Another Exo vs Kifaru thread...

[madcalfe]

How’d you put that foam in? Assuming you had to cut open and resew?

Theres opening if you look at them closer. the only thing that needed resewing was on the webbing on the shoulder straps. i literally took them to a upholstery place and asked if they could sew up the 2 pieces with whatever color thread was in their machine. paid 20$

 

[Tanner]

Theres opening if you look at them closer. the only thing that needed resewing was on the webbing on the shoulder straps. i literally took them to a upholstery place and asked if they could sew up the 2 pieces with whatever color thread was in their machine. paid 20$

That’s awesome. Looks like a really worthy upgrade haha. I think I’ve been thru 5-6 sets of shoulder straps on a duplex frame…

 

[SkunkCabbage]

I remember a podcast Snyder was on and he mentioned with hard use it lasts around 2 hunting seasons. He’s right from my experience. I recently just chucked a new pair on my duplex lite.

Problem is being in Canada the cost of new lumbar foam is astronomical to ship it up here.

 

[Dcook1318]

I was in the same boat a few months back, and after trying both on multiple times in went with the Exo. I feel like the Exo does have a narrower footprint which for me as someone who isn’t very broad shouldered found to fit me better.

 

[guitarpreston]

The 4800 on the ark frame ticked all my boxes. It feels more streamlined than the Kifaru bags. Pretty sure it was me leaning over and not the bag. But that was pretty much my week load out with approximated food bulk. Based on the bag and reputation I feel confident the exo would be an amazing frame as well, it seems well thought out. But since I already owned this frame and know it works for me, this was the lowest investment compromise.

 

[ben h]

The 4800 on the ark frame ticked all my boxes. It feels more streamlined than the Kifaru bags. Pretty sure it was me leaning over and not the bag. But that was pretty much my week load out with approximated food bulk. Based on the bag and reputation I feel confident the exo would be an amazing frame as well, it seems well thought out. But since I already owned this frame and know it works for me, this was the lowest investment compromise.

That looks great. I'm in the exact same boat and already have an ark frame, but don't really love the Kifaru bags and was thinking of buying the EXO bag to see if it would fit good enough on the ark. Can you post up some detail pics showing the frame/bag interface and connection points?

 

[guitarpreston]

That looks great. I'm in the exact same boat and already have an ark frame, but don't really love the Kifaru bags and was thinking of buying the EXO bag to see if it would fit good enough on the ark. Can you post up some detail pics showing the frame/bag interface and connection points?

This has what you want

Thread 'Exo K3 bags on Kifaru Ark frames: how-to'

Feb 28, 2025

Intro:
Been meaning to post this for a while, just want to help out some guys that may be considering this. I realize this has been discussed and posted about quite a bit, but a lot of the info on the web is either incomplete or lacking. This isn't a thread to say Exo frames or Kifaru bags aren't good, because they are, but I have had fitment issues and needs that neither companies’ products 100% address. To me this truly provides the best of both worlds. I have done this successfully with Exo K3 bags on both Duplex and Ark frames, and have helped others do it as well. K2 bags...

• krisn416
• Replies: 10
• Forum: Backpacks

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