Exo Mountain Frame with other bags

[Liosis]

I'm wondering what other bags/packs works with the Exo Mountain frame? Most specifically, does anyone know if the Kuiu Ultra 1800, 3000, and/or 6000 work or can be easily modified to work with the Exo Mountain frame?

 

[SHTF]

Any of the hpg bags work

 

[PathFinder]

Most any pack is compatible with most any frame with a little tweaking. Throwing some 1" buckles on in the loops where the Kuiu straps go would allow it to buckle right up to the Exo. I'm itching to get an Exo or SG so I never have to look at my Ultra again...

 

[desertcj]

Can you get just the EXO frame without a bag? I don't see that option on the web site. I was thinking about this, but I really don't see anything that I don't like about the EXO bags except for maybe the stretchy fabric and that's only because I haven't seen it in person. It's possible that I would really like it.

 

[Outwest]

Can you get just the EXO frame without a bag? I don't see that option on the web site. I was thinking about this, but I really don't see anything that I don't like about the EXO bags except for maybe the stretchy fabric and that's only because I haven't seen it in person. It's possible that I would really like it.

The stretchy fabric is barely noticeable until you use it. Then it's pretty awesome. Much more durable than I thought it would be. I use it to stuff my rain pants/jacket or puffy jacket and it just kind of disappears. Very cool idea from Steve and Lenny.

As to the bags, I have messed around a little with putting a Mystery Ranch bag on the Exo frame but I think it would some amount of work to get it to look somewhat nice and be functional. The MR bags will all sit high on the Exo frame due to the difference in length between the NICE and Exo frame.

 

[jquarnberg]

I feel like the bag is sort of big and square... that along with the lid makes it strange to compress into daypack mode in my opinion. I liked how how the frame carried and the bag is well thought out. I wonder if they will have some new bag options coming out this year. Looking at it but not trying anything I felt l like you could make the nomad bag work on the frame.

 

[Mtnboy]

Most any pack is compatible with most any frame with a little tweaking. Throwing some 1" buckles on in the loops where the Kuiu straps go would allow it to buckle right up to the Exo. I'm itching to get an Exo or SG so I never have to look at my Ultra again...

Sorry to hi-jack, but there is a good deal on a SG Solo in the classifieds right now

 

[dotman]

Just a quick fyi, EXO doesn't use standard 1" buckles so if you get itw nexus buckles to make it work you'll need to replace the male end on your frame. This is my biggest peeve with the EXO, I have a bag I put on my kifaru frame and had to remove all the female buckles on the bag to get it to work. It is a simple change just kinda sucked to ruin a female buckle testing it out.

The Kuiu bags should be an easy one to fit, the 1800 and 3000 fit onto my Kifaru frame easy, took less then 5 min to fit.

 

[doverpack12]

I tried a KUIU Icon Pro 5200 and one of the Icon 1850's. Neither bag fit great but would work. The biggest challenge is the lid straps for the EXO not being connected to the top of the frame and not having a defined spot on the frame as they go over the top. Also the attachment points at the bottom are wider on the Kuiu bags than the two 3/4" webbing straps that attach to the bottom of the EXO so it kind of bulges in the middle bottom. The side compressions work great to secure the bag but when the compressions are not tight the fit wasn't as clean as I would like. To make the bags functional I used the extra buckles off the EXO beavertail.

 

[Liosis]

Thanks guys, I'm sure I can make the Ultra bags work...just not sure how "well" they work/fit. I've got nothing against the Exo bag, especially when I need all of the 5500 capacity, but for day hunt situations (which is most of my hunting) I'd prefer something smaller. Also, I'd like to run my water bladder in the load shelf, but the way the exo bag attached to the frame makes this very inconvenient.

 

[sojourner]

Thanks guys, I'm sure I can make the Ultra bags work...just not sure how "well" they work/fit. I've got nothing against the Exo bag, especially when I need all of the 5500 capacity, but for day hunt situations (which is most of my hunting) I'd prefer something smaller. Also, I'd like to run my water bladder in the load shelf, but the way the exo bag attached to the frame makes this very inconvenient.

Do you have the 5500 right now? I can only speak personally about the 3500 since that is what I have, but I love how it compresses for day pack mode. One of my favorite features of the pack is how cleanly it compresses. You can cinch up the four side compression straps and suck the outside bottom in tight with the lower accessory straps and everything kind of folds in out of sight- nothing flopping around or sticking out. You can still stuff stuff in the stretchy pocket with just undoing the top back compression strap or use the side zip without undoing any straps. And anything you need quick access to can be in the lid. I also run the water bladder in the load shelf and it is so convenient unless you are having to take it out to fill it up. I use the quick connects on the hose to fill it so I never have to take it out. I'll try to put a picture up in a bit

 

[sojourner]

Here is an example of how I run my 3500 in day pack mode. You can see how clean everything cinches up.
This is packed up ready to go. In the main bag I have my Rokslide kill kit with Havalon and a puffy vest incase it gets cold. There is a full two liter bladder between bag and frame. In the lid I have my magnesium fire starter, headlamp, extra batteries, sawyer squeeze filter, snacks, compass, and toilet paper. My rain jacket is in the stretchy pocket which I can get to quickly. In the belt pouch I have a lighter, outdoor edge folder and my range finder. You can see in the picture that I don't have the back compression straps in use. I just have them rolled up and out of the way- it so so tight like this they aren't even needed and I don't have anything in there that needs compressed anymore.
From the side

And here is a pic of how the bladder is in there. It's kind of cool how you can hang the Big Zip this way without any extra hardware and it keeps it up pretty high.

 

[Kawabunga]

I like that setup, been running my bladder in a side pocket but usually have a tripod on the other side. To stay on topic I was kinda wishing I had gotten a 5500 and would look into something else for short day hunts also but got the 3500 which works great. Still wouldn't mind tinkering with something smaller for short runs though.

 

[NVCHUKAR]

Do you have the 5500 right now? I can only speak personally about the 3500 since that is what I have, but I love how it compresses for day pack mode. One of my favorite features of the pack is how cleanly it compresses. You can cinch up the four side compression straps and suck the outside bottom in tight with the lower accessory straps and everything kind of folds in out of sight- nothing flopping around or sticking out. You can still stuff stuff in the stretchy pocket with just undoing the top back compression strap or use the side zip without undoing any straps. And anything you need quick access to can be in the lid. I also run the water bladder in the load shelf and it is so convenient unless you are having to take it out to fill it up. I use the quick connects on the hose to fill it so I never have to take it out. I'll try to put a picture up in a bit

I agree that this bag compresses better and more cleanly than my dt2 or highcamp bags. It compresses so well its like having a 1500ci bag on the frame in daypack mode.

 

[doverpack12]

Just borrowed a ultra 3000 today. Will try putting it on the EXO frame tomorrow

 

[SDHNTR]

I'd love to figure out how to get a SG approach bag on there for day hunting, and still be able to utilize the meat shelf. To me 3500 is overkill for day hunting.

 

[Liosis]

Doverpack12...please let me know how it goes...I think that would be my ideal day pack setup if it works well, especially if it allows quick access to the bladder between the frame and pack. If you could post some pics as well, I'd be forever grateful!!

 

[Liosis]

Sojourner...yes, I have the 5500, and the 3500 does look nice the way you have it setup. I might have to retrofit my bladder with quick connects if I stay with the exo bag because the setup is otherwise frustrating to refill the bladder when in the load shelf.

 

[desertcj]

What are you going to do with your bladder if you get an animal down and have to pack out the meat? Just put it inside the main bag? It would be a good problem to have! I'm just wondering.

 

[sojourner]

What are you going to do with your bladder if you get an animal down and have to pack out the meat? Just put it inside the main bag? It would be a good problem to have! I'm just wondering.

In day pack mode like this, if I was wanting to keep the meat in the load shelf, I would just put the bladder in the main bag since there is plenty of room. On my 7 day backpack hunt, after I got my elk down my main bag was already full of gear on the first trip out so I just put put the bladder in one of the side pockets with only about a liter of water in it. I knew there was plenty of water down lower on the trail and just stopped once to fill it back up with the sawyer.