I ordered this backpack as a new scouting pack and will return it. The Ranger 2200 layout is much better for scouting than the Divide 2000, but the build quality feels way worse (I have both to compare side by side) and the frame is pretty trash. The crappy materials otherwise ruined a well-designed bag.
It definitely feels like the frame and materials redesign was an exercise in cost-cutting rather than improving the functionality, but I guess that's what happens when you get bought up by private equity. You're better off buying a top end day hiking bag at this price point vs. a mid hunting bag.
I had a lot of hopes for this bag because, while I like the Divide series, you need a much larger bag to be functional given all the dividers.
I know they cut 1-1.5 lbs out of the Ranger 2200 with their new materials and the new frame, but even loaded lightly with a carbon fiber tripod on one side made the backpack feel very imbalanced. I don't have this problem with the Divide 2000 which makes me believe it's because the new frame is not stiff enough.
The new weave material on the body-facing side of the backpack straps / hipbelts also feels much weaker. As you know, the Kuiu packs don't have much foam at the bottom of the backpack strap (maybe 1/4 inch); that area coincidentally is also where you grab the strap to take off the backpack. Previously, the weave in the divide packs was substantial enough to keep shape even though the foam underneath was very thin. In this new pack it feels like I just crush it entirely and it twists around as I pull the backpack off. It's worse than a Jansport backpack.
The material for the side stretchy pockets are also much more delicate which concerns me. Sometimes I walk through brush and the Divide 2000 has held up really well. This feels much weaker and I'm concerned about snags.
Outside of function, they changed the gray (lighter) which is annoying and I feel that the color scheme looks generally worse.
