Exo Mountain K4?

[JNDEER]

It's just a different use case is all. There is certainly a market for it proven by other folks. My point here is I'd like to see Exo apply their design skills to this market because I think they'd do very well and come up with something I'd like to buy.

As far as comfort goes, crawling around on the ground and trying to look up with a tall frame sucks. I'd like a shorter frame in hunt mode and make a quick adjustment to taller frame in haul mode. My SG doesn't have that. I know the K3 does and some others do. That's a great feature.

What you describe you want sounds like a kuiu venture or divide pack. Take a look at those.

 

[huntnful]

Contrary to what everyone likes to think, not every time out is 7+ plus days with 7,000’ elevation daily carrying 90# and every 1/2 ounce matters. Sometimes it’s a 5 mile day checking cameras, or a 10 mile day just glassing/photographing sheep, or a 2 mile day taking a kid Javelina hunting, or a 3 mile day going back to a mountain lake to fly fish for the day.

Yes, all the bags can strap down nicely, but on any of the above, my 22 Mag is much easier to access than any other bag. My Exo is way more comfortable with all weights and gets the nod most of the time. For me, it has absolutely nothing to do with weight. Why would any pack maker not want to have a well designed “ day bag”? Some of the most lethal killers I know have not backpack hunted a day of their life, but want a quality pack for those heavy days.

Awesome. I like this genuinely explain response.

I am admittedly just mostly thinking of hunting big game, and making some pretty big hikes to do it. But I also do plenty of 10-15 mile camera days and what not with my smaller bag and never thought twice about it honestly.

I mean, I would probably buy a small hiking pack if they made one for just checking cameras also. But I would consider that a day “hiking” pack. And I’m sure it would be very nice to have. I wouldn’t use it for hunting though. But that is obviously just my personal opinion and views. If I’m trying to kill something, I would like the ability to carry it out also, if I do kill.

I just view EXO as a legit hunting pack company. And that’s all I expect from them. The best, most capable, hunting packs. Anything lighter, smaller, weaker than what they have now, would be less capable. But I guess it would be more convenient for some people and their needs/wants.

Thank you for the thorough response

 

[S.Clancy]

@Dos Perros https://www.swdbackpacks.com/product-page/SWD-LongHaul-UltralightBackpack

 

[bmart2622]

Something like the Kifaru Tarryall or like an Avail with a little more weight carrying ability would be pretty sweet

 

[Ten Bears]

I think this was the longest we ever made it on a thread without a derailment.

You know a pack/company must be doing something right if we made it to 1000 posts without it going straight dumpster fire.

Nice work Steve and Mark!

 

[roosiebull]

And you forgot durable enough to last 20 plus years.
Pockets every where.
$299.99 shipping included.
Made in USA from US materials.
And donate 2% to conservation.

In ranger green so you don’t get any blood on it ever

 

[roosiebull]

It's just a different use case is all. There is certainly a market for it proven by other folks. My point here is I'd like to see Exo apply their design skills to this market because I think they'd do very well and come up with something I'd like to buy.

As far as comfort goes, crawling around on the ground and trying to look up with a tall frame sucks. I'd like a shorter frame in hunt mode and make a quick adjustment to taller frame in haul mode. My SG doesn't have that. I know the K3 does and some others do. That's a great feature.

I would probably buy one if you could haul a deer in it if needed, but I also understand the desire to have a nice day pack that you don’t plan on packing meat in, just a short frame internal frame pack with good organization

I like the idea of internal frame xpac pack, load meat in the bag and easy to clean later.

I think the exo crew being so small is already extremely impressive with what they have done, both in design and production, kinda crazy to think so few people are producing so many great quality packs

 

[BRTreedogs]

In ranger green so you don’t get any blood on it ever

Bruh

 

[Phil87]

Who's the lunatic packing a sheep out in trail runners?


View attachment 507262

Hey Steve, what size frame are you wearing there? Trying to decide between the 25 and 26.5 if some of you who have both happen to have some photos to compare the two that would be cool. I'm 5'11" with about a 17.5" torso for some reference.

Cheers,
Phil

 

[S&S ARCHERY]

Hey Steve, what size frame are you wearing there? Trying to decide between the 25 and 26.5 if some of you who have both happen to have some photos to compare the two that would be cool. I'm 5'11" with about a 17.5" torso for some reference.

Cheers,
Phil

I’m running a 25” there. I would say that’s probably the best bet for you as well.

 

[Phil87]

I’m running a 25” there. I would say that’s probably the best bet for you as well.

Sounds good. Thanks for the quick response.

 

[prm]

@S&S ARCHERY Did any of the prototype testers use the pack with a saddle and haul out a whole eastern whitetail? That will be one of my use cases for next fall and I’m looking for tips on loading a whole deer.

 

[Mark at EXO]

@S&S ARCHERY Did any of the prototype testers use the pack with a saddle and haul out a whole eastern whitetail? That will be one of my use cases for next fall and I’m looking for tips on loading a whole deer.

We have had a lot of guys use our packs for saddle hunting, but I am not aware of anyone that did that specifically with the K4 Prototypes.

There have been numerous one-trip loads with deer on K4 Protos (both boned-out and quartered) — including whitetail, mule deer, and sitka bucks that @S&S ARCHERY, myself, and others packed-out on Kodiak.
Shoot me a PM if you're looking for specific tips or have specific questions I can help with.

 

[Millwood21]

@S&S ARCHERY Did any of the prototype testers use the pack with a saddle and haul out a whole eastern whitetail? That will be one of my use cases for next fall and I’m looking for tips on loading a whole deer.

I know it’s not the K4 but I use my K3 for that in Georgia. I use a lone wolf custom .5 tho. I hauled out a couple bucks on the k3 with stand and sticks. I sold the pack and am upgrading to the k4. I assume it will work just as good but probably better.

 

[Dos Perros]

What you describe you want sounds like a kuiu venture or divide pack. Take a look at those.

China tho right?

 

[fisherman983]

We have had a lot of guys use our packs for saddle hunting, but I am not aware of anyone that did that specifically with the K4 Prototypes.

There have been numerous one-trip loads with deer on K4 Protos (both boned-out and quartered) — including whitetail, mule deer, and sitka bucks that @S&S ARCHERY, myself, and others packed-out on Kodiak.
Shoot me a PM if you're looking for specific tips or have specific questions I can help with.

How bout a video on how to load a whole deer, all 4 quarters, neck meat, rib meat and backstraps into a pack and have the weight situated right so the pack works as it should.

I think part of my pack problems come from not packing the bag right and or maybe it's just to awkward of a weight how it's situated

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

 

[Dioni A]

How bout a video on how to load a whole deer, all 4 quarters, neck meat, rib meat and backstraps into a pack and have the weight situated right so the pack works as it should.

I think part of my pack problems come from not packing the bag right and or maybe it's just to awkward of a weight how it's situated

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

This is one way. (Not recommended)

 

[Dioni A]

Here's how I packed one out last year in the k4. This is 4 bone in quarters with a loose bag of meat, head + cape with camp, spotter and tripod.
I try and get the pack set somewhere flat. I want to be able to get the weight situated high on the frame so it's important not to have things standing up.

This is a bag with a front and rear quarter both of them heavy side up.

Other 2 quarters over the first 2 this seems to shift less than starting heavy side down.

Strap everything up tight trying to keep things high.

Be sure to keep anything you might need accessible on the pack out on one of your exterior pockets. I'll move snacks and things to my lower stretch pockets so it's not such a fight to get them later if I have to.

And then stuff loose meat in the top of the pack or in your bag. I usually bring a trash bag to put it in so my stuff stays clean.

You can attach the head quite a few different ways. Depending on how your bags situated you might need to play with this. I wanted this buck antlers down because I was in a popular area and didn't want anybody to shoot me.

 

[Phil87]

Here's how I packed one out last year in the k4. This is 4 bone in quarters with a loose bag of meat, head + cape with camp, spotter and tripod.
I try and get the pack set somewhere flat. I want to be able to get the weight situated high on the frame so it's important not to have things standing up.
View attachment 527997
This is a bag with a front and rear quarter both of them heavy side up.
View attachment 527998
Other 2 quarters over the first 2 this seems to shift less than starting heavy side down.
View attachment 527999
Strap everything up tight trying to keep things high.
View attachment 528000
Be sure to keep anything you might need accessible on the pack out on one of your exterior pockets. I'll move snacks and things to my lower stretch pockets so it's not such a fight to get them later if I have to.
View attachment 528001
And then stuff loose meat in the top of the pack or in your bag. I usually bring a trash bag to put it in so my stuff stays clean.
View attachment 528002
You can attach the head quite a few different ways. Depending on how your bags situated you might need to play with this. I wanted this buck antlers down because I was in a popular area and didn't want anybody to shoot me.
View attachment 528003

Hey Dioni I read earlier in the thread you had both length frames - which length did you settle on using the most?

 

[Dioni A]

Here's a bunch of pics with heads loaded.