The pluses and the minuses - Exo, Kifaru, StoneGlacier, Mystery Ranch etc...?

[milldozer]

I would recommend against an Eberlestock pack, though one may fit your build better than mine.  In my experience any sustained meat hauling with an Eberlestock turned into a lesson in torture.

I run an Exo 3500 now and it is a much, much better ride.

[JeffRaines]

Pack construction and body types are so different - case in point: I have a SG that I love. It’s the Sky 5100, they no longer make it(or the original krux frame that I have). I’ve been running that for a few years and a couple months ago the Saker from Seek Outside caught my eye. I decided to give it a try... and while I’m in love with the pack bag itself, the frame leaves something to be desired. I was reading reviews before I bought it from folks who moved from SG to SO and loved the pack and it was awesome and all that. For me, the Seek frame is comfortable to about 50lbs. Beyond that, it starts to hurt my hips/legs. The Stone Glacier frame will carry 70lbs and make it “disappear”. This is all I’ve had in it.

I also tried the Kuiu Ultra and while it was okay, it didn’t carry the weight like my SG does.

If it were me I wouldn’t waste my money on Eberlestock/big box store brands. Not to say you can’t find a comfortable pack from those manufacturers!

A lot of the higher end packs are nearly infinitely adjustable - you can get the frame working for you... but like the SO frame, there comes a point where a design is just at its limits for your body type. I think the issue with the SO is the hip belt padding isn’t all that thick, and it ends up riding and putting a ton of pressure on my butt. I’m also kinda skinny, so that doesn’t help matters.

In short, all of the high end packs will work. Order one, walk around the house with 50-60lbs. If it carries well, then good. If you can’t get it, send it back and try another until it does work.

[actionshooter]

One thing to remember with pack discussions is the fast majority of folks have only ever used one upper end pack and it's always the greatest because that's what they have :chuckle:then take into consideration that a good portion of the ones who have used multiple, dont have them adjusted correctly  

But, But, But..... mine is the best b/c its the one I picked and it works ok for me....

[Stein]

I have an Exo and it isn't perfect.  Fairly close but not perfect.  I don't think any of them are perfect and I spend more time trying to figure out how to get 80 pounds in it than I do wondering about the latest and greatest 2019 models.  At the end of the day it is a pack.

[actionshooter]

I will add that I like mine

I have had great luck with Mystery Ranch, they carry great for me with heavy loads but they are heavier than a lot of the other high end brands.
 My go to for heavy loads is a MR 7000ci

I needed to go lighter so I tried out a Stone Glacier Sky Talus 6900 and have been happy with it, modular and carries weight well up to about 75# (for me)

I have tried the Large badlands pack (don't remember the model) hated it …. super uncomfortable… to me.

Tried a  Kifaru, didn't work for me, not enough adjustment, I'm 6'-05" 270#, otherwise I think its a good pack.

 

[dhjnesommer]

I'm not too worried about weight going in +or- a few pounds. I think the light weight pack obsession us a bit overrated as you will be hopefully packing out the biggest animal you can find. How many pass on the biggest animal and go for the smallest, lightweight one?  If it can haul a big load and is comfortable, go for it. If you are just hiking, go lightweight.

[The scout]

I’m far from an expert but I have used all the packs you mentioned at one point or another. There is not a perfect pack that I have found. I think exo has the most comfortable frame but not necessarily the best bag, but that’s for my needs not, so you may think it’s great. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them. They should all have a little over view video that showes you all the pockets and features. That would be where I would start looking.

[JeffRaines]

I'm not too worried about weight going in +or- a few pounds. I think the light weight pack obsession us a bit overrated as you will be hopefully packing out the biggest animal you can find. How many pass on the biggest animal and go for the smallest, lightweight one?  If it can haul a big load and is comfortable, go for it. If you are just hiking, go lightweight.

Understandable, but I cant imagine that any pack with 150lbs is going to be considered comfortable, regardless of how it felt with 50 in it.

With that said, I'm going to be carrying the extra weight of the pack day in day out, during scouting, etc, while I am "just hiking"... so I'd opt for a lighter weight pack within reason. I'm not going to sacrifice load carrying ability to lose a few ounces, but you're not going to catch me with a 7+lb pack when a 5lb pack will do the same work. 

[Magnum_Willys]

A good padded waist belt works wonders.  As you get older keeping pack weight down for camp hikes is important. Trying to stay below 40# its nice to save 3# on a lighter pack if it works. 

[addicted]

All of them are tough built with 500d cordura with lifetime guarantees so that's a wash.

Mystery ranch- heavy, load gets too far from body, narrow waist belt, torpedo pockets make bag bigger than it has to be, shoulder straps only adjustable for height instead of broad narrow or sloped shoulders
Positive----built in load sling, locking buckles, lid turns into fanny pack, bottom entry, goes on sale

Exo negative--- not many bag options, no fitted rain fly, some compain that it doesn't ride well as a day pack, no sales, back ordered

Positives---- descent weight, dry bag compatible if you like that sort of thing,

Stone glacier positive---- load is very close to body, shoulder straps very adjustable, straight or curved frame, best rifle holder, lightest rain fly, lots of bag options, lots of accessory options, very light 5100ci = 4lbs, built in load sling

Negatives, no sales

Kifaru negative--- a tad heavy 5000ci = 5lb 10oz, wierd pocket configuration

Positive---- lots of bags, lots of accessory

Kuiu negative, --- frame tends to loose bag stability over 6000ci, very technical fitting

Positive, the lightest, lots of bag options, plenty of accessories, packs tiny, lots of used packs for cheap, semi-annual sales

[Crunchy]

I like my KUIU 3200.  Big enough if I were to do a 2-4 day hunt bivy style.  It will carry a heavy load, and no matter what pack you have there is no magical pack that will make carry 100 pounds comfy.  So you just suck it up.  I also prefer a pack that isnt so big that I cannot sneak through the woods with it on.  squeezing between trees and brush quietly.  The diff between 2-3 days in the woods and a week is food.  Compression sacks work wonders for clothing and sleeping bag.  So a 3200 would be as small as you want to go.

[zwickeyman]

Great advice on here so far
*everyone's bodys are different
*everyone's needs are different

Try to borrow different packs from friends, stick 30# in them and take them for a serious hike. If that pack works well, put 60# in it and take another good hike. If it still is working for you put 90# and once again take a good hike. If it isn't uncomfortable and the bag has options you like 

IMHO puting 60# in a pack and walking around your house or a store isn't good enough. I have had packs feel great under load for the first 15 minutes then start giving me issues after a while " KUIU for example " You need some real world time in it.


Real world " Meat " I have had 130 + # in an Eberlstock, 120+# in a Stone Glacier, 110=# in a Kifaru, 100+# in a KUIU, 110+# in an EXO and none were great but thats because you are carrying 100# through the mountains for many miles.


I have owned Kifaru, Stone Glacier, Eberlstock, EXO, KUIU and various external meat packers. Right now I have what I think is the best for me, An EXO frame with a Kifaru Nomad bag on it and love it


Good luck on your search

[Tim in Wa.]

Hi All,

New to the community and thought I'd lob a question over the bow. I went back a couple of years here in the Backcountry board and didn't see a general discussion about what pack, what size and why. May be this topic has been exhausted to death in another area. If so please point me in the right direction. If not, what do you guys like and why? How many days you usually going into the BC for? AVG weight for that trip? What size pack do you bring for that? What brand and why has that frame system worked well? You packing a bow or rifle? Setting up a base camp or bivy hunting with a loaded pack on your back all day? Really looking to get a detailed breakdown of what pack systems work well, what they work well for, and why that brand pack pulls it off. Not just a "can't go wrong with insert brand name "

Should probably also describe build as that will have an impact on what fits well for certain folks. I'm 5'11 173, medium build.

To kick it off my top contender right now is the Exo 5500. Will be doing 2-7 day trips and can't afford two packs. Figure I'll go bigger and take advantage of how well they compress down. Pack should come in between 35 and 65 pounds depending on trip length. I like the idea of the flexibility and range of movement they have created with their frame which is why I'm headed that way. Still need to actually try it on and compare with others before forking over that kind of cash. Hence why I'm looking for your guidance. Thanks in advance!

Trust your first instinct,Exo makes a great pack

[JeffRaines]

Also, don't overlook a custom option or adaptation. If you find a frame that works, you can have a bag built for said frame(or adapted to) for not as much as you think.


I'm likely going to end up doing that with my SO Saker bag to my SG frame. I know fillthefreezer has a custom bag altogether I believe.

[Jpmiller]

I like my KUIU 3200.  Big enough if I were to do a 2-4 day hunt bivy style.  It will carry a heavy load, and no matter what pack you have there is no magical pack that will make carry 100 pounds comfy.  So you just suck it up.  I also prefer a pack that isnt so big that I cannot sneak through the woods with it on.  squeezing between trees and brush quietly.  The diff between 2-3 days in the woods and a week is food.  Compression sacks work wonders for clothing and sleeping bag.  So a 3200 would be as small as you want to go.

I didn't ever think about this until I bought my latest pack. I noticed about halfway through the first day out how much easier it was to move around and to do it quietly because the bag doesn't stick out beyond my shoulders or above my head.