New pack?

[Wingin it]

I am in the market for a new pack as well. What about the Outdoorsman packs? I have heard some good things but they are really never mentioned on these threads?

[Karl Blanchard]

I am in the market for a new pack as well. What about the Outdoorsman packs? I have heard some good things but they are really never mentioned on these threads?

well built packs but lack functional load lifters, therefore don't carry weight any better than any other backpack without them.

[Wingin it]

Thanks BLR. I did manage to find some info about them on here and what I found echoed your statement.

[coop2424]

I own an Exo and I seriously regret buying it.  After two years, the stitching is pulling out of the shoulder straps and I leave the top pouch at home because the zipper is busted.  the side lower pouches are to tight to use when you have something in the tall vertical pockets.  Conceptually, the pack is great.  But I'm feeling pretty disappointed about the stitching and zippers.

This is one of the reasons I got rid of my exo before it started breaking..  Owned both the first and second generations and could tell the fabric, webbing, buckles were not top quality.  I think you are going to see more of this from customers.  I still think they are good packs but don't put them on top or even top 2-3 for the price.  Maybe they changed on their 3rd redesign this year..

[bradslam]

I own an Exo and I seriously regret buying it.  After two years, the stitching is pulling out of the shoulder straps and I leave the top pouch at home because the zipper is busted.  the side lower pouches are to tight to use when you have something in the tall vertical pockets.  Conceptually, the pack is great.  But I'm feeling pretty disappointed about the stitching and zippers.

If this is the case, is there some reason that you haven't taken advantage of the following warranty:

Lifetime Warranty
Exo Mountain Gear is extremely proud to based in Boise, ID and make our packs 100% in the USA.  We stand behind the products we make and offer a lifetime warranty against material defects and workmanship to the original owner.   If for some reason something does happen outside of that scope we will gladly repair the item for you at a reasonable cost.

I can't imagine Steve not taking care of you if there are indeed defects.  Sometimes when I hear things like this, I wonder if it is an employee of a competing pack manufacturer.      I have a first generation Exo 5500 and have had no issues.  Steve has told me that they've made improvements to the overall quality of the current generation of packs.  I think it's reasonable to expect a few quality control issues from a new company as long as they make good on it.  I do prefer the bag design to any of the Kifarus.

[Jonathan_S]

In my opinion, that warranty is only great if they replace it with a pack that won't break.

Sig has a good warranty program too but so far, they have just replaced my crappy rangefinder with more crappy rangefinders.

I guess if the KUIU or Exo packs have some feature that you can't live without then burning through multiple packs is an acceptable risk 

[Karl Blanchard]

I own an Exo and I seriously regret buying it.  After two years, the stitching is pulling out of the shoulder straps and I leave the top pouch at home because the zipper is busted.  the side lower pouches are to tight to use when you have something in the tall vertical pockets.  Conceptually, the pack is great.  But I'm feeling pretty disappointed about the stitching and zippers.

If this is the case, is there some reason that you haven't taken advantage of the following warranty:

Lifetime Warranty
Exo Mountain Gear is extremely proud to based in Boise, ID and make our packs 100% in the USA.  We stand behind the products we make and offer a lifetime warranty against material defects and workmanship to the original owner.   If for some reason something does happen outside of that scope we will gladly repair the item for you at a reasonable cost.

I can't imagine Steve not taking care of you if there are indeed defects.  Sometimes when I hear things like this, I wonder if it is an employee of a competing pack manufacturer.      I have a first generation Exo 5500 and have had no issues.  Steve has told me that they've made improvements to the overall quality of the current generation of packs.  I think it's reasonable to expect a few quality control issues from a new company as long as they make good on it.  I do prefer the bag design to any of the Kifarus.

gonna play devils advocate here and point out   that when folks read statements like that they can't help but wonder if you don't have an affiliation with exo

Say what you will about any pack manufacturer but one department that kifaru completely stands alone in is bag designs and options.  There isn't a company out there that offers more layouts and configurations .

[coop2424]

I own an Exo and I seriously regret buying it.  After two years, the stitching is pulling out of the shoulder straps and I leave the top pouch at home because the zipper is busted.  the side lower pouches are to tight to use when you have something in the tall vertical pockets.  Conceptually, the pack is great.  But I'm feeling pretty disappointed about the stitching and zippers.

If this is the case, is there some reason that you haven't taken advantage of the following warranty:

Lifetime Warranty
Exo Mountain Gear is extremely proud to based in Boise, ID and make our packs 100% in the USA.  We stand behind the products we make and offer a lifetime warranty against material defects and workmanship to the original owner.   If for some reason something does happen outside of that scope we will gladly repair the item for you at a reasonable cost.

I can't imagine Steve not taking care of you if there are indeed defects.  Sometimes when I hear things like this, I wonder if it is an employee of a competing pack manufacturer.      I have a first generation Exo 5500 and have had no issues.  Steve has told me that they've made improvements to the overall quality of the current generation of packs.  I think it's reasonable to expect a few quality control issues from a new company as long as they make good on it.  I do prefer the bag design to any of the Kifarus.

I will state that I bought my first gen exo used but it was told to original owner it would be replaced due to an issue..  After I contacted exo they said since I was not the original owner that they would not replace but could give me a discount on a new one.  I was not happy but since they were coming out with new version I took them up on it and sold the old pack.. The more I think about that it is really crappy since it was their product and they should of stood behind it especially since said it would be replaced..  I don't think some of the other companies would of done this after saying that pack would be replaced.

[Reidus]

I don't know why y'all keep talking about kifaru exo and kuiu.

Fieldline is the way to go!!!

[BULLBLASTER]

I don't know why y'all keep talking about kifaru exo and kuiu.

Fieldline is the way to go!!!

Finally.... someone who gets it!

[Karl Blanchard]

I don't know why y'all keep talking about kifaru exo and kuiu.

Fieldline is the way to go!!!

  I would like to point out that I have a field line pack that I've owned for a decade at least and still use for things to this day.  Just this weekend I used it to carry my water bottle, sour patch kids and a diet pepsi.  Worked perfectly

[kentrek]

I've spit out more then a couple comments in favor of kuiu...but just recently I've found what I consider the first pretty decent flaw

As I've said before I spent a redicilous amount of time in my ultra and was overall happy with it...it did exactly what I wanted it to and what I consider I paid for....i then passed it on to my girlfriend and I had to test the kifaru waters...so many good reviews couldn't be ignored  but it wasnot long after I let my girl friend use the ultra that I discovered a pretty big issue....when resizing the shoulder straps to fit her shorter torso I noticed the shoulder strap was near falling off !!....the glue was pretty much rubbed away that held the shoulderror strap to the velcro that held the thing together!  No stitching!  Just glue ! I couldn't believe they would hold such an important part of the pack together with just glue....there is no doubt if I would have ran that pack this fall it would have failed under a load....and how do you fix that

Maybe they started adding some stiching in the latter models or with the icon pro but I'd highly recommend anyone owning a kuiu pack to double check the velcro holding your shoulder straps to the frame....maybe even take it to an upholstery and get some stitching !! Or give kuiu a call and ask what kind of glue they use to hold there pack together so you can pack extra 

Either way just a heads up

Since then we've had two kuiu belt buckles break

I could write a book on why not to buy kuiu

Since you said this I took a look at my Kuiu Icon I purchased 6 years ago... It looks pretty sound 

I have had the carbon fiber wings break under load twice in the field, but both at excess of 100 pounds, and Kuiu always made it right. Tent stakes and some electrical tape fixed it for the haul out both times. We had 4 different types of Kuiu packs on this last Idaho hunt and I've been nothing but satisfied with all my purchases. I don't like the grippy fabric they added to the back portion of the hip belt on later models though.

How many days a year do you use the pack ? I know you spend a fair amount of time in the woods but seemed like ares were good till the 2 year mark....keep an eye on it !! Hopefully I just got a dud

[bradslam]

I own an Exo and I seriously regret buying it.  After two years, the stitching is pulling out of the shoulder straps and I leave the top pouch at home because the zipper is busted.  the side lower pouches are to tight to use when you have something in the tall vertical pockets.  Conceptually, the pack is great.  But I'm feeling pretty disappointed about the stitching and zippers.

If this is the case, is there some reason that you haven't taken advantage of the following warranty:

Lifetime Warranty
Exo Mountain Gear is extremely proud to based in Boise, ID and make our packs 100% in the USA.  We stand behind the products we make and offer a lifetime warranty against material defects and workmanship to the original owner.   If for some reason something does happen outside of that scope we will gladly repair the item for you at a reasonable cost.

I can't imagine Steve not taking care of you if there are indeed defects.  Sometimes when I hear things like this, I wonder if it is an employee of a competing pack manufacturer.      I have a first generation Exo 5500 and have had no issues.  Steve has told me that they've made improvements to the overall quality of the current generation of packs.  I think it's reasonable to expect a few quality control issues from a new company as long as they make good on it.  I do prefer the bag design to any of the Kifarus.

gonna play devils advocate here and point out   that when folks read statements like that they can't help but wonder if you don't have an affiliation with exo

Say what you will about any pack manufacturer but one department that kifaru completely stands alone in is bag designs and options.  There isn't a company out there that offers more layouts and configurations .

The only connection I have to Exo is that Steve lived in my hometown for a couple of years when he was young.  Obviously, Kifaru makes great packs that are very durable and they have several designs, however, I simply don't like any of those designs.  Maybe it's my minimalist, ultra-light nature, but any bag that has a sleeping bag compartment, is panel loading, or has tons of Molle webbing all over it is a turn-off to me.  The one pack of theirs that I did like, the High Camp, was discontinued.  Packs, more than probably any other outdoor gear, are subject to personal preference.  That's why it's great that there are a growing number of manufacturers out there.

[Karl Blanchard]

I own an Exo and I seriously regret buying it.  After two years, the stitching is pulling out of the shoulder straps and I leave the top pouch at home because the zipper is busted.  the side lower pouches are to tight to use when you have something in the tall vertical pockets.  Conceptually, the pack is great.  But I'm feeling pretty disappointed about the stitching and zippers.

If this is the case, is there some reason that you haven't taken advantage of the following warranty:

Lifetime Warranty
Exo Mountain Gear is extremely proud to based in Boise, ID and make our packs 100% in the USA.  We stand behind the products we make and offer a lifetime warranty against material defects and workmanship to the original owner.   If for some reason something does happen outside of that scope we will gladly repair the item for you at a reasonable cost.

I can't imagine Steve not taking care of you if there are indeed defects.  Sometimes when I hear things like this, I wonder if it is an employee of a competing pack manufacturer.      I have a first generation Exo 5500 and have had no issues.  Steve has told me that they've made improvements to the overall quality of the current generation of packs.  I think it's reasonable to expect a few quality control issues from a new company as long as they make good on it.  I do prefer the bag design to any of the Kifarus.

gonna play devils advocate here and point out   that when folks read statements like that they can't help but wonder if you don't have an affiliation with exo

Say what you will about any pack manufacturer but one department that kifaru completely stands alone in is bag designs and options.  There isn't a company out there that offers more layouts and configurations .

The only connection I have to Exo is that Steve lived in my hometown for a couple of years when he was young.  Obviously, Kifaru makes great packs that are very durable and they have several designs, however, I simply don't like any of those designs.  Maybe it's my minimalist, ultra-light nature, but any bag that has a sleeping bag compartment, is panel loading, or has tons of Molle webbing all over it is a turn-off to me.  The one pack of theirs that I did like, the High Camp, was discontinued.  Packs, more than probably any other outdoor gear, are subject to personal preference.  That's why it's great that there are a growing number of manufacturers out there.

  point was don't accuse someone of being a mole when your own comments are equally as suspect

[bradslam]

I own an Exo and I seriously regret buying it.  After two years, the stitching is pulling out of the shoulder straps and I leave the top pouch at home because the zipper is busted.  the side lower pouches are to tight to use when you have something in the tall vertical pockets.  Conceptually, the pack is great.  But I'm feeling pretty disappointed about the stitching and zippers.

If this is the case, is there some reason that you haven't taken advantage of the following warranty:

Lifetime Warranty
Exo Mountain Gear is extremely proud to based in Boise, ID and make our packs 100% in the USA.  We stand behind the products we make and offer a lifetime warranty against material defects and workmanship to the original owner.   If for some reason something does happen outside of that scope we will gladly repair the item for you at a reasonable cost.

I can't imagine Steve not taking care of you if there are indeed defects.  Sometimes when I hear things like this, I wonder if it is an employee of a competing pack manufacturer.      I have a first generation Exo 5500 and have had no issues.  Steve has told me that they've made improvements to the overall quality of the current generation of packs.  I think it's reasonable to expect a few quality control issues from a new company as long as they make good on it.  I do prefer the bag design to any of the Kifarus.

gonna play devils advocate here and point out   that when folks read statements like that they can't help but wonder if you don't have an affiliation with exo

Say what you will about any pack manufacturer but one department that kifaru completely stands alone in is bag designs and options.  There isn't a company out there that offers more layouts and configurations .

The only connection I have to Exo is that Steve lived in my hometown for a couple of years when he was young.  Obviously, Kifaru makes great packs that are very durable and they have several designs, however, I simply don't like any of those designs.  Maybe it's my minimalist, ultra-light nature, but any bag that has a sleeping bag compartment, is panel loading, or has tons of Molle webbing all over it is a turn-off to me.  The one pack of theirs that I did like, the High Camp, was discontinued.  Packs, more than probably any other outdoor gear, are subject to personal preference.  That's why it's great that there are a growing number of manufacturers out there.

  point was don't accuse someone of being a mole when your own comments are equally as suspect

Maybe you missed the laughing smiley face after my comment.  It was hardly meant as a serious "accusation". 

My whole point is it doesn't make sense to me for people to complain about a product without giving the company a chance to make it right.  Off the top of my head, I've had defects in items from Leupold, Danner, Irish Setter, Kelty, Jansport, Michelin tires, and King of the Mountain Sports.  In each case, I was satisfied with the results from their warranty department.  In fact, Danner and Irish Setter both sent me a brand new pair of boots at no cost.  And yes, I do realize that the warranty from Kifaru (as well as Mystery Ranch) is transferable and Exo's (as well as Kuiu's) isn't.  Hopefully, that will change as they become more established.