• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

New Gear for 2023, Go!

Plebe said:
I really like the thought process on the suspension, but overall it seems pretty western focused still. Well worth the money, no doubt, but could use refinement for eastern whitetail to be at it’s best for that pursuit. again, imo.
Click to expand...
Yes, I agree a hundred percent. It is not for any type of east coast saddle hunting set up or for the standard daily white tail hunt at all. I would not recommend it for saddle hunting or bringing up a tree in any way. There are many better options for that.
 
enkriss said:
I almost ordered a K4 a few times. Seems better than most frame packs on the market.

However, if I was going to buy one it would probably be the 5k pack. Looks like it cinches down tight when empty. The smaller sizes they plan on offering in the future will probably be really long and really narrow. Not sure I would like that.
Click to expand...
I agree. I believe you are a taller and larger individual like myself. Which means our extra clothing and sleeping pads and whatever take up more volume than normal along with additional food or water.

They sent me the 3600 for testing and I have not touched the larger models to give you any input on them. I agree that the 5K pack with the lid and the roll top would fit the bill for ninety percent of all multi day hunts you would do.

I ran the Stone Glacier Sky Talus 6900 for a ten day trip in Idaho and several other week long trips and it worked very well for me. Again, as a 6’5, 240lb human, the ten days of food along with some other essentials fit well in that pack.

The two others with me were able to run smaller packs. In the end all of these newer packs pack down very well with their straps and at no time have I ever experienced excess loose bag material being an issue.

I do like the Exo more compared to the Stone Glacier due to its simplicity and having less straps and buckles overall. But in the end, this is really a Ford vs Chevy or Glock vs Sig argument as both are excellent packs. Again, these are not saddle hunting packs in any way.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1064.jpeg
    IMG_1064.jpeg
    152.2 KB · Views: 87
  • IMG_1063.jpeg
    IMG_1063.jpeg
    164.1 KB · Views: 89
  • IMG_1062.png
    IMG_1062.png
    345.8 KB · Views: 87
  • IMG_1061.jpeg
    IMG_1061.jpeg
    101.5 KB · Views: 84
Last edited:
I think they did a great job on frame design but for the price i think my eberlestock main frame will serve more of my needs
 
207bowhunter said:
I think they did a great job on frame design but for the price i think my eberlestock main frame will serve more of my needs
Click to expand...
That is a good mind set. If you already have an “old faithful” that works for you and you aren’t in the market to upgrade then there really isn’t a reason to. Eberlestock is a great (a tad heavy) option. I love the X2 for saddle hunting (I am a traditional four sticks and a platform guy). I wish they would make the X2 mini pack. It would be perfect for saddle hunters then. Make it 25 percent smaller and lighter.
 
I have used many of the top end packs. Kuiu was good until I got a Kifaru. Stone is good but not my thing. MR is tough and reliable. Exo was every bit as comfortable as Kifaru but much more simple to use. For a guy that isn’t very smart I just really like how easy the Exo is to function. The 5000 is a multi day hunt for me but I run around with the 2000 the majority of the time.
 
Camelcluch said:
I have used many of the top end packs. Kuiu was good until I got a Kifaru. Stone is good but not my thing. MR is tough and reliable. Exo was every bit as comfortable as Kifaru but much more simple to use. For a guy that isn’t very smart I just really like how easy the Exo is to function. The 5000 is a multi day hunt for me but I run around with the 2000 the majority of the time.
Click to expand...
This is exactly why I love the exo. Kifaru makes amazing packs as does Stone Glacier. They both just have a lot of straps and require a lot of manipulation to set up. The new K4 is literally two Velcro straps and four buckles and you’re done. The lid attaches or detaches just as easily and pack adjustment is the same.
Again Kifaru and Stone Glacier and Mystery Ranch are all good. I have tried all of them over the years and have nothing bad to say. I just know when I’m in and out of any pack for days on end it becomes apparent that the guys at Exo figured out how to make that task as simple as possible. Gloves or no gloves. Night time or day time. Hot or cold.
 
Zero One Actual said:
This is exactly why I love the exo. Kifaru makes amazing packs as does Stone Glacier. They both just have a lot of straps and require a lot of manipulation to set up. The new K4 is literally two Velcro straps and four buckles and you’re done. The lid attaches or detaches just as easily and pack adjustment is the same.
Again Kifaru and Stone Glacier and Mystery Ranch are all good. I have tried all of them over the years and have nothing bad to say. I just know when I’m in and out of any pack for days on end it becomes apparent that the guys at Exo figured out how to make that task as simple as possible. Gloves or no gloves. Night time or day time. Hot or cold.
Click to expand...
Called and talked to the guys at Exo about a year and half ago about a way to modify their small bag to create whitetail bag that would work like but maybe more efficiently than the kifaru stryker xl/sherman pocket combo. They had zero interest. Since I already had a sherman I added the kifaru frame and stryker xl. Best money I have ever spent pack wise. Frame fits me like a glove. For guys who either cant or have no need to pack a critter out, the kuiu venture packs are superb and will handle a good bit more weight than you might think.
 
I didn't really "need" the 5000 K4, but like the horseshoe access zipper. Definitely plan to get their day pack bag this summer when it comes out...supposed to be around 1800 ci. Will likely use that for most of my Fall hunts.

When my K4 arrives, I plan to load it with a sandbag and use it in the forest across the road for fitness training purposes.
 
I can't access it from the network I'm currently on, but there is a screen grab on rokslide using the new K4 crib panel with 2 of the pouches and the lid which would seem like the perfect whitetail daily setup. I refuse to drag anything out anymore and having a pack that can handle the weight with ease is important to me at this point.
 
What do you pack guys think of the new Kifaru Bedlum? I like the outer dump pouch idea.
 
Camelcluch said:
I went with a 5000. I have a K2 2000 that I use for 1-3 days. If I like the K4 I’ll sell my 2000 and get the newer bag they are putting out later. I sold my 4800 so I wanted to replace that first.
Click to expand...

My plan as well....got the 5K on the way and will buy the 1800 bag for day trips when they release it this summer.

Seems Camelclutch and I are twins! :tearsofjoy:
 
So when you’re buying EXO’s do they come with the frame for each or can you interchange like Kifaru’s system?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top