Exo K5 - ??

[id450]

Hey , I have a K4 just got in yesterday along with an initial accent. So far the bag fit and loaded up to 100lbs goes to the Exo . Any ideas if a k5 is in R&D or soon to be released before I drop a lot of $$$ on this. Coming off a best to crap kuiu icon I’ve had since 2017. I’ve had it happen before where I buy something really expensive in a week or two later, the company puts out the new version.


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[Ferrulewax]

Exo has said they may have a lighter weight K4 based pack launching in 2026, mostly just a few small tweaks and lighter fabrics it sounds like. It doesn't seem like an upgrade as much as an alternative, sounds like they would still recommend the original k4 for most hunters. Otherwise if I remember correctly from an older podcast it they plan to have the K4 around for a few more years at least.

 

[P Carter]

My understanding is they’re at least 2-3 years out, and even then they may not do a replacement but rather an ultralight-type pack with no lifetime warranty?

 

[id450]

OK, thank you. K4 it is if I stick with Exo. While I have you guys, i’ve been playing around with 30 pound loads 50 pound loads and 100 pound loads trying to tweak the pack a little bit for best fit. It’s pretty comfortable, but it does start to wear on the upper part of my butt from fatigue when walking a mile or so, but I think 100 pounds that’s just how it goes, from what I can remember, it it’s been about two years since I had to hike out that heavy. Haven’t been training for that either the last several months. Do you guys have any feedback on getting into the heavier loads 80-100 pounds or more and where it affects your body on this pack. I don’t think there’s any good way around that weight. I also felt like my arms were are getting cut off a tad at 100 ponds after 10-15 minutes of walking. Messes with the load adjusters and shoulder straps to alternate weight seems to help . I think I just for got hit how uncomfortable they kinda weight is. Thanks


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[Truck24hr]

OK, thank you. K4 it is if I stick with Exo. While I have you guys, i’ve been playing around with 30 pound loads 50 pound loads and 100 pound loads trying to tweak the pack a little bit for best fit. It’s pretty comfortable, but it does start to wear on the upper part of my butt from fatigue when walking a mile or so, but I think 100 pounds that’s just how it goes, from what I can remember, it it’s been about two years since I had to hike out that heavy. Haven’t been training for that either the last several months. Do you guys have any feedback on getting into the heavier loads 80-100 pounds or more and where it affects your body on this pack. I don’t think there’s any good way around that weight. I also felt like my arms were are getting cut off a tad at 100 ponds after 10-15 minutes of walking. Messes with the load adjusters and shoulder straps to alternate weight seems to help . I think I just for got hit how uncomfortable they kinda weight is. Thanks


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Have you watched their fitting video? I always try to keep the heavier weight up off the bottom a good bit. Usually keeping the bottom bag straps as tight as I can to limit the space at the bottom.

But, 100lbs sucks no matter what. Get some hill miles in with 40-50 lbs should help build muscle.

 

[id450]

Yes I have watch and followed there stuff. . It’s comfortable at 50, i think 100 just sucks, been a 2 seasons going that heavy for me. , I’ll be on the trails this week tweaking it out with my trusty bag of salt. I’ll try to make sure it rides higher. Thanks for the feedback. .


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[gtriple]

I’d email Exo directly and send them pics of your pack loaded from the side. They’ll give you recommendations if it isn’t sitting right.

 

[gtriple]

I train with a 65lb pack most of the offseason. As long as the weight is in between my shoulder blades, it’s not that bad. I packed out 100+ multiple times the last couple of years. Nothing makes that much weight feel good.

 

[fuzzymarindave]

I've been looking at a K4 as my 50 liter Mystery Ranch is sometimes too small. I would say if you have the need this fall don't wait for a K5 or Kxx.

 

[wh0cansay]

OK, thank you. K4 it is if I stick with Exo. While I have you guys, i’ve been playing around with 30 pound loads 50 pound loads and 100 pound loads trying to tweak the pack a little bit for best fit. It’s pretty comfortable, but it does start to wear on the upper part of my butt from fatigue when walking a mile or so, but I think 100 pounds that’s just how it goes, from what I can remember, it it’s been about two years since I had to hike out that heavy. Haven’t been training for that either the last several months. Do you guys have any feedback on getting into the heavier loads 80-100 pounds or more and where it affects your body on this pack. I don’t think there’s any good way around that weight. I also felt like my arms were are getting cut off a tad at 100 ponds after 10-15 minutes of walking. Messes with the load adjusters and shoulder straps to alternate weight seems to help . I think I just for got hit how uncomfortable they kinda weight is. Thanks


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Chances are very high the stock frame stays don't perfectly fit your particular spine (or anyone else's). As such, you can not get efficient load transfer to your pelvis under heavier loads. 100lbs will never be fun but with a well-fitted frame, you should not be experiencing any localized discomfort from the pack itself.

The solution, fairly cheap and easy, is to get 7075 series aluminum stays cut to size, bend them with the help of a buddy so that they perfectly match your lumbar area, and replace the stock stays with them.

Make sure the stays move away from your body a bit once you clear the thoracic area, to allow for the load lifters to pull them back in - as demonstrated below.

 

[gtriple]

Chances are very high the stock frame stays don't perfectly fit your particular spine (or anyone else's). As such, you can not get efficient load transfer to your pelvis under heavier loads. 100lbs will never be fun but with a well-fitted frame, you should not be experiencing any localized discomfort from the pack itself.

The solution, fairly cheap and easy, is to get 7075 series aluminum stays cut to size, bend them with the help of a buddy so that they perfectly match your lumbar area, and replace the stock stays with them.

Make sure the stays move away from your body a bit once you clear the thoracic area, to allow for the load lifters to pull them back in - as demonstrated below.

View attachment 888170

That’s awesome. Maybe someday a pack company will have custom carbon fiber stays kind of like you can get custom insoles for boots.

 

[wh0cansay]

That’s awesome. Maybe someday a pack company will have custom carbon fiber stays kind of like you can get custom insoles for boots.

Don't count on it. Pack companies want more unification across the board, not less, for a multitude of reasons. Take Kifaru for example -

Then: aluminum, flat composite, curved composite, Duplex Tactical, Duplex Lite, 22", 24", 26", even 28" if you got in touch with them.

Now: Ark 22" or Ark 25". Should fit 'most people' OK. If it doesn't, too bad. That's all you get.

I know Exo does things differently so this is not a dig at them, but as they grow larger and larger this will eventually be the only logical direction to go.

One last comment on the discomfort issue: don't underestimate the importance of proper horizontal AND vertical load compression. People often forget about the latter.

 

[nighthawk265]

Not sure what height you went with but I did get the 26.5” height to help with the heavy loads and traded off some comfort when I picked up a K4 last year.

Packed out an elk with it last fall and had zero issues. The load hauling is different than other packs, but works great and the bag goes back to the “home” position easier than others. By far it has been the best pack I’ve used between a pile of military packs and hunting packs under heavy loads.

EXO has a pile of fitting information on their website. I had to use some of micro adjustments to get mine dialed in. In the event you can’t get it with that, send them photos with the pack on and loaded. Their customer service is top notch.

 

[wh0cansay]

Yeah, if you're not getting close to a 45 degree load lifter angle, you should try a different height frame.

 

[roosiebull]

OK, thank you. K4 it is if I stick with Exo. While I have you guys, i’ve been playing around with 30 pound loads 50 pound loads and 100 pound loads trying to tweak the pack a little bit for best fit. It’s pretty comfortable, but it does start to wear on the upper part of my butt from fatigue when walking a mile or so, but I think 100 pounds that’s just how it goes, from what I can remember, it it’s been about two years since I had to hike out that heavy. Haven’t been training for that either the last several months. Do you guys have any feedback on getting into the heavier loads 80-100 pounds or more and where it affects your body on this pack. I don’t think there’s any good way around that weight. I also felt like my arms were are getting cut off a tad at 100 ponds after 10-15 minutes of walking. Messes with the load adjusters and shoulder straps to alternate weight seems to help . I think I just for got hit how uncomfortable they kinda weight is. Thanks


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Regardless of what pack, i always have some discomfort with a heavy pack if I haven’t been under a heavy pack for awhile, that stuff goes away completely once I am under a pack consistently for a few days

Your body has to adapt.

If I put on a 100# pack today and walked it 2 miles in broken terrain, I would have a couple sore spots by the end

Do the same thing after the first week of September and i will only feel it in my legs from the weight

I’m still extremely happy with the k4, and since getting it, it’s the only time I have ever not been trying other pack systems, I don’t care, the k4 is as close to perfect as it gets for me.

My next pack will be when exo releases the UL version, and then I will put 26.5” stays in my current pack and turn it into a hauler frame and will probably hunt in the new pack. If they weren’t planning on releasing anything in the future, it wouldn’t bother me at all, they killed it with k4, it’s such a great system

Even if they released a new pack next week, you wouldn’t regret getting a k4 today, they didn’t leave a lot of room for improvement.