New pack hint on the Exo site.

[wind gypsy]

Have to agree with earlier posters. If the new material has any ductility, it will bend under load. If not, it’s brittle and you’re taking a major risk on your hunt.

I’d wait and see myself.

All these risks add up to an 8 oz loss? I can lose 8 oz off my ass before I pay for it and take the risk.


Carried Kifaru rucks all over the place. Never had an issue of any kind.

Kifaru uses aluminum stays you literally bend to fit but buyer beware on exo?

 

[BRTreedogs]

Have to agree with earlier posters. If the new material has any ductility, it will bend under load. If not, it’s brittle and you’re taking a major risk on your hunt.

I’d wait and see myself.

All these risks add up to an 8 oz loss? I can lose 8 oz off my ass before I pay for it and take the risk.


Carried Kifaru rucks all over the place. Never had an issue of any kind.

Have you actually clicked on the link in the exo information and read the info provided on the material, and how its tested to be stronger then the ti?
Or just a kifaru fanboy speculating?

 

[wekilldeer]

All I have to say is I am super stoked for the new pack. I am comeing off of the original Icon 5200 and I recently snapped the frame. I am looking forward to being carbon fiber free on the frame and hopefully less squeek as well. The Icon served me ok over the years but I am ready to upgrade to something more reliable and quiet. I have faith that this pack will deliver so now it's just a waiting game

 

[ljalberta]

The problem with companies like Exo and others constantly improving and coming out with killer packs is that I tried to do the buy once cry once deal. But I keep buying and crying and buying and crying....

The next gen sounds awesome. Can't wait to see it!!!

 

[StraightShooter]

Steve - I have a upcoming Dall Sheep hunt in the NWT the first of this August. I already have a K2 2000 frame and pack and was going to buy a 5500 bag for my upcoming hunt. Should I wait and consider one of the new bags for my hunt or go ahead with the 5500 bag ? Just wanted to get your thoughts. Thanks

 

[lr123]

Someone mentioned it before that they got an dmail saying their on order 5500 could possibly come with new k3 frame. Can anyone verify this?

I believe that was me that mentioned my pack might come with the K794 frame. After contacting Mark he confirmed that mine was the K2 Ti frame not the new K794 frame. From the sounds of the email they will be shipping some packs with the K794 frame but I'm not sure if the design will be the same as the K3 or K2 frame. Either way I'm extremely impressed with the customer service and the pack so far. After upgrading from an Eberlestock pack (not particularly light) to the EXO I was amazed at the weight difference in the pack alone.

 

[thebelzaringing]

Have you actually clicked on the link in the exo information and read the info provided on the material, and how its tested to be stronger then the ti?
Or just a kifaru fanboy speculating?

I’d offer that your goal is to incite me- but I’m not interested in bait.

I am a licensed mechanical engineer. And to argue that I’m uniformed because I’m skeptical of the word “stronger” tells me that you aren’t asking the right questions, if any at all. What measure of strength are the quoting? In what units?

Tensile strength is a common measure. I’d argue that it’s likely the least important metric that a manufacturer could report. There are measures of toughness and elasticity that I’d find more valuable.

But hey- you do you. Buy whatever you want, but don’t expect that you’re going to get an echo chamber here.

the fanboy broadside was both unnecessary and poorly executed. It’s not how you build community.

 

[thebelzaringing]

Kifaru uses aluminum stays you literally bend to fit but buyer beware on exo?

Apples and oranges. 6061 and 7075 aren’t new or magic aluminum/titanium mixes. They are consistently produced and have very little deviation in production.

I’ll tell you that I’m not a fan of carbon frames or stays- especially the ones Kifaru makes. I can look at the math and go with it, but I’m personally not content that there is a repeatable test for what many of us do to these packs regularly. Part of what we do is carry awkward things long distances. Those awkward things are unlikely to fit in, on, or around the bag the same way twice.

I hope to hear more about these when they come out. Maybe they are fantastic, and I’ll buy one and eat crow here publicly. I’m just not going to be the first one to take an add at greater than face value.

 

[BRTreedogs]

I’d offer that your goal is to incite me- but I’m not interested in bait.

I am a licensed mechanical engineer. And to argue that I’m uniformed because I’m skeptical of the word “stronger” tells me that you aren’t asking the right questions, if any at all. What measure of strength are the quoting? In what units?

Tensile strength is a common measure. I’d argue that it’s likely the least important metric that a manufacturer could report. There are measures of toughness and elasticity that I’d find more valuable.

But hey- you do you. Buy whatever you want, but don’t expect that you’re going to get an echo chamber here.

the fanboy broadside was both unnecessary and poorly executed. It’s not how you build community.

And you think we build community by telling everyone it's a risk to buy the new pack?

You really think that after building such a loyal following they're gonna throw some garbage out there?
They offer a lifetime warranty and have proven to test products thoroughly, I love my K2 and have no reason to be skeptical.

 

[ljalberta]

And you think we build community by telling everyone it's a risk to buy the new pack?

You really think that after building such a loyal following they're gonna throw some garbage out there?
They offer a lifetime warranty and have proven to test products thoroughly, I love my K2 and have no reason to be skeptical.

The man is offering up his thoughts and opinion. I'd say that's the purpose of the forum and community building - hearing differing opinions and discussions. He's even said he'd eat crow...

No need for ridiculous insinuations and 'fanboy' comments. They really don't contribute.

 

[Rope14u]

I love my k2 but with a 21” torso it was too short with a heavy load and the no butt pack sag. A longer frame perfect! Also a 4800 bag. Take my money!


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[S&S ARCHERY]

Steve
Did you mean adjust the width of the belt by 2”? Can’t wait to see the k3 frame!

Sorry, yeah you can change the width by 2 inches.

 

[S&S ARCHERY]

Steve - I have a upcoming Dall Sheep hunt in the NWT the first of this August. I already have a K2 2000 frame and pack and was going to buy a 5500 bag for my upcoming hunt. Should I wait and consider one of the new bags for my hunt or go ahead with the 5500 bag ? Just wanted to get your thoughts. Thanks

Tough call, if you already have a K2 frame and its fitting you well I would just stick with that and maybe just pick up the new 6400 Bag only when it releases (if you need the space). Good luck on your hunt!

 

[S&S ARCHERY]

I believe that was me that mentioned my pack might come with the K794 frame. After contacting Mark he confirmed that mine was the K2 Ti frame not the new K794 frame. From the sounds of the email they will be shipping some packs with the K794 frame but I'm not sure if the design will be the same as the K3 or K2 frame. Either way I'm extremely impressed with the customer service and the pack so far. After upgrading from an Eberlestock pack (not particularly light) to the EXO I was amazed at the weight difference in the pack alone.

To clarify here further the K794 just refers to the material of the tubular frame that goes inside the fabric frame panel. The complete K3 Frame is made up of the tubular frame, fabric frame panel, shoulder harness, lumbar pad and hipbelt.

We notified customers with current K2 frame orders that their pack would be shipping with the K794 Tubular frame inserted into it. They won't be getting the new K3 frame (although we did give them that option if they wanted to wait until summer)

Steve

 

[Stalker69]

Any one going to be selling there currant 5500 to get one of the new ones ? I can’t afford a new one, but maybe could do a used one.

 

[S&S ARCHERY]

I’d offer that your goal is to incite me- but I’m not interested in bait.

I am a licensed mechanical engineer. And to argue that I’m uniformed because I’m skeptical of the word “stronger” tells me that you aren’t asking the right questions, if any at all. What measure of strength are the quoting? In what units?

Tensile strength is a common measure. I’d argue that it’s likely the least important metric that a manufacturer could report. There are measures of toughness and elasticity that I’d find more valuable.

But hey- you do you. Buy whatever you want, but don’t expect that you’re going to get an echo chamber here.

the fanboy broadside was both unnecessary and poorly executed. It’s not how you build community.

Yeah the two measurements we are really concerned with and frankly that apply to us our yield strength and elongation. The K794 in the T6 condition we are using has been achieving in the lab tests 89-92ksi yield strength with roughly 10% elongation. In comparison something inexpensive like 6061 will see roughly 35 ksi in yield strength but have more elongation, typically 15%. The K794 is nearly 3 times as strong in reference to yield strength which is very important to us in our overall frame design. We really lean on the tubular frame and the structure if provides the rest of the frame panel for the overall design.

Just for fun I had 6 guys I know well (guys who hunt extremely hard and beat the crap out of stuff) run 6061 Aluminum frames for all of 2018. After a full season of use the frames actually held up ok, the did bend and change shape but nothing too dramatic. That told me a few things but mainly re-enforced just how overbuilt we are building the frames with the K794 material. We overbuild them for the exact reasons you mentioned in your other post, 90% of the time something like 6061 would do just fine but those rare times (say you take a tumble down a nasty, rocky slope with a loaded pack on, that extra strength is there for you when you need it.

Steve

 

[MuleDeerMike]

Short answer yes but I would say that complaint is exceptionally rare on the K2 frame currently. If it happens it can usually be attributed to:

1- Having the side hipbelt pouch webbing too tight (puts extra pressure up near the front instead of distributed through the foam, or putting too much weight on that strap like a really heavy pistol
2 - Having to small of a belt to start with so the foam isn't fully wrapping in front of your hip bones
3- Wearing a thick belt or really any belt on your pants that's causing rubbing. Believe it or not I actually take that to the extreme and have certain underwear that I wont' wear while hunting or training with heavy loads. I've noticed the elastic waist band tends to roll over and create a rub spot. Sounds ridiculous buts its true.

Did you experience that with our pack or others you have used in the past?

As far as the K3 being better in this area there are two things in the design that will help. With the new rigid, foam wings that extend into the belt foam they reduce sagging which in turn allows me to not have to get the belt so tight. Its not a dramatic difference but its there and enough I can see for some guys it would definitely reduce pressure across the belt. Secondly the belt is now adjustable, you can change the width of a belt by 2' by adjusting its placement on the wings. This will allow you to dial in the fit, it's a great feature for the guys who have been in between belt sizes.

Steve

Yes, yours as well as both of SG's frames. I have really pointy/boney hip bones though and am probably the exception, not the rule. I've found that a stiffer lumbar pad works a lot better for me and eliminates the pressure on the hip bones by putting more pressure on the lumbar and not allowing it to give as much. It's generally not as comfortable right when you put it on and with lower weights (30 lbs and under) but over the course of a long day or week and with heavier loads it really helps a ton with the pressure points, for me.

 

[Jbehredt]

Yes, yours as well as both of SG's frames. I have really pointy/boney hip bones though and am probably the exception, not the rule. I've found that a stiffer lumbar pad works a lot better for me and eliminates the pressure on the hip bones by putting more pressure on the lumbar and not allowing it to give as much. It's generally not as comfortable right when you put it on and with lower weights (30 lbs and under) but over the course of a long day or week and with heavier loads it really helps a ton with the pressure points, for me.

I’m in the same boat. Pointy hip bones that get rubbed raw under a pack belt. I’m also right on the edge of an exo small and a medium belt is too long. Kifaru was my best option for that reason alone. Still use my k2 as a daypack and this k3 has me intrigued. Good on the exo team for continuing to improve.

 

[wekilldeer]

Will there be the same adjustment range on the belts?? Seems like a lot of guys border between the small and medium belts. I am one of them

 

[twall13]

Will there be the same adjustment range on the belts?? Seems like a lot of guys border between the small and medium belts. I am one of them

Sounds like Steve addressed that issue earlier in the thread. The new belts will be adjustable for an extra 2" with the new design.

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