Another Exo vs Kifaru thread...

[BRTreedogs]

I’d like to hear more about your experience with the K4 + S2H. That pack has made me want to try to retrofit one onto my ARK. That ARK frame has been money for me. Lumbar pad and hip belt have been hands down the best I’ve tried. (Duplex Lite, K3, two different SGs, and MR, Kuiu ect). Is the K4 better than or equal to in the waist belt/lumbar/load lifter fit category? That’s been my main hesitation on dropping the coin on one.


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IMO it takes longer to break in an Exo because they are using a firmer and more durable foam.
Kifaru is like the Solomon quest, good out of the box but not long term.
My duplex lite fit my hips better in the beginning, but I completely wore the foam out in 1.5 years.
The 2nd hunt season the lumbar pad was so worn out the stays were digging into my back, it was the worst pack out I’ve had so far. I was trying to shove extra layers in there every etc.

Exo seems more of a buy, break in and just work. But ultimately it’s fit, body shape as well. I’ve upgraded my exos but I’ve never felt like I needed to huck it in a dumpster and go buy an new pack mid season, but I guess it could always happen.

If I was to run kifaru again I’d buy all new, straps, hip belt and lumbar foam before every season. And to top it off they just always say, that’s normal use and wear now.

 

[isleofGough]

Having purchased new dual density foam pads from both Exo and Kifaru, I find it hard to believe that one is less durable than the other.

 

[guitarpreston]

I believe the Ark has different foam than the duplex light. The DL I had (Jakes old one I think) was pretty compressed but the Ark seems more dense.

 

[BRTreedogs]

Having purchased new dual density foam pads from both Exo and Kifaru, I find it hard to believe that one is less durable than the other.

Believe whatever you want.
I’ve used them both extensively in the mountains.

One of them was worn out and a failure after 2 shed and 1 hunting season.

But I can see how from you’re couch they would appear similar.

 

[isleofGough]

If 300 miles per pack is a couch, you might be right. The original Ark shipped with single density foam but the replacement foam is a more comfortable dual density.

 

[fatlander]

IMO it takes longer to break in an Exo because they are using a firmer and more durable foam.
Kifaru is like the Solomon quest, good out of the box but not long term.
My duplex lite fit my hips better in the beginning, but I completely wore the foam out in 1.5 years.
The 2nd hunt season the lumbar pad was so worn out the stays were digging into my back, it was the worst pack out I’ve had so far. I was trying to shove extra layers in there every etc.

Exo seems more of a buy, break in and just work. But ultimately it’s fit, body shape as well. I’ve upgraded my exos but I’ve never felt like I needed to huck it in a dumpster and go buy an new pack mid season, but I guess it could always happen.

If I was to run kifaru again I’d buy all new, straps, hip belt and lumbar foam before every season. And to top it off they just always say, that’s normal use and wear now.

I had a similar experience. I wore out the padding in my duplex light harness and belt pretty quickly, and the replacement was already showing “age” when I sent it down the road. I’d say I have very safely north of 500 miles with 50+ pounds in my k4 and I’ve noticed no degradation.


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[guitarpreston]

If 300 miles per pack is a couch, you might be right. The original Ark shipped with single density foam but the replacement foam is a more comfortable dual density.

If you’re only putting 300 miles on your couch that’s rookie level. Get YouTube premium and watch some hunt films!

 

[isleofGough]

With the dual density kifaru pad being available maybe a year, it is curious that you can claim to know the durability. The tactical light is an older model and newer models generally have better foam. I walk a bit over 2000 miles per year, and many of those miles are not with heavily loaded backpacks, so I'm not sure what others are doing to get comparative information on lumbar pad durability. Fortunately, both Exo and Kifaru offer pad replacements.

As an aside: I use cut down exo k4 foam pad on my seek outside (firm) and HPG prairie belt with Umlindi (soft), and they improved comfort. The Kifaru Ark foam was a bit too thick for that.

 

[mtnbound]

I’d like to hear more about your experience with the K4 + S2H. That pack has made me want to try to retrofit one onto my ARK. That ARK frame has been money for me. Lumbar pad and hip belt have been hands down the best I’ve tried. (Duplex Lite, K3, two different SGs, and MR, Kuiu ect). Is the K4 better than or equal to in the waist belt/lumbar/load lifter fit category? That’s been my main hesitation on dropping the coin on one.


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I have the K4 and the Teratorn pack, and it is great. I have been using it as my all-around pack, and it's bigger than I need most of the time, since I have been successfully using a EXO5000 for several years. I have found the Teratorn to be wider than my 5000 pack, but it's not a big deal to me. The configuration is easier to access gear than my 5000, but that will also depend on how you pack it. The big stretchy pockets are well-designed, and even with some reduced shoulder mobility, I can get into them with the pack on.
Using the bag to shoot off can be a little better than using my 5000, but because of its size, you do have to keep a certain amount of gear stuffed into it to work in a prone position. The pack is big, and unless one actually needs a 7000ci pack, most are probably better off with a 5000.
I used an EXO 4800 attached to a Kifaru tactical frame for several years because the previous EXO frames kept sliding down on me. I have no experience with the new ARK frame, but I feel my old Duplex frame's hip belt stays put slightly better than my K4's.

 

[guitarpreston]

My k3 4800 comes in today! Pretty stoked on that I think I’ve got enough spare straps