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

[addicted]

Just sold my SG and loved it for a long time.  My only issue ever was I busted one of the carbon supports in the frame. There are 4 carbon poles in the frame which makes it so light.  This year I had packed loaded with probably more weight than I should of and was trying to pull the bag over the frame and i snapped one of the carbon poles, luckily it was easy hiking back out for a little under a mile.  They replaced it for free no questions asked and the pack continued to work nicely, just dont try to bend those carbon poles too far.

Made the switch to Kifaru but I have not had the chance to play with it yet.

Tried to pull the bag over the frame?

[ian_padron]

Did you have the Krux or X-Curve frame on your SG?

I've heard of the Krux slipping like you mentioned, X-Curve is like a dang clamp though!

Just received a MR Popup 28 and I thought I would throw a little review on here. I also own a SG talus and a MR 3 day assault pack. I am currently on deployment so the testing that I have done is very limited but here is the initial impression.

Out of the box the bag was a little smaller than I expected. It is roughly the size of an average backpack with a heavy duty frame and shoulder/ waist straps. This was actually a relief since I made the purchase for extended day trips with the possibility of loading a few days of supplies in the load shelf and being able to have essentially a day pack while hunting from camp and have the ability to pack an animal out. It fits that bill perfectly.

Quality- You certainly get what you pay for. Stitching looks immaculate and the frame and straps certainly look like they could hold up to some pretty heavy pack weights.

Popup function- I was worried that this is where the bag would get gimmicky and the aluminum poles in the back would not hold up to the hype. They did seem pretty sturdy though. The biggest plus here was that it took about 30 seconds to convert this from a pretty small pack to the "Popup" setting for hauling a load. It is an extremely efficient and quick design.

Load hauling- I haven't had the opportunity yet to put it through its paces but I grabbed a sand bag and put in the load shelf area and did 3 miles at a relatively moderate pace. The area I am at is flat.... like extremely flat. This is where it really shined. There was no slipping from the waist strap. The load did not move an inch. The pop up function did exactly what it was designed to do and took the weight completely off my shoulders. It was extremely comfortable and VERY compact. As of right now I no longer have concerns as to whether the aluminum poles will hold up. They seemed very sturdy. I didn't weigh the load until after I was done figuring it was around 50lbs and was shocked to see the overall load was just under 80lbs. The bag handled it phenomenally and it felt like a much lighter load. I have no doubt it could handle a larger load and still perform

Overall, my opinion MR knocked it out of the park with this bag. It will do exactly what I have purchased it for. In comparison to my SG I think they are both top of the line bags however the MR seems to fit me better and there is 0 slippage off the waist which was a problem I had last year on a extended archery elk hunt with my SG.

Sent from my LG-H872 using Tapatalk

[bulldogs40]

Yes I have the krux frame so maybe that is th isue

Did you have the Krux or X-Curve frame on your SG?

I've heard of the Krux slipping like you mentioned, X-Curve is like a dang clamp though!

[jwfaber1]

I'll throw my two-cents in quick.

I'm a brand-spanking new hunter at 29 years old, and my wife and parents just pooled to buy buy me a Exo 3500 this past fall. I didn't think it'd be wise to try to carry awkward meat loads in my Osprey, and I'd been drooling over a Exo pack for a while now. Never used a bespoke hunting pack before, but I've used several mountaineering/backpacking packs over the years. I haven't gone on a backcountry hunt yet (first one will be this fall), but I've used the Exo on a couple overnight trips and one 4-day backpack trip in Alaska and I can easily say it blows all of the mountaineering packs I've used out of the water. I'll be getting rid of my Osprey and using the Exo as my everything pack from now on.

It's ridiculously comfortable, light enough, and I can tell after having 40-45 lbs in it, that it would carry 90 lbs exactly the same as it would 40 (it'd just be heavier...obviously), whereas if I were to try to go over 40 lbs in a mountaineering pack, I'd be having a bad day. It's also clearly tougher and will outlast any of the mountaineering packs out there. It can easily compress down to be a nice day pack too. I have no doubt this pack will last me a very long time.

I do wish it had a bit more smaller compartments, or some pockets on the hip-belt for quick access to the items I need regularly, but those can all be added on as accessories for cheap. 

I don't know how it compares to Kifaru, Mystery Ranch, Kuiu, etc, but I would guess that you can't go wrong with most of them. That said, I highly recommend the Exo. I know it's pricey, but given how long it will last and how well it performs, I think it's well worth it.

-Justin

[2MANY]

Buy a Ray Holes.

[Wolfdog2314]

Had a Kuiu icon pro pack, after seeing my buddies exo and testing it out I switched to the Exo 3500 and never looked back. I highly recommend it.

They have some new updates and bag types coming this summer from what I hear. A big bag, 7000 or so. And a 4800 or so. Incorperating a horseshoe zip. Lighter frame. *** if I remember correctly.

[addicted]

Had a Kuiu icon pro pack, after seeing my buddies exo and testing it out I switched to the Exo 3500 and never looked back. I highly recommend it.

They have some new updates and bag types coming this summer from what I hear. A big bag, 7000 or so. And a 4800 or so. Incorperating a horseshoe zip. Lighter frame. *** if I remember correctly.

The 3500 is already a 4200 and the 5500 is around 7000. The new frame sucks for all the guys that were expecting to stay compatible

[D-Rock425]

I just ordered the new kifaru hoodlum today.

[DWP]

I have had 3 of the top tier packs:
Kifaru, Mystery Ranch, and Seek Outside.
The only issue I had with the Kifaru was it would need consistent adjustment of the hip belt when loaded over 70#s or so. Nothing crazy, it just seemed to slip a bit consistently when loaded up.

The Mystery Ranch I have is a Dragonslayer. It isn't a big pack, but it is my favorite small pack I have ever used. I can do a 2 nighter if needed, but if hauling meat I would switch to a different pack. I have also spent a good amount of time under a Crew Cab. It is a bombproof pack that excels at a lot of things , but there are better load haulers out there (lack of lifters).

My Seek Outside Goshawk has been great so far. I have had 60#s in it a few times on the trail and it rides and carries beautifully. Honestly I was skeptical of the thinner hip belt and other ways that it is constructed, but it has been great. It carries like a dream as a daypack too.  I highly recommend the SO Revolution system.

I am pretty sure that I would have tried a Stone Glacier pack if I didn't like my SO.

You have gotten some great info so far. Find as many packs as you can and try them out. As said before different packs suit different bodies. 

We are fortunate to have quite a few excellent pack makers to choose from: Kifaru, MR, Exo, Stone Glacier, SO, etc...   If you order one from any of these companies and run it for a few trips and don't like it you can sell it for a minimal loss and move on, it's not like a high end hunting pack loses value like a car does!!!

I live in Issaquah, if you want to try my SO pack you are more than welcome.

Derrek
Cell: 4258904714

[mburrows]

Just sold my SG and loved it for a long time.  My only issue ever was I busted one of the carbon supports in the frame. There are 4 carbon poles in the frame which makes it so light.  This year I had packed loaded with probably more weight than I should of and was trying to pull the bag over the frame and i snapped one of the carbon poles, luckily it was easy hiking back out for a little under a mile.  They replaced it for free no questions asked and the pack continued to work nicely, just dont try to bend those carbon poles too far.

Made the switch to Kifaru but I have not had the chance to play with it yet.

Tried to pull the bag over the frame?

Was using the meat shelf and it was loaded down with meat, the bag was also loaded down with meat and I was attaching the bag back to the frame.

[addicted]

Just sold my SG and loved it for a long time.  My only issue ever was I busted one of the carbon supports in the frame. There are 4 carbon poles in the frame which makes it so light.  This year I had packed loaded with probably more weight than I should of and was trying to pull the bag over the frame and i snapped one of the carbon poles, luckily it was easy hiking back out for a little under a mile.  They replaced it for free no questions asked and the pack continued to work nicely, just dont try to bend those carbon poles too far.

Made the switch to Kifaru but I have not had the chance to play with it yet.

Tried to pull the bag over the frame?

Was using the meat shelf and it was loaded down with meat, the bag was also loaded down with meat and I was attaching the bag back to the frame.

With the frame pockets on the bag?

[Smokey Bear]

Had a Kuiu icon pro pack, after seeing my buddies exo and testing it out I switched to the Exo 3500 and never looked back. I highly recommend it.

They have some new updates and bag types coming this summer from what I hear. A big bag, 7000 or so. And a 4800 or so. Incorperating a horseshoe zip. Lighter frame. *** if I remember correctly.

The 3500 is already a 4200 and the 5500 is around 7000. The new frame sucks for all the guys that were expecting to stay compatible

This post has been a great read as I am also looking to invest in a high-end pack.  Last summer traveling through Idaho I stopped at Exo and tried the 3500 with 45lbs in it.  No hiking but had it on my back for about 45 minutes walking around the store and talking with the guys and it didn't even feel like it was there!  Last hunting season I used an Osprey Atmos 65 with a Horn Hunter daypack attached, weighing in at 50 lbs. and I wouldn't suggest it. 

I have tried MR and Tenzing but they didn't fit as well as the Exo.  This spring Exo is "re-naming" some of their packs to be closer to actual size.  I think the lineup will be something like:  2200, 3200, 4200, 4800, 6000   The 3200 and 4800 bags will be new this year.  Exo told me they expect the 4800 bag and frame will come in under 5 lbs. 

I have backpacked my whole life and every ounce counts!  I am 47 end not getting any younger, so if I am going to be carrying camp on my back I will be going as light as possible.  "Ounces = Pounds, Pounds = Pain"

[stlusn30-06]

I have had 3 of the top tier packs:
Kifaru, Mystery Ranch, and Seek Outside.
The only issue I had with the Kifaru was it would need consistent adjustment of the hip belt when loaded over 70#s or so. Nothing crazy, it just seemed to slip a bit consistently when loaded up.

The Mystery Ranch I have is a Dragonslayer. It isn't a big pack, but it is my favorite small pack I have ever used. I can do a 2 nighter if needed, but if hauling meat I would switch to a different pack. I have also spent a good amount of time under a Crew Cab. It is a bombproof pack that excels at a lot of things , but there are better load haulers out there (lack of lifters).

My Seek Outside Goshawk has been great so far. I have had 60#s in it a few times on the trail and it rides and carries beautifully. Honestly I was skeptical of the thinner hip belt and other ways that it is constructed, but it has been great. It carries like a dream as a daypack too.  I highly recommend the SO Revolution system.

I am pretty sure that I would have tried a Stone Glacier pack if I didn't like my SO.

You have gotten some great info so far. Find as many packs as you can and try them out. As said before different packs suit different bodies. 

We are fortunate to have quite a few excellent pack makers to choose from: Kifaru, MR, Exo, Stone Glacier, SO, etc...   If you order one from any of these companies and run it for a few trips and don't like it you can sell it for a minimal loss and move on, it's not like a high end hunting pack loses value like a car does!!!

I live in Issaquah, if you want to try my SO pack you are more than welcome.

Derrek
Cell: 4258904714

Appreciate that offer. Still doing research, but will reach out if SO makes it to the finals. Thanks!