(Another) EXO K4 or Stone Glacier?

7 days cold weather in the exo 5k is not going to happen, get the s2h bag. I can barely get 7 days in the 5k exo for September hunts, mostly because food is so bulky.
 
I would get the biggest bag for whichever company you go with. I’ve had quite a few week+ long backpacking trips. I used all the space I had every time and I use the largest bags I can get.

I have the stone glacier xcurve and the exo k4, both with the largest bag they make. Both packs are nice, but I prefer the K4. I find it a little more comfortable under very heavy loads. With less than 50lbs the comfort level is very close to me.

I vastly prefer the load shelf system on the K4 over the stone glacier. It’s faster and more intuitive to use.
 
I had a SG sky archer 6400 on the xcurve frame but sold it in favor of a K4 5000. I did like the SG pack overall but there were some things I really didn’t like that were dealbreakers for me. The Exo is just a level above in fit, finish, and function IMO. Get Exo and don’t second guess it
 
It seems like nearly everyone has had the verdict of EXO so far with the obvious disclaimer of buying both and testing is still the optimal solution.

For the guys with the 5000 size bag, do you think it is enough you could do more than 7-10 days out of it?

I'm stationed on the East coast, so getting back home out West isn't always the easiest thing. When I do go, I try to make it for as long as possible. I'd like to know the bag is capable of a 7-10 day late season rifle hunt if I decided to do that. It looks like the roll top would give me the extra space for the cold weather gear, but without seeing it in person I'm not sure.

I was originally attracted to the SG 6900 for this reason.

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If your system is dialed and you pack properly you can get that in a 5000. The 6900 is a great bag for that as well. Again, get both and try them. Everyone has their favorite set up and it may or may not work for you. Better to get what is best for you and your fit.
 
It seems like nearly everyone has had the verdict of EXO so far with the obvious disclaimer of buying both and testing is still the optimal solution.

For the guys with the 5000 size bag, do you think it is enough you could do more than 7-10 days out of it?

I'm stationed on the East coast, so getting back home out West isn't always the easiest thing. When I do go, I try to make it for as long as possible. I'd like to know the bag is capable of a 7-10 day late season rifle hunt if I decided to do that. It looks like the roll top would give me the extra space for the cold weather gear, but without seeing it in person I'm not sure.

I was originally attracted to the SG 6900 for this reason.

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A 7-10 day hunt, especially in the late season, is a different setup. The food alone will take up a large amount of space, let alone additional cold-weather gear. While some of that could be carried in a dry bag on the load shelf of a 5000, if there is a real possibility this hunt will happen, I would go with the EXO/S2H Teratorn pack. I have the Teratorn, and while it's overkill for day hunts, it works great and gives me all of the room to expand and carry whatever gear I need in an organized, easy-access system.
 
A 7-10 day hunt, especially in the late season, is a different setup. The food alone will take up a large amount of space, let alone additional cold-weather gear. While some of that could be carried in a dry bag on the load shelf of a 5000, if there is a real possibility this hunt will happen, I would go with the EXO/S2H Teratorn pack. I have the Teratorn, and while it's overkill for day hunts, it works great and gives me all of the room to expand and carry whatever gear I need in an organized, easy-access system.
The K4 with the s2h teratorn on it would suffice for your needs it sounds like. And when you dont need all the room you can fold the bat wings behind the bag. You dont even know they are on it.
 
Sounds like you both have the Teratorn. Do the wings come off? Or just fold in? Looks like they're each 850 cu in. Which means excluding them the rest of the bag and lid is only 5700 cu in. That's very attractive.

I'm not much of an ounce counter, but I do notice the Teratorn and frame is advertised as 6lbs 10oz. The SG 6900 is 1.5lbs lighter. I'm surprised it's still that much more comfortable than the SG?

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Sounds like you both have the Teratorn. Do the wings come off? Or just fold in? Looks like they're each 850 cu in. Which means excluding them the rest of the bag and lid is only 5700 cu in. That's very attractive.

I'm not much of an ounce counter, but I do notice the Teratorn and frame is advertised as 6lbs 10oz. The SG 6900 is 1.5lbs lighter. I'm surprised it's still that much more comfortable than the SG?

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They do not detach from the main bag. They fold between the bag and the frame to not even be noticed they are on the bag. The main bag with the option to make it 2 separate compartments is also very nice, keep your sleep system away from everything else. But if you dont like that feature, it just unzip.

Yes starting out as light as possible is very nice but when you have 70+ lbs on your back the 1.5 lbs you will not be able to tell the difference. If you are worried about that get the k4 light frame (if going with k4). If it's not out yet it will be coming out very shortly. Form what I gather.
 
pretty sure the K4X is still a ways out so wouldn’t bank on that. but agree that 1.5 lbs is a wash especially when 60lbs on a K4 frame feels like 40lbs on SG
 
Sounds like you both have the Teratorn. Do the wings come off? Or just fold in? Looks like they're each 850 cu in. Which means excluding them the rest of the bag and lid is only 5700 cu in. That's very attractive.

I'm not much of an ounce counter, but I do notice the Teratorn and frame is advertised as 6lbs 10oz. The SG 6900 is 1.5lbs lighter. I'm surprised it's still that much more comfortable than the SG?

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The wings do not come off, but you can fold them into the load shelf area if you want; I prefer to use them for easy-access items. I am not an ounce counter, and I have tested a good number of folks over the years to determine whether their pack was loaded 2 lbs heavier, 2 lbs lighter, or the same weight. At 40 lbs and above, I have yet to see anyone accurately determine which is which. I am all for saving weight, but unless you have a strict weight requirement for transport, 2 lbs is not going to make or break your hunt.
 
This is actually something I was concerned about. I really like the SG cradle that's built in. Do you find that the EXO meat system is inconvenient or slips at all?

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After packing/repacking and exo at least a dozen times shuttling a bull elk, can report this is not really something to be concerned with. I was worried about not having that cradling piece (which can help keep meat higher on tbe frame) but it’s mostly a non-factor. You just leave the bottom of the bag attached tightly and it creates a “V” to keep things in order. Super fast getting things in/out and frame straps along with 2 bag straps keep it all secure.
 
Do either of you guys use the Teratorn for Archery hunts? If so, do you notice it being inconvenient for that?

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Do either of you guys use the Teratorn for Archery hunts? If so, do you notice it being inconvenient for that?

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I use the Teratorn for everything. I mentioned in one of my TT reviews that securing a bow to the pack is not as easy as with my 5000, but I added a locking buckle strap from EXO to make it easier and more secure. The only time I strap my weapon to my pack is for the ride in or out of an area, whether on a motorcycle, ATV, or snowmobile, but when I do attach it, I want it to stay in place, so I would pick up one of the straps if you go with the TT. The strap I used was the K4 Lid, and I added a locking buckle to it.

Here is a link to the attachment.

https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/the-teratorn-a-shoot2hunt-x-exo-bag-collab.406328/post-4261294
 
Here's a question to the Teratorn guys!

I actually am really intrigued by this bag, and here's why I think it would fit my needs.
I think the bag is overkill for a September archery hunt, I wouldn't use close to most of it. However, if I tuck the wings, it basically becomes the K4 5000 minus the side pockets. But that is a downside I actually kind of hate? The whole purpose of the wings is easy access without yardsale-ing the whole pack. And then I wouldn't even have some sort of side pocket at all.

I've found some posts from other guys who take their K4 5000's and put the SG R3 bags on the side. This basically gives them a homemade Teratorn. I kind of feel like this is the best of both worlds.

Pros of this:
- With the R3 wings off, they still have built in side pockets for easy access, and with them on, they have the benefit of the wings.
- You also keep the stretch pocket on horseshoe of the 5000.
- You increase the bag capacity to 7100 cu in.

Cons of this:
- You lose the dedicated sleeping compartment,
- You lose the shock chord.
- The R3 bags are also only 750 cu in, 100 cu in less than the Teratorn bags.

Are there any other things I haven't thought of that you Teratorn guys think might make this a bad idea?

(P.S. I realize that at this point I am 100% over analyzing this and that either option will produce adequate results on the mountain and that the decision is mine alone. BUT THIS IS ROKSLIDE! The place to over analyze everything!)

Here's the links to the other posts:
 
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