KUIU Icon vs Icon Pro

[lamrith]

Title sort of says it all I guess to some point.

After Phantom and partner leading me down more than a few rabbit holes in Late Sept I know I need a better pack. I used my Alps daypack for a few days, and as a daypack it works very well, but it has almost no hauling capability. For Elk hunting just the rack and maybe a single backstrap would likely max it out and nuke my shoulders for 1st trip. Places we were I want as few trips as possible for sure. I borrowed a Cabelas Alaskan (frame plus pack) from Phantom for a while and then a Dana pack (all in one) from his partner for a while. Have I mentioned how great a pair of guys Phantom and his hunting partner are? I also got to try on a Kuiu Icon pro 1850 and have tried on a EXO perviously.

I sort of set my eyes on the Kuiu as the next step and started looking around. The Icon pro 1850 looks like the ultimate combo for me in that it is daypack size bag so slim and easier to push thru the alder thickets Phantom frequents like my current daypack, but can handle heavy load hauling by splitting bag from frame and putting meat between them.

Budget is really blown from hunting prep this year but I am of course watching for deals either new or used.. I just saw on another local site a 2013ish Icon 7200 pop up for sale used $250 with bag, two belt pockets and it is already a Tall frame and l/XL belt which is exactly what I need. But it is the older design Icon, and much much bigger bag than I think I will ever need, and it does have a repaired tear in the top cover. In comparison I could get a brand new IconPro 1850 in my size with both hip pockets and a bottom accy pouch for $366.90 shipped after friends referral discount.

So now the question. How much difference is there between the Icon and Icon Pro series? Is it just fabric, I thought I heard something about a change to frame? I am not seeing much online because if I search Kuiu Icon, it always comes back with Icon Pro links.. Kuiu's warranty says original owner only, but are they decent about fixing things for second owners? I have seen Mfg before have a specific written terms, but in action they cover anything not gross abuse as a customer service/brand loyalty measure. Does it make sense to grab the older to big of a bag to save $110 or is the new series just that much better and worth the $110, plus being new and full warranty.

[redtop]

I don't know exactly what the difference is between those two but I think you are right the fabric and the newer frame.
I bit the bullet and bought an Icon Pro 3200 for last season and could not be happier. To me it's the perfect size. I can easily carry all I need for a day but I can also spike out for a night or two with it. The 1850 is probably fine if you don't anticipate ever wanting to do a night out. But, I like that when I get my animal I can put some of the meat inside the pack with my gear and then put the bigger pieces between the pack and frame. They carry a load really really well. Last year I carried and entire buck with it. I couldn't handle that much weight for more than a mile but it allowed me to drop some serious elevation quickly with a mountain of meat. I hung the h.qtrs. And came back later. The pack carried it fine but I cant carry over 100 lbs. anymore.
I think the 7200 would be more capacity than I personally need for the way I hunt. If I anticipated a week long backpack hunt I could always buy just the bag for my frame.
I've been carrying back packs for my entire life and for the way I hunt this is THE pack for me. There are just so many features that make the pack perfect.
And it weighs less than most hunting packs out there. Why carry two or three extra pounds every day you hunt?

[Backyard]

The Pro is supposed to be lighter. But not by very much at all from what I understand. I have the 1850 Pro. I also added a Kuiu XL drybag that I use in conjunction with it between the pack and frame that I pack my spike camp in. Works great for two to three days of food and camp provisions. Then the 1850 works great for a daypack, it's just the right size for everything for the day out away from camp including my kill kit. Including raingear, lunch, water and filter system, and maybe a warm shirt or vest. I also added the hip pockets on both sides (X-mas gift from the wife), perfect for calls, rangefider, gps etc.
I would'nt go any larger than the 3500 if I wasn't doing a full all out pack in trip.