Which pack ?!?! MR/Kifaru/exo

[Duckslayer89]

Yes I did. It's awesome.

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NICE man. It's way better then my bikini was. The straps are thicker so they spread the weight out better. Softer padding on the back too

[7mag.]

I agree.

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[buglebrush]

Planning to pull the trigger on an Exo 3500.  For me big load capability and room for 3-7 day trips combined with function and comfort as a day pack is my goal.  Currently running a badlands 2200.  Would love to hear more discussion on this.  Personally am not impressed with Kifarus system.  Love their frames, but not the pack bags, and meat between the bag and frame is really important for me.  Remember most of my packs use will be day hunts or overnight bivy's

[Duckslayer89]

Planning to pull the trigger on an Exo 3500.  For me big load capability and room for 3-7 day trips combined with function and comfort as a day pack is my goal.  Currently running a badlands 2200.  Would love to hear more discussion on this.  Personally am not impressed with Kifarus system.  Love their frames, but not the pack bags, and meat between the bag and frame is really important for me.  Remember most of my packs use will be day hunts or overnight bivy's

Idk my DT1 is tough as nails with heavy duty zippers. Love the grab it for packing my bow in instead of carrying it. I use it for a day pack as well. I wouldn't want to go any smaller then the DT1 for any over nighters

[coop2424]

Planning to pull the trigger on an Exo 3500.  For me big load capability and room for 3-7 day trips combined with function and comfort as a day pack is my goal.  Currently running a badlands 2200.  Would love to hear more discussion on this.  Personally am not impressed with Kifarus system.  Love their frames, but not the pack bags, and meat between the bag and frame is really important for me.  Remember most of my packs use will be day hunts or overnight bivy's

Get the 5500 if your going with Exo not much weight penalty and you will like the extra room if going for 3-5 days.. I ran the Exo last year and stepped up to kifaru with dt1.  I don't think the two packs are in the same category frame or bags personally couldn't of been happier with my move..

[coop2424]

Both the Exo 5500 and even my dt1 compress down to pretty much the same as what the 3500 does..  I run mine in day mode most of time..

[buglebrush]

Planning to pull the trigger on an Exo 3500.  For me big load capability and room for 3-7 day trips combined with function and comfort as a day pack is my goal.  Currently running a badlands 2200.  Would love to hear more discussion on this.  Personally am not impressed with Kifarus system.  Love their frames, but not the pack bags, and meat between the bag and frame is really important for me.  Remember most of my packs use will be day hunts or overnight bivy's

Get the 5500 if your going with Exo not much weight penalty and you will like the extra room if going for 3-5 days.. I ran the Exo last year and stepped up to kifaru with dt1.  I don't think the two packs are in the same category frame or bags personally couldn't of been happier with my move..

Why would you say kifaru is so much better?  Not arguing just genuinely curious.  What part of it do you like that the exo doesn't have or do? 

And as far as the 5500 I know it compresses down, but I hate running a compressed pack.  I just don't like all that extra pack bag, and on the few times l need the space i will just drop a dry sack in the near shelf.  The 3500 is actually 7000 ci when run fully loaded.  The 5500 is also wider.  I am super minimal on gear, and almost exclusively hunt September for any of my overnight hunts as well.  Would reconsider if I was hunting in the colder months.   But this list is really due to my personal preferences.  I guess what I am really trying to find out is what other people's preferences and experiences led to their opinions.  Thanks for the feedback!

[deerslyr]

Planning to pull the trigger on an Exo 3500.  For me big load capability and room for 3-7 day trips combined with function and comfort as a day pack is my goal.  Currently running a badlands 2200.  Would love to hear more discussion on this.  Personally am not impressed with Kifarus system.  Love their frames, but not the pack bags, and meat between the bag and frame is really important for me.  Remember most of my packs use will be day hunts or overnight bivy's

Get the 5500 if your going with Exo not much weight penalty and you will like the extra room if going for 3-5 days.. I ran the Exo last year and stepped up to kifaru with dt1.  I don't think the two packs are in the same category frame or bags personally couldn't of been happier with my move..

Why would you say kifaru is so much better?  Not arguing just genuinely curious.  What part of it do you like that the exo doesn't have or do? 

And as far as the 5500 I know it compresses down, but I hate running a compressed pack.  I just don't like all that extra pack bag, and on the few times l need the space i will just drop a dry sack in the near shelf.  The 3500 is actually 7000 ci when run fully loaded.  The 5500 is also wider.  I am super minimal on gear, and almost exclusively hunt September for any of my overnight hunts as well.  Would reconsider if I was hunting in the colder months.   But this list is really due to my personal preferences.  I guess what I am really trying to find out is what other people's preferences and experiences led to their opinions.  Thanks for the feedback!

Kifaru is a whole different caliber of pack. The price and 3 week wait period reflect that. I have an exo FTR.

[coop2424]

Reasons I think kifaru is better and this is just my experience..  Materials in the two webbing and buckles kifaru uses a higher quality that is going to last a long long time..  Not saying that the Exo won't but I had two of their packs one being a year old I bought used and another being new..  That one year old bag I could start to see fabric breaking down in a couple of the webbing areas..  Was still completely useable but I have a feeling it will be an issue in the future..  Kifaru's waist belt is also more comfortable a tad wider and holds better than the Exo did..  Another thing that bugged the heck out of but didn't effect the performance other than poking me is the shoulder straps and waisted belt are made out of a mesh material that pine needles and other objects can get in between the mesh and the insulation and is a PIA to get out.. This only affected me once but it still sucked...   I can say that that the Exo is a great pack and I put them up there with the different brands but I just don't see them on the same level as kifaru yet..   There is a reason that kifaru is so dang expensive and a waiting list to get items and that they have been in business for 25 years..

[Smossy]

Options are great, it just takes a bit more research and knowing your exact needs. But the abiltiy to taylor to specific need is awesome. IMO.

The kifaru bag will separate from frame, but will need to be rigged to "expand" from the frame if that is your intent. I believe a couple of kifaru bags like the tahr may be factory setup this way, but most are not. I have not personally tried it because i have all the room I need for both meat and gear and am setup to run in bag, so prefer not to mess around with separating my bag from frame.

As far as bags go again its just options. I am currently  using the AMR, a guide lid and 2 belt pouches. This serves me perfect. But alot of other options are just as good. Simply depends on the bag style you prefer and how much room you need.

i would like to have the bigger bag, 7000 or more.  Both these brands shrink down if I'm not packing for 3 or more days in. I really want to keep my meat and gear separated, the stone sky shows a great video on how to operate the bag.  Thanks for info, keep it coming!

You and me both, I picked up the DT3 before I they stopped making them. Never thought Id need a big huge bag. After stuffing it full of pillows. I started kicking myself. Still a nice pack though.

[westside Elkhunter]

In regards a choice between an Exo Pack (3500 or 5500) and a Kifaru pack. . IMO If set on exo i would go the 5500. I have the 3500 and now wish i went with the 5500. The 3500 is a nice pack and i enjoy it. But wish i had a little more room at times. And now on to Kiafru. At the Portland sportsman show a couple years ago. they had some Kifaru packs there. So I chatted with Aron from Kifaru about some of there packs. So after a few minutes he let me try one of there packs. I think it was the mountain rambler with 80 pounds in it. So i walked around a bit with it. It fit really nice and very comfortable for me. After that i decided i would save up and get one. My kifaru frame pick would be the new Hunting frame and not sure on bag yet . But another one not to forget about is Stone Glacier. They have some good choices. I also really like the look of the new 6900 pack.
Good luck on your choice. Some days it feels over whelming what one to pick. All of them have some good videos on their packs and frames

[buglebrush]

In regards a choice between an Exo Pack (3500 or 5500) and a Kifaru pack. . IMO If set on exo i would go the 5500. I have the 3500 and now wish i went with the 5500. The 3500 is a nice pack and i enjoy it. But wish i had a little more room at times. And now on to Kiafru. At the Portland sportsman show a couple years ago. they had some Kifaru packs there. So I chatted with Aron from Kifaru about some of there packs. So after a few minutes he let me try one of there packs. I think it was the mountain rambler with 80 pounds in it. So i walked around a bit with it. It fit really nice and very comfortable for me. After that i decided i would save up and get one. My kifaru frame pick would be the new Hunting frame and not sure on bag yet . But another one not to forget about is Stone Glacier. They have some good choices. I also really like the look of the new 6900 pack.
Good luck on your choice. Some days it feels over whelming what one to pick. All of them have some good videos on their packs and frames

Thanks for the feedback.  I may learn the hard way, but I am pretty stuck on 3500.  Like I said it is predominately day hunts for me.  I live right in the area I hunt, and run out for lots of one and two day hunts.  If I did a 5-7 day every year I would go with the 5500, but it's just not what I do.  Also, an easy way to carry meat without putting it in the bag is super important since I always take a really heavy first load out.  I have researched this extensively, and do recognized that for hauling loads there simply is nothing better than Kifaru, but like I said for my situation 80% of the time I will only have day pack loads, and from what I can tell the EXO will be a huge upgrade from my Badlands 2200 for that first load out.  Keep them coming. 

[BULLBLASTER]

Why are you so set against putting meat in the bag? I use a mr nice 6500 for everything I do. Yesterday I had it loaded up at 130 lbs when hauling grain to fill my feeder. 2 trips in like that.
I also take as much as I can out with a first load and I just put it in the main bag.

[kentrek]

Seems like your on the rite track with packs, they all will fit the bill...but i can't speak highly enough about packing game bags with you....enough for the entire animal

[buglebrush]

Why are you so set against putting meat in the bag? I use a mr nice 6500 for everything I do. Yesterday I had it loaded up at 130 lbs when hauling grain to fill my feeder. 2 trips in like that.
I also take as much as I can out with a first load and I just put it in the main bag.

I don't like to get blood in my pack or on my gear.  Sometimes we go overnight, and just carry camp on our backs.  I have used garbage bags, and waterproof meat bags, but have still had leaking issues.   Also meat breathes so much better in game bags.  I have got out to the truck at midnight with all my gear and a buddies elk, and been back in the woods at first light the next morning.   Pretty hard to do that if you need to wash out your pack and off your gear.  Just a preference thing really.  I like not touching my pack and gear but just simply loading meat outside of the bag. 

Seems like your on the rite track with packs, they all will fit the bill...but i can't speak highly enough about packing game bags with you....enough for the entire animal

Totally agree.  Never leave an animal until it is completely boned, in bags, and hanging.