Exo Mountain Gear 3500 Pt. 1

Initial Thoughts Out of the Box

I recently received my pack.  The anticipation for the pack to arrive was driving me crazy.  I kept in contact with one of the makers of the pack, Steve Speck, who made the decision to purchase this pack much easier.  Once the pack arrived I was blown away.

I have decided to put together a 2 part review of the pack.  For the 1st part I will be going over the initial feel for the pack out of the box.  I will highlight the features of the pack with pictures included.  For the 2nd part I will go over a more comprehensive review after I get some field testing done.

I always kept in the back of my mind that I may have not made the best choice in buying a pack without trying it on and getting a feel for it.  As with most hunting equipment now days things become an investment due to prices.  If you are going to get the best gear on the market it is going to burn a hole in the pocket book.  After getting the pack it was a very wise investment and there is absolutely no regrets with this pack. 

The design and function from what I have seen so far has exceeded my expectations.  I have been in the market for a pack that I could use as an everyday day pack, but also allow me to go on a hunt for 3 to 5 days at a time.  The Exo 3500 is exactly what I was looking for as it is spacious enough, but not overly large to where I will feel I'm carrying too much.  Plus there is also the 5500 pack available in the near future if I were ever to need more room.

I was very pleased to find the size of the pack isn't overwhelming, but spacious enough to keep me comfortable for a multi-day hunt.  The weight of the pack is unbelievable.  Most packs in this size range are usually significantly heavier.  For me I like to be minimalistic when it comes to weight.  The less I'm carrying the more comfortable and longer I can go.  Plus once you add the weight of a critter on the frame every additional ounce counts.

When I look at the outside of the pack I can't believe the areas that are available to add gear to or the options to secure things to the outside.  Although I would have liked to see more pockets on the pack I don't mind the sacrifice for the added weight of extra pockets.  Even though I say there isn't many pockets there is plenty of room and the ones that are on the pack were obviously very well thought of and put together to add plenty of space.  I already having in my mind how I'm going to set all of my gear up and their specific places. I have already begun to strap things on and fill the pack up in preparation for bear season.

The adjust ability of the pack allows to find that exact fit for me.  I was able to select the exact waist belt size I needed.  The straps and buckles area of very high quality and gives me lots of confidence in wear and tear.  My initial thoughts have me thinking it is going to take a lot of abuse to wear this pack out. 

It is also a great relief there is a lifetime warranty on the pack.  It is also hard to deny the pleasure that the pack is made her in the USA.  Although not a selling point for me I know it can be for others.

To sum up my initial thought out of the box are that I feel I have made the best choice I could have made on finding my go to pack.  From what I have saw thus far I believe this may be the pack of the year and look forward to seeing how it performs in the field.  With that I will now go into the specific details of the pack.

Lid Pocket

For the lid at the top of the pack there is a ton of room.  This is the area where I keep all of my quickly needed gear.  It can quickly be accessed from opening the zipper at the top.  I generally will keep extra gloves, warm hat, GPS, maps, headlamp, and snacks to keep me going.  This is an area for me when taking breaks that I can grab things quickly.  There is a ton of space just in this pocket alone for gear. 

The lid has a reverse buckle system, which allows easy access to the main compartment even when packing out meat, which is hauled between the pack and frame.  This is very well thought of and a smart addition to the pack.

Also on the back of the pack there is an easy access to a stretchy pocket by simply lifting up on the bottom of the lid.  This is a great area to keep additional jackets and layers for ease of access.

Main Compartment

The main compartment is the largest area of the pack obviously and has the most room.  There is two ways to access the main pocket, which can be done by unbuckling the lid and opening a drawstring.  The other option is a vertical pocket on the outside of the pack. 

Once in the main compartment you will find a waterproof layer on the outside, which is an option I think that is sometimes overlooked.  There is nothing worse than being miles from the pickup and it begins to snow or rain and now you have wet gear and a miserable hunt.  It is one feature of the pack I was very glad to see.

Another option is that the waterproof layer is a very bright color.  The tag on the pack pointed out that this allows the user to easily identify gear when it's dark out.  Another option I would not have thought of, but will make a big difference after a long hike all day.  It's nice to be able to get to camp and find exactly what you are looking for.

There is also a mesh pocket immediately located near the vertical zipper.  This will come in handy, and will be an area that I put licenses, knives, batteries, and other small pieces of equipment I may not immediately need access to.

After seeing the size of the pocket there is plenty of room for all of my gear.

Back of Pack

For the back of the pack I will start with the two horizontal straps.  For me this will be where I secure my bow to the pack while I'm hiking.  There is a ton of strap available so the options are endless.  They also have keepers attached to the straps that allow you to keep them together so that they are not flailing all over.

As with all of the buckles located on the pack they are extremely durable and will stand up to any test that can be thrown at them.  There is also 7 set of separate webbing where additional misc. equipment can be attached. 

Finally there is a stretchy fabric on the very back.  This fabric forms a pocket and will be great for holding rain gear or additional layers that can be shed throughout the day.  This can easily be accessed at the bottom of the day lid.

Side Pockets

There are two identical pockets on both the left and right of the pack.  There is two separate pockets.  One pocket runs vertically the entire length of the pack, and the other is made of the same stretchy fabric as the back of the pack.  This is a great location for a water bottle. 

The stretchy pocket is designed as to let you grab whatever is in there while the pack is on you.  The long pocket is a great location for a spotter, tri-pod, rifle, and I will use it for my two man tent.

There is also a tab in the long pocket that can be used to attached a water bladder.

There area three straps located on each side.  Two straps run vertical, which will be necessary once a load of weight is placed between the pack and frame.  The way the straps are designed is to push the weight up and keep it from sliding down to the bottom of the pack.  The third strap is located at the top of the long pocket and is the closure for the pocket.

Shoulder Harness and Waist Belt

The shoulder harness and waist belt are packed full of options.  For starters they are not overly large, but not too small to hurt your shoulders.  The padding is very adequate and comfortable. 

The shoulder straps contain the logo of the pack, a stretchy elastic band for a hose from a water bladder or an area to add additional gear, and adjustable chest strap.  The load lifters are also attached at the top.  I had never used them, only read about them.  After putting the pack on and playing with them a little bit their purpose became very clear.  These will be essential when a heavy load is attached.

The shoulder harness is incredibly adjustable and can be set to the specific user's choice.  It only took a couple of minutes and I had the pack fit to my measurement.  This is simply done by a buckle located below the shoulder padding that hits the middle of your back.  Once adjusted the shoulder straps simply move up and down the two titanium rods.

Now onto the waist belt.  There is a very large lumbar pad.  The lumbar pad is very noticeable when you put the pack on, but not so much where it is uncomfortable.  I can definitely tell this pad will be very helpful with a heavy load as well and it has a sticky outside to keep it in place.

The hip pads area great size to where they are not overly large yet not too small.  It is a nice stiff padding and from fist glance will work great after a long hike and should not have much hip fatigue. 

The straps on the waist belt have a reverse pull on them.  I had used a similar system on my Cabelas Alaska frame and loved the concept.  It is so much easier to make sure everything is nice and tight.  This plays a huge factor once you strap a hind quarter from an elk on.  I have gotten the waist belt tight, and then super tight.  There is no give in the waist belt once tight, which is great as I hate having to adjust as I'm hiking.  From what I can tell there is no limit to how tight the belt will go.  I was very impressed and this feature was very well thought out.

Each side also has a an additional strap that can be opened up and gear can be added to the hip belt.  There is Velcro on the inside and I have added Velcro to some of my equipment I plan to add on.  I was very glad to see this feature as I like to have certain things close at hand so that I can get access quickly.  I will be attaching a bow holder, my rangefinder, and bear spray.  There is also a new hip pouch that is close to being done.

Another great feature is a strap on each side that connects the pack to the waist belt.  By tightening this strap it prevents some side to side motion as the frame is made to move with you.  I used to have a problem with my frame pack being so rigid it would begin to rub the outside of my hips and thighs.  This is prevented with the design of this frame.  The only issue with the movement in that the pack can pivot is that there may be a balance issue.  These two straps make the load more stable as you are hiking.

Overall the shoulder harness and waist belt are very well thought of and put together with a purpose and function.

The Frame

The heart and soul of this pack in my mind is the frame.  It is specifically designed to carry a ton of weight.  By far one of the lightest frames I have thrown on my back.
If you look at the website you can see it is made with a titanium rod, which outlast me that's for sure.  The frame is very rigid up and down, but left and right it is allowed to move with you as it pivots near the bottom of the pack.This is a great feature as I just mentioned in the area of the waist belt I had problems with other packs being too rigid around my hip area.

The pack can be removed from the frame, which allows you to go out with an extremely light weight frame alone.  I know there is a couple of accessories that can be purchased such as a water bladder and meat shelf, which will be a great addition to run with just the frame and leave the pack the truck.

I have always been interested a pack that I could keep on me and also be able to have a frame to haul meat out with.  This pack meets that requirement.  You simply remove the load lifters, pull the buckle through a hole and unbuckle four straps.  The pack can no be pulled away from the frame.  There are two horizontal straps on the frame, which allows you to secure the meat to the frame.  Next you simply pull the pack back over the meat and re-buckle the straps on the side of the pack.  The straps are designed at an upward angle, which keeps the meat lifted and the majority of the weight on you back and not the hips.  The bottom of the pack is also designed so that the weight doesn't sink to the bottom and remains more in the middle of the pack.  After those are secure you simply re-do the load lifters and you are set.  Once all straps are set I don't think there is anything you can throw on this pack that will make it uncomfortable.

Having the luxury of hauling that first load back tot he pickup rather than walking back to the pickup to get a frame is imperative.  It saves time and can help make sure you get your meat back to the pickup before it spoils.  As stated before all of the buckles and straps are made very durable and will take a beating.

In closing, at first glance the pack appears to be a simple design, but it is very complex and very well thought out.  The lightweight durable design of the pack will have others drooling over it.  Like I stated earlier in this I believe this will be the pack of the year and I have no regrets buying this pack before I tried it on or got my hands on it.

I'm sure there is more features to the pack that I missed, but I am very excited to now hit the mountain and get some field testing done.  The guys from Exo Mountain Gear hit a home run with this pack and I can't wait for the accessories to come out.  At this point I see myself picking up the rain fly, hip pouch, and bow carrier.

I look forward to seeing what this pack is made of and I'm afraid it is much more than I will be able to put to the test.  I am also looking forward to putting together a more comprehensive review of in the field testing and heavy loads.  I'm hoping I can capitalize in a couple of weeks as I will try to put together my usual 3 to 5 day pack and come out with a bear.  At this point I feel it's very wishful thinking that I will have a bear attached, but unless you are out in the field it won't happen.

If you have any questions go to my contact form and let me know.  You can also have questions answered at exomountiangear.com.  Make sure and stop by the site and place an order, you won't be disappointed.  There is some great photos and videos on the pack.