Exo Mountain Gear K4 Pack Review ***Updated 3/28/23***

[roosiebull]

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This is all the stuff I would take on an early-season deer hunt if expecting good weather.
In the main bag:
30* Zpacks quilt
Thermarest Neoair Uberlight pad
Air Pillow
Arc'teryx Puffy
Sitka Ambient Jacket
Kuiu Zip long-johns
Sitka rain jacket (Don't think they make it anymore)
Extra socks
Merino Gloves
Beanie
Jetboil and spoon
Kill Kit
Sawyer squeeze mini water filter with two 64 oz bags
Shooting bag
Bullets
Battery Pack
A pillow was used in place of the food I would pack for 5 days.


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In the side pockets:
Swaro 20-60x80mm ATS Spotter
Gitzo tripod
Spartan Davros Head
Spartan Bipod
TP

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In the lid and belt pouch:
Novagrade Digiscoping adapter
Tyto knife
Headlamp
First aid and possibles pouch

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A little room to spare even

 

[Justin Crossley]

Thanks for doing that! Couple questions:

How much room is left for food? Obviously it would vary from person to person, but how many days worth of food do you think you could still get in there?

I’m assuming that is an 80mm spotter? With that in the side pocket, is there still enough room in the stretch pocket to put your tripod on the same side (I’m not sure which side you put the spotter in)?

I used a pillow in place of my food. About 4-5 days worth I would estimate.

The spotter is on the left as you're looking at it. I wouldn't want the tripod on the same side but it could be done.

 

[Justin Crossley]

A little room to spare even

Not much. I could go with my Zpacks tarp instead of the tent to save space.

Also, I could toss the stuff sacks for my quilt, and puffy jacket but I don't like doing that.

After packing everything, here's how I personally would rate the sizes.

K4 3600
2-5 day early season hunt with ultralight, minimalist gear.
1-3 days for most people, or if colder or wetter weather.

K4 5000
3-8 day early season hunt with ultralight, minimalist gear.
2-5 days for most people, or if colder or wetter weather.

K4 7200
Up to 12-14 days or more for early season hunt with ultralight, minimalist gear.
Up to 10 days for most people, or if colder or wetter weather.

Obviously, everyone is different but that's about how I would use the K4 packs.

 

[prm]

Thanks!
Not bad considering the space penalty of a large spotter. In a pinch, can always put sleeping bag on bottom/outside the bag. Or, use load shelf for some items.

I view smaller bags as a forcing function to leave extra junk at home and/or pack more efficiently.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Thanks!
Not bad considering the space penalty of a large spotter. In a pinch, can always put sleeping bag on bottom/outside the bag. Or, use load shelf for some items.

I view smaller bags as a forcing function to leave extra junk at home and/or pack more efficiently.

That's a good point about moving things around. Or using smaller spotters/tripods. That's what makes pack size choice so subjective. Obviously, Steve can get more days out of a small pack than most people.

 

[judders87]

Is the hip belt pouch pretty much the same as the K3? No organization already built in?

 

[Justin Crossley]

Is the hip belt pouch pretty much the same as the K3? No organization already built in?

Yep

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

Not much. I could go with my Zpacks tarp instead of the tent to save space.

Also, I could toss the stuff sacks for my quilt, and puffy jacket but I don't like doing that.

After packing everything, here's how I personally would rate the sizes.

K4 3600
2-5 day early season hunt with ultralight, minimalist gear.
1-3 days for most people, or if colder or wetter weather.

K4 5000
3-8 day early season hunt with ultralight, minimalist gear.
2-5 days for most people, or if colder or wetter weather.

K4 7200
Up to 12-14 days or more for early season hunt with ultralight, minimalist gear.
Up to 10 days for most people, or if colder or wetter weather.

Obviously, everyone is different but that's about how I would use the K4 packs.

Justin,
I think this is spot on considering i have used the the exo k2 3500, 5500 and k3 4800. I think this a a great guide for everyone and appreciate you taking the time. I do think you can get 7 days out of a 3600 packing like Steve. The main difference in Steve’s method to make it work:
1. He rolls up sleeping pad tight puts in first.
2. Packs down quilt loose around sleeping pad with no stuff sack.
3. Food is individually packed into brick size shapes to stack in middle of pack with no wasted space.

Outside of those 3 things I see no difference. Crazy to me to think how that can make that much difference.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Justin,
I think this is spot on considering i have used the the exo k2 3500, 5500 and k3 4800. I think this a a great guide for everyone and appreciate you taking the time. I do think you can get 7 days out of a 3600 packing like Steve. The main difference in Steve’s method to make it work:
1. He rolls up sleeping pad tight puts in first.
2. Packs down quilt loose around sleeping pad with no stuff sack.
3. Food is individually packed into brick size shapes to stack in middle of pack with no wasted space.

Outside of those 3 things I see no difference. Crazy to me to think how that can make that much difference.

The way he packed his tent makes a big difference as well. I've done it that way before but didn't in this case to make this example more typical of what most people would do. Heck, I would normally take just a Dyneema tarp for most of my early season hunts and it's tiny compared to a tent. It's just more minimalist than what most people are comfortable with.

Steve also had a smaller spotter, and much smaller tripod.

 

[roosiebull]

Not much. I could go with my Zpacks tarp instead of the tent to save space.

Also, I could toss the stuff sacks for my quilt, and puffy jacket but I don't like doing that.

After packing everything, here's how I personally would rate the sizes.

K4 3600
2-5 day early season hunt with ultralight, minimalist gear.
1-3 days for most people, or if colder or wetter weather.

K4 5000
3-8 day early season hunt with ultralight, minimalist gear.
2-5 days for most people, or if colder or wetter weather.

K4 7200
Up to 12-14 days or more for early season hunt with ultralight, minimalist gear.
Up to 10 days for most people, or if colder or wetter weather.

Obviously, everyone is different but that's about how I would use the K4 packs.

Yeah, the 3500 fills up pretty quick, I assume the 3600 is no different. That video Steve posted was somewhat mind blowing to me seeing what he fit in the 3200, i certainly couldn’t, but there were a couple tricks I want to steal of his, but my gear isn’t conducive for getting more than 4 nights in warmer weather… I haven’t really needed to with the hunting I do. And I could certainly get 5 nights in nice weather if I needed to, and I never have any need for a spotter if I’m packing in, which saves a couple days worth of food in space.

The 5k is tempting, just because there really is no weight penalty, but it would be buying a bag based on the possibility of needing more room, not because I do. I’m going to start with the 36, and if a hunt is in my future that I need a bigger bag, I will have time to get a bigger bag and prepare

Thanks for taking the time to post those pictures, that’s a good baseline

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

Yeah, the 3500 fills up pretty quick, I assume the 3600 is no different. That video Steve posted was somewhat mind blowing to me seeing what he fit in the 3200, i certainly couldn’t, but there were a couple tricks I want to steal of his, but my gear isn’t conducive for getting more than 4 nights in warmer weather… I haven’t really needed to with the hunting I do. And I could certainly get 5 nights in nice weather if I needed to, and I never have any need for a spotter if I’m packing in, which saves a couple days worth of food in space.

The 5k is tempting, just because there really is no weight penalty, but it would be buying a bag based on the possibility of needing more room, not because I do. I’m going to start with the 36, and if a hunt is in my future that I need a bigger bag, I will have time to get a bigger bag and prepare

Thanks for taking the time to post those pictures, that’s a good baseline

Not that 5oz is a big deal but the exo lineup the biggest weight penalty is between 3600 and 5000 at 5oz. I’m still undecided on 3600 or 5000 but I like side zip better than horseshoe and I have same gear as Steve so I would be taken a little bit of a flier on the 3600 since I most certainly am doing 7 days trips

 

[Justin Crossley]

Not that 5oz is a big deal but the exo lineup the biggest weight penalty is between 3600 and 5000 at 5oz. I’m still undecided on 3600 or 5000 but I like side zip better than horseshoe and I have same gear as Steve so I would be taken a little bit of a flier on the 3600 since I most certainly am doing 7 days trips

The 7200 bag is a great choice as well. It's what I would go with if I was only going to have one pack. That way I'm covered for anything.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Did a few miles with the K4 this morning. Not surprising after using the prototype but this thing is comfortable!

I only had about 40 lbs in it for this hike.





Last few steps!

 

[prm]

Any chance you could get pics of the bag with only a few items in bag? Ex: Kill kit, misc bag, and a puffy. Interested in how well it snugs down when lightly loaded.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Any chance you could get pics of the bag with only a few items in bag? Ex: Kill kit, misc bag, and a puffy. Interested in how well it snugs down when lightly loaded.

Here is the K4 3600 loaded up next to an empty K4 7200 prototype. As you can see, they pack down very well. Let me know if that shows what you're asking for. If not I can throw a couple things inside but it won't make much difference.

 

[MuleyFever]

Can you post some pics showing exactly how you strap a load between the frame and bag?

 

[prm]

Here is the K4 3600 loaded up next to an empty K4 7200 prototype. As you can see, they pack down very well. Let me know if that shows what you're asking for. If not I can throw a couple things inside but it won't make much difference.

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That works, thank you. As long as the lid is snug it won’t flop around.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Can you post some pics showing exactly how you strap a load between the frame and bag?

Detach to two Velcro strips under the lid straps and then unbuckle the side compression straps.



Disconnect the two horizontal compression straps on the frame.



Place meat bags on the frame.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Attach and snug the two horizontal compression straps over your meat.



Attach the side compression straps for the bag.



Snug down once all four are connected.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Everything is snugged up and ready to go besides the lid, and head/cape.



Place the cape and head on top and run the nose through the roll-top loop.



Reconnect the lid (if you removed it) and cinch it down.



Ready to roll!