly full time since I got mine when they first came out. 2 seasons in BC and 2 full seasons here and the rest of time hunting here nearly each weekend

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HAHA..no worries man.

 

[Mk7mmSTW]

BHAHA....which US made packs are you comparing the Kuius to that are priced the same?

Name another pack that comes in at 6000 cu inches that is sub 4 pounds with such a stiff frame. Arcteryx, Gregory, and Osprey all can't come close to touching it those specs and especially at that price I mean they can be had for $280!

I have both Kuiu and Kifaru packs. Both are good, but I don't need a mack truck to haul groceries either.

So for general backpacking I will save the 3.5 pounds over my EMR 2 and use my Kuiu Ultra as it carries up to 70-80 pounds just fine and most of the time my general backpacking is 30-50 pounds so might as well save the weight.

But when it comes to general hunting sure the EMR 2 gets the nod cause I do hope to come out heavier than when I went in.

I don't haul groceries in my packs and I'll agree with you that if I was only doing 30-50 lb loads, your options are endless for a fair priced pack that can hold it. My $140 dollar Gregory I use for summer trail cameras does that task just fine. If you kill something in the back 40, about 1 ridge into your packout I have a hard time believing you wouldn't want a "Mack truck" on your back as compared to a "grocery getter". I openly hate kuiu, but that's not hear nor there and I'm sure they do have packs that cost that little, but they also sell foreign made packs that are right on price point with SG, MR and Kifaru. U.S. made is huge to me, I've been a vocal long time MR guy until they shipped their hunting line over seas and started dealing with the normal foreign made issues. The other thing besides being made in this country that is big to me is hands on customer support. Everything from Kuiu's socks to there packs are foreign made, run out of a small business in the heart of big city CA. I'm willing to spend more to use something designed, made and maintained right here.

Don't want to start a dick slapping contest here, I just think we are trying to compare a grocery getter to a Mack truck as you put it. If you spend a lot of time hunting and not a lot of time killing or hauling, go ultralight for sure. Or if your looking for just a good backpacking bag, go ultralight. I don't know about a lot of you, but 2-3 additional lbs of pack frame weight isn't anything I have ever been able to notice as it's against my body as opposed to suspended out in the pack itself. Additional many people don't have the budget for multiple packs so why not get a universal do all. I'd much rather carry the extra couple lbs to have a pack that can comfortably support the load that we all spend the whole year dreaming about carrying out.

 

[MT_Wyatt]

I don't haul groceries in my packs and I'll agree with you that if I was only doing 30-50 lb loads, your options are endless for a fair priced pack that can hold it. My $140 dollar Gregory I use for summer trail cameras does that task just fine. If you kill something in the back 40, about 1 ridge into your packout I have a hard time believing you wouldn't want a "Mack truck" on your back as compared to a "grocery getter". I openly hate kuiu, but that's not hear nor there and I'm sure they do have packs that cost that little, but they also sell foreign made packs that are right on price point with SG, MR and Kifaru. U.S. made is huge to me, I've been a vocal long time MR guy until they shipped their hunting line over seas and started dealing with the normal foreign made issues. The other thing besides being made in this country that is big to me is hands on customer support. Everything from Kuiu's socks to there packs are foreign made, run out of a small business in the heart of big city CA. I'm willing to spend more to use something designed, made and maintained right here.

Don't want to start a dick slapping contest here, I just think we are trying to compare a grocery getter to a Mack truck as you put it. If you spend a lot of time hunting and not a lot of time killing or hauling, go ultralight for sure. Or if your looking for just a good backpacking bag, go ultralight. I don't know about a lot of you, but 2-3 additional lbs of pack frame weight isn't anything I have ever been able to notice as it's against my body as opposed to suspended out in the pack itself. Additional many people don't have the budget for multiple packs so why not get a universal do all. I'd much rather carry the extra couple lbs to have a pack that can comfortably support the load that we all spend the whole year dreaming about carrying out.

Kuiu's frame, the most expensive part of that pack I'm guessing, is US made. I believe the fibers are Toray. Not all of it is China based, which I point out only to clarify.

I certainty don't disagree with your logic, and I too have really been disappointed with MRs move offshore with the hunting packs. It was, and still is a very rough transition on their part, and I haven't enjoyed watching their customer service go south. They closed the damn showroom in Bozeman and send you down to Schnees.....where there are no hunting packs. It's a bit sad. Build quality oversee is still MR from what I've seen though.

 

[luke moffat]

One is built to haul loads with packs designed with the input of backpackers, military and hunters and is a true work horse with a tried and true U.S. made frame. The other is designed in central, CA and made over seas with no custom options available and priced the same as U.S. made packs...........

I openly hate kuiu, but that's not hear nor there and I'm sure they do have packs that cost that little, but they also sell foreign made packs that are right on price point with SG, MR and Kifaru.

Lets try this again.

What US made packs are priced less than $400 and are less than 4 pounds, are 6000 cu in and have a frame stiff enough to comfortably carry 70-80 pounds easily? Only asking cause you made this claim so just looking for a couple links to such packs is all.

So you have never actually even worn a Kuiu pack or hauled with one. You just openly hate the company and thus write their packs off as junk? I try to have a bit more open mind about things and actually use products before blabbing about them I guess, but to each their own I guess.

I would have no problems hunting with a Kuiu pack for any hunt other than where giant brown bear hides or moose quarters were required to be hauled, but I don't cause I have a different tool for that job. But for less than $300 I don't think this is a pack made that can haul the weight a Kuiu can while still being as light.

Don't get me wrong I like the SG and Kifaru packs a lot more (not so keen on MR even though I used one for a couple years and hauled a couple dozen animals out with one) but they are a different market and not everyone needs a $700 backpack to hunt with. If you can afford one great but if you are only hauling 1-2 deer out of the "back 40" then I honestly do feel I wouldn't need a Kifaru or any other super spendy pack for my hunting needs.

I agree that not everyone can afford two a super nice hunting and a super light spacious bacpacking pack. Likewise not everyone can afford or justify a $700 hunting pack either so a $300-$400 one for everything will fit their needs better. Just depends on what you can make sense in your head for sure. But I feel the Kuiu does carry the weight for backpacking just as well as a Kifaru for the a 3.5 pound weight savings certainly. To answer your question can I feel an extra 3.5 pound difference on my pack I would say no, but if I used that logic on every item I put in my pack as well then my pack would end up being a whole lot heavier.

I am glad you are as happy or apparently MUCH happier with your top tier pack as I am. But I don't believe mine to be the holy grail either and still there are things I would change about it, but I "make do" in the mean time.

 

[D_Eightch]

I can't speak to the kifaru packs and only a little to the KUIU.

I just received a kuiu icon 7200 last week. So far I think it looks like a good pack, feels good and fits well. I got some sandbags to use for training with the pack weighted down. Weighed 1 in at 46 pounds. Strapped it on to my pack and it feels good. I'll chime back in after I've carried both sandbags around for a while and had a chance to fiddle around a bit more. Quality of the bag seems just fine for me.

I was going to save my pennies for a kifaru since everybody here speaks so highly of them. But when the 30% off Sale popped up I pulled the trigger on the Icon. Half the price for something that will get the same job done for me just makes sense right now.

 

[Mk7mmSTW]

Lets try this again.

What US made packs are priced less than $400 and are less than 4 pounds, are 6000 cu in and have a frame stiff enough to comfortably carry 70-80 pounds easily? Only asking cause you made this claim so just looking for a couple links to such packs is all.

So you have never actually even worn a Kuiu pack or hauled with one. You just openly hate the company and thus write their packs off as junk? I try to have a bit more open mind about things and actually use products before blabbing about them I guess, but to each their own I guess.

I would have no problems hunting with a Kuiu pack for any hunt other than where giant brown bear hides or moose quarters were required to be hauled, but I don't cause I have a different tool for that job. But for less than $300 I don't think this is a pack made that can haul the weight a Kuiu can while still being as light.

Don't get me wrong I like the SG and Kifaru packs a lot more (not so keen on MR even though I used one for a couple years and hauled a couple dozen animals out with one) but they are a different market and not everyone needs a $700 backpack to hunt with. If you can afford one great but if you are only hauling 1-2 deer out of the "back 40" then I honestly do feel I wouldn't need a Kifaru or any other super spendy pack for my hunting needs.

I agree that not everyone can afford two a super nice hunting and a super light spacious bacpacking pack. Likewise not everyone can afford or justify a $700 hunting pack either so a $300-$400 one for everything will fit their needs better. Just depends on what you can make sense in your head for sure. But I feel the Kuiu does carry the weight for backpacking just as well as a Kifaru for the a 3.5 pound weight savings certainly. To answer your question can I feel an extra 3.5 pound difference on my pack I would say no, but if I used that logic on every item I put in my pack as well then my pack would end up being a whole lot heavier.

I am glad you are as happy or apparently MUCH happier with your top tier pack as I am. But I don't believe mine to be the holy grail either and still there are things I would change about it, but I "make do" in the mean time.

This has turned into a pissing contest with you and that's not what I'm hoping for. You and I both know that there isn't a US made pack that fits those standards, nor did I say there was. I said kuiu sells packs at the same price point, I didn't say kuiu doesn't makes ultralight packs at a cheaper price point. Comparing a MR 6500 or Kifaru DT2 would best be compared to the kuiu's heavier duty model. Just cause I openly hate kuiu doesn't mean I have not had any experience with them nor did I say I hadn't as you are adding/assuming. My hunting partner lives north of Dixon where Kuiu is located and he loved there stuff. His shift partner hunt's AK yearly and in 2013 he split a icon frame on a sheep hunt. It cracked below the upper shoulder straps rendering it useless. Kuiu gave him a new frame and all three packs for the frame to apologize. I put on his 5200 kuiu top bag and did not care for the lack of lift or thinner belt it had when we were in CO on a hunt for a 3rd season tag he drew. He broke a buckle on that pack and admitted openly the crew cab w/lift kit I had hauled the load more solid than his pack.

This is getting way off topic, the original poster to this thread wanted to know which pack would work the best for a big sheep hunt in a couple years and work the best for hauling freakishly large foreign deer. The ultra kuiu must work great for you and many others or they would not be do much advertising which isn't cheap. For what the guy that started this thread is looking for, it's clear the "Mack truck" fits the bill. If he said he wanted a backpacking pack to go on summer trips, I would stay out of this. Your defending what works for you and not what he is looking for. I never said my packs are perfect, and I sell packs and try new packs every chance I can to see if I'm that much closer to the dream pack. Your packs work for you and my packs work for me, this is just opinions and a fair amount of people are liking the way I feel as they are liking and agreeing with my comments.

 

[dotman]

Lets try this again.

What US made packs are priced less than $400 and are less than 4 pounds, are 6000 cu in and have a frame stiff enough to comfortably carry 70-80 pounds easily? Only asking cause you made this claim so just looking for a couple links to such packs is all.

So you have never actually even worn a Kuiu pack or hauled with one. You just openly hate the company and thus write their packs off as junk? I try to have a bit more open mind about things and actually use products before blabbing about them I guess, but to each their own I guess.

I would have no problems hunting with a Kuiu pack for any hunt other than where giant brown bear hides or moose quarters were required to be hauled, but I don't cause I have a different tool for that job. But for less than $300 I don't think this is a pack made that can haul the weight a Kuiu can while still being as light.

Don't get me wrong I like the SG and Kifaru packs a lot more (not so keen on MR even though I used one for a couple years and hauled a couple dozen animals out with one) but they are a different market and not everyone needs a $700 backpack to hunt with. If you can afford one great but if you are only hauling 1-2 deer out of the "back 40" then I honestly do feel I wouldn't need a Kifaru or any other super spendy pack for my hunting needs.

I agree that not everyone can afford two a super nice hunting and a super light spacious bacpacking pack. Likewise not everyone can afford or justify a $700 hunting pack either so a $300-$400 one for everything will fit their needs better. Just depends on what you can make sense in your head for sure. But I feel the Kuiu does carry the weight for backpacking just as well as a Kifaru for the a 3.5 pound weight savings certainly. To answer your question can I feel an extra 3.5 pound difference on my pack I would say no, but if I used that logic on every item I put in my pack as well then my pack would end up being a whole lot heavier.

I am glad you are as happy or apparently MUCH happier with your top tier pack as I am. But I don't believe mine to be the holy grail either and still there are things I would change about it, but I "make do" in the mean time.

To be honest, you don't have to spend $700 to get into a Kifaru. It can be done new for around $500 and you even get to pick options between 3000ci and 7000ci plus you'll have a pack similar in weight to a kuiu with better load hauling capabilities. Kifaru sells more then just the EMR2.

And even better, currently you can get into a Kifaru for around $460 with the current rhino den offerings.

Just to compare when no sales are going for either, kuiu icon pro 7200 $500 and Kifaru UL Duplex Argali $512, I don't see a big price difference, would you still recommend the Kuiu over the Kifaru? Both sell belt pockets separately and the Kifaru does not require any other accessory pockets.

Kuiu Icon Pro 7200 weighs 5lbs 13oz.
Kifaru UL Duplex Argali weighs 4lbs 14oz.
So Kifaru wins the weigh comparison by almost a pound.

 

[Mk7mmSTW]

^^^^^^ exactly my thoughts DotMan! more of a apples to apples comparison breakdown.

 

[luke moffat]

This has turned into a pissing contest with you and that's not what I'm hoping for. You and I both know that there isn't a US made pack that fits those standards, nor did I say there was. I said kuiu sells packs at the same price point, I didn't say kuiu doesn't makes ultralight packs at a cheaper price point. Comparing a MR 6500 or Kifaru DT2 would best be compared to the kuiu's heavier duty model. Just cause I openly hate kuiu doesn't mean I have not had any experience with them nor did I say I hadn't as you are adding/assuming. My hunting partner lives north of Dixon where Kuiu is located and he loved there stuff. His shift partner hunt's AK yearly and in 2013 he split a icon frame on a sheep hunt. It cracked below the upper shoulder straps rendering it useless. Kuiu gave him a new frame and all three packs for the frame to apologize. I put on his 5200 kuiu top bag and did not care for the lack of lift or thinner belt it had when we were in CO on a hunt for a 3rd season tag he drew. He broke a buckle on that pack and admitted openly the crew cab w/lift kit I had hauled the load more solid than his pack.

This is getting way off topic, the original poster to this thread wanted to know which pack would work the best for a big sheep hunt in a couple years and work the best for hauling freakishly large foreign deer. The ultra kuiu must work great for you and many others or they would not be do much advertising which isn't cheap. For what the guy that started this thread is looking for, it's clear the "Mack truck" fits the bill. If he said he wanted a backpacking pack to go on summer trips, I would stay out of this. Your defending what works for you and not what he is looking for. I never said my packs are perfect, and I sell packs and try new packs every chance I can to see if I'm that much closer to the dream pack. Your packs work for you and my packs work for me, this is just opinions and a fair amount of people are liking the way I feel as they are liking and agreeing with my comments.

You are 100% my bad you caught me in a bad day I apologize. I was also wrong to assuming you haven't hauled the Kuiu pack at all. I am certain you have a lot of miles under one. To the OP don't risk your hunt with anything less than a quality made pack. Heck I am having a kid now I might as well sell my EMR 2 on the cheap as I won't be hauling animals out anymore. .

Best of luck to you.

 

[luke moffat]

To be honest, you don't have to spend $700 to get into a Kifaru. It can be done new for around $500 and you even get to pick options between 3000ci and 7000ci plus you'll have a pack similar in weight to a kuiu with better load hauling capabilities. Kifaru sells more then just the EMR2.

And even better, currently you can get into a Kifaru for around $460 with the current rhino den offerings.

Just to compare when no sales are going for either, kuiu icon pro 7200 $500 and Kifaru UL Duplex Argali $512, I don't see a big price difference, would you still recommend the Kuiu over the Kifaru? Both sell belt pockets separately and the Kifaru does not require any other accessory pockets.

Kuiu Icon Pro 7200 weighs 5lbs 13oz.
Kifaru UL Duplex Argali weighs 4lbs 14oz.
So Kifaru wins the weigh comparison by almost a pound.

100% correct man! Guess I forgot about other options. Though I had a arigali and it was closer to 5.5 pounds on the ultralight frame but still yes the icon and that pack would be a better comparison no doubt. Thanks for helping me pull my head out