Will Kuiu ever restock the 2300 Pro Ash Phantom?

[akiroki]

Hi All,

Just thought I'd start a discussion on something that has really annoyed me by Kuiu the last year or so.

I have been waiting for the Kuiu 2300 Pro Ash Phantom to come back in stock for about 12 months now. When I try email Kuiu, they just provide a generic response every time Saying they dont have and ETA nor can they confirm it will ever be restocked.
What are everyones thoughts on this? Its a shame that Kuiu no longer has a any meat hauling true day packs in solid colours. I would have thought they would be the most popular. Instead we are forced to go camo (meaning no dual purpose) or carry around a loose, heavier pack which almost always leads to more noise.
I have a 3600 Pro As Phantom that I purchased until the 2300 came back in stock. However, that never happened.
The 3600 pro really is just too big as a day pack, even when carrying alot of gear. Yes, it can be sinched down well, but the top pocket sags when the pack isnt absolutely filled which leads to excessive noise. Noise makes it extremely difficult when stalking Sambar here in Aus.

OR are they working on a new Pro line of packs? The evergreen colourway only recently came out. I am so confused why they would take this path and not restock the 2300 Pro Ash Phantom.

 

[Predator_SD]

Kuiu has always been this way as far as i can recall. Imo they’ve sorta gone down hill after Jason’s tragic passing. Seem more and more interested in reaching the general masses and less on the niche they started out in which to me is always the beginning of the end for a hunting brand.

 

[jayhawk]

Sounds like they’re having supply issues, or it was a low-demand item that they’re phasing out.

 

[philos]

To the OP-please familiarize yourself with the Rokslide rules about buying & selling outside of the classified ad forums and with less than 10 posts. I will delete that post and move this thread to the backpack forum for better exposure.

 

[swagner97]

I wouldn't be surprised if they never restock it. Seems like Kuiu has fallen behind in the pack game to Exo, Stone Glacier, IA, etc. I could see them either revamping their packs entirely or stopping production. Though the latter is unlikely given how they seem to want a very broad line up now.

I prefer it when companies are more niche, but they always seem to expand and add to their lineup.

 

[akiroki]

To the OP-please familiarize yourself with the Rokslide rules about buying & selling outside of the classified ad forums and with less than 10 posts. I will delete that post and move this thread to the backpack forum for better exposure.

Apologies! Thank you.

 

[akiroki]

Kuiu has always been this way as far as i can recall. Imo they’ve sorta gone down hill after Jason’s tragic passing. Seem more and more interested in reaching the general masses and less on the niche they started out in which to me is always the beginning of the end for a hunting brand.

I agree. Customer service has definitely gone down-hill after Jason.
I don't understand why they wouldnt just be honest about the restocking. Instead, they leave it open ended, almost as if there is still hope.
Another really confusing one is the recent introduction of the 4500 divide Pro pack and then nothing. Not a single size up or down.
Kuiu obviously put some R&D into the new 4500 divide. Seems wasteful as a company to expel that effort and then restrict yourself to a single item to profit off.

 

[Poser]

I wouldn't be surprised if they never restock it. Seems like Kuiu has fallen behind in the pack game to Exo, Stone Glacier, IA, etc. I could see them either revamping their packs entirely or stopping production. Though the latter is unlikely given how they seem to want a very broad line up now.

I prefer it when companies are more niche, but they always seem to expand and add to their lineup.

Fallen behind? When were they ever ahead or on par with with the other hunting pack makers?
KUIU's pack launch around 2014 or so was a shitshow with frames and load lifters snapping left and right in the field. It was a recall worthy failure. They basically tested their line on their customer base for a couple of years until they got all of their major issues resolved and denied a lot of warranty claims along the way.

 

[swagner97]

Fallen behind? When were they ever ahead or on par with with the other hunting pack makers?
KUIU's pack launch around 2014 or so was a shitshow with frames and load lifters snapping left and right in the field. It was a recall worthy failure. They basically tested their line on their customer base for a couple of years until they got all of their major issues resolved and denied a lot of warranty claims along the way.

True. I just used to hear or see more people running their packs when they came out. Though I guess that was probably more brand loyalty.

 

[cuerro viejo]

Fallen behind? When were they ever ahead or on par with with the other hunting pack makers?
KUIU's pack launch around 2014 or so was a shitshow with frames and load lifters snapping left and right in the field. It was a recall worthy failure. They basically tested their line on their customer base for a couple of years until they got all of their major issues resolved and denied a lot of warranty claims along the way.

Jason pretty much copied Mtn hardware when releasing/starting Sitka but w/Kuiu clothing wise his partnership with toray seemed to out pace Sitka and most Mtn brands on new emerging/features fabrics/technology. Now that kuiu’s exclusivity in NA with Toray has expired not so much.

 

[akiroki]

Fallen behind? When were they ever ahead or on par with with the other hunting pack makers?
KUIU's pack launch around 2014 or so was a shitshow with frames and load lifters snapping left and right in the field. It was a recall worthy failure. They basically tested their line on their customer base for a couple of years until they got all of their major issues resolved and denied a lot of warranty claims along the way.

To be fair, I agree early on. The Kuiu packs were a disaster. However, with the introduction of the Pro and LT lines, Kuiu became a thorn in the sides of others. They were cheaper, well thought out and COULD do the job. I have packed out countless of deer with the Pro pack and own strictly kuiu. Their new bino harness is also well thought out (not perfect but g3 better than pro), and gaiters, some of my favourite. To this day, for the price, you simply can not find a better or lighter pack. One of my friends has an SG he paid double what I paid. The SG is also significantly heavier and any accessory comes at a premium.
I have seen very little failures of the new kuiu carbon frames. Hopefully my entire rant is for nothing and they end up releasing a meat hauling day pack again.