KUIU Pack - Ultra 6000 or ICON PRO 5200/7200

[Jonathan_S]

I know pack brands are a pretty steady conversation piece but I wanted a thread to compare/contrast the KUIU ULTRA and ICON PRO specifically.  Weight savings of the ULTRA vs. the features of the ICON PRO for those of you who've used both.

I am looking for a pack for 3-7 day mountain hunts in Idaho and Washington for elk, bear, and deer.  Mostly solo if that matters.

I'm leaning pretty heavily to the ULTRA 6000.  Convince me otherwise or tell me how smart I am 

[kentrek]

I have the ultra and have been very pleased with it as an all around pack...I've put some heavy loads on it and beat the crud out of it with minimal issues..

With that said I've been keeping my eye out for an icon pro suspension for sale that I can strap an ultra bag to...seems like it would be the best of both worlds..definitely do not see the need for the "beefed up" bag of the icon pro

 I would keep the ultra suspension for trips I'm nit going to be packing 40+ pounds regularly, which is majority of my outings

[Jonathan_S]

So if you had no pack right now, you'd buy the ULTRA bag and ICON suspension?

ULTRA suspension uncomfortable with a heavy (packout) load?

[kentrek]

It's not uncomfortable but it could be more comfortable with the extra padding while hauling 100 pound loads...60 and below it's perfect amount of padding

Yes if I was starting fresh I would go with the pro suspension and the ultra bag, Prolly the 1800 & 6000

[kentrek]

I've got by pretty well with just the ultra padding, not enough discomfort to make me spend 300 bucks that's for sure

[Jonathan_S]

This apparently could have been solved via PM 

Thanks man.  Hopefully this is useful for someone in the future.

[kentrek]

Good luck 

[Magnum_Willys]

I have the ultra and have been very pleased with it as an all around pack...I've put some heavy loads on it and beat the crud out of it with minimal issues..

With that said I've been keeping my eye out for an icon pro suspension for sale that I can strap an ultra bag to...seems like it would be the best of both worlds..definitely do not see the need for the "beefed up" bag of the icon pro

 I would keep the ultra suspension for trips I'm nit going to be packing 40+ pounds regularly, which is majority of my outings

    And pickup an 1850 bag for $60 during sale days and use that for your day hunts.  Like my ultra but would enjoy more padding on the waist belt for heavy loads. 

[Jonathan_S]

   Thanks!

[sirmissalot]

I agree with everything said. I ran a 3000 ultra on the icon pro suspension and loved it. 4 days was really pushing it though and when I bought the 3000 bag and sold the 5200 I thought I could squeeze 5 days out of it and I wished I had the 6000 instead, but the 3000 was perfect for my normal day pack stuff. I did end up giving the pack to my girlfriend as she was running a 1800 ultra and it wasn't nearly enough for an elk hunt we had coming up, but I had no issues with it.