PSA: Initial ascent bags and accessories made in Taiwan

[Idaho4x4Bronco]

View attachment 1080228My load lifters are showing some serious wear where they touch the carbon frame after 4 moose and 3 bears. I’ve called IA several times, emailed one of the owners, and left a voicemail. Can’t get a response. Trying to get them replaced before the hunting season starts. Wouldn’t be great to have one break with a moose quarter on my back.

That seems very odd, their customer service is incredible. Are you emailing Cody directly?

 

[Hatchet]

I don’t know who Cody is. I emailed Dennis. Yeah back when I bought my pack a couple years ago they always answered calls and emails.

 

[walnutbottomout]

View attachment 1080228My load lifters are showing some serious wear where they touch the carbon frame after 4 moose and 3 bears. I’ve called IA several times, emailed one of the owners, and left a voicemail. Can’t get a response. Trying to get them replaced before the hunting season starts. Wouldn’t be great to have one break with a moose quarter on my back.

How did the pack feel on the moose pack outs ?


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[Tahr]

View attachment 1080228My load lifters are showing some serious wear where they touch the carbon frame after 4 moose and 3 bears. I’ve called IA several times, emailed one of the owners, and left a voicemail. Can’t get a response. Trying to get them replaced before the hunting season starts. Wouldn’t be great to have one break with a moose quarter on my back.

Just checked mine. Only the very slightest sign of wear after a few years of hard graft. I wonder if the angle of the lifters makes a difference. Mine are steeper cos my pack length looks to be set shorter (5ft 10"). Anyway, they shouldn't wear like that really.

 

[Hatchet]

How did the pack feel on the moose pack outs ?


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It does great

 

[Hatchet]

That seems very odd, their customer service is incredible. Are you emailing Cody directly?

Thanks for sending Cody’s email to me. I emailed him and got a response first thing this morning. He’s gonna send me a new set of load lifters

 

[Idaho4x4Bronco]

My pleasure

 

[StickSlingers]

Go back and read through this thread. I don’t think anyone is saying it’s a terrible backpack. You guys that are defending them can’t seem to get that through your skulls. This is about their branding and lack of forthrightness.

It’s honestly the most comfortable frame I’ve ever used, exo being a close second. And i have a terrible frame addiction so that’s saying allot lol. Still use it.


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[StickSlingers]

Interesting. Your post was 40 minutes ago, I saw it right away and took the time since then to do some research and looking back.
I wont say you're wrong, and again to each their own, however that being said...

The email from my pack purchase doesn't say anywhere proudly made in the usa, nor does my pack(older pack), nor did any of the hundreds of advertisement emails I have received from IA.

I searched their Youtube channel, starting with their oldest videos, didn't see any marketing saying made in the usa, or hear that in any videos. I looked over the frame on my pack just now, it doesn't say usa anywhere on it, and their frames have always been made here, and still are.

Did I miss the giant banner flying through the sky here in Idaho that says IA MADE IN THE USA...?

Even the Rokslide video I saw cliff testing the pack, there was no mention of usa.

So basically when they started the company and up until 2024 i believe 100% of the packs were made in USA. Frames soft goods everything. My first bag i got from them has an American flag that says “proudly made in USA” on it. When i ordered a different bag a year later i noticed the flag was gone. This made me curious because when i bought my original pack at the western hunt expo i was told they were 100% made in America, every component. It’s why i bought it. Then i started looking around the new pack and i found a made in Taiwan tag hidden inside one of the pockets.
The long and short of it is i was irritated because i was sold completely made in the USA and one day they quietly transitioned over seas.
That said you’re right, the frame is my favorite of all the big companies. It’s very comfortable. I still use mine, it’s one of the original made in USA ones with a made in Taiwan belt because i wanted the pull forward waist buckles and i bought it before i found out lol


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[StickSlingers]

That’s interesting. Maybe we’re all mistaken. For some reason a lot of us thought they were made in the US when we bought them.

I used to watch some Gritty content (still do occasionally) He seems to oversell stuff. Maybe that’s where the confusion comes from.

No they were. My original bag has made in USA all over it


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[StickSlingers]

The bags were sewn in the USA and now they are not. I would have to assume the flag is identifying the latter and the outsourced soft goods lack the flag. You can clearly identify the difference between the various bags I use.

The frame is still made in Idaho

Do you see a difference in fit and finish? That was their reason for the switch per the owner i talked to at this years western hunt. I didn’t see any large improvements


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[StickSlingers]

The processors and microchips used on the devices to type the original message are likely Taiwanese... Promptly return all electronics...
Welcome to the world. Taiwan has some of the absolute best sewing businesses in the world. And they are NOT Chinese cheap.

Like i said, no issues with overseas products. We are surrounded by them. I love Toyota, Swarovski, my electronics ect.
In a world that’s full of imported goods i try to support America manufacturing when there are options just as good or superior domestically. Had i known that they were no longer made in the United States i would have purchased an exo for the same price


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[isleofGough]

I wouldn't be surprised if initial ascent is not saving money by manufacturing in Taiwan. I just purchased an item for SAR that has no equivalent in the US and had to pay my 20% tariff towards the reflecting pond.