Compare & Contrast Exo K4 5000 and Stone Glacier Sky 5900

[KCB142]

I have my mind made up, then i find this thread and back to pondering again

 

[Seak_angler]

I have ran both and for me I prefer the Exo. To me the Exo just felt better under heavy weight.

 

[billysmals]

I think it comes down to the philosophical differences in application between the two. As others have mentioned the Exo K4 has multiple frame sizes compared to the SG. Additionally the SG is a minimalist philosophy. The bags have less organization and minimal zippers (IMO) and are designed for the lightweight idea. I haven't been drawn to the bag design for this reason. It doesn't offer the functionality I need. I personally don't enjoy a pack dump to find something I want because I can't access it quickly. Maybe it's just the way I pack? For this reason I went EXO. I never actually got my hand on the SG because even if I liked the belt/frame, the bags were a no. Same thing for Kifaru. I tried the tactical and a hoodlum, ended up selling it. I had both the EXO K4 and the kifaru side by side and trained with them. I didn't mind the tactical frame, but the bag layout is just too great on the EXO.

 

[butcherboy]

I really like my Exo K4. Carried 65 lbs of elk meat and gear a few weeks ago better than my Kifaru pack. Granted, my Kifaru was an older internal frame DT2. I hate a bag that doesn’t zip open and is only top loading. K4 just fits me so well. I went with the 23” frame since I’m not a tall guy. Still need to get some belt pouches and the gun carrier.

 

[mtnbound]

EXO K4 because you can find a frame size that fits you best and the packs are better when it comes to organization, both haul weight great. I hated the old K3 hip belt and liked the SG one better but with the K4 the crew fixed the sliding issue.

 

[Benjblt]

I love my sky 5900, but mostly because the x-curve frame fits my back so well. It's a little tall and touches the back of my head when loaded, which can be annoying. If you have a curvy back I'd recommend sky 5900 with x-curve. I try not to carry 100+ lbs, but I weighed my bag with quartered out whitetail and it was 121 lbs to my surprise. Carried it well.

I agree with everything here. I too had 120 lbs of gear and bear on my back and thought it was only 100 lbs. The Xcurve Carrie’s well. I’ve owned mine since 2017.