Which pack??

[Justin Crossley]

Order the DT1 and cut the snow collar off. It's a better pack imo.

 

[NVCHUKAR]

DT1 42 circumference top opening, 30.5 bottom, and 31 tall without the snowcollar, DT2 41 top opening, 29 bottom, 29 tall. If 1 inch at the top and 1.5 at the bottom and 2 inches height is worth 40 bucks get the dt1. Its probably the economist in me but buying a dt1 just to cut the snow collar out is a waste of money. I would rather have a DT2 and a longhunter/xtl lid for 30 bucks more than a dt1 snow collar removed. Both are great packs and so is the exo. Be careful you might end up keeping both.

 

[spike camp]

Anyone else with input?

Might want to check out the return policy on KUIU and Stone Glacier.
Pretty sure you can buy,try, and return if you don't like...if you want to go through the process.
I had a Bikini. Nice,but not 100% what I want. Using a Stone Glacier Krux this year...feel better about it over the Bikini.
Maybe next year I will try something else like the Exo...maybe.
My girlfriend has a KUIU Ultra 3000 and it is a really nice system. She has been packing about 25# around for a few weeks on hikes. No issues and very comfortable.

 

[ltlacorn]

I'll have my EXO by August 8th. Meeting up with Marc next week to look at his EXO and his Kifaru. After I look at both I will decide if I want to order Kifaru or not. Thanks everyone for your input and information.

 

[Bmcox86]

You won't be disappointed with your EXO

 

[beetlespin]

Pm sent, I have a Kuiu and like it. I live in Green Bay as well

 

[fulldraw1972]

I havent tried on an EXO yet but I am thinking about getting one for my shorter trips.
As far as getting a DT2, I wouldnt. If your going to get a Timberline series pack I would go with a T1. A DT2 and EXo are ruffly the same size. If you went up to a T1 size pack then your in the 7200 range. Like said above you can cut off the snow collar, the sleeping bag divider, etc. After trimming off unwanted parts on my T1 I am in the 5 lb range for a 7200 pack.
I have a Timberline 1 and love it. I went from an ILBE pack to my Kifaru and its night and day different. My workouts are with ruffly 60 lbs in them and the pack feels good.

 

[ltlacorn]

My EXO has arrived. Now to start playing with it!!!

 

[Pronghunter]

Stone Glacier or EXO and be done. Kifaru's are nice, but the EXo will easlily hang with them and save you lots of $$$$$. I retired my Kifaru.

 

[ltlacorn]

I was able to give my EXO a test on my Wyoming Elk hunt. It carried the weight very nicely. Comfort was good. My only complaint was lack of separate compartments for organizing my gear. I know its a personal thing but I would prefer a few more organizational compartments for when using as a day pack. I'm thinking of selling the EXO and looking for another option for next year.

 

[Manosteel]

If you are looking for an ultra light pack you are going to sacrifice pockets, that just the way it is. Try using kifaru pull-out pouches or silnylon bags for organization you might find that you like it.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

Stone Glacier or EXO and be done. Kifaru's are nice, but the EXo will easlily hang with them and save you lots of $$$$$. I retired my Kifaru.

I see this sentiment a lot so I'm not singling you out, but there is not a huge difference in price. The exo runs $499, a bikini and Highcamp runs $601, or $561 with the aluminum frame.
I know you can run different bags etc but your usually looking at most like $150 difference comparing apples. Stone Glacier is generally even closer in price.

 

[ltlacorn]

I have more time looking for a pack for next year. I was kinda in a hurry and read good things about the EXO. I liked the EXO other than the way I'm use to organizing my gear it didn't work great for me. I guess given more time to play and add some accessory pouches it would be fine. I have a year before I will need a pack so I can take my time and save some extra $$ if needed.

 

[kodiakfly]

I got an EMRII this year, for just the reasons you mentioned- use as a day pack or a load hauler. I have a Barney's too and had a custom bag made for it that packs down to nothing, but it's still a bulky frame. My EMRII does pack down to nothing and has a low profile and it's pockets, options and expanded size are incredible. I carry it on a Duplex frame and I've had 50 lbs it and it carries like a champ. More expensive, but I really think it's the do it all pack.

 

[kickemall]

I have more time looking for a pack for next year. I was kinda in a hurry and read good things about the EXO. I liked the EXO other than the way I'm use to organizing my gear it didn't work great for me. I guess given more time to play and add some accessory pouches it would be fine. I have a year before I will need a pack so I can take my time and save some extra $$ if needed.

I saw that you asked a question about a Kuiu Icon Pro that is in the classifieds. That pack has a ton of pockets for the organization your looking for and its listed at a very good price (not affiliated with seller). It compresses down great for a day pack and is easy to pack a bow or rifle without add ons. Good luck in your search.

 

[Itsnotthatfar]

Arc'Teryx Altra 65... not a hunting brand but my friend has one and it packs a true load, very rugged and is sooooo much lighter than my MR 6500. I can't argue the comfort and durability of my MR but the Arc'Teryx is so much lighter that I will be looking at a mountaineering pack next time.

 

[Scot E]

My buddy hunted with the new Kuiu 6000 this fall and I got a lot of time to look at it and compare it to my SG. FWIW, I don't think those bags are in the same league. It is a nice bag but I can't imagine it is going to hold up over the long term or to sustained weights like SG will. I wasn't impressed with the seams or zippers for sure. And I'm a big Kuiu fan. Just not sure this one fits the majority of their other products.

I love my SG pack! Couldn't be happier! Exo's weren't out when I bought my SG but if I were doing it today I would likely be looking at SG, Exo, and then Kifaru. I love the UL weight of SG though and all the performance and durability that comes with it. Not sure I could find another brand that matches what I look for in a pack.

Scot

 

[Screamrider]

In the past year I've owned and used a Kifaru Bikini T1, Kuiu Icon Pro 1850, and Exo 3500......

I now only own the Exo. I can't ask for anything more in a pack, it's as close to a perfect "do-everything" pack that I've come across and I have no complaints.

 

[greyghostnw]

exo has been a great pack. packed a bear and deer so far. have had zero shoulder pain, has kept the weight on my hips such as a kifaru. i like things about both, the kifaru had maybe better load lifters but not by much just wider straps wich i thought were easier to pull tight but the exos' get tight and do there job just a small observation. the exo feels better overall to me and my body. the duplex felt long and wide, never could get it to fit right. the exo fits me better and riders better on my back. the exo is far more simple and straight forward, easy to adjust. little things like the hip pouch design steve used is the best i have seen yet. i do wish the exo top lid was a fuzz larger though. good luck.....

 

[fredmb]

I had the Just One pack and it faired pretty well, but man was it heavy. Not really a backcountry pack. Some of the pockets seemed kinda funky as well, not really big enough to hold some important stuff (like a Nalgene) but to big for others. It didn't carry overly well either. I know I said it was a decent pack, aside from those negatives I pointed out it's pretty nice. I'm currently using the Kuiu Icon 5200. I was nervous at first, the material is thinner than my worn out underwear. I wan't sure it would stay together. I beat the hell out of it this season and I can't say enough good things about it! The pockets for organization work flawlessly. The one negative thing is that the zippers can be quite loud. Hope this helps!