Marshall or Beartooth vs kuiu

Joined
Feb 6, 2020
Messages
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Location
chilliwack
Hey everyone, I am buying a new pack this year and would really like some input. I am between the mystery ranch marshall or beartooth and the kuiu 7800. i have had the older style kuiu 7200 and liked how it would compress fairly small to use as a day pack or once you have camp set up. Mystery ranch says that the beartooth can do the same thing but it does not have as many pockets as the marshall or kuiu. Any advise would be great, thanks.
 

Turkeyfreak12

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Aug 20, 2019
Messages
126
Location
Utah
I personally like the Marshall. It helps me pack in everything I need. It works well for me. I’ve heard good things about the beartooth from people I hunt with. It does a good job of compressing. I know one guy who hunts with a kuiu pack and he says it’s the only pack he likes. I don’t think you can wrong with any of those options.
 
Joined
Jul 30, 2019
Messages
845
I had the Marshall and sold it for the Kuiu 7800. Zero regrets. That being said, the beartooth did not exist when I bought the 7800. You can’t go wrong with either. If you can swing it and don’t mind eating shipping cost, buy both, try them out and return the one you don’t want.
 
OP
blacktail09
Joined
Feb 6, 2020
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17
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chilliwack
I had the Marshall and sold it for the Kuiu 7800. Zero regrets. That being said, the beartooth did not exist when I bought the 7800. You can’t go wrong with either. If you can swing it and don’t mind eating shipping cost, buy both, try them out and return the one you don’t want.
Thanks for the info! Did you pack weight in both packs? What made you make the change?
 
Joined
Jul 30, 2019
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Mystery Ranch is a premier backpack company. The Marshall I had was prior to their most recent redesign. I am not an organizational freak and do not like minimal pockets. I tried it with the Mystery Ranch pack, but I simply didn't like not having a lot of pockets. The pack is bulletproof. Excellent hip belt. The prior iteration to the one currently out was fairly heavier than the Kuiu, plus the Kuiu had the pockets I wanted. My friend just bought the beartooth and loves it. I bet if I had bought that one, I wouldn't have sold it. Like it said, you cant go wrong with either. I simply wanted pockets.
 
Last edited:
OP
blacktail09
Joined
Feb 6, 2020
Messages
17
Location
chilliwack
Mystery Ranch is a premier backpack company. The Marshall I had was prior to their most recent redesign. I am not an organizational freak and do not like minimal pockets. I tried it with the Mystery Ranch pack, but I simply did like it. The pack is bulletproof. Excellent hip belt. The prior iteration to the one currently out was fairly heavier than the Kuiu, plus the Kuiu had the pockets I wanted. My friend just bought the beartooth and loves it. I bet if I had bought that one, I wouldn't have sold it. Like it said, you cant go wrong with either. I simply wanted pockets.
thanks again! i am with you on the pockets. the pack i just sold was a original kuiu icon 7200. I liked the pack but the first frame design was not comfortable for me with a heavy load. I like the features on the beartooth but it is almost 40L (2000ci) smaller and i worry it wont be big enough for a 10-14 day sheep hunt.
 
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Jul 30, 2019
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I had the MR first sold it. Bought the original Kuiu pro, sold it, and now run the new framed Kuiu Pro w/ both the 7800 and 3600 bags. The new frame and hip belt are way better than the original.
 

WyoWrangler

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Apr 22, 2019
Messages
128
I really enjoy my beartooth, used it all through elk season. I really don’t have any complaints. It has pockets on the inside for good organization, and with all the compression straps you’re able to really cinch it down to a small size. I’ve actually packed meat out with it also and it performed perfectly. All I can say for you is pick the pack you want and make sure sizing is correct.
 
Joined
Jan 16, 2018
Messages
44
Location
Wellston, MI
I had the MR first sold it. Bought the original Kuiu pro, sold it, and now run the new framed Kuiu Pro w/ both the 7800 and 3600 bags. The new frame and hip belt are way better than the original.
Do you have any pics of your 3600 and 7800 cinched down? Very interested in these packs, especially the 3600 for 2night/3day camps.

Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk
 
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Jul 30, 2019
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I am assuming you want them cinched down as empty packs, correct? What I carry and the amount I carry in them is likely different than what you carry, so empty, I assume" is what you are wanting. If so, I'll get a couple of each and post them up. Might not happen till tomorrow though.
 
Joined
Jul 30, 2019
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Ok, here you go Kuiu Pro 3600 vs 7800 bags:

EC2FCE0D-6159-45C9-A244-DCE4ACC6F895.jpeg
7800 left, 3600 right. Grout line to grout line is 20“s

989344A5-CF9F-42A5-80F4-C46CA0EE94D5.jpeg4AFDACBA-A469-4782-A6EF-2D19C305BCFC.jpeg
3600 Empty

9AEA6200-14FD-4A64-8A8E-F3856A330EB8.jpeg90217CB1-7439-4188-BD97-A9E0A1F53B34.jpeg5AD45638-8036-4E89-B755-C7032DA60653.jpeg
3600 packed with the following random stuff I could quickly find
 
Joined
Jul 30, 2019
Messages
845
Random crap placed in the packs:
62047EA6-AE11-4B53-A67C-1F4CC5E5541D.jpeg

C010595D-0330-44A5-BB63-DD623847CFC8.jpegE6F86E48-4A16-4C96-9A4A-26CF8A1FFA6F.jpeg

7800 bag empty. If I would have disconnected the top pouch it would look even slimmer but I left it on.

8A8F0A23-267E-4193-B4E3-31280EAA66AC.jpeg55BA3AD1-7BD7-4DBF-8501-3639489174E8.jpeg4112B21C-9998-48B7-95FB-A0C59D934F5C.jpeg

7800 loaded with the same items as the 3600 was. Once again, the bulky/baggy top pouch makes the pack look bigger than it is.

For reference, I am 5’10”, 155lbs.
 
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Jul 30, 2019
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I just threw the items in the bag and cinched it down. It could be more organized and smaller but I didn’t bother.
 

Fireman03

Lil-Rokslider
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Feb 13, 2020
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260
Location
Wyoming
MR will handle heavy loads much better. I run mr my dad runs kuiu, from what I've seen is the kuiu flops around when loaded. I've also heard alot of guys having the kuiu frames break.
 
Joined
Jul 30, 2019
Messages
845
I ran my 7800 in Alaskan for 10 days this Fall packed to the brim in addition to the past 3 years elk and WT hunting. It has “Never flopped around” in my personal experience. If it’s flopping around then it’s not fitted right or packed right. Same result for any backpack. There are a small few poorly designed bags that will “flop around”, none of the bags mentioned here will IMO. I have been backpacking for 25+ yrs and have used many a backpack. Mine aren’t wall ornaments. If Osprey made a hunting minded bag I’d be all over it as they have changed the game for recreational backpackers. Dana Designs (now Mystery Ranch) used to set that standard for recreational backpackers and have since rebranded and continue to do a great job in the hunting & military world.

The hunting world lusts over the big three; Kifaru, Mystery Ranch, and Stone Glacier, and rightfully so. They are the top three in my opinion as well as far as reputation goes. Everyone has different needs, wants, likes or dislikes. Kuiu, Exo, Eberlestock, Seek Outisde aren’t too far behind. ALL OF THE ABOVE BAGS have at least something that could be better. None are indestructible and all have have defects or warranty issues. Don’t take anyone’s word or opinion as the end all be all. Find them in a store and try them on, order them and see what you think. Only you can decide what works for you. I am on my third brand of backpacks in the past 7 yrs and likely won’t stop there as innovation and technology continue to change the game/playing field. It’s nice to have options. Get what you like/want/need.
 
Joined
Jan 16, 2018
Messages
44
Location
Wellston, MI

Indyal

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Feb 15, 2020
Messages
146
Hey everyone, I am buying a new pack this year and would really like some input. I am between the mystery ranch marshall or beartooth and the kuiu 7800. i have had the older style kuiu 7200 and liked how it would compress fairly small to use as a day pack or once you have camp set up. Mystery ranch says that the beartooth can do the same thing but it does not have as many pockets as the marshall or kuiu. Any advise would be great, thanks.

I have a Mystery Ranch Marshall on order and should arrive tomorrow. They are on close out in some shops( due to new design for 2020). If you are XS or S, the discount is even better. What attracted me to the MR Marshall was the ability to put meat right against the frame without sliding it down into the bag.
 
OP
blacktail09
Joined
Feb 6, 2020
Messages
17
Location
chilliwack
I have a Mystery Ranch Marshall on order and should arrive tomorrow. They are on close out in some shops( due to new design for 2020). If you are XS or S, the discount is even better. What attracted me to the MR Marshall was the ability to put meat right against the frame without sliding it down into the bag.
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I have a Mystery Ranch Marshall on order and should arrive tomorrow. They are on close out in some shops( due to new design for 2020). If you are XS or S, the discount is even better. What attracted me to the MR Marshall was the ability to put meat right against the frame without sliding it down into the bag.
There is a new Marshall coming out? I thought they just released the new one?
 

abbrown

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Aug 19, 2019
Messages
164
Location
Durango, CO
Just want to throw my recent experience in: I won a new 2020 MR Mashall on the GL MT frame, and I've been putting weight of 35-60lbs on it for some pack training. Gotta say it's super comfortable. Never tried the old GL frame, but this new one fits snugly, has really comfy shoulder and hip straps, has good lumbar support without slippage, holds the weight steady and is easily adjustable. The overload shelf is super easy to use. I picked up an Exo K3 4800 back before Christmas and I'd put the two very close in comfort for the same weight amounts.
Thinking to pick up the Pintler to have a small pack/large pack combo option on the GL MT frame.
 

jmike

FNG
Joined
Feb 25, 2018
Messages
99
Location
Fairview oregon
I have never used a MR or any of the other top tier bags. I do however have the Kuiu 3600 and the 7200. For what I am doing they are great. 3 or 4 nights out is my max, with a 60lb load it is super comfy and stable, there is no flopping around for me....

Mike
 
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