Downsize from Multi-Day pack to Day pack?

[GoodMissionGuy]

I've had an EXO K4 5000 for a year or two now, and the quality and features are, as many of you know, top notch. Zero complaints there.

What I'm starting to wonder though, is if "for me", it's just too much pack. I only day-hunt - returning to camp or cabin after each day - and a lot of times I'm just tagging along without a tag, shed hunting, or just hiking here and there.

It makes me wonder if I might be better served with a true day pack. I know the EXO can strap down to a very small size, but you still have tons of padding everywhere, and sometimes it feels a bit restrictive to my movements and hiking as far in as I may want due to the bulk and weight.

Anyone have any thoughts or advice on this kind of a scenario, or faced something similar? Again, I really do love the features of the EXO, but just wondering if I'd be more nimble on my feet with something smaller, lighter, and simpler. Thanks!

 

[justinspicher]

Nope. You can’t make a smaller bag bigger. Hauling meat in a day pack sucks.

I had a single pack, it’ll be used for day hunts to back country trips.

I’ll carry less junk before I go to a smaller pack.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Lawnboi]

Hauling meat? Keep the exo

Not hauling meat? Get whatever works. I like the stone glacier avail.

 

[elsb0048]

I've had an EXO K4 for a year or two now, and the quality and features are, as many of you know, top notch. Zero complaints there.

What I'm starting to wonder though, is if "for me", it's just too much pack. I only day-hunt - returning to camp or cabin after each day - and a lot of times I'm just tagging along without a tag, shed hunting, or just hiking here and there.

It makes me wonder if I might be better served with a true day pack. I know the EXO can strap down to a very small size, but you still have tons of padding everywhere, and sometimes it feels a bit restrictive to my movements and hiking as far in as I may want due to the bulk and weight.

Anyone have any thoughts or advice on this kind of a scenario, or faced something similar? Again, I really do love the features of the EXO, but just wondering if I'd be more nimble on my feet with something smaller, lighter, and simpler. Thanks!

Which bag size you got? Is it the 2200? Or something bigger?

 

[JD Jones]

I have an avail and a 5900 stone glacier. For beating around the ranch I mostly use the avail. Anything else I use the 5900. It's like 4x4 as far as I'm concerned. I'd rather have it and not need it.

 

[GoodMissionGuy]

Which bag size you got? Is it the 2200? Or something bigger?

I have the 5000. Edited to clarify, thanks. Again, I'm not too worried about the size of the bag, as I am the frame, belt, padding, etc. All of which I realize is oversized to haul super heavy loads.

 

[wytx]

Get a daypack big enough or capable of carrying out a load of boned out meat. Save the bigger pack for hauling out the rest.
Your body will thank you after an all day hunt with a day pack.

 

[Macintosh]

100% maybe.

I have a small meat hauling pack, a MR popup 18, and I have a popup 28as well. They do a reasonably crappy job at hauling heavy loads compared to a full-sized load carrying pack. But it does worlds better at hauling small day loads the way I hunt, and it does ok packing a deer. I own a k4 and there is no way I would choose the k4 over my little “sort of meat hauler” for most of my day hunts. Even several miles in I’ll take a slightly less comfortable pack-out in return for having the flexibility and low profile all day.

That said, if I lived in the west and didnt have to CONSTANTLY duck under and crash through brush, and if I had to carry out an elk more often…yeah, Id probably choose the k4 even for day hunting.

I dont think there is one universal correct answer to this question.

Edit: its not just the bag size that is the issue, its the frame height, the thicker/stiffer padding and the load lifters required to deal with legit heavy loads. A 2200 size bag makes great sense, but for me at least its the frame that Im trying to solve for, not the pack volume.

 

[Crews]

Unless you’re hauling out quarters, a frame is overkill. Agree with you, get a nice sturdy internal frame pack that’s ~40+ Liters and call it a day.

 

[dgfavor]

I've had an EXO K4 5000 for a year or two now, and the quality and features are, as many of you know, top notch. Zero complaints there.

What I'm starting to wonder though, is if "for me", it's just too much pack. I only day-hunt - returning to camp or cabin after each day - and a lot of times I'm just tagging along without a tag, shed hunting, or just hiking here and there.

It makes me wonder if I might be better served with a true day pack. I know the EXO can strap down to a very small size, but you still have tons of padding everywhere, and sometimes it feels a bit restrictive to my movements and hiking as far in as I may want due to the bulk and weight.

Anyone have any thoughts or advice on this kind of a scenario, or faced something similar? Again, I really do love the features of the EXO, but just wondering if I'd be more nimble on my feet with something smaller, lighter, and simpler. Thanks!

I don't have an Exo frame but why isn't taking the 5000 bag off and putting on like their 2200 bag the simple answer here?? Or take the 5000 off and use the lid coupled with a bag from another mfr...like an Eberlestock single large batwing ( which just happens to be my daypack setup). I could be mistaken that the Exo bags are easily interchangeable with the K4 frame.

 

[BRTreedogs]

Every day I head out to hunt I plan to kill an animal and pack it out.

If you’re just wondering around picking mushrooms or whatever and don’t plan to kill anything, or help your friends pack meat , just buy whatever Walmart has.

 

[Tradbeau]

I’ve been using a high capacity day pack for years and it’s really hard hauling out several 80-90lbs loads with it. I’m actually looking to go the other direction and get an Exo K4 or maybe at least A Kuiu Pro or Sitka Mountain Hauler. I’d rather be ready for the best scenario and that’s packing out meat.

 

[GoodMissionGuy]

I don't have an Exo frame but why isn't taking the 5000 bag off and putting on like their 2200 bag the simple answer here?? Or take the 5000 off and use the lid coupled with a bag from another mfr...like an Eberlestock single large batwing ( which just happens to be my daypack setup). I could be mistaken that the Exo bags are easily interchangeable with the K4 frame.

Well, and again I’m just exploring this, but for me it’s not the bag size itself. That can compress way down so it isn’t an issue. It’s the size and bulk of a frame, huge hip belt, thicker shoulder pads, etc; all the stuff used for heavy lifting that makes the overall experience “bulky” for day packing that has me considering an alternative.

 

[Agross]

Hold on to the exo for now, and buy a cheap used badlands super day pack and see what u think. I was skeptical of them, but decided to give them a try . Liked it so much I bought another for my boy. We are not hauling around elk sheds, but for dayhunts and messing around, we love the pack. I have an exo 3600 for when I need it, love that pack as well.

 

[Pulleye16]

Kuiu pro pack 2300 is a good fit. Small for a day hunt, but roomy enough that you could go longer. But also had a meat rack.

 

[cuerro viejo]

I've had an EXO K4 5000 for a year or two now, and the quality and features are, as many of you know, top notch. Zero complaints there.

What I'm starting to wonder though, is if "for me", it's just too much pack. I only day-hunt - returning to camp or cabin after each day - and a lot of times I'm just tagging along without a tag, shed hunting, or just hiking here and there.

It makes me wonder if I might be better served with a true day pack. I know the EXO can strap down to a very small size, but you still have tons of padding everywhere, and sometimes it feels a bit restrictive to my movements and hiking as far in as I may want due to the bulk and weight.

Anyone have any thoughts or advice on this kind of a scenario, or faced something similar? Again, I really do love the features of the EXO, but just wondering if I'd be more nimble on my feet with something smaller, lighter, and simpler. Thanks!

I use Exo lid, and three pouches(pocket up) of different sizes attached to load shelf webbing. It’s the best compromise between capacity, weight and simplicity while still maintaining hauling ability

Basically kill kit, ohshitkit, snacks and extra layer.

 

[GoodMissionGuy]

Hold on to the exo for now, and buy a cheap used badlands super day pack and see what u think. I was skeptical of them, but decided to give them a try . Liked it so much I bought another for my boy. We are not hauling around elk sheds, but for dayhunts and messing around, we love the pack. I have an exo 3600 for when I need it, love that pack as well.

Thanks, that’s essentially what I’m going to do, keep the Exo and try some day packs and then decide if I still need both, etc.

 

[Steve300xcw]

I never cared for a big bag sinched down. It does work though.

Much prefer a small pack on a frame. Right now am using a 1700ci bag on an Xcurve. Just enough room for what you need and not much else.

 

[dgfavor]

Well, and again I’m just exploring this, but for me it’s not the bag size itself. That can compress way down so it isn’t an issue. It’s the size and bulk of a frame, huge hip belt, thicker shoulder pads, etc; all the stuff used for heavy lifting that makes the overall experience “bulky” for day packing that has me considering an alternative.

Oh, gotcha...thought you were just looking for less volume and not packing around a bunch of compressed volume.

I don't have one but Hill People Gear might be worth a look - their suspension/harness system appears to lack alot of the bulk but gets pretty well reviewed as performing very well. I know some of their day packs can be used with/without lumbar waistbelts as well.

 

[mt terry d]

I have a Kuiu Venture 1800 that works nicely for day hunts.
Will handle a deer quarter or elk backstraps, loin, heart for the first trip
It's small for an elk shoulder bone in but then it doesn't take long to bone
out a shoulder anyway.

I have a bare pack frame in the truck for second trip. Besides, if
I'm day hunting and it's "multiple" trips I'm calling friends.

I think it came in two heights, like for taller or shorter people.
Mine's shorter ( I'm 5'10, maybe 5'9 anymore?) but the taller would
have been a little better for shooting off it seated supported with sticks