Vote for who has the best pack in 2023.

[_jeff_]

I have a pretty curved back and the stone glacier xcurve frame fits my back better than any backpack I’ve ever worn. I use it for backpacking trips now over my osprey pack I used for years.

 

[Justin Crossley]

It's interesting that Exo is holding such a lead in the voting. I would have thought the top three would have been closer to each other.

It's also interesting when you think back just a couple of years, and Kifaru would have probably gotten 75% of the votes.

 

[huntnful]

I personally voted for EXO. But I think the top 3 are noted quite well in the poll. For me personally, Kifaru is too heavy and hectic with attachments and what not. And I don't like the meat in the bag deal. Stone Glacier is too lightweight for me. Felt somewhat like wearing a jansport with a frame in it. Exo seemed to be the best of both worlds for me. Simple, durable, dependable, strong, streamlined, and a load shelf.

 

[realunlucky]

I think people choose a pack without personally vetting the other pack options. They then plant thier flag firmly in that companies corner and come out swinging anytime the question pops up.

 

[Marbles]

How do you not have SO on that list?

 

[Ecampbell25]

Didn’t put Barney’s freighter / Yukon pack in the mix ?!!!

 

[huntnful]

I think people choose a pack without personally vetting the other pack options. They then plant thier flag firmly in that companies corner and come out swinging anytime the question pops up.

Definitely a possibility! There is no way you could vote for Kuiu, if you’ve used any of the other 3 packs currently at the top. I have tons of Kuiu gear, but that pack is a piece of junk.

I have used the 3 at the top, and exo fit my needs the best. But I would not be disappointed in using any of them honestly. They’re all good. I just think exo is gooder

 

[Hondo0925]

I just bought an Exo this year but SO would be high on my list as well

 

[mtwarden]

How do you not have SO on that list?

It's on the list now- sorry Eberlestock but you had 0 votes (as do a couple of others).

 

[MTN BUM]

Well, having personally dumped probably ~6-8k trying various packs... (some recouped by selling to try the next one)

SG: Carries well, tight to body, light. Suffers a bit with heavy loads

Kifaru: Could carry a rhino if you could. But floppy and too many straps/buckles make it heavy. Interested in their new frame. This one is tough for me to eval honestly, because I actually really love their company, what they support, and their people. I really want to like their stuff and so I gave it a lot of time and tried several bags. They would still be my go-to if I needed a bomb-proof setup (military, etc).

Exo: Current go to. Light-ish but carries heavy loads well. Rides well. My complaint on them is dont like their gun carrier, but that can be fixed. Wish they would do one like the gun bearer or the stone glacier carrier.

Seek: Heard good things originally but you wont catch me buying a new seek outside anything after Kevin decided to go politically carpet bomb 2A/Hunting community on SM and then run away from it

MR: Loved them. Kinda a hybrid of Kifaru/Exo in my opinon. Heavier but good organization. I like their day packs a ton. Doesnt get floppy and annoying for me like a lot of the Kifaru bags (tried several).

IA: Havent tried. The social media ad blast actually turns me off on them. But design looks cool...

Kuiu: Doesnt do anything particularly well in my opinion. Not bad, just not great.

Badlands: Thats where I started. Good pack for the budget option. Heavy and not as functional (at least the one I had)

AKEK: Havent tried

Sitka: Havent tried, dont like their clothes much so never had a lot of interest. One of the dangers when you expand product lines so broadly. Its one of the reasons I like Exo, they focus on the pack (probably at the expense of business expansion) so you know they are paying attention and making it the best they can.

 

[pugwylde]

I’ve always been a fan of Mystery Ranch, and still have an old Dana Designs Terraplane but I’ve heard such good things about the Exo packs. I’ll have to check them out, does anyone know where to see one in person?

Come to Boise any day of the year, or go to the Western Hunt Expo.

 

[pugwylde]

Anyone expecting anything other than a land slide for Exo is going to be disappointed. You've either tried a K4 and get it, or you will.

 

[AlpineAssassin907]

I voted exo, but surprised it isn’t closer with stone and Kifaru lol. Kifaru crowd was insane few years back

 

[ndavison47]

Hey guys, I haven't seen any polls voting on what the best packs out there are from the most recent times. Feel free to vote with what you think is the best, based off of real world experience, and feel free to leave comments with why you choose the pack that you have!

I have jumped from pack to pack for a while but, after landing on a Mystery Ranch Metcalf, I’ve been pretty happy! The size is in the sweet spot and the comfort under a load is incredible. I can’t say I’ve tested anything in the higher end but awesome deals can be found on mystery ranch a few times a year by several retailers.

 

[cuerro viejo]

who has $5k to compare all 10?

 

[plebe]

I personally voted for EXO. But I think the top 3 are noted quite well in the poll. For me personally, Kifaru is too heavy and hectic with attachments and what not. And I don't like the meat in the bag deal. Stone Glacier is too lightweight for me. Felt somewhat like wearing a jansport with a frame in it. Exo seemed to be the best of both worlds for me. Simple, durable, dependable, strong, streamlined, and a load shelf.

Hmm. My K4 doesn’t have a load shelf.

 

[huntnful]

Hmm. My K4 doesn’t have a load shelf.

Must be different than mine

 

[cuerro viejo]

Hmm. My K4 doesn’t have a load shelf.

how does it not have a load self? Bag or crib has a load self….

 

[plebe]

how does it not have a load self? Bag or crib has a load self….

K4 has horizontal compression straps for securing a load to the frame, which is then sandwiched between the frame and bag. It’s functional, but per se, there is no load shelf on the bag. I did not buy the crib.

I can and have set my Kifaru DL up the same way. But I have Kifaru bags that have an actual load shelf.

Haven’t owned Stone Glacier, but the frames have a true load shelf built in.

Seek Outside includes a detachable load shelf. It’s a great setup because there is vertical adjustment to adjust the center of gravity.

Even the MR Popup series has a an actual load shelf.

K4 does not. Call it semantics, but when highlighting a load shelf as a feature, there is no true shelf under the load. What makes their load hauling system nice is it’s easy to access.

 

[plebe]

Must be different than mine

View attachment 671899

I’m sure our K4s are the same. There is no load shelf in that video. Just a load panel and bag.