Kuiu ICON 6 6000 vs Stone Glacier Terminus 7000
Quick take: The Stone Glacier Terminus 7000 carries more (115 vs 98 liters); the Stone Glacier Terminus 7000 is lighter (3.94 vs 6.15 lbs).
Which one to buy
Bone-in or boned-out? That question decides between two $699 expedition packs. The Stone Glacier Terminus 7000 is rated to 150+ lb, where Kuiu publishes no rating for the ICON 6 6000, and it holds 115 L and weighs about 2.2 lb less than the Kuiu ICON 6 6000. It gets there by sewing the bag directly to the frame and carrying meat in a 2,200 ci internal load cell against your back, a layout built for boned-out sheep, goat and deer. Stone Glacier itself sends bone-in elk hunters to its modular frames instead. The ICON's load sling opens space between bag and frame for quarters, and its horseshoe zip lets a quarter or rifle slide down against the frame.
Terminus owners back up the load rating. One carries 85 lb training loads with no squeak or torque, and another says it handles 70-120 lb better than any Stone Glacier pack he has owned. The ULTRA fabric is waterproof enough that owners stop carrying rain covers, and it's quieter than they expected. The complaints are practical. It has no hydration sleeve, which is the most-repeated request, no quick rifle carry, and a lot of straps to learn. The 26 in frame is fixed, so fit comes only from the yoke and belt. Fill the load cell with meat and owners debate whether the remaining space is enough for a 10-day hunt.
The ICON includes the features the Terminus lacks: a hydration sleeve, hipbelt pockets and a rifle quick release. Its main compartment is waterproof-coated, but the other panels and the seams aren't. Its frame came out in 2025 and has little track record. Owners say the Regular size runs short, so hunters near 5 ft 9 in should choose the Tall.
The Terminus is the lighter, roomier and better-proven pack. It just isn't designed for carrying elk quarters bone-in, and the ICON is.
Kuiu ICON 6 6000
Better suited to elk and mule deer hunters who expect to haul bone-in quarters between bag and frame and want rifle carry and a bladder sleeve built in.
Stone Glacier Terminus 7000
Hard to beat for sheep, goat and fly-in hunters who bone out everything and want 115 L at under 4 lb in a fabric that shrugs off rain.
| Spec | Kuiu ICON 6 6000 | Stone Glacier Terminus 7000 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699 | $699 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Hunting Pack | Hunting Pack |
| Frame Type | External Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 98 L | 115 L |
| Weight | 6.15 lbs | 3 lb 15 oz |
| Max Load | Not published by the manufacturer | 150+ lbs |
| Torso Fit | 3 suspension sizes (S/M, L/XL, XXL/3XL); Regular frame fits 5'2"-5'9", Tall fits 5'10"-6'6" | 26 in fixed frame with adjustable shoulder yoke; belts S (28-30 in), M (31-36 in), L (37+ in) |
| Material | 330D double ripstop CORDURA nylon with waterproof-coated CORDURA main compartment | SG ULTRA (UHMWPE/Challenge Sailcloth laminate) main bag + X-Pac frame and suspension |
| Back Panel | Patent-pending 3D corrugated thermoplastic carbon fiber frame (made in USA) with Flex-Forward geometry, breathable spacer air mesh and dual-density foam shoulder straps | Foam-padded X-Pac panel over 4 straight carbon-composite stays (bag sewn directly to frame) |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | Yes |
| Ventilated back | Yes | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | No |
| Removable lid | Yes | Yes |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | No |
| Fits BV500 bear can | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | Kuiu warranty: defects in materials and workmanship for the practical lifespan of the product; original purchaser with proof of purchase, one repair or replacement per purchase | Lifetime against defects in materials and workmanship (excludes normal wear and tear, accidents, misuse and negligence) |
Pros & cons
Kuiu ICON 6 6000
- ✓At 6 lb 2.4 oz for the complete 98 L kit, it undercuts comparable Kifaru and Mystery Ranch expedition haulers by a pound or more while keeping a genuine load-hauling frame.
- ✓The 3D corrugated thermoplastic carbon frame is engineered to yield rather than shatter — a direct answer to the cracked carbon frames owners reported on the old Pro system.
- ✓Load-sling mode opens roughly 5,000 cubic inches between bag and frame for quarters, and the Pack Load Hauler doubles as a glassing pad for direct on-frame meat hauls.
- ✓$699 buys the entire kit — frame, bag, two hip belts, load sling, rifle quick release and gear strap — while owners note comparable Exo K4 and Stone Glacier builds push north of $800.
- ✓The horseshoe zipper across the back panel lets a rifle or a whole elk quarter slide down against the frame without unloading the bag, a feature early reviewers single out.
- ✓An internal waterproof-coated drop pocket carries up to 45 lbs of boned-out meat high and tight against the frame, keeping the weight where the suspension can handle it.
- ✓Hook & Barrel's tester found the suspension 'began to distinguish itself around the 80-pound mark' with zero frame creak or squeak — a common gripe on older Kuiu carbon frames.
- ✓Nearly five inches of half-inch-increment shoulder adjustment plus Regular and Tall frame heights covers hunters from 5'2" to 6'6", with a dedicated women's version.
- ✗Zero backward compatibility — Kuiu states the ICON 6 'shares zero key components' with the Pro/Pro LT systems, so existing Kuiu bag owners must rebuy everything.
- ✗Some experienced owners still say Kuiu frames aren't at Stone Glacier or Kifaru level for comfort under loose meat and heavy quarters.
- ✗It's a brand-new 2025 system with essentially no multi-season durability record, versus the proven Exo K4 and Stone Glacier Xcurve platforms it competes with.
- ✗Kuiu's 'Regular' frame sizing historically runs short — several owners warn hunters around 5'9" and up end up with weight stuck on their shoulders unless they size up to Tall.
- ✗Only 7 verified reviews existed on Kuiu's site as of mid-2026, so crowd-sourced validation is thin compared to packs with hundreds of reviews.
- ✗No rain cover is included; the uncoated weight-saving panels and unsealed seams mean a soaked pack in sustained downpours without a liner.
- ✗At $699 the kit costs $100 more than the outgoing Pro 6000, and it's over twice the weight of ultralight crossover haulers like Seek Outside's Divide if you don't need the full 98 L.
Stone Glacier Terminus 7000
- ✓Class-leading weight-to-volume: 7,000 cubic inches at 3 lb 15 oz is roughly one to two pounds lighter than comparable Kifaru or Exo bag-plus-frame combos, which is exactly why owners cross-shop it against packs they already love.
- ✓The 150+ lb load rating holds up in the field — one owner reports 55 lb carried 'quite comfortably' and 85 lb training loads with no squeaking or torquing, while another says it carries 70-120 lb better than any previous Stone Glacier pack he's owned.
- ✓SG ULTRA fabric (UHMWPE blended with high-tenacity polyester, 15x stronger than steel by weight) posts abrasion numbers well above SG's older Cordura/X-Pac builds — GearJunkie concluded it 'will likely last longer than most hunters.'
- ✓The 2,200 ci internal load cell puts boned-out meat directly against the frame and close to your center of gravity, with two drain holes so blood never pools inside the bag.
- ✓Waterproof ULTRA and X-Pac fabrics mean owners report ditching their rain covers entirely, and the fabric is quieter than expected — 'not loud or crinkly' per Terminus owners.
- ✓Denser hip-belt and shoulder-strap foam than SG's standard suspension — multiple owners call it more comfortable under load than the Krux frame, approaching Xcurve comfort.
- ✓Compresses to 4,300 ci in bivy mode, so one pack covers training hikes, day hunts, and 10-day expeditions — several owners run it as their only pack for a full sheep season.
- ✓Made in the USA with a 30-inch side-zip access panel, internal spotting scope pocket, Power Pull belt closure, YKK #10 zippers, and mil-spec Duraflex hardware.
- ✗No hydration sleeve or dedicated bladder hanger — the most-repeated owner request is 'I wish it had a sleeve inside for a water bladder.'
- ✗The bag is sewn to the frame, so unlike SG's Krux EVO/Xcurve system you can't swap to a different bag — Stone Glacier itself points bone-in meat haulers to those modular frames instead.
- ✗The internal load cell is sized for boned-out meat of medium game; bone-in elk quarters ride better on a true load-shelf frame like the Xcurve or a Kifaru duplex.
- ✗$699 is premium money — more than an SG Krux frame plus day bag, and GearJunkie flagged the price as the main deterrent for hunters without a once-in-a-lifetime tag.
- ✗Significant learning curve: GearJunkie's testers needed real time with the many straps and buckles before it was field-ready.
- ✗No dedicated quick-access rifle carry — owners lash rifles to the compression straps and were still waiting on SG's promised sling solution.
- ✗Fixed 26-inch frame sized only by waist belt: one owner who couldn't run SG's straight-stay Krux says the Terminus fits 'ok' but 'not quite the XCurve' for his back.
- ✗Volume anxiety on long trips: with the 2,200 ci load cell full of meat only 4,800 ci remains for gear, and owners actively debate whether that's enough for a 10-day sheep hunt.
Kuiu ICON 6 6000 vs Stone Glacier Terminus 7000: common questions
Can the Stone Glacier Terminus 7000 carry bone-in elk quarters like the ICON 6?▾
Not as well. The Terminus bag is sewn to the frame, so you can't sandwich a quarter between bag and frame, and its internal load cell is sized for boned-out meat. Stone Glacier points bone-in haulers to its modular frames. The ICON's load sling is designed for quarters.
Do I need a rain cover with either pack?▾
Terminus owners say no. Its ULTRA and X-Pac fabrics are waterproof, and many have stopped carrying a cover. The ICON's main compartment is waterproof-coated, but the other panels are uncoated and the seams aren't sealed, so plan on a liner for sustained rain.
Which is easier to fit, the fixed 26 in Terminus or the ICON 6?▾
The ICON offers Regular and Tall frames with three harness sizes, though owners warn the Regular runs short. The Terminus has one 26 in straight-stay frame, adjusted only through the shoulder yoke and belt size. One owner found it fit acceptably but not as well as Stone Glacier's curved Xcurve.