What brand would you try next when an Exo k4 doesn’t work?

[LFaler]

Bought a k4 last year for my first elk hunt Took much longer than I anticipated to arrive and I only received it a couple of days before the hunt. Bottom line It is unbelievably uncomfortable . (I ditched it after the first hike up the west fork Dallas trail and went into Ridgeway and bought a daypack) In fairness the guys at exo have been working with me to find a solution. We have solved the slippage issue but the thing is almost unwearable . I’ve adjusted the shoulder straps through every combination of slots on the frame but I can’t keep it on with or without weight for more than 20 minutes due to the straps cutting into my shoulders and the frame digging into my back and the straps aren’t over tightened.

So my question for anyone else that has had issues with fit, what would be the next brand to try I plan to order 1 every week or so and hike up the side of the mountain I live on, rinse and repeat until I find the right one. Was going to start with a mystery ranch just because I know I can get it fast rather than having to wait 2 months like I did with the exo

 

[Team4LongGun]

Do you have a unique body size/shape? Do you have a photo of the pack on, side view?

 

[PredatoronthePrairie]

Something

 

[LFaler]

Do you have a unique body size/shape? Do you have a photo of the pack on, side view?

 

[LFaler]

Something

Something

fishy how I asked a legimate question

 

[isleofGough]

Maybe try Kifaru ark with modifications.

Another option is seek outside. It fits very differently but is comfortable.

I haven't tried stone glacier or initial ascent ascent, but people like them.

From the photos, the load angle is pretty low. Did you try the 26.6" frame? With your build, HPG or Kifaru would likely work with the wider straps. (More so than stone glacier or exo)

 

[BRTreedogs]

You waited 2 months on an Exo?
There must of been something leading to that?
If an Exo is that uncomfortable idk what to recommend man.
I mean different brands fit a little bit different, but if it’s that terrible I don’t think anything else is different enough that you will be really impressed.

 

[ChrisAU]

After getting the pack locked to your hips and the load lifters taut are you the loosening the shoulder straps a bit? If not, do that.

 

[LFaler]

You waited 2 months on an Exo?
There must of been something leading to that?
If an Exo is that uncomfortable idk what to recommend man.
I mean different brands fit a little bit different, but if it’s that terrible I don’t think anything else is different enough that you will be really impressed.

I ordered it sometime around Labor Day and it arrived mid October iirc Didn’t have much time to evaluate it before I left but I knew that ahead of time because it told me when in would there So it wasn’t like it was a surprise

The whole point of this is that I need something else . This isn’t a knock on exo and they are still working with me to find a solution. The pack is obviously built like a tank But when I can’t keep it on for any duration of time I need to see what else is out there . I’ve hiked the Appalachian trail in winter with heavy hiking pack with no issue. I guess I could always go back to a Gregory or an osprey for ferrying gear but don’t know how well they handle a hind quarter I just need to start exploring options so I’m not scrambling for a solution at the last minute

 

[brca005]

You waited 2 months on an Exo?
There must of been something leading to that?
If an Exo is that uncomfortable idk what to recommend man.
I mean different brands fit a little bit different, but if it’s that terrible I don’t think anything else is different enough that you will be really impressed.

I've got the same questions...

I also agree, if an Exo is that uncomfortable, don't know any others will impress you. Stone Glacier has 2 different models, Kifaru, Seek Outside, Mystery Ranch, Alpz Outdoors are ones I can think of off the top of my head you could try.

 

[LFaler]

Maybe try Kifaru ark with modifications.

Another option is seek outside. It fits very differently but is comfortable.

I haven't tried stone glacier or initial ascent ascent, but people like them.

From the photos, the load angle is pretty low. Did you try the 26.6" frame? With your build, HPG or Kifaru would likely work with the wider straps. (More so than stone glacier or exo)

I have the 26.5 frame

 

[WyldGoose]

For me, the answer is/was the Hill People Gear Decker frame. I still use Exo K4 bags on the Decker frame.

HPG has aluminum stays that you bend to custom fit to your back shape, aka zero slippage.
HPG has delta straps(thanks Patrick Smith) that pull the lower third of the load into your lumbar. This eliminates the feeling of any weight pulling away from you. It also unloads the weight from your shoulder straps.
HPG’s shoulder harness is the most comfortable design I’ve found. Even though it’s essentially there just to stabilize the load while your hips & lumbar carry the load.

 

[BRTreedogs]

To start you have the wrong straps attached from the frame to the bag.

From the top if the 1st & 3rd
That helps pull the load up.
Also at the bottom of the bag you need to suck those straps in at the bottom when you don’t need the volume.

Whenever possible you want the weight up more between your shoulder blades.

When the weight is down low like that it has kind of a cantilever effect and causes even more pulling.

 

[BRTreedogs]

I’ve ran exo k2/k3/k4, seek outside, kifaru duplex lite & tactical.

They all fit and ride a little bit differently, but not enough I think it will make a noticeable difference.

 

[BRTreedogs]

Getting the load up will do more then switching brands.

 

[Yaremkiv]

Besides buckling the straps to the right buckles like mentioned above, tightening up the lifter straps will take weight off the shoulders but too tight will press the frame up against the pack. I've tried the K4 but ultimately preferred the ARK frame but like mentioned above, if the K4 frame is as bothersome to you as you say it is, not sure there's a product that will fix whatever the problem may be. The K4 was the easiest to set up and most forgiving of improper adjustment between the Mystery Ranch, Kifaru and Exo packs I've used.

 

[BRTreedogs]

I’m not sure if your frame has this.
But the straps intended to be for meat have orange bar tack.
And an example of how high I would put my 25lb sand bag if I was taking it for a walk.