New Kuiu Pro Pack VS Kifaru

[Southpaw5280]

Hey all. Anyone running the new Kuiu Pro pack system and prefer it over the Duplex Lite frame and Reckoning bag?

 

[kowboy]

I have both and here is my take:
1. Kuiu Pro. Great bag but the hip belt tends to 'cut in' somewhat when loaded heavy (+40 lbs). It's put together nicely and the quality is great. Pockets roomy but missing the ability to 'add on' other than a bow / gun holder etc. Shoulder pads are nice and the ability to custom fit is appreciated.

2. Kifaru. Belt is amazing and very comfortable. Padding seems much thicker in the areas it needs to be. Custom pocket add-ons is great! Many different options that year after year, ...fit! Heavy loads are distributed imo, much better.

Both great packs and it really comes down to what fits your body better and how they ride.

Hope that helps.

 

[Eastonsgrandpa]

Kifaru is hands down the better option. I’ve never felt the clothing makers did well building packs. Kuiu, Sitka, FORLOH, etc. all make amazing clothing but their packs don’t measure up to the big three, of which for me, Kifaru is king.

Kifaru has damn near perfected, imo, the frame and bags and the attachment system. Plus, it’s Berry compliant.

 

[Triwayy]

I like the kuiu because of its comfort and modularity. I keep a 2200 bag on it for general purpose stuff, then put a 5500 on it for multi day stuff. The bags themselves are cheap and weigh little.

 

[hungrybear]

Kuiu is nice in that it's light and simple so hunting is really nice without the extra weight. Additionally, when my buddy's pack shoulder straps started to wear out they sent new ones for free.

Kifaru is king though, American-made down to the raw materials. Built to handle the heaviest of loads comfortably. The customizability cannot be beaten.

You will be happy with whichever you choose.

 

[Trapyotes]

What frame do you hunter’s suggest from Kifaru. ?

 

[Eastonsgrandpa]

What frame do you hunter’s suggest from Kifaru. ?

Duplex Lite. I've had both and for me the DL is far and away the most comfortable and breathes much better in the hot weather.

Just do yourself a favor and really measure yourself. When I first bought a Kifaru, I just relied on information I had used on another manufacturers pack. Ended up getting long shoulder straps when I needed short. Had so many issues with fit. Was going to give up on Kifaru until I spoke with someone and did actual measurements. Now all of my frames have short straps and it's like putting on a custom glove. Same with the belt. If I use the measurement of my pants, I would use a small belt. But actually putting a tape to where the pack will sit, I take a medium. Can use the small, but the medium is so much better.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

You're comparing a Chinese pack from a Chinese clothing company to an American made, utmost quality pack. Better comparison to Kifaru is Stone Glacier. Better comparison to Kuiu is Alibaba.

 

[Trapyotes]

Duplex Lite. I've had both and for me the DL is far and away the most comfortable and breathes much better in the hot weather.

Just do yourself a favor and really measure yourself. When I first bought a Kifaru, I just relied on information I had used on another manufacturers pack. Ended up getting long shoulder straps when I needed short. Had so many issues with fit. Was going to give up on Kifaru until I spoke with someone and did actual measurements. Now all of my frames have short straps and it's like putting on a custom glove. Same with the belt. If I use the measurement of my pants, I would use a small belt. But actually putting a tape to where the pack will sit, I take a medium. Can use the small, but the medium is so much better.

I have to say, that’s great advice. I will do that because there’s no way to make a change on top some mountain. Thanks

 

[Eastonsgrandpa]

I have to say, that’s great advice. I will do that because there’s no way to make a change on top some mountain. Thanks

Yessir. They are amazing with customer service as well. Give them a call and they will get you dialed.

 

[Jake_B]

You're comparing a Chinese pack from a Chinese clothing company to an American made, utmost quality pack. Better comparison to Kifaru is Stone Glacier. Better comparison to Kuiu is Alibaba.

I’ll admit that I don’t have experience with any packs as I’m searching for my 1st pack but is this not a little extreme? I have kuiu clothes and couldn’t be happier. In addition, there is a thread about a backpack shootout that kuiu appears to perform very well (below). What makes kifaru or stone glacier that much superior?

For reference, I’m in the market for a whitetail pack and will be doing day hunts only. I don’t want to drag them anymore.

Backpack Shootout - 9 Backpacks Go HEAD to HEAD ***Updated 8/5/2020***

I will be testing some of the leading packs against each other. I have several tests lines up to simulate hunting and backpacking scenarios. I Will Be Testing: KIFARU KUIU Stone Glacier Exo Eberlee Stock Initial Ascent Mystery Ranch Sitka Seek Outside I hope to do a two part test on the...

rokslide.com

 

[Eastonsgrandpa]

I’ll admit that I don’t have experience with any packs as I’m searching for my 1st pack but is this not a little extreme? I have kuiu clothes and couldn’t be happier. In addition, there is a thread about a backpack shootout that kuiu appears to perform very well (below). What makes kifaru or stone glacier that much superior?

For reference, I’m in the market for a whitetail pack and will be doing day hunts only. I don’t want to drag them anymore.

Backpack Shootout - 9 Backpacks Go HEAD to HEAD ***Updated 8/5/2020***

I will be testing some of the leading packs against each other. I have several tests lines up to simulate hunting and backpacking scenarios. I Will Be Testing: KIFARU KUIU Stone Glacier Exo Eberlee Stock Initial Ascent Mystery Ranch Sitka Seek Outside I hope to do a two part test on the...

rokslide.com

Will the Kuiu work? Absolutely. But it certainly isn’t up to par with the likes of Kifaru and Stone Glacier. Since it’s your first pack, it might not be real understandable. I used some packs in the beginning that I thought were ok. I had no basis to understand what I was missing and just figured the pain of packing out was to be expected. That things breaking are par for the course.

When I splurged against my best judgment and bought an EXO, I understood how much better it was.

Later on I got ahold of a Kifaru and it was even better. Plus they are made in America. And every stitch, buckle, piece of fabric, etc. is sourced right here as well.

Comparing a Kuiu/Sitka/Badlands/Eberlestock….. to a Kifaru/Stone Glacier is like comparing Vortex to Swarovski.

They will work. But they don’t compare. And you’ll be glad they have warranties as it will be used.

 

[Jake_B]

Appreciate the reply, that helps. Thanks!

 

[JNDEER]

Fit…. Fit…. Fit!!

I don’t prefer the kuiu to kifaru, however that is 100% because the kifaru fits my lard azz better!!

My thinner flat back cousin prefers kuiu over kifaru.

It’s all about FIT.

All those packs (kuiu, exo, kifaru, stone, etc) will WORK and function well for any type of hunter! But if that pack don’t fit right then your hunt will suck.

 

[Trapyotes]

Appreciate the reply, that helps. Thanks!

Yes I gotta spurge and buy a quality pack like the ones mentioned. I am getting to old to pack animals out in my 1988 model, 80 liter internal frame. I am new to this forum and I appreciate the quality of the advice.

 

[RdRdrFan]

Fit matters more than anything else…..but other things do matter.

With that said, I prefer Stone Glacier.

Before SG came along the best pack system I had ever run was an old Kuiu 3200 bag on a Kifaru DL frame. I haven’t looked at Kifaru bags in several years (since I purchased my first SG) but I always loved their frames and LOATHED their bags. None of them were set up the way I wanted. But the 3200 on the Kifaru frame was almost perfect. Drop a load cell dry bag between the bag on your load shelf when packing in then drop the dry bag and cinch the 3200 tight for day hunt mode. The 3200 weighs nothing and it does wear out over time but was set up in a good manner for me.

 

[Northpark]

They will work. But they don’t compare. And you’ll be glad they have warranties as it will be used.

So I’ve been rocking a kuiu pack since 2019. I have packed a lot of stuff with it. I have to admit I’ve only had to call them once for help. And that was this past year because I crushed the hip belt buckle in the truck door. Totally my fault. It still actually worked and I packed out my coues deer with it. Emailed Kuiu and asked if I could purchase a new buckle and they just sent me a new one for free even after I told them I broke it.

So yes their customer service was a positive experience for me.

 

[Venom One]

I have both and here is my take:
1. Kuiu Pro. Great bag but the hip belt tends to 'cut in' somewhat when loaded heavy (+40 lbs).

I experienced this same issue where the belt seemed to pinch my hips, but I'm assuming it's something I have wrong with the setup. Zack packed way more than 40# during his Backpack Shoutout review so I have to believe it's a setup issue on my part. Agree on the bags...

 

[kowboy]

I experienced this same issue where the belt seemed to pinch my hips, but I'm assuming it's something I have wrong with the setup. Zack packed way more than 40# during his Backpack Shoutout review so I have to believe it's a setup issue on my part. Agree on the bags...

I came to find out it's the 'plastic' liner in mine that was digging in. I believe they corrected that in the newer model with more padding.

 

[roosiebull]

I have both and here is my take:
1. Kuiu Pro. Great bag but the hip belt tends to 'cut in' somewhat when loaded heavy (+40 lbs). It's put together nicely and the quality is great. Pockets roomy but missing the ability to 'add on' other than a bow / gun holder etc. Shoulder pads are nice and the ability to custom fit is appreciated.

2. Kifaru. Belt is amazing and very comfortable. Padding seems much thicker in the areas it needs to be. Custom pocket add-ons is great! Many different options that year after year, ...fit! Heavy loads are distributed imo, much better.

Both great packs and it really comes down to what fits your body better and how they ride.

Hope that helps.

That’s an accurate comparison from my experience, I do like the bag layout of kuiu. Exo is a good mix of both.

The kuiu frame is the most grabby in the brush too, the shape of the frame above you grabs brush and doesn’t want to let go, and they were the hottest on my back in warm weather… the kuiu felt like it had heaters in the foam on my back