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Pretty good difference between 'as is' and 'modified' on those stays, Brad.
Makes me wonder if I need to have a look at mine, though I am happy with the fit on my Bora 50 as is-kind of that curiosity thing going on.

My dana alpine and terraplane have some sort of side wand setup like that on my terraframe and longbed. Not as obvious, but same concept.

Well, most of you guys know more about packboards than I do but at least for right now, I'm kinda sceptacle (sp?). The first thing I wanna know about is the buckle. I have yet to find a PLASTIC buckle that doesn't allow the belt to slip. I finally found a old, used Kelty packboard & took the METAL buckle off it. Doggone if'n it don't work better, as it should.
IMHO, there are points of ridiculousness when it comes to outdoor gear. No one can convince me that saving a couple of ounces of an item makes any difference. Proper function is more important to me than saving an ounce or two.
The second contention I have with this packboard is that at least from the photos, there is no way to strap your rifle across it for walking. I am not going to place my rifle in some kind of holster that attaches to my frame. I carry my rifle strapped across the uprights of my packboard with nylon, quick release straps. Very functional and fast to take off the packboard & release the rifle. BTDT.
Finally, I'm just leery of the fitted form of the frame itself. Looks to me that a person is "locked" into one hiking position and for a long trip, could become uncomfortable.
Perhaps I'm mistaken on any or all of my points but I'm from the old school of the KISS principle. If you have something that works, don't screw with it. Maybe I'll be proven wrong tho.
Bear in Fairbanks

Yepper, we talked about that three posts up. The side-wands were one of the really good Dana innovations IMO.

Got this off their blog.. read below
_________________________________________________

KUIU�s Brand and Product Influences

DWR going off

We are fans of product driven brands. Brands that deliver best in class product, lead an industry and continue driving to reset the bar. Brands with products that are truly remarkable, creating discussion by exceeding consumer expectations. Studying successful brands is how we have modeled KUIU.

Below are some of my favorite brand influencers for KUIU. Please let us know your favorites and lets add to this list�.

Arc�teryx
Patagonia
MSR
Big Agnes
Osprey
Apple

Guess I wasn't far off... and it's a problem as far as I can see.

Lots of young guys doing stuff with entrepreneurial spirit... that's a good thing. What's bad thing is not learning the lessons of those that went before you. That's the affliction of youth.

Brad, I think it has more to do with lack of historical perspective. Where are you going to pick up a history of outdoor gear design from 1970 to 2010 if you didn't live it? There aren't really any good resources otherwise.

I haven't taken the time to do it, but I've been planning to put together an online pack museum for a couple of packs I've got including a Lowe external frame and a DeFrance Trickster. The Trickster in particular was a really unique design consisting of an HDPE framesheet with a single stay that can be used as a pack frame by itself, or with the attached bag. The bag can also be used in daypack mode without the frame sheet. It has a couple of other really interesting features as well. How on earth would I know about this pack and its features if my sister hadn't bought one in the early 90s?

Maybe asking question's and not assuming you know is a place to start? Seems if you're a young guy trying to build a pack you'd ask questions on forum like these. Just a thought. I would have thought excellent ideas would be forth coming from a variety of perspectives and experience levels.

In the short time I have been here I have learned more than many other forums combined. This would have been one of the first places I would have come to seek advice from you old timers. Im a young buck and that seems obvious to me. Forums like these are invaluable sources of information.

Thinking this frame over... obviously it's an external. A new twist on the old tubular aluminum stuff. Reminds be a bit of The North Face "Back Magic" from the late 70's. Guess time will tell if its up to the task of carrying heavy loads which is certainly the primary reason for an external...

It does remind me of the TNF Black Magic with the lumbar pivot. As I recall that pack would tilt like crazy once it started going.

Totally true Ed... I remember what an abomination that pack was. Course the Back magic lacked the side wands of the KUIU.

Yes, the side wands should help a lot to stabilize it. My big question is if the frame will be rigid enough with 125+ pound loads.

It is a very nice looking pack though. Very refind looking.

I'm not sure if I see an advantage on lumbar pivot, especially on uneven ground, wouldn't the low side pivot put the weight on your shoulders, while high side would move it to high unless there was some sort equalizing at the shoulders.

Why is the lumbar pad better than the wrap around belt ? I have a couple older externals and find the wrap around belt to be fine.

Seems to me the lumbar puts some angle on the belt (which is good) but that is something that could be done on a wrap around as well if you wanted the padding added.

What you want to do is most efficiently transfer load to your hips in a comfortable way that keeps the load solid. It could be wands, connectors or whatever, but for load hauling it needs to be something.

Personally, it seems to me the hip belt is way overbuilt on a lot of load haulers to where they do not hug the hips well enough to support the load

Kevin

Lots of critique.. No problem with that, but...
KUIU desinged this pack for the high country sheep hunter.. Sure its unproven, but what's out there that is better and proven?

From my quick read KUIU's focus is light weight, quality gear. What light weight pack out there competes with or blows his away? Would be interested to hear your thoughts..

Thanks!

Anything that is proven is better than something unproven - regardless of weight. There are lots of other places to cut weight, and no lack of proven packs. A pack is the last place that I personally am interested in cutting weight.

This KUIU pack frame is a very radical design that does indeed look quite refined. Because it is a radical design, it has more to prove than a pack composed of more traditional proven features. I think that's where the critique is coming from. Once this thing has proven itself in the market, it may indeed be without peer.

What's a proven light weight pack in a modern design, specifically designed for sheep hunting or the equivalent exercise?
Sure a Barney's can haul a house, but its no nimble light weight thing....

Previous comments mentioned specific Acr'Teryx or Osprey packs. Are these the proven sheep pack?

If you were asked to review the new KUIU against the top 3-5 competing packs what would they be?

Great way to phrase the question. Now I understand where you're coming from.

I haven't been sheep hunting specifically, but I've traveled in sheep country and read accounts of hunts. As I understand it, the requirements for a "sheep hunting" pack are decent stability for steep and rugged off trail travel, as well as the ability to carry 80+ pound loads on the way in and 100+ pound loads on the way out. I do have experience with both of those sets of requirements.

Out of the packs that I own, I'd choose the Dana terraframe hands down, no question. It sways a little more than an internal, but carries weight far better than any internal I've used. It's no longer made, and therefore not really "modern".

In answer to your question, the packs that would make my comparison list are any of the top makers' largest "expedition" packs. There is no such thing as a nimble light load of 80+lbs. You have to choose a pack geared for those weights:

- Kifaru LH
- MR G7000
- Gregory Denali Pro

I have reasons to believe that the Osprey and Arcteryx offerings top out at around 60lbs, but I suppose I'd include them in a test just to prove or disprove that bias.

No currently made externals would make my list. Not enough load control -- too dangerous for rugged off trail travel.

A svelte, lightweight pack that truly carries 80+ pounds (and the volume that that implies) well is indeed news.

My choice would be a Kifaru Ultra Light 5200 hands down.

I think that the Bora's top out around 90 and can't comment on the Osprey since I've never used one.