I had been debating between these two packs. Decided to go with the Exo K4 5K. I've been super happy with how it performs with day-to-day loads and then loaded up. Unfortunately, haven't had an animal in it yet, but my training hikes got up to 100lbs, and the K4 was rock solid stable and still comfortable. I've heard both companies offer excellent customer service and are happy to talk with folks to dial in performance. The team at Exo has certainly been great in steering me through a couple operator error moments. One thing that's cool about Exo, not sure if IA does this too, but they let you actually use the pack for a period of time and will still accept it as a return (assuming the person hasn't trashed it) if it's honestly not working out.
@seana7251 good to hear you are enjoying your Exo! They are great packs and yes, in my experience both have amazing customer service. Thanks for watching!
Great video. I've been thinking about these exact two packs. But I think I'll keep my K3 for now! Hopefully IA and Exo will listen to their customers and tweak their designs. Thanks
Hey man. Thanks for this review. I am planning on an initial ascent even though I toiled with the desire for the EXO. It's as if I wish I could mix the two and come up with a hybrid of them. Anyway, great review. Thanks, Mike
I switched from Exo to IA because Exo packs suffer from slippage under heavy loads (77lbs or so). IA has a better fit, allowing you to carry much more weight comfortably. Not to mention the noise that Exo packs make, which is unacceptable in my opinion. I choose IA also because of the full carbon fiber frame versus the Exo's rod system. It's true, the IA's side pocket system is worse than the Exo's, but I prefer that to a pack that suffers from slippage or makes noise, and believe me, IT MAKES NOISE.
@velvetvelvet7689 thanks for the feedback! I did have the K3 squeak on me a bit, so just put some wax on the frame between the material and that solved it. I've not had the K4 make any noise on me though yet. Not all pack fit everyone, but that 4 mile 128lb pack with the K4 was amazing and it didn't slip at all for me. I'm sure some body types it will slip though as packs are kinda like boots...gotta find one that fits well and is fitted well to you. Thanks for watching!
Excellent Review!!!! One question. How was the side to side movement under heavier loads if any? I'm about to buy one of this backpacks and the side to side stability would be my deciding factor . If you could elaborate on that I would appreciate . Thank You again. Awesome review
Thank you! Glad it was helpful. As for side to side stability, they were both fantastic there. I didn't experience any excess movement with either of them. If I was to pick one over the other though, I'd say the IA is slightly more stable due to it's wider platform/frame. That said, as I mentioned, I packed an entire deer plus gear (128lbs) with the Exo, which was a 4 mile, 1800 vertical trip, and I was beyond impressed with how it handled that load. With the IA, I did two hind quarters of the bull I killed this year, which was a huge load weighing in at 148 lbs. Not nearly as far of a pack out, but I couldn't believe how stable and comfortable that much weight was. I don't think you can go wrong with either if side to side stability is a deciding factor. Thanks for watching!
@carlos_2856 thanks! Hmm...the Seek Outside pack is a totally different design as they are going for ultra lightweight, and it is a much more complex design. For backcountry hunting purposes, I'd probably take the Mystery Ranch and Sitka Mountain Hauler over the Seek Outside. I personally found the Seek to be a bit too complex with the buckle styles and overall design. Great pack still though and handles loads well, particularly for how lightweight it is. Thanks for watching!
I have a mystery ranch Beartooth 80 and am thinking about buying a exo k4 pack I know you have tried both do you think it would be worth the money to buy the exo? Thanks
@larrylatshaw9904 hey there! IMHO, either of these packs are worth the upgrade as they carried heavy weight significantly better than the MR for me. Thanks for watching!
@ yeah I’m just thinking about reality for most people. Most people do a lot more of hiking with their pack bow or rifle way more often than they do with getting loads out.
@kevinmartin2096 that being said, when it comes time to haul a heavy load, you'll be glad you have a pack that does that well...and both of these certainly excel in that department!
@ yeah like you said, either of those packs can very easily haul more than we are comfortable with, which is why I prefer one that is easier to flex just under the day to day load
I disagree with what comfort is… mystery ranch was fantastic for me below 50lbs load. But as soon as I got to carrying 60lbs adding the rifle it was horrible. We now have Exo packs. A k4 and a k3 and both were fantastic this year up to 80lbs. In fact my son who is 140lbs carried 79lbs off the mountain with zero pack issues. I feel like it’s pretty easy to make a pack comfortable from 30-50lb load.
@greasemonkey4god yeah, moat good packs can comfortably carry 30-40 lbs very well. Maybe I didn't describe what i meant by "day to day comfort", in that I meant how each of these packs felt compared to each other with the same load (20-40ish lbs). In that regard, I felt the Exo provided a more comfortable experience. I've also had zero pack issues with the Exo K4 or this Inktial Ascent IA5k with loads up to 148lbs. I personally thought the K4 was a lot better at heavy loads (loads over that 80-90lb mark) than the K3. Thanks for watching!
@@BackwoodsPursuitafter I bought my k4 my son got jealous and ended up with a smoking deal on a k3. He is super happy with it. He went from a mystery ranch sawtooth. I hauled 4 animals total this year. I’m looking forward to carrying heavier next year!!!! Here’s to bloody, overloaded packs!!!
I had been debating between these two packs. Decided to go with the Exo K4 5K. I've been super happy with how it performs with day-to-day loads and then loaded up. Unfortunately, haven't had an animal in it yet, but my training hikes got up to 100lbs, and the K4 was rock solid stable and still comfortable. I've heard both companies offer excellent customer service and are happy to talk with folks to dial in performance. The team at Exo has certainly been great in steering me through a couple operator error moments. One thing that's cool about Exo, not sure if IA does this too, but they let you actually use the pack for a period of time and will still accept it as a return (assuming the person hasn't trashed it) if it's honestly not working out.
@seana7251 good to hear you are enjoying your Exo! They are great packs and yes, in my experience both have amazing customer service. Thanks for watching!
Great video. I've been thinking about these exact two packs. But I think I'll keep my K3 for now! Hopefully IA and Exo will listen to their customers and tweak their designs. Thanks
Thanks! I know they've both been good about that in the past. Thanks for watching!
Hey man. Thanks for this review. I am planning on an initial ascent even though I toiled with the desire for the EXO. It's as if I wish I could mix the two and come up with a hybrid of them. Anyway, great review. Thanks, Mike
@michaelmaggio5915 thanks Mike! Can't go wrong with either one, and I'm sure you'll love the IA! Thanks for watching!
I switched from Exo to IA because Exo packs suffer from slippage under heavy loads (77lbs or so). IA has a better fit, allowing you to carry much more weight comfortably. Not to mention the noise that Exo packs make, which is unacceptable in my opinion.
I choose IA also because of the full carbon fiber frame versus the Exo's rod system.
It's true, the IA's side pocket system is worse than the Exo's, but I prefer that to a pack that suffers from slippage or makes noise, and believe me, IT MAKES NOISE.
@velvetvelvet7689 thanks for the feedback! I did have the K3 squeak on me a bit, so just put some wax on the frame between the material and that solved it. I've not had the K4 make any noise on me though yet. Not all pack fit everyone, but that 4 mile 128lb pack with the K4 was amazing and it didn't slip at all for me. I'm sure some body types it will slip though as packs are kinda like boots...gotta find one that fits well and is fitted well to you. Thanks for watching!
Excellent Review!!!!
One question. How was the side to side movement under heavier loads if any?
I'm about to buy one of this backpacks and the side to side stability would be my deciding factor .
If you could elaborate on that I would appreciate .
Thank You again. Awesome review
Thank you! Glad it was helpful.
As for side to side stability, they were both fantastic there. I didn't experience any excess movement with either of them. If I was to pick one over the other though, I'd say the IA is slightly more stable due to it's wider platform/frame. That said, as I mentioned, I packed an entire deer plus gear (128lbs) with the Exo, which was a 4 mile, 1800 vertical trip, and I was beyond impressed with how it handled that load. With the IA, I did two hind quarters of the bull I killed this year, which was a huge load weighing in at 148 lbs. Not nearly as far of a pack out, but I couldn't believe how stable and comfortable that much weight was. I don't think you can go wrong with either if side to side stability is a deciding factor. Thanks for watching!
@@BackwoodsPursuit Thank you very much . I just made my decision. EXO it is.
@ralphmajerczyk7763 any time!
Thanks for the excellent content like usual!! If Exo came out with a smaller bag integrated in their crib it would be the perfect day pack 😮
Thank you! Yeah, that would be a great option on the Exo Crib. Thanks for watching!
Great video, thanks! Where does the your Seek Outside land on this? 3rd place?
@carlos_2856 thanks! Hmm...the Seek Outside pack is a totally different design as they are going for ultra lightweight, and it is a much more complex design. For backcountry hunting purposes, I'd probably take the Mystery Ranch and Sitka Mountain Hauler over the Seek Outside. I personally found the Seek to be a bit too complex with the buckle styles and overall design. Great pack still though and handles loads well, particularly for how lightweight it is. Thanks for watching!
I have a mystery ranch Beartooth 80 and am thinking about buying a exo k4 pack I know you have tried both do you think it would be worth the money to buy the exo? Thanks
@larrylatshaw9904 hey there! IMHO, either of these packs are worth the upgrade as they carried heavy weight significantly better than the MR for me. Thanks for watching!
Initial ascent is like having a piece of plywood on your back. It doesn’t give well at all when you’re hiking around.
@kevinmartin2096 yeah, it is certainly more ridgid than the Exo. Very different feeling packs. Hauls weight light champ though! Thanks for watching.
@ yeah I’m just thinking about reality for most people. Most people do a lot more of hiking with their pack bow or rifle way more often than they do with getting loads out.
@kevinmartin2096 yeah, time wise most will spend a lot more time with their day pack weight than with it loaded over 60lbs.
@kevinmartin2096 that being said, when it comes time to haul a heavy load, you'll be glad you have a pack that does that well...and both of these certainly excel in that department!
@ yeah like you said, either of those packs can very easily haul more than we are comfortable with, which is why I prefer one that is easier to flex just under the day to day load
I disagree with what comfort is… mystery ranch was fantastic for me below 50lbs load. But as soon as I got to carrying 60lbs adding the rifle it was horrible. We now have Exo packs. A k4 and a k3 and both were fantastic this year up to 80lbs. In fact my son who is 140lbs carried 79lbs off the mountain with zero pack issues.
I feel like it’s pretty easy to make a pack comfortable from 30-50lb load.
@greasemonkey4god yeah, moat good packs can comfortably carry 30-40 lbs very well. Maybe I didn't describe what i meant by "day to day comfort", in that I meant how each of these packs felt compared to each other with the same load (20-40ish lbs). In that regard, I felt the Exo provided a more comfortable experience. I've also had zero pack issues with the Exo K4 or this Inktial Ascent IA5k with loads up to 148lbs. I personally thought the K4 was a lot better at heavy loads (loads over that 80-90lb mark) than the K3. Thanks for watching!
@@BackwoodsPursuitafter I bought my k4 my son got jealous and ended up with a smoking deal on a k3. He is super happy with it. He went from a mystery ranch sawtooth. I hauled 4 animals total this year. I’m looking forward to carrying heavier next year!!!!
Here’s to bloody, overloaded packs!!!
@greasemonkey4god heck yeah! Nice work!