Customers who received the 1st shipment of ICONS are giving the new bags and suspension incredible reviews. Pre-sales sold us out of our 1st shipment, but we receive another later this week and will be filling orders ASAP. If any of you have a hunt in August please let us know so we can make sure we get your gear to you in advance.
I have been receiving many of the same pack questions and thought answering them below for everyone may be helpful.
I really feel like we nailed this frame by increasing vertical stiffness for load carrying while still maintaining flexion horizontally for an incredibly comfortable wearing pack.
To do this, the Patent Pending 2012 frame is using a new Toray 12K Carbon Fiber and resin formula plus a new Patent Pending production technique. We also made several design improvements that simplify adjustments, eliminate noise and increase durability.
The final production weights of the suspension and bags enclosed below:
ICON Pack Weights: Frame & Suspension 3 lbs 1 oz
5000 Bag 3 lbs 3 oz
7000 Bag 3 lbs 6 oz
By request I shot 2 short videos of the inside of the bag to show the pocketing and storage set-up on Video #1 and how to remove the frame from the bag from the frame on video #2. Let me know what other video’s you want to see on the new packs.
If you are interested in a new ICON please call customer service to order an place a pre-order. We do not charge your card until we ship.
The new packs look nice. How about a video showing how the 2011 packs attach to the 2012 frame? Thanks.
Thanks Dustin. Great suggestion. I will put one together for you.
Jason
I’ve got a fever. And the only prescription – is more Icon.
LOL! Hang in there Kevin!
Ordered the 7000 & frame yesterday and cannot wait to get my hands on the new day pack when it become available!!! Love my KUIU!
Jason, got mine last week! Have the 5000 up to 80 lbs, man is this pack locked in! Loved my 6000, this one just feels so stable, especially on steep descents, the lumbar support is great. 1 week to the NWT, hope to send photos of the 5000 laden with a Nahanni twister!
Tom
Dustin beat me too it…curious how the 2011 bags attach to this frame?
Cheers,
Mike P
Looks good! When do you expect more chugach gear? My hunt is less than 2 weeks out!
Where is the video that shows the inside of the bag? Neither of the ones on the current page do.
Jason,
Thanks for the video showing the inside of the pack. Looks like a great design!
–MATT
I did 33 miles this last weekend with the 7000 and it gave me saddle sores on my lower back and hip bones. I sure hope it just needed to be broken in and molded to me, because it’s going to Nevada for a week long hunt. I think it will be fine, but almost wonder if I shouldn’t just go back to the 6000 to be safe.
I also preferred the internal compression of the 6000 pack. I don’t like the idea of expanding the pack away from my back. The new pack already places the load further away from my back than the original suspension. Force x Distance = Moment, Moment is not a good thing in a pack. You can’t always control how much weight you pack, such as packing out an animal, but the pack design can control how close the load is to your body. Does a 7000 ci pack really need to expand away from your body?
Hi Justin,
Thanks for the comment, I want to better understand what you experienced. What weight did you have in the pack? what did you have on underneath/ between you and the hip belt? In your opinion what caused the saddle soreness? The shape of the lumbar pad? Or the non-slip material on the lumbar pad?
I have logged a lot of miles testing this new design as well as several other people with no sign of what you were experiencing? I am not doubting you in anyway just want more info.
I always appreciate your challenging comments and opinions. The only difference from the compression of the 6000 and the 7000 is two layers of bonded 160 Denier Cordura. Both designs function essentially the same, putting the weight as close to your back as possible. The 5000 and 7000 keeps the meat out of your main compartment and gives you more flexibility with bulky loads or if you are Aaron Snyder or Bryan Martin and enjoy carrying 100 pound + loads.
Jason
I pry had around 45 lbs. It was just my normal camp setup with a spotter and tripod. I was wearing a 185 merino, attack pants and boxers, no belt. The hip belt on last year’s model did the same thing on the points of my hip bones, but I did not have an issue in my lumbar area. However, it seemed to mold to me and only bothered me after the first day of use on longer hauls with heavier loads. I actually think this hip belt will be better at forming to me and will not be an issue. I still think I may have an issue with the lumbar pad. In my opinion it is a combination of the stiffness of the foam and the tacky material. It was stiff enough to cause pressure points on the two hip bone points on either side of my spine. A lumbar pad using foam similar to Kifaru might me more appropriate. Also, the tacky material doesn’t stretch which doesn’t allow it to form to your body. I really like to try it out with the same stretch woven material that is on the hip belt on the lumbar pad.
I realize there is not any difference in the compression system when the load sling is not in use. Also, the meat is going to be in the same position relative to your body with either system. However, when hauling meat with the internal compression system the rest of your gear is going to be closer to your body that with the load sling system. With the load sling system, the bag with your gear is going to be angled out away from your body. I prefer the internal compression because you can pack most of or gear in around the meat within the bag and expand upward if necessary. Everything is still close to your back. I guess I put meat in a trash bag with packing it so separation is not a big issue to me.
For some reason, KUIU stuff never impresses me the first time out, but then it really does as I use it more. I don’t know what it is. Hopefully that is the case with the pack.
Hi Justin,
Well noted on your feedback. Thank you for the detail. The foam will compress over time and become more comfortable. I went back and compared my pack that has been used a lot during testing and the foam has compressed and a bit shaped to my back.
Jason
I have a feeling it will be fine now. I think the pack needs to be broken in like a pair of boots. I guess I’m doing a little overnight trip this weekend, so I’ll have one last time to try it before my week long hunt. Then, we’ll see how it does!
Perhaps I missed it, but could you please provide some more info on the lid? My current pack is a Dana Design external frame. I really like that the lid has multiple pockets and am in the habit of hauling that thing around with me.
I can’t really tell from the ICON pics how many pockets are in the lid and how it all works. I did search the forum as well. Apologize if I missed something.
I look forward to hearing more reviews as folks get out and use these this fall.
It has flat pockets top and bottom along with the main compartment, 3 total.
I like the improvements as I own both frame models now. The 6000 bag fit relatively easily onto the 2012 frame. I just have one major complaint on the 2012 frame and that relates to the Lumbar support in the middle of the waist belt. The non slip material is overkill and causes irritation. I wore this pack for about a month during the CO elk season both fully loaded 6000 and with just some essentials. Most of the time I had just the Kuiu light wool shirt on and the lumbar support would chaff the skin through the shirt no matter how heavy or light the pack weight. In time, this abrasive material wore down and was less a problem, but I would definitely change this. I would go to a smooth non slip material, or choose 1000 cordura or something similar.