Performance, comfort, and durability.
When it comes to pack systems for backcountry or mountain hunting, performance, comfort, and durability are paramount — and that all starts with the frame. We have spent the past 3+ years reimagining, developing, and testing what is now the all-new K4 Frame.
Total Weight
2lb, 15oz
Load Rating
150+ Pounds
Frame Structure
Custom Carbon Fiber
Built in the USA with Squadron material, carbon fiber stays, and premium foams...
Materials & Production Details »Real World Reviews
I purchased my K4 3600 system a couple months back. They shipped it to be in Qatar, where I live and work. Super fast shipping. I trained with it for 6 weeks with up to 80 lbs in the back. Super strong and well built system. Improvement over my Kuiu icon pro. I flew to CO for my week long elk hunt, and used this pack every day in the mountains. Absolutely loved it! 2- miles a day hiking up and down hill at 10-11k elevation. Unfortunately, I didn't get an animal this trip, but I still used this pack hard every day with 30-40 lbs at times. I'm 6-1, 215 lb with a long torso. I used the large belt, with 25" frame with rifle straps, and it worked perfectly. no hot spots, no sore back. My bladder leaked one day, but the water resistant bladder pocket did its job and kept the rest of the pack and me dry. I used the pack almost every day to sit on and glass, and it held up great. Only thing I think could be improved are to add another zipper on the hood/lid large pocket. I kept finding the zipper on the bottom somehow, and it would be nice to have one zipper on the opposite end just in case you find yourself with your bag upside down or flipped over. Very happy customer. I also wish that Exo could release a toddler carrying system for the off season/training/vacation. I (and others judging from the comments on YouTube videos) would use this all the time! The baby and toddler carrying options out there are vastly inferior to this shoulder and belt system.
I purchased the standalone frame to replace an old Dana Designs K2 frame that I wore out. I have put many miles on the new frame this year training and hunting elk and deer and I absolutely love it. It's incredibly comfortable, lightweight, and adaptable for use with a variety bags for different types of hunts. I've used it for everything from day hunting to a 9-day hunt in the mountains.
I own both a K3 and the new K4. The redesign of the hip belt shape from the K3 keeps my K4 pack from slipping down my hips. On the K3 I had to purchase the lumbar kit to help mitigate this issue. Another upgrade from the K3 to the K4 is the molle attachments. Way more options for attaching accessories to the K4. The K3 is awesome but the K4 is definitely an upgrade.
Best pack I’ve ever used well worth the money.
Ok, I'll admit...I made several mistakes prior to just biting the bullet and paying a little extra for a true quality pack like my new Exo K4. It was my ignorant comments like "Chevy, Ford, Toyota, Ram, they're all still in business because they are all equal quality." With backcountry backpacks, this is not the case.
The pack I had prior to the K4 was one of those rigid, exposed aluminum frame modular packs that starts with EB (I won't say the full name cuz I'm not a guy who throws mud). The EB pack I had was the most expensive pack I'd purchased but was still less expensive the the K4 even after purchasing a few of their accessories. At first glance, the pack frame seemed extremely solid, the pack and accessories seemed quality and I was convinced that I'd be the most comfortable guy in my hunting group once we started packing heavy weight....again, I was wrong. To keep this review somewhat short, the EB pack lacked the adjustability I needed, the shoulder straps and hip belt material felt like razorblades after just minutes with a 85lb load and when I called the company in the off-season to get some general fitment questions answered, the guy on the other end of the line made me feel like a jack-ass and like I was wasting his time. After this happened, I purchased an EXO hip belt and modified it to work with my EB frame, the hip belt solved a few fitment questions, was no doubt more comfortable but it was clear that anything over 40#'s wasn't going to work.
Long story short, 5 out of 5 guys in our backcountry group are not rocking the EXO K3 or K4 and we no longer get aggravated at mile 6 or 7 with the need for pack adjustments or long breaks. For most guys in my group, money isn't really a question when they buy hunting gear, for me, I've got a couple young kids who like name brand shoes and play every damn sport available to them and my wife likes to get her hair, nails and shopping taken care of. This leaves me with whatever is left over after making them my priority haha. I finally bit the bullet, sold my old pack and splurged a little to INVEST in the K4 pack and I do not regret it at all.
IF you're in the market for an amazing pack system and appreciate quality products AND customer service, give these guys a call, check out their youtube videos or shoot them an email, you won't be disappointed! (P.S. I recommend giving them a call...It was the experience I had on the phone with one of their techs that solidified my decision to buy from EXO.)
Any thoughts about building panniers for pack goats?....I'd be the first to buy them haha.