Which Exo Size is Best (No Refillable Water)

[Lock3]

Hey Guys - I have the unfortunate luck of hunting in an area of California with the only water sources live at the bottom of a vertical cliff. As a result, I have to pack in my own water for the entire trip to avoid a crushing climb.

I currently have a K4 3600 (which I love), but it is almost always at maximum capacity (volume) for overnights. I'm starting to push my luck on the 3600 with 2 night; 3 day trips (which require 10 liters of water). I will be hunting bear into the late season and am trying to figure out what to do next since I'm topping out the volume on my 3600. Not only does the area I'm in not have available water, the temps also swing from 20 to 75 (so I'm carrying extra clothes).

Would you guys suggest the K4 5000 or the K4 7200? My trips are primarily 2 nights; 3 days and I like to keep things tight if I can, but I don't want to run into the same problem I have with the K4 3600.

* Before you mention it, I already looked at the Terratorn. While I love the design, I have to wade through walls of thorny chaparral here in sunny California and the Terratorn is wide AF -- not going to work for this environment.

 

[KyleR1985]

Why not as big of a water bag as you’re willing to carry in the load shelf, and then whatever size bag suits your needs otherwise stil suits your needs?

It’s heaviest densest thing you’ll pack. Stick it in the shelf. You may have to double bag it in something that helps retain shape.

 

[brca005]

^^^that was my initial thought of putting it in the load shelf

I don’t think you need to up the bag size, just put the water in the load shelf area so you’ve got more room in your bag, as well as the heaviest part of your load is closer to your body.

 

[fatlander]

I’ve got a 7200 and I wouldn’t recommend it for what you’re trying to do. I agree with the others to use the shelf for your water.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mtnbound]

Hey Guys - I have the unfortunate luck of hunting in an area of California with the only water sources live at the bottom of a vertical cliff. As a result, I have to pack in my own water for the entire trip to avoid a crushing climb.

I currently have a K4 3600 (which I love), but it is almost always at maximum capacity (volume) for overnights. I'm starting to push my luck on the 3600 with 2 night; 3 day trips (which require 10 liters of water). I will be hunting bear into the late season and am trying to figure out what to do next since I'm topping out the volume on my 3600. Not only does the area I'm in not have available water, the temps also swing from 20 to 75 (so I'm carrying extra clothes).

Would you guys suggest the K4 5000 or the K4 7200? My trips are primarily 2 nights; 3 days and I like to keep things tight if I can, but I don't want to run into the same problem I have with the K4 3600.

* Before you mention it, I already looked at the Terratorn. While I love the design, I have to wade through walls of thorny chaparral here in sunny California and the Terratorn is wide AF -- not going to work for this environment.

How are you carrying your water currently? In the pack, on the pack, number of bladders or bags etc..

 

[flyfisher117]

Hey Guys - I have the unfortunate luck of hunting in an area of California with the only water sources live at the bottom of a vertical cliff. As a result, I have to pack in my own water for the entire trip to avoid a crushing climb.

I currently have a K4 3600 (which I love), but it is almost always at maximum capacity (volume) for overnights. I'm starting to push my luck on the 3600 with 2 night; 3 day trips (which require 10 liters of water). I will be hunting bear into the late season and am trying to figure out what to do next since I'm topping out the volume on my 3600. Not only does the area I'm in not have available water, the temps also swing from 20 to 75 (so I'm carrying extra clothes).

Would you guys suggest the K4 5000 or the K4 7200? My trips are primarily 2 nights; 3 days and I like to keep things tight if I can, but I don't want to run into the same problem I have with the K4 3600.

* Before you mention it, I already looked at the Terratorn. While I love the design, I have to wade through walls of thorny chaparral here in sunny California and the Terratorn is wide AF -- not going to work for this environment.

Can you pack in and cache water the weekend before your hunt? That’s how we used to do it so that we didn’t have to carry all of our water in with our gear.

 

[Lock3]

How are you carrying your water currently? In the pack, on the pack, number of bladders or bags etc..

I carry:

1. a 6 liter hydrapak (filled with 4.5 liters because it's flatter) in the bladder pocket
2. a 4 liter hydrapak sandwiched under the lid
3. a 1.5 liter nalgene in the hipbelt pocket.

I have a 3 liter hydrapak in the car and I chug a full 1.5 nalgene before I start the climb.

 

[Lock3]

Can you pack in and cache water the weekend before your hunt? That’s how we used to do it so that we didn’t have to carry all of our water in with our gear.

Hard for me to get there during the week with my job so I'd need to dig 18+ inches the weekend before to keep the containers out of the sun. The temps can vary wildly from below freezing to 85 degrees in the same week.

I don't really want to carry a shovel with me during the hunt.

 

[Lock3]

Why not as big of a water bag as you’re willing to carry in the load shelf, and then whatever size bag suits your needs otherwise stil suits your needs?

It’s heaviest densest thing you’ll pack. Stick it in the shelf. You may have to double bag it in something that helps retain shape.

What do you use to keep shape? I tried this but the thing flops around like a fish and I don't want to sandwich the hydrapaks so hard they burst.

 

[199p]

Farmers carry in 5gal in each hand, bonus points your will have amazing grip strength 2 weeks after when your hands recover

 

[jzeblaz]

Hey Guys - I have the unfortunate luck of hunting in an area of California with the only water sources live at the bottom of a vertical cliff. As a result, I have to pack in my own water for the entire trip to avoid a crushing climb.

I currently have a K4 3600 (which I love), but it is almost always at maximum capacity (volume) for overnights. I'm starting to push my luck on the 3600 with 2 night; 3 day trips (which require 10 liters of water). I will be hunting bear into the late season and am trying to figure out what to do next since I'm topping out the volume on my 3600. Not only does the area I'm in not have available water, the temps also swing from 20 to 75 (so I'm carrying extra clothes).

Would you guys suggest the K4 5000 or the K4 7200? My trips are primarily 2 nights; 3 days and I like to keep things tight if I can, but I don't want to run into the same problem I have with the K4 3600.

* Before you mention it, I already looked at the Terratorn. While I love the design, I have to wade through walls of thorny chaparral here in sunny California and the Terratorn is wide AF -- not going to work for this environment.

How bad is that climb? Packing in that much water could be worse. We have a similar setup where water is scarce early season, so we pack in enough water to set camp and then go make water and haul it back up to our camp. It sucks, but it'd probably suck less than packing 25lbs. of water in? Our water trip is about a mile to the water and a mile uphill to return it. We've broken it up in recently years and done lighter loads which are easier, but still a pain. These are K3 4800 and 6400s, but our trips are longer, like 6 nights.

Load shelf is where my mind went if you're hellbent on bringing that much water in. With it that cold, your gear is probably bulkier and heavier than the earlier season. Good luck on the hunt!

 

[Lock3]

How bad is that climb? Packing in that much water could be worse. We have a similar setup where water is scarce early season, so we pack in enough water to set camp and then go make water and haul it back up to our camp. It sucks, but it'd probably suck less than packing 25lbs. of water in? Our water trip is about a mile to the water and a mile uphill to return it. We've broken it up in recently years and done lighter loads which are easier, but still a pain. These are K3 4800 and 6400s, but our trips are longer, like 6 nights.

Load shelf is where my mind went if you're hellbent on bringing that much water in. With it that cold, your gear is probably bulkier and heavier than the earlier season. Good luck on the hunt!

It's worse than hiking 25 lbs of water in. Both because it's a crazy incline on loose rock / sand and also because the water looks like alien species are growing in it.

 

[mtnbound]

I carry:

1. a 6 liter hydrapak (filled with 4.5 liters because it's flatter) in the bladder pocket
2. a 4 liter hydrapak sandwiched under the lid
3. a 1.5 liter nalgene in the hipbelt pocket.

I have a 3 liter hydrapak in the car and I chug a full 1.5 nalgene before I start the climb.

I would throw on another Nalgene pocket on the other hip belt side for starters.
I have been able to put 2 bladders into the bladder pocket of my K4 5000. One all the way at the bottom and the other kinda slides over it. It’s tight but it worked.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

What do you use to keep shape? I tried this but the thing flops around like a fish and I don't want to sandwich the hydrapaks so hard they burst.

Could use the crib panel, I believe it would work under the bag