The Teratorn: A Shoot2Hunt X EXO Bag Collab

[ztc92]

Is the bag alone almost 7 pounds? Or is that bag and frame?

See my post #82. Bag + Lid is about 3 pounds.

Haven’t put the Teratorn to real-world use yet but got it mounted on the frame and starting to get a feel for it.

I think those who comment about it being too big or not streamlined enough for their use may not appreciate the actual size. I compared it side-by-side to my K4 5000 today and was surprised to find they’re nearly the same size, minus the wings. I’d guess the Teratorn main bag is only 10-20% larger than the 5000 and probably will come in around 5600-6000 (not counting the wings). The increased size is mostly the depth, which seems about 2” more than the 5000. That said, it’s going to function like a much bigger bag because there are no side pockets to encroach on the main compartment. It’s also only 10 oz heavier if you trust my questionable basket on a baking scale method.

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As for the side bags, they are about 10-20% larger than the side bags made by stone glacier, which are 750 cubic inches. I figure these exo side bags are probably around 900 cubic inches each. By that math, the total volume for the Teratorn including side bags shoujd be around 7400 - 7800. I think it will be great for late season hunts with lots of layers as intended.

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I’ve also noticed the Nalgene pockets are considerably larger than my K4 5000 bag. These photos show each with 2 Nalgenes and a life water bottle, then stretched to the max. I think this will make it easier to get rifles, tripods etc in and out with less snags but time will tell.


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[Ryan Avery]

The Terratorn is live to buy

Teratorn - Shoot2Hunt

THE TERATORN A brand-new, fully featured bag for late season hunts optimized to keep every piece of gear accessible at all times. WE’VE ALL BEEN...

shoot2hunt.com

 

[Harvey_NW]

The Terratorn is live to buy

Teratorn - Shoot2Hunt

THE TERATORN A brand-new, fully featured bag for late season hunts optimized to keep every piece of gear accessible at all times. WE’VE ALL BEEN...

shoot2hunt.com

 

[Nine Banger]

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

No issues with it being wide and its very stable. Recently went on a short backcountry bear hunt/fishing trip and i was at 55 pounds. First one in this spring on this trail so it was narrow in lots of places and no carry issues.

Randy

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Sweet!!!

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I fixed it for LUKE

Goes on sale 6/30

Went to buy and no option for orange

 

[Nine Banger]

Went to buy and no option for orange

Can we compromise? (I think I know the answer).

 

[ChrisAU]

Trying to talk myself into one. I think its a great design, just not sure I'd utilize it this year.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Can we compromise? (I think I know the answer).

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Knowing me, I’ll probably remove a perfectly good lid and replace it with a finagled orange Sherman pocket in place of it.

 

[ChrisAU]

Knowing me, I’ll probably remove a perfectly good lid and replace it with a finagled orange Sherman pocket in place of it.

I like a lid and a Sherman. Trying to make a scenario where Teratorn + Lid > 3600, Lid, and Sherman and it make sense. I just know I'll wind up Teratorn + Lid + Sherman because I have no self control

 

[ztc92]

Used it a bit today to do some rucking with a 40 pound sandbag. Another perk I hadn’t considered is the sleeping bag compartment, when closed, also keeps anything heavy higher up in the pack. Load distribution was noticeable better with my sandbag held up high in the teratorn compared to down in the bottom of the 5000 I used to use.

Obviously this can be negated with proper packing (or stuffing a blanket in the bottom when just rucking), but even so, it was a nice surprise and makes using the bag to ruck/train a little easier.

 

[Harvey_NW]

It looks like under a bat wing will be plenty of security for strapping a rifle in, but what's the best carrier or quick draw system to pair with this bag? The more I look at it and think about it, the more I like it. Being married isn't all it's cracked up to be anyway

 

[ztc92]

I’ve been really happy with the SG rifle carrier. I don’t use the quick release, just the bottom portion.

 

[Bluumoon]

It looks like under a bat wing will be plenty of security for strapping a rifle in, but what's the best carrier or quick draw system to pair with this bag? The more I look at it and think about it, the more I like it. Being married isn't all it's cracked up to be anyway

Now if someone clam shelled one side pocket and sewed in a flexible strip magnet you’d have a quick release action/scope cover.

 

[nephewjephew]

I keep going back an forth between this and the 3600 k4 with the SG side wings. Will be hunting out of a base camp, and feel like the teratorn would be too big for most of my use case. Even though I think all these bags are pretty much the same size. Curious what other think. Currently have the SG 5900 and have no issues with it. Just like the lay out and quick access with the wings and such.

 

[Kenny Hart]

I keep going back an forth between this and the 3600 k4 with the SG side wings. Will be hunting out of a base camp, and feel like the teratorn would be too big for most of my use case. Even though I think all these bags are pretty much the same size. Curious what other think. Currently have the SG 5900 and have no issues with it. Just like the lay out and quick access with the wings and such.

I don't have my Teratorn yet so I cannot give you my first-hand opinions, but maybe a few points that I picked up over the past year that could resonate with you either way.

I initially went with the 3600 + R3 bags for last season, then traded up for a 5000 because the 3600 was just a hair small for all my winter gear. If you're never packing everything in, this could be irrelevant. If you are packing in your entire base camp to then unload and only run the bag compressed, then you still need the full volume.

I don't have different fine-tuned items for different seasons, nor do I have the budget to chase best-of-the-best, hunt-specific bags and sleep systems, and weight. For me, fall gear will be largely the same as winter and spring. I have some dietary restrictions that make a lot of backpacking food a non-starter (plus I'd rather just eat what I do normally), so almost everything I packed was real food and that added bulk.

The difference in compression between the 3600 and 5000 was basically indistinguishable, whereas the 7200 did look to be a hair much for me in the main bag compartment. The K3 6400 to me seemed about perfect in this regard, probably similar in practice to your 5900, which is basically the same size as the Teratorn. I have no experience with this, just my subjective opinion.

The horseshoe pocket was much easier to access the bag from either side on the 5000, so I'm glad the Teratorn retained that feature.

The only thing that really annoyed me about my 5000 is that Exo only puts single zippers on everything but the main bag access. I understand the mindset but if you have the bag compressed and want to use the side zips or front stretch pocket, you have to dig up under the lid to open them, or pop the lid buckles.

Little things like that seemed insignificant, but after doing that over again while not finding animals for days, lack of sleep, and calorie deficit, they really start to get annoying...at least to me

I'm glad the Teratorn forewent the side pockets, as I could not fill them without poaching volume from the bag interior, or making them puff out and force the R3 bags out pretty far unless really cinched down.

The biggest advantage of the 3600 + side bag route is they are very easy to completely remove if you just want a small, slick setup, and the 3600 is that. Folding the Teratorn wings behind the frame would accomplish the same, but I get the idea of just removing when they'd never be used.

I also get that the 3600 is just a good looking bag. It looks freaking cool and size-efficient, whereas the Teratorn looks a bit more...utilitarian, but definitely more usefully-efficient.

 

[nephewjephew]

I don't have my Teratorn yet so I cannot give you my first-hand opinions, but maybe a few points that I picked up over the past year that could resonate with you either way.

I initially went with the 3600 + R3 bags for last season, then traded up for a 5000 because the 3600 was just a hair small for all my winter gear. If you're never packing everything in, this could be irrelevant. If you are packing in your entire base camp to then unload and only run the bag compressed, then you still need the full volume.

I don't have different fine-tuned items for different seasons, nor do I have the budget to chase best-of-the-best, hunt-specific bags and sleep systems, and weight. For me, fall gear will be largely the same as winter and spring. I have some dietary restrictions that make a lot of backpacking food a non-starter (plus I'd rather just eat what I do normally), so almost everything I packed was real food and that added bulk.

The difference in compression between the 3600 and 5000 was basically indistinguishable, whereas the 7200 did look to be a hair much for me in the main bag compartment. The K3 6400 to me seemed about perfect in this regard, probably similar in practice to your 5900, which is basically the same size as the Teratorn. I have no experience with this, just my subjective opinion.

The horseshoe pocket was much easier to access the bag from either side on the 5000, so I'm glad the Teratorn retained that feature.

The only thing that really annoyed me about my 5000 is that Exo only puts single zippers on everything but the main bag access. I understand the mindset but if you have the bag compressed and want to use the side zips or front stretch pocket, you have to dig up under the lid to open them, or pop the lid buckles.

Little things like that seemed insignificant, but after doing that over again while not finding animals for days, lack of sleep, and calorie deficit, they really start to get annoying...at least to me

I'm glad the Teratorn forewent the side pockets, as I could not fill them without poaching volume from the bag interior, or making them puff out and force the R3 bags out pretty far unless really cinched down.

The biggest advantage of the 3600 + side bag route is they are very easy to completely remove if you just want a small, slick setup, and the 3600 is that. Folding the Teratorn wings behind the frame would accomplish the same, but I get the idea of just removing when they'd never be used.

I also get that the 3600 is just a good looking bag. It looks freaking cool and size-efficient, whereas the Teratorn looks a bit more...utilitarian, but definitely more usefully-efficient.

Thats a great write up. I hadn't considered the single zipper on most of the bag. I wouldn't be packing food or camp at all, we usually hunt out of a wall tent. The full use of the teratorn would be 10% use of the 90% that I would use it.

This will turn into me owning both bags eventually... sigh

 

[Speaks]

I think this would be a closer equivalent to the 5k with side bags, but a better execution of the concept.

I bought a 2200 and got side bags from SG and an exo lid allowing it to scale between 2200 and 4350, then ordered a Teratorn to cover the rest of my range. Doing the same with the 3600 would also make sense but I do quite a bit of day hunting from my cabin where the 2200 was a better fit. Were I always backpack hunting the 3600 as the base would make a lot of sense.

 

[ztc92]

I keep going back an forth between this and the 3600 k4 with the SG side wings. Will be hunting out of a base camp, and feel like the teratorn would be too big for most of my use case. Even though I think all these bags are pretty much the same size. Curious what other think. Currently have the SG 5900 and have no issues with it. Just like the lay out and quick access with the wings and such.

I think your reply of eventually ending up with both (or maybe a 2200 for the small day hikes) is going to be where you end up for your use case. I used 5000 + SG side bags last year. It worked fine and did what I wanted, but far from streamlined or efficient.

I would equate using the SG side bags on a smaller bag vs using the teratorn to using a Toyota rav 4 with a lift and AT tires to reach a trailhead on crappy roads vs using a Tacoma with the TRD package to do the same. If you only go on crappy roads a few times and can live with the trade offs of using your RAV4 with a few upgrades to do it, it’s gonna be fine, but far from ideal. If you want something purpose built, or if you drive on crappy roads often, the Tacoma will make that drive far more enjoyable and doesn’t need a bunch of upgrades to do it.

That said, the best answer, if possible, would be best to have the rav4 for city and highway driving (without a lift or AT tires) and then reserve the Tacoma for crappy roads and off-roading.

 

[Bluumoon]

I think your reply of eventually ending up with both (or maybe a 2200 for the small day hikes) is going to be where you end up for your use case. I used 5000 + SG side bags last year. It worked fine and did what I wanted, but far from streamlined or efficient.

I would equate using the SG side bags on a smaller bag vs using the teratorn to using a Toyota rav 4 with a lift and AT tires to reach a trailhead on crappy roads vs using a Tacoma with the TRD package to do the same. If you only go on crappy roads a few times and can live with the trade offs of using your RAV4 with a few upgrades to do it, it’s gonna be fine, but far from ideal. If you want something purpose built, or if you drive on crappy roads often, the Tacoma will make that drive far more enjoyable and doesn’t need a bunch of upgrades to do it.

That said, the best answer, if possible, would be best to have the rav4 for city and highway driving (without a lift or AT tires) and then reserve the Tacoma for crappy roads and off-roading.

Put the Tera on yesterday, admired it, tried a couple things, immediately put the 2200 back on. The Tera is going to be excellent for fall hunts, and is a very nice refinement of the side bag idea.

The 2200 is perfect for summer day hikes. I suppose I could/should start rucking around my normal fall stuff to get in better shape.....