PSA: Initial ascent bags and accessories made in Taiwan

[Mtslackcountry]

All that matters is that it works for you and you like it. I’ve been using the same SG pack for almost 10 years, I’d like to try an initial ascent though since kifaru and SG are out. It’s down to exo and initial ascent.

What do you mean by SG and kifaru are out?

 

[thinhorn_AK]

What do you mean by SG and kifaru are out?

Well SG has sold to a private equity company and hasn’t come out with anything new in a few years. Kifaru is just strange now, they seem to have gone in a different direction. It was cool when they were a small company but they also completely sold out as well. I was never a big Kifaru fan anyways because of all the straps and pockets, before I knew it I had a 12lb empty pack.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Why does whenever a FNG post something that the blanket reply is “you said that to gain a post count”? Does a higher post count benefit you in some way? I’m kind of proud of my low post count but if 1000 posts give me some kind of sweet perk Ill be blasting this site immediately.

You have to have a certain number of posts to use the classified section. Sometimes people post random things just to get enough posts to sell their stuff.

 

[Mtslackcountry]

Well SG has sold to a private equity company and hasn’t come out with anything new in a few years. Kifaru is just strange now, they seem to have gone in a different direction. It was cool when they were a small company but they also completely sold out as well. I was never a big Kifaru fan anyways because of all the straps and pockets, before I knew it I had a 12lb empty pack.

Gotcha. I have the original SG krux pack and the sky 5100 bag. Kurt fit the frame on me way back when they were a small company. The frame is still going strong. The bag is starting to wear through. Its been a great pack. I Like the looks of the IA frame specifically the belt. The SG i have the belt is worn and pretty thin. Not the greatest when you have 80LBS on it. I totally agree on the Kafaru I didnt go down that path because the options of frames and bags was overwhelming and hard to understand.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Gotcha. I have the original SG krux pack and the sky 5100 bag. Kurt fit the frame on me way back when they were a small company. The frame is still going strong. The bag is starting to wear through. Its been a great pack. I Like the looks of the IA frame specifically the belt. The SG i have the belt is worn and pretty thin. Not the greatest when you have 80LBS on it. I totally agree on the Kafaru I didnt go down that path because the options of frames and bags was overwhelming and hard to understand.

I tried to get into Kifaru about 10 years ago now, I liked their waist belt but I never found the frame to be all that comfortable, I got the fulcrum bag which was a good size but all the straps made it a serious pain in the ass to deal with, it just seemed to be tough to get in and out of the pack. By the time I added a lid and a few pockets the thing was well over 11lbs empty. I used it for a few trips and got rid of it. I got a stone glacier x curve frame in 2017 with the solo bag, I got the guide 7900 bag back in 2019 or so and that’s what I’ve been using ever since. It’s still got some life left in it and fits me well. There’s a new pack in my future but not too soon, the SG setup has a few seasons left in it.

 

[StickSlingers]

Well SG has sold to a private equity company and hasn’t come out with anything new in a few years. Kifaru is just strange now, they seem to have gone in a different direction. It was cool when they were a small company but they also completely sold out as well. I was never a big Kifaru fan anyways because of all the straps and pockets, before I knew it I had a 12lb empty pack.

I’m glad I’m not the only one that’s noticed this.
SG it’s not what it used once was, kifaru is a shell of it’s former self, people who don’t know packs trying to sell you packs, very corporate. feels like they’ll start making things overseas any day now


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mike Islander]

I'm in the same camp as the OP. Don't move manufacturing offshore and charge me made in USA prices.

Of course it's up to the consumer to vote with their feet. As soon as I find out this is happening, I'm out for that company, especially if they hide it behind USA made jargon.

 

[bozeman]

I tried an IA and it felt like a 2X4 across my shoulders. Didnt last a week with it. Sad to see this from a company that started in the USA and proudly marketed that. The $$ wins again.......

 

[bluetick78]

Seek Outside and Exo are made in the USA, are the highest quality, and WILL take care of any issue you might have. Period. No one else can claim that....and back it up. Purchasing from anywhere else if 1) Country of Origin and 2) Customer Service are your top criteria will be a disappointment unfortunately. Stone Glacier has gone the PE route, and Kifaru.....who knows. IA claiming Made in USA, then flipping accessory contracts overseas is concerning and dishonest.

 

[Mike Islander]

Seek Outside and Exo are made in the USA, are the highest quality, and WILL take care of any issue you might have. Period. No one else can claim that....and back it up. Purchasing from anywhere else if 1) Country of Origin and 2) Customer Service are your top criteria will be a disappointment unfortunately. Stone Glacier has gone the PE route, and Kifaru.....who knows. IA claiming Made in USA, then flipping accessory contracts overseas is concerning and dishonest.

Stone Glacier packs are also Made in USA. And their customer service ranks with Exo. I have two Exo packs and a Stone Glacier pack. SG sent me straight pack stays to try instead of the XCurve stays, no questions asked. Exo swapped frames with me at no charge. Great companies.

 

[IDVortex]

Stone Glacier packs are also Made in USA. And their customer service ranks with Exo. I have two Exo packs and a Stone Glacier pack. SG sent me straight pack stays to try instead of the XCurve stays, no questions asked. Exo swapped frames with me at no charge. Great companies.

I am curious to see how long their CS last since they were bought out last year. Ive been hesitant now to buy anything SG due to that.

 

[Fishook]

FYI, I just had IA tell me that their new Scout pack is manufactured in Vietnam. Seems pretty steep dollar wise for a pack not made in the US. Honestly should be priced more in the Eberlestock range given it's manufacturing origins. I guess value is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[douglasfir]

I have absolutely no problem with companies having stuff made overseas. But I expect substantial cost savings to go along with it, which rarely seems to happen. These companies make a pack in OD green or coyote brown and add an extra $200 to the price. It must work, or these companies wouldn't do it.

 

[7mm-08]

Stone Glacier packs are also Made in USA. And their customer service ranks with Exo. I have two Exo packs and a Stone Glacier pack. SG sent me straight pack stays to try instead of the XCurve stays, no questions asked. Exo swapped frames with me at no charge. Great companies.

I had a Stone Glacier pack that I really liked - that is until Exo Mountain Gear came out with its K4, which just works better for me. SG's customer service was exceptional four years ago. Not so much currently. I've been trying to buy a few of their rifle slings from them for more than a year with no success. Of the more than eight customer service representatives (and their supervisors) with whom I have spoken none have any information about this item. They don't know if or when they'll have it back in stock or when that might be or if they are even manufacturing it anymore. When they were under Kurt Racicot's ownership and they had a phone number for the business in Bozeman, you could actually get a straight answer to a curveball question like mine and feel confident it was accurate. I'm sticking with Exo until Steve Speck quits that grind.

 

[SonnyDay]

Once private equity gets involved, all is lost.

They are no longer trying to build a company, create great products, or satisfy any customers. They are just bleeding the corpse so they can sell the blood and be done.

Then they sell the bones and hair and walk away.

Seen it too many times.

 

[tony]

FYI, I just had IA tell me that their new Scout pack is manufactured in Vietnam. Seems pretty steep dollar wise for a pack not made in the US. Honestly should be priced more in the Eberlestock range given it's manufacturing origins. I guess value is in the eye of the beholder.

Eberlestock prices are touching American made packs now.

 

[Poser]

The top tier price point equivalent to US made offerings is just part of the strategy. If you price at that tier, the pricing implies equivalent quality to the top tier competitors. I’m not saying that these IA packets aren’t high quality because it seems as if they are, but obviously margins must by higher by extension of manufacturing overseas. Coming on to the marketplace with a product that is priced mid tiered while trying to convince the consumer that it is equivalent to the top tier packs is a difficult strategy. And, in the hunting space, the top tier is still a relatively small pool with room for more. There’s definitely a psychological aspect to the price point: if it cost that much, it must be good/If it cost that much it better be good.

 

[Fishook]

Eberlestock prices are touching American made packs now.

This is true. However, Eberlestock often puts their packs on sale at discount levels that are palatable. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure IA packs are of fine quality. I do think it's a little deceiving that AI has changed up their manufacturing from US based to foreign without some type of clear labeling or a price reduction. They pushed the "made in the US" thing for long enough that many would operate under the assumption that is still the case. Had I not asked I would have purchased a pack assuming I was supporting US manufacturing, not just US based executives and marketing teams.

 

[IdahoHntr]

Man, their prices have really gone up!

I bought mine a couple years ago and the IA was significantly cheaper. At the time they were by far the cheapest of the major pack manufacturers. Especially since IA runs a lot larger sales than the others. I still think you can probably get the IA the cheapest based off the sales that everybody runs, but it isn’t the savings it used to be.

 

[45-70govt]

Man, their prices have really gone up!

I bought mine a couple years ago and the IA was significantly cheaper. At the time they were by far the cheapest of the major pack manufacturers. Especially since IA runs a lot larger sales than the others. I still think you can probably get the IA the cheapest based off the sales that everybody runs, but it isn’t the savings it used to be.

They gotta hike prices up to recoup what they spend in handouts to YouTube/Instagram influencers