Exo Mountain K4?

[Millwood21]

I was a little concerned about the lid attachment method without seeing it in person over the buckles but after getting my hands on it isn’t going to be an issue. I think it’s pretty quick to thread those in. If they were doubled over like most are I can see it being a problem but it’s super smooth I thought. And definitely keeps it snug when the pack is compressed empty.

 

[TheBootBowhunting]

I don’t see how those quick buckles would be any easier than a conventional ladder lock in freezing conditions with gloves. I’m just glad most of the straps aren’t doubled over and sewn on the ends. That makes them extremely difficult to work through in my opinion.

I dont own a K4, so I cant comment on that lid specifically, but I tried a few different types (7) of attachments on another brand lid just to see which worked the best for my applications. The gatekeepers were last in bite, and Im not sure how to actually figure this out - but the lowest angle they released the webbing. I also have them on a bino harness, and ended up sewing the tag end to the end under tension so it couldnt move.

If they ever make a gatekeeper that incorporates the locking part of a locking male/female buckle, those might be the answer to a lot of applications.

Pic below are the buckles I tried on a lid and the order I found to be the best bite/highest angle of webbing release to least bite/lowest release. Completely unscientific. The 2 waveloc male buckles require a non looped tag end tag to fit through buckle. Im not saying all of them wont work, just an observation.

 

[sr80]

i cant compare the K4 lid attachment to the k3 or any other exo, but i always prefer a tighter lid attachment over anything, i think its one of the most important parts of a bag design in my opinion. Nothing worse than a lid that flops around, falls off the sides of a pack etc. And the fact that they route the webbing through the three bar slider at the top to help keep the lid centered is genius. On my SG terminus the lid attachment straps are directly below the load lifter straps, so you either have to route the lid straps on the outside of the load lifters, which then the lid can fall off the sides, or on the inside of the load lifter which then makes the lid fold weirdly in the middle. I feel like the made a mistake in that design.

 

[sr80]

@Mark at EXO do you guys have estimate for the rifle carrier system ? Sorry if i missed it in the thread somewhere. Thanks

 

[waldo9190]

Tried searching all over and couldn't find a concrete answer, but I'm curious if there are plans for a K4 bag smaller than 3600? I am in between the 5000 or 7200, and having the ability to throw on an 1800-ish size bag like the K3 would be the cats meow for whitetails around home.

 

[Mark at EXO]

Tried searching all over and couldn't find a concrete answer, but I'm curious if there are plans for a K4 bag smaller than 3600? I am in between the 5000 or 7200, and having the ability to throw on an 1800-ish size bag like the K3 would be the cats meow for whitetails around home.

Yes, something around 2000ci coming this summer.

 

[Millwood21]

They said 1800-2000 would be coming this summer. It’s in the works.

 

[Mark at EXO]

@Mark at EXO do you guys have estimate for the rifle carrier system ? Sorry if i missed it in the thread somewhere. Thanks

We don’t have definitive dates, other than saying this summer. Numerous accessories (and the daypack) in the works, which have to be integrated in our production schedule.

 

[WoodBow]

I ordered on the day the rokslide link went live. Shows out for delivery today. Much faster than I expected.

This is my first exo purchase. I like the exo podcast and I like how they come across as humble and constantly seeking improvement. I like that their system is simple, clean, and tidy. There aren't a million straps and 100 bags to choose from. Keep up the good work.

 

[tanker]

Mark/Steve,

Any ideas what belt type bow holder would work best with my new K4 without decreasing the performance of the hip belt? I prefer something with immediate access that would possibly work on one of the Nalgene attachment points. Montana Bow Sling maybe? Are you guys coming out with anything like I’m describing? If not, any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[waldo9190]

Yes, something around 2000ci coming this summer.

Well hot damn! Thank you for the quick reply @Mark at EXO!

 

[Mark at EXO]

Any ideas what belt type bow holder would work best with my new K4 without decreasing the performance of the hip belt? I prefer something with immediate access that would possibly work on one of the Nalgene attachment points. Montana Bow Sling maybe? Are you guys coming out with anything like I’m describing? If not, any suggestions? Thanks.

Can't help much here. I haven't used any of the hipbelt-mounted options enough to speak about them and we don't plan to build one.

 

[DangerRanger]

Really wondering if this is my huckleberry for mammoth challenge next January. Very interested in that rifle carrier

 

[tanker]

Can't help much here. I haven't used any of the hipbelt-mounted options enough to speak about them and we don't plan to build one.

Ok. Thanks for the reply.

 

[garrettcolvin41]

Ordered one last week. Looking forward to getting it and putting it to use. Went with the green 5000

 

[S&S ARCHERY]

Hey Steve what are your thoughts on the gatekeeper ladder locks? Have you tested those much? I don’t like to use them on compression straps cuz I’m sure they have low tensile capacity but just curious if you’ve played around with them in your prototyping.


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I've used them some in prototyping and they worked ok but I don't find there to be a huge advantage. To me it's pretty simple to thread the webbing through a traditional ladder lock and those almost never fail.

The Gatekeeper style can be a lot harder to use in my opinion when you're talking about cold hands or gloves on and just inherently isn't going to be as strong. I would bet if we used those we would be sending out replacements a lot.

Pretty much every design decision with K4 I was debating on, I would err on the side of simple and bulletproof. Especially on something like this where you are talking about just a few seconds difference to thread webbing through a ladder lock vs a quick attach option.

 

[thegoosano]

I've used them some in prototyping and they worked ok but I don't find there to be a huge advantage. To me it's pretty simple to thread the webbing through a traditional ladder lock and those almost never fail.

The Gatekeeper style can be a lot harder to use in my opinion when you're talking about cold hands or gloves on and just inherently isn't going to be as strong. I would bet if we used those we would be sending out replacements a lot.

Pretty much every design decision with K4 I was debating on, I would err on the side of simple and bulletproof. Especially on something like this where you are talking about just a few seconds difference to thread webbing through a ladder lock vs a quick attach option.

Makes sense thanks for the insight. I’ve really been liking them but time will tell on how they hold up!


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[rclouse79]

Mark/Steve,

Any ideas what belt type bow holder would work best with my new K4 without decreasing the performance of the hip belt? I prefer something with immediate access that would possibly work on one of the Nalgene attachment points. Montana Bow Sling maybe? Are you guys coming out with anything like I’m describing? If not, any suggestions? Thanks.

Bow spider makes a receiver with two metal clips designed to weave through mollee webbing. Last year I had one receiver at the top of my pack for hiking in or out in the dark and the other receiver attached to the mollee on my hip belt. The hip belt location is not good for hiking with your bow, but it is a very convenient place to put your bow when you want to glass. You can even flip the bow around in the receiver and use the limb as a rest for your binoculars. I don't miss the days of constantly setting my bow on the ground or leaning it against my leg or a tree.

 

[tanker]

Bow spider makes a receiver with two metal clips designed to weave through mollee webbing. Last year I had one receiver at the top of my pack for hiking in or out in the dark and the other receiver attached to the mollee on my hip belt. The hip belt location is not good for hiking with your bow, but it is a very convenient place to put your bow when you want to glass. You can even flip the bow around in the receiver and use the limb as a rest for your binoculars. I don't miss the days of constantly setting my bow on the ground or leaning it against my leg or a tree.

I’ll check it out. Thanks!

 

[thegoosano]

If anyone knows where to find those molle clips on Amazon or something please send a link, $40 plus shipping seems absurd form their website.


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