KUIU's new Ranger 2200

[Alpine4x4]

Looks like KUIU just released a replacement for the Venture 1800 and 2300, the Ranger 2200. Small aluminum frame, lightweight, good organization. Wish they would have done it before the Founders Day sale so I could have bought it (at full price of course) along with the Venture Divide 2000 to compare. As is my Divide is packed and ready for its first scouting mission tomorrow. The Ranger sheds over a pound off the Divide and come sin two sizes vs a one size fit all approach.

Ranger 2200 | Verde

Best For: Hunting Day Pack The Ranger 2200 is our lightest internal frame hunting day pack yet, weighing just three pounds (1.36 kg) with a 2200 cubic inch (36-liter) capacity. Engineered for performance, it features a high-strength internal aluminum tubing perimeter frame for robust support...

www.kuiu.com

 

[Lock3]

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.

 

[Alpine4x4]

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.

Great insight. I was able to take my divide out last weekend and was impressed. Coming from a Badlands Superday the addition of a frame was extremely welcome and one of the main reasons I got the divide. I wanted something more rigid, but not as big as my K4. Good to know it doesnt seem like I'm missing much.

 

[Lock3]

Great insight. I was able to take my divide out last weekend and was impressed. Coming from a Badlands Superday the addition of a frame was extremely welcome and one of the main reasons I got the divide. I wanted something more rigid, but not as big as my K4. Good to know it doesnt seem like I'm missing much.

No problem! Thought I'd save someone else the trouble. I ended up just ordering a Divide 3000 as an extended daypack.

 

[repins05]

Lock3 thanks for the feedback. Anyone else care to chime in about the ranger versus divide?

 

[billysmals]

I have no experience with either of these. I did use a Venture 2300 and sold it. The belt sucked for any moderate load at all. Any reason those of you that like the Divide 2000-3000 or are considering a Ranger, would consider an EXO K4 2200?

Yes I know the price is much more on the EXO if you don't already have the frame it's $640. Even the bag alone is $264, but thats only $9 more than a full price Divide 3000 ($259- Yes I know it's on sale now.)

Weight wise, the Divide 2k is 4lbs 5oz, the 3k is 4lbs 11oz. The ranger is much lighter, but won't be as durable. The Exo K4 2200 is 4lbs 9 oz.

The Exo 2200 has a descent bag layout, but it doesn't have all those pockets as the Divide/Ranger. You could add a true lid via the K4 lid, if you want more organization, but that would add cost and weight. However the frame, the durability, the load shelf, is far better on the Exo. I get the rigidity compared to the Divide which is more flexible.

 

[Lock3]

I have no experience with either of these. I did use a Venture 2300 and sold it. The belt sucked for any moderate load at all. Any reason those of you that like the Divide 2000-3000 or are considering a Ranger, would consider an EXO K4 2200?

Yes I know the price is much more on the EXO if you don't already have the frame it's $640. Even the bag alone is $264, but thats only $9 more than a full price Divide 3000 ($259- Yes I know it's on sale now.)

Weight wise, the Divide 2k is 4lbs 5oz, the 3k is 4lbs 11oz. The ranger is much lighter, but won't be as durable. The Exo K4 2200 is 4lbs 9 oz.

The Exo 2200 has a descent bag layout, but it doesn't have all those pockets as the Divide/Ranger. You could add a true lid via the K4 lid, if you want more organization, but that would add cost and weight. However the frame, the durability, the load shelf, is far better on the Exo. I get the rigidity compared to the Divide which is more flexible.

I have EXO K4 3000 as well so not an exact match. The Venture Divide is a better setup for a scouting pack if you're not hunting because of all the small/medium pockets and places to put bits and bobs. If you're day hunting, Exo is obviously better because of the frame for meat hauling.