Mystery ranch vs new kuiu icon pro

D_greg03

New Member
Sep 3, 2014
5
0
I'm trying to decide between a mystery ranch nice frame pack or the new kuiu icon pro?



I like the versatility/ affordability of the kuiu. I could get an 1850 and a 7200 for the price of a longbow or crewcab. I know mr's are bomb proof but heavy. But I grew up in the bozeman area so I have a soft spot for them.



Any experience is appreciated. I know the icon pro is a pretty new system.
 

Boehunter

Member
Mar 26, 2014
146
0
Wyoming
Everyone i know that has a MR loves them but you better for the price! have you looked in stone glaciar at at all i see seacat and some other big MR guys are jumping ship.
 

D_greg03

New Member
Sep 3, 2014
5
0
I haven't looked at the stone glacier yet. I heard they have them at schnees in Bozeman. I'll have to check them out next time I'm in town. They are closer price wise to mystery ranch aren't they?
 

Ridgerunner

Active Member
Feb 21, 2011
308
0
MR is a more proven pack, kuiu seems to change every year, I've heard some bad stories about their frames. I'd go MR.
 

NVBird'n'Big

Veteran member
May 27, 2011
1,138
0
Reno, NV
Do some research, especially if you are going to spend top $ on a pack. There are quite a few brands in the MR price range that people love, Stone Glacier, Kifaru, Exo. There should be some good past threads here discussing packs, use the search function to check em out. Kuiu gets nothing but praise for the price but I don't think they stand up to the bags that are twice the price. I run a Kuiu and love it but if price wasn't a factor I would have gone with something else. The Kuiu frame issue was with the older Icon models and had supposedly been corrected with the new frame. Good luck in your search!
 

D_greg03

New Member
Sep 3, 2014
5
0
Yeah I have done a lot of research. I have pretty much narrowed it down to these two. I will check out the stone glacier next time I make it to town. But I wanted to get a better idea of the kuiu icon pro cuz money is always a factor. I just want to buy once and cry once. I mainly use an eberle X2 now. And it just can't handle heavy loads comfortably. And isn't good for more than an overnight trip.
 

25contender

Veteran member
Mar 20, 2013
1,638
90
I will tell I have bought and cried more than once over a pack. And this year I cried one more time but I think it will be the last time. I finally broke down and bought a Kifaru. I don't know How much you want to spend but this back is worth every penny and then some. I packed in and out camp, used it as a compressed day pack, and packed out 2 elk in the span of five days and I felt great after it was all said and done. I wish I would have bought one years ago instead of spending a little less for different packs. Cant say enough good things about the DT1w/bikini frame. You might want to check them out. They will build a pack to fit you.
 

RUTTIN

Veteran member
Feb 26, 2011
1,299
0
Kamas, Utah
Like 25contender said cry once. I have tried a few packs and when I bought the nice frame with metcalf I have never been happier.


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25contender

Veteran member
Mar 20, 2013
1,638
90
Have you expanded the nice frame and used it with a full pack? That frame and pack must hold 180lbs combined!! That would hurt me. Nice frame and pack. I like the side zipper for the main compartment. Almost went with your setup.
Like 25contender said cry once. I have tried a few packs and when I bought the nice frame with metcalf I have never been happier.


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RUTTIN

Veteran member
Feb 26, 2011
1,299
0
Kamas, Utah
25Contender I have loaded the pack up but have yet to expand the frame to haul in between the bag and frame. I always figured I would expand for the first trip and then unload the bag for the next trips. I almost went with your setup because I like the extra pouches on the outside of the bag, but with the full length zipper on the bag you can get to gear fairly well. I saw that MR has now put a pouch on the outside of the new Metcalf.


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25contender

Veteran member
Mar 20, 2013
1,638
90
Yep the outside pouches and the choice of lids were some of the factors that led me to Kifaru. Of and the belt is the best I have tried.
 

Steve O

Member
Apr 26, 2012
92
37
Michigan
I've had a Mystery Ranch NICE along with various bags; Longbow, Crew Cab, Metcalf, and 6500. I've tried many others...Badlands, Eberlestock, Kuiu, Sitka, and Kifaru. I find the MR works best for me. I will continue to try others to see if any will work better or be more comfortable with a heavy load. No way would I trust the Kuiu like I trust my MR.
 

woodtick

Veteran member
Feb 24, 2011
1,492
0
Jim Bridger County, Utah
Having the lift kit when you separate the bag from the frame to haul meat on the Metcalf or the Longbow is a must. I love MR packs, a little heavier and maybe not as like SG or Kifaru but they are tougher than hell! and they stand behind there products 110%. I doubt I'll ever buy another top shelf pack!
 

michaelc10

New Member
Feb 22, 2015
17
0
I just got rid of my mystery ranch , ive had a few , these are bomb proof packs , just a little on the heavy side , I ve used most of the big name packs and decided after trying out the new icon pro series to go that route , seems to carry weight really well and is also a few pounds lighter than my mystery ranch setups . Both great packs
 

eodmickelson

New Member
Dec 28, 2014
35
0
Cheyenne Wyoming
I can't say enough about mystery ranch. I'm new to hunting, but I'm a military EOD tech and used mr exclusively on my deployments to Afghanistan. From throwing them around, conducting air assaults, strapping them to the outside of trucks, and loading them down with 80+ lbs of kit, its never let me down.
 

Steve O

Member
Apr 26, 2012
92
37
Michigan
I've used my Mystery Ranch packs all over North America for over a decade with no complaints. I've tried two versions of the Kuiu and neither compared for me. And I do not trust Kuiu or their carbon frame no matter how many trucks they drive over it.
 

dead river

Member
Mar 20, 2011
82
0
NC
Im going MR this year, for several reasons. I like the versatility of the crew cab. i had 2 dana designs packs in the 90s and they were some of the most comfortable packs i have worn.

On a separate issue, the Kiui website is the most annoying site i have been on in quite a while. I even emailed them about it last week and i cant recall ever actually sending a complaint email, outside of responding to airline questionnaire from my frequent Delta or United flights. The popup comes up every single time you click on a new product, asking you for your email. It is like a salesman coming up and interrupting you every time you move 5' to the next rack down the isle. I literally had to decline their request about 7 ot 8 times in less than 5 mins. till i finally got pissed enough to email them and give them my email. I pretty much told them that you now have my email and you will never have my business. There are too many really good options in the market to do business with a company with those kind of tactics. I went to MR website, they had a similar popup. When i declined, it never came back up. That is is reasonable...ask for the sale or the contact info but when i decline, back off....

Im ordering my MR next week so i can get started on break-in and adjusting ths spring. My blacks creek is really heavy though well laid out and very comfortable, and my eberlestock did not fit me very well. The loaded pack let the stay push in on the small of my back right on my spine. I am looking forward to the MR after having the Dana packs years ago and the fit and durability were awesome.
 

BigSurArcher

Very Active Member
Mar 3, 2011
513
2
N. CA
Dead River,

Sorry about the pop-ups, I agree that it would be annoying and distracting. When I saw your post I asked one of the IT folks about this, since I was surprised we don't receive many complaints on the subject. He said that it's likely that your internet settings are different than most peoples regarding the "cookies". If your cookies aren't enabled, then each time you click a new link within the website, your browser will think it's the first time you've visited the site- thus prompting the subscribe by email pop-up.

Anyway I just wanted to chime in and see if I could help. Either way, good luck with your new MR, I'm sure it will serve you well.

Todd
 

dead river

Member
Mar 20, 2011
82
0
NC
Todd,
Thanks for the explanation. I can appreciate the IT challenges and your response was more specific to the problem than what i recieved from the email. I just checked it and the site doesnt do it now and hasnt since I sent the email through the online system, giving your company my contact info. I am all about small business and start up companies so i have watched your company with interest for several years. I own a small engineering firm and really try to support similar business models, including Eastmans, but the site was a huge deterrent to sales. I think it would be in general, but it definitely is for this market segment since most outdoor types have a low tolerance for a sales pitch and in-your-face of push marketing strategies. I would have someone check it out if you dont want that kind of sales pressure on your site. My cookies and computer setup should be pretty standard, its a Dell and standard IT security and firewalls from Dell Business Services... I will clear all history and cookies and see what i does when i go back in and try to click on a particular product since that is when it did it.