Exo Hunting Gear

[WyoBowhunter21]

I think there will be a lot of interest in this pack due to its design and price. It's good to have the choices in packs that we do today. Before I was born my old man would take to the mountains with his 10 lb external. Tied on would be his pad and bag. Gun in hand. Back then they never took a spotter or tripod nor did they care about which tent to take. Like this pack design we are now able to take just about anything with us. I have taken interest to this design because of this. For those that hunt on a budget as well as hunt with fathers who, as we all, are aging. Now we have to carry more so these friends can join in our adventures. I can't wait to see more on this pack.

 

[ridgefire]

I have been itching to pull the trigger on a bt1 but man I might just have to wait. I would like to see aron do a review on the pack, he knows his stuff and seems to be real straight forward. I really like the design, the asat camo and the price range.

 

[SHTF]

Yeah my vote is for Aron also. I know he will put it to work and knows his way around a backpack better then a good percentage of us on here. I really dont care if he works for Kifaru. I know his style and he will give an independent review based on his experience with it. (definitely no offence fellas)

The 3500 CI range for a backpack is my style. I really like the lid design and how it opens. Thats slick stuff and revolutionary from any other pack manufacturer. Steve you guys are onto something here and I wish you the best of luck and looking forward to seeing more on this. Definitely subscribing to this thread.

 

[husky390]

Cool looking pack. Though I wonder if the belt/frame would squeak after prolonged use. It'd be a pack I'd consider replacing my Gunslinger with but the belt needs molle webbing.

 

[MTbowhunter36]

This pack is definitely worth checking out. There are several things I like about the pack and the fact that it's below $500 has definitely piqued my interest.

 

[ftballman125]

If I were running the Exo pack company, I would make damn sure to patent that top lid release if it isn't already patented. Just sayin'

 

[desertcj]

If I were running the Exo pack company, I would make damn sure to patent that top lid release if it isn't already patented. Just sayin'

Forget about that...How about the frame design! Unfortunately, patents are very expensive and of little use if you don't have the $$$ to use them in court as well.

 

[ftballman125]

Forget about that...How about the frame design! Unfortunately, patents are very expensive and of little use if you don't have the $$$ to use them in court as well.

Heh, yeah that too. But the top lid reverse release is something I could see many manufacturers wanting to adopt pretty quickly...

Again, I really like the creativity of this pack and if you're looking for someone to test it, you can toss me in first (I did recommend it first, afterall

 

[trk3263]

Looks like a nice pack and I like the size. I am curious to how the round titanium stays feel against your back on a heavy load. I like the lid as that is how I normally open my HighCamp lid using the frame side straps rather then the normal side straps. I just ordered Ghooks to make this even easier with my HC.

Anxious for more videos on the pack

 

[S&S ARCHERY]

Looks like a nice pack and I like the size. I am curious to how the round titanium stays feel against your back on a heavy load. I like the lid as that is how I normally open my HighCamp lid using the frame side straps rather then the normal side straps. I just ordered Ghooks to make this even easier with my HC.

Anxious for more videos on the pack

Thanks for all the feedback guys. You can't feel the round Titanium stays at all, between the fabric, foam and plastic sheet we use behind the padding you don't feel anything.

We plan on heading out Sunday to do another test hike and are going to shoot another video, I'll post it up asap.

Steve

 

[hunter4life]

Looks like a neat design. I too would like to see a 3rd party review.

The top lid reverse release is nothing new. I have a 15 year old Black Diamond pack that opens that way.

 

[Rizzy]

Do you have one of those in the boise area i could look at?

 

[S&S ARCHERY]

Do you have one of those in the boise area i could look at?

I do have one here at the shop if you want to come by next week.

 

[Mike7]

This is a very intriguing pack. It looks very promising. I really like the idea of round titanium stays for strength and light weight, and keeping the upper stays away from the head so a guy can wear a brimmed hat and look up hill while climbing.

As stated by others, I already regularly open the front/frame side of my Timberline lid (it is really easy to get to a puffy jacket and to the water bladder that way without touching anything else). That is one of my favorite things about the Timberline...that I can access things from the front of the lid and also that I can adjust the front and back of the standard lid's straps in order to center the lid over the top of many different sized loads.

I totally disagree with not having appropriately tall stays. I am 6 ft with 26 inch stays and they don't get in the way at all while day hunting with a mostly compressed pack...because they are right behind my neck/head. I they were sticking out to the back 6-12 inches and lower on my back, then that might make it difficult to get under leaning logs without dragging your d**k in the dirt.


If I were to be picky, the other things that I would love to see this pack accomodate before trying one are (i.e. features that I love on my current pack):

1) the ability to carry a load higher up in the pack or the load carrier. Right now with my Timberline in day hunting mode, the entire lower portion of my pack is collapsed. I didn't realize how nice that was until I tried it. Also, I can suspend meat in the upper 2/3rds of the pack when day hunting, without needing to have a full load of gear suspending the meat (worked great for hauling antelope this year when my pack was virtually empty before loading the antelope).
2) and the ability to attach various things to the pack belt. Right now with a large webbing belt covered by a row of PALS webbing on my pack, I can carry a pistol, Kifaru gun bearer, and various sized belt pockets in any configuration to suit my needs for that hunt.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Do you have plans to make a bigger bag?

 

[sneek-ee]

Justin, Steve said bigger bag out this summer.
That's what I would like to try out.
4800 ci

 

[Ridgerunner]

Definately intriguing pack, keeping my eyes on this one.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Yeah, I would need at least that size or bigger. Good to know.

 

[S&S ARCHERY]

Do you have plans to make a bigger bag?

Yeah bigger bag will come out this summer, we were planning on 4800 but after talking with 100's of guys over the last week between PM's, Emails, at the ATA show etc, we are thinking we might make it even bigger. We are definitely going to stick with the 3500 as that's the perfect size for us on anything from 1-5 days which is 95% of our trips but might make the larger bag in the 5-6000 range.

What are everyone's preferences there?

 

[S&S ARCHERY]

This is a very intriguing pack. It looks very promising. I really like the idea of round titanium stays for strength and light weight, and keeping the upper stays away from the head so a guy can wear a brimmed hat and look up hill while climbing.

As stated by others, I already regularly open the front/frame side of my Timberline lid (it is really easy to get to a puffy jacket and to the water bladder that way without touching anything else). That is one of my favorite things about the Timberline...that I can access things from the front of the lid and also that I can adjust the front and back of the standard lid's straps in order to center the lid over the top of many different sized loads.

I totally disagree with not having appropriately tall stays. I am 6 ft with 26 inch stays and they don't get in the way at all while day hunting with a mostly compressed pack...because they are right behind my neck/head. I they were sticking out to the back 6-12 inches and lower on my back, then that might make it difficult to get under leaning logs without dragging your d**k in the dirt.


If I were to be picky, the other things that I would love to see this pack accomodate before trying one are (i.e. features that I love on my current pack):

1) the ability to carry a load higher up in the pack or the load carrier. Right now with my Timberline in day hunting mode, the entire lower portion of my pack is collapsed. I didn't realize how nice that was until I tried it. Also, I can suspend meat in the upper 2/3rds of the pack when day hunting, without needing to have a full load of gear suspending the meat (worked great for hauling antelope this year when my pack was virtually empty before loading the antelope).
2) and the ability to attach various things to the pack belt. Right now with a large webbing belt covered by a row of PALS webbing on my pack, I can carry a pistol, Kifaru gun bearer, and various sized belt pockets in any configuration to suit my needs for that hunt.

Mike,
Thanks a lot for your feedback. For carrying meat we designed the pack and frame to form a wedge at the bottom when pulled apart so that it keeps the meat up high in the middle of back, its basically impossible for it to slide down below your lower back. Just like you mentioned it makes a huge difference when carrying heavy loads if you can keep the meat up high. On the hipbelt the current design is just 1-1/2" webbing that can be un-threaded from the ladder lock so you can use it just like a belt and attach holsters, pouches, etc to it.

Steve