Exo Mountain K4?

[dirtytough]

The 2200 is my favorite bag of the 4 they make. But if you actually use the side pockets you lose most of the volume in the main bag.

I have a ton of respect for Steve and crew at EXO. But dang imo they really the bed on bag design.

 

[Mountain_Life]

I've owned packs by at least 3 of the most popular company and I've owned a few of Exo's bags. The Exo bag design is by far my favorite. It must just be personal style/preference.

Features I like: stretch pocket on front, double stuff pocket on side pouches, roll top vs cinch top, laser cut moly locations, water bottle holder against pack, narrow bag design, angled compression straps to help keep load high and tight... There's just a lot of little details I really appreciate.

 

[mtnbound]

I didn’t list the annoyances which is why I responded with what I did. Somehow he knows the TT will fix them though?

This is where RS is going downhill. Without posters actually knowing the full story they recommend stuff their hero recommends. A lot of times without actually using it themselves. Or they have used that one item but not the other 7 competing items. It’s always “the best” though since they use it or their hero uses it.

I agree with people posting stuff with no actual hands on experience that being said what are you wanting in a bag?

 

[NDGuy]

I have a ton of respect for Steve and crew at EXO. But dang imo they really the bed on bag design.

Seen a few people not a fan of the bags. I was curious what you don't like about them.

 

[Drenalin]

Seen a few people not a fan of the bags. I was curious what you don't like about them.

For me it's mostly the side pockets. I hated the zippered version on the K4, versus the bellows style pockets on the K3. I didn't like the volume of the pockets themselves, and I didn't like them pushing into the main compartment. I do appreciate all the features @Mountain_Life pointed out above.

 

[dirtytough]

I agree with people posting stuff with no actual hands on experience that being said what are you wanting in a bag?

I want a lid that is easy to access when the bag is laying down. I want slot pockets, not zippered side pockets. Side pockets that don’t take up the room from your main bag. (Completely stupid!) I want the side compression straps to go over or through the slot pockets. A pocket or two on the center of the back.

Something like a timberline 2 with a few modifications.

Seen a few people not a fan of the bags. I was curious what you don't like about them.

The lid fits the bag well. But unless I have the pack standing up, access sucks. The side pockets take up the main bag space. I stop to glass and pull my spotter/tripod out. The stuff in the main pack fills in where the spotter and tripod go. Then it’s a pita to get the spotter back in. It was super annoying when I was scouting with camp on my back.

I have to unzip 2 pockets and 4 straps to get the spotter/tripod out.

The back pocket is fairly useless. It’s tall and narrow.

The double side stretch pockets are hard to access with the spotter in the zippered pocket.

 

[mtnbound]

I want a lid that is easy to access when the bag is laying down. I want slot pockets, not zippered side pockets. Side pockets that don’t take up the room from your main bag. (Completely stupid!) I want the side compression straps to go over or through the slot pockets. A pocket or two on the center of the back.

Something like a timberline 2 with a few modifications.

The lid fits the bag well. But unless I have the pack standing up, access sucks. The side pockets take up the main bag space. I stop to glass and pull my spotter/tripod out. The stuff in the main pack fills in where the spotter and tripod go. Then it’s a pita to get the spotter back in. It was super annoying when I was scouting with camp on my back.

I have to unzip 2 pockets and 4 straps to get the spotter/tripod out.

The back pocket is fairly useless. It’s tall and narrow.

The double side stretch pockets are hard to access with the spotter in the zippered pocket.

The Teratorn meets several of your needs. The lid does ride lower than my K45000, but I'm not sure if that would meet your needs. I can take any pictures or videos of it if you'd like to see something specific.

 

[Deadspace]

The K4 did some serious work in AK this year. Love this pack.

 

[Jauwater]

Big shout out, and Thank You to the team at Exo Mountain Gear. Picked up the 2200 the other week w/ some accessories. Forgot to purchase the lids straps, but when the pack arrived the Exo Team was kind enough to supply the lid straps. Thanks a lot Exo! Love the setup.

 

[flyfisher117]

Those of you that use the rifle carrier on the K4.

Have you figured out a way to protect the stock a little bit from the buckle? Yeah yeah yeah rifles are tools. I just have a rifle I want to hunt with a couple times and don’t want to add unnecessary “character” to it. May opt for tradition sling carry but would prefer not.

 

[lintond]

Those of you that use the rifle carrier on the K4.

Have you figured out a way to protect the stock a little bit from the buckle? Yeah yeah yeah rifles are tools. I just have a rifle I want to hunt with a couple times and don’t want to add unnecessary “character” to it. May opt for tradition sling carry but would prefer not.

I never could warm up to the Exo rifle sling so I adapted a Kifaru gunbearer to mine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[flyfisher117]

I never could warm up to the Exo rifle sling so I adapted a Kifaru gunbearer to mine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I like it, it’s just a single rifle I’m trying to protect.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

They are coming out with a K4 x I think.
Maybe they will offer some different bag options.

 

[CoMulies]

Hoping for a little help with frame sizing.. I’m between 5’9 - 5’10 and just ordered the 25” frame and small belt. I had to adjust the straps on the frame to the lowest slot setting, and there’s still a bit of gap between the shoulder straps and the top/rear of my shoulder with the pack on, even with ~40 lbs loaded. Everything else is adjusted how they show in their videos, the molle on the strap is aligned with collar bone, etc.

I take it this means I should downsize to the 23.5” frame? The reason I ask is because on the website they have all of the frame sizes next to one another, and it looks like the slots on the 23.5” and 25” are just about the same, so I wasnt sure if downsizing would actually eliminate the gap / give me a better fit.

 

[ljalberta]

Hoping for a little help with frame sizing.. I’m between 5’9 - 5’10 and just ordered the 25” frame and small belt. I had to adjust the straps on the frame to the lowest slot setting, and there’s still a bit of gap between the shoulder straps and the top/rear of my shoulder with the pack on, even with ~40 lbs loaded. Everything else is adjusted how they show in their videos, the molle on the strap is aligned with collar bone, etc.

I take it this means I should downsize to the 23.5” frame? The reason I ask is because on the website they have all of the frame sizes next to one another, and it looks like the slots on the 23.5” and 25” are just about the same, so I wasnt sure if downsizing would actually eliminate the gap / give me a better fit.

I could be misunderstanding. But I don’t think the frame size is going to correct whatever fitting issues you’re having. I’d sent Exo an email and see if you could get in. FaceTime call or something to run through the pack setup.

 

[ztc92]

I could be misunderstanding. But I don’t think the frame size is going to correct whatever fitting issues you’re having. I’d sent Exo an email and see if you could get in. FaceTime call or something to run through the pack setup.

So when I swapped the stays on mine from 25 to 26.5”, in order to make them work, I moved the lumbar pad lower, which effectively made my shoulder pads higher at the same slot setting (because distance from lumbar to shoulder increase 1.5”).

Assuming you do the same thing from 25 down to 23.5”, even on the same slot setting the distance from lumbar to shoulder should be less and the shoulder pads should fit better.

 

[ztc92]

This video shows it well:

 

[ztc92]

Hoping for a little help with frame sizing.. I’m between 5’9 - 5’10 and just ordered the 25” frame and small belt. I had to adjust the straps on the frame to the lowest slot setting, and there’s still a bit of gap between the shoulder straps and the top/rear of my shoulder with the pack on, even with ~40 lbs loaded. Everything else is adjusted how they show in their videos, the molle on the strap is aligned with collar bone, etc.

I take it this means I should downsize to the 23.5” frame? The reason I ask is because on the website they have all of the frame sizes next to one another, and it looks like the slots on the 23.5” and 25” are just about the same, so I wasnt sure if downsizing would actually eliminate the gap / give me a better fit.

I agree with others, reach out to Exo and they will surely help you get the fit dialed in.

That said, after reading your post again and watching that video, I think you’ll need to swap out the entire frame as you can’t use 23.5” stays in the 25” frame.

Is this the comparison you’re referencing when you say the slots seem the same? If so I do see what you mean. Maybe the shoulder straps are smaller/shorter on the frame that uses 22/23.5” stays?

 

[CoMulies]

I watched some of their videos and think it was as simple as loosening up the load lifters prior to putting it on.. doh.. the shoulder straps contact the shoulder much better once I eased up on the lifters and tightened the straps first.

 

[MT_Wyatt]

I agree with others, reach out to Exo and they will surely help you get the fit dialed in.

That said, after reading your post again and watching that video, I think you’ll need to swap out the entire frame as you can’t use 23.5” stays in the 25” frame.

Is this the comparison you’re referencing when you say the slots seem the same? If so I do see what you mean. Maybe the shoulder straps are smaller/shorter on the frame that uses 22/23.5” stays?

View attachment 947622

The upper fabric part is different for a 25/26.5 frame vs the 23.5/22” smaller sized stays. The waist belt/bottom of frame is the same. The top portion kinda telescopes up. You can see that in the image where the frame upper velcros to the lower - note how much more is exposed on the 23.5” frame vs 22” one.