SWD Wendigo! Is this new?

“The same feature set as the Long Haul but the frame and suspension of the Big Wild make the Wendigo an ultralight load hauling monster. “

It is new.  I have a Rugged Long Haul in the que that I ordered over a month ago.  Wondering if I should switch to this?

I ordered the Big Wild originally because I wanted that frame system. Friends convinced me it was too much pack for what I needed. I then ordered a Seek Outside Gila. However, the Wendigo is kind of exactly what I wanted from SWD. So, I may cancel my SO and get this.

I might be missing something here. I thought that the Long Haul with the “hanging hipbelt” option was already this. Does anyone know the other differentiating factors between the LH and BW suspension?

It may just be me, but it looks like the primary difference is that the Wendigo has an integrated front pocket and the Big Wild has daisy chains to add a pocket if you want.

Between the Rugged Long Haul and Wendigo it appears so far that the Wendigo only has a sewn-on hip belt option and the taller “load hauling frame” while the Rugged Long Haul has a choice of sewn-on or removable hip belt and standard frame.  This is sort of hidden in their general “Backpack Sizing” section of their website.

https://www.swdbackpacks.com/backpack-sizing

What is odd is the weight breakdown for the 50L Rugged Long Haul and 50L Wendigo is EXACTLY the same.  This could be a copy and paste error and I have reached out to SWD for clarification.