Exo Mountain Gear K4 7200 Pack Review | Legendary Backcountry Performance

Over the last year, I had the opportunity to put the Exo Mountain Gear K4 7200 pack to the test, and I’m excited to give you the breakdown of how this pack performed under real-world, in-the-field conditions. We’ll also take a look at the different features of this pack, along with the functionality, load-hauling ability, bag design, and more.

The Testing: Exo Mountain Gear K4 7200 Pack Review

As with most gear reviews, the best way to really find out how something works is to just use it. Over the last year I was able to use this pack on a multitude of different trips, with different goals and outcomes. From hauling in camp for a backcountry camping trip, to strapping on the weight after a successful elk hunt, it really showed its capabilities.

Exo Mountain Gear K4 7200 Specs & Features

The Exo Mountain Gear K4 7200 pack system has some new features and specs that proved to be huge improvements for an already great pack in the K3. Some of the features have remained similar, but a few upgrades have really taken this pack to the next level.

Here is a list of the specs of the pack:

Some additional features and options to Exo Mountain Gear packs include:

• Laser cut molle panels throughout pack
• Carbon fiber frame stays
• Stretchy fabric on multiple locations of bag
• Military grade webbing
• Full length side pockets with zipper
• Water bladder and water storage compartment
• YKK and duraflex buckles and hardware
• Upgraded lumbar pad with superfabric material
• Premium foams
• Adjustable harness
• Lid included with pack
• 4 frame sizes
• 5 belt sizes
• 3 color options
• 4 bag size options

Exo Mountain Gear K4 7200 Features

Whenever you are looking for a new pack, there are always a few things that are critical to a pack system. The main preferences of a pack can vary from one individual to the next, but for me and how I use a pack, the most important aspects of a pack are:

1. How comfortable is the pack overall when in use (whether I’m carrying 25 pounds of gear for a day hunt, backpacking for a night or two with 40-50 pounds, or packing out a bull that was killed 5 miles from the truck with 100+ pounds.) The level of comfort really comes down to the frame design, hip belt, and harness. Obviously, other aspects play a role in comfort, but that’s where you feel the most discomfort.
2. The second big thing that is important to me (which I could include in the first section) is how well the pack handles weight when your hunt is successful and you come out super heavy. I’m breaking this one into its own category because ultimately, this is the goal when I’m out hunting, so it’s a crucial part of a pack.
3. The third consideration for me is the bag configuration and accessibility, or ease of use. How is the bag configured, and is my gear accessible? Do I have to repack my gear every time I need to get something out of my pack?
4. The last thing I look at is what type of accessories are included and/or offered to improve my experience with a pack. Again, this category is tied to the ease of use, but I want to highlight it separately.

Exo Mountain Gear K4 7200 Hip Belt

The Exo Mountain Gear K4 hip belt has a similar look to the K3 hip belt but with some really solid and effective upgrades, the primary upgrade being the rigidity and width of the new hip belt. The foam in the Exo Mountain Gear K4 hip belt seems to hold form much more effectively than the K3, but isn’t so firm that it is uncomfortable when you really crank the belt down, nor does it lose shape.

Another upgrade that I like is that the belt comes in 5 sizes rather than 3. It gives you the ability to get a size that is matched exactly for your waist with less “in between” sizes. The new hip belt also features molle panels for both the hip pouches and a nalgene holder. Both of these upgrades are very convenient and add a lot of versatility to the pack since you can add a lot of third party accessories that use the molle system.

If you have never installed a molle panel attachment, it can be a bit confusing, but Exo does a great job making videos that explain exactly how to install all of the attachments. 

The K4 hip belt has an incredible combination of comfort with how the foam fully wraps around your hips, but also has the ability to hold weight in the same place for extended periods of time. The foam in the hip belt is very firm, but gives a nice balance of rigidity and softness for a comfortable ride.

The only complaint I had is that the first couple of days wearing the pack, the hip belt pinched my skin just a bit. It may have been user error, and I needed a few days to settle where the hip belt rode best on my body, but after a few days I didn’t have any issues the rest of the season.

Additionally, the lumbar pad is another major upgrade from the K3. It is significantly more firm than the K3 which added a lot of comfort. The upgrades to the K4 belt really culminated in the most comfortable lumbar and belt support I’ve ever experienced in a pack. As I mentioned above, I used this Exo K4 7200 on a variety of occasions with the weight ranging from 25-100+lbs.

How Did It Handle Weight? Exo Mountain Gear K4 Pack Review

This leads me right into the next area that is really important for me in a pack, which is how does it handle weight? The least amount of weight I packed using the Exo Mountain Gear K4 was anywhere from 25-40 pounds depending on the trip, during simple day hunts in September-November. I also had the chance to use it on several multi-night backpack trips over the summer where the weight of the pack was up to 50 pounds.

The most weight I packed in this Exo Mountain Gear K4 7200 was when I hauled out part of a bull that I shot in late September. When it was all said and done between the meat and my gear, that load tipped the scales at 135 pounds. I can confidently say that it was the “best” 135 pounds of weight I’ve ever packed out. Not just because it was an incredible experience to take a bull with archery equipment while getting to do it with my family, but the way the pack performed under a really heavy load was fantastic.

Let’s be real here. Any time you are packing out more than half your body weight it’s just not comfortable, but I’ve had more experiences than I can count that were downright miserable with that much weight. Even 15 years ago when I used external pack frames, anytime we had more than 75 pounds it felt like pure torture on the hike out.

I was really pleased with how the Exo Mountain Gear K4 performed under a heavy load. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t easy or “comfortable” in the normal sense of the word, but in the context of how well the pack handled that amount of weight, it was about as comfortable as you can ask for. One of the most amazing things was that the hip belt did not slip near as much as most hip belts have for me in the past. The weight obviously works its way down as you’re walking, but I stopped significantly less to adjust and tighten my hip belt than ever before.

Every person’s body is a little different and under heavy weight a pack is going to move a bit differently. For me the Exo K4 offered the best ride I’ve ever had with an extreme load. Typically, I have to stop, hike up the pack and re-cinch the belt over and over when hauling a heavy load, but that wasn’t the case on this moonlit, heavy pack out . 

The other piece that really stood out to me was how well I was able to keep the weight close to my body. The majority of the weight was obviously the meat that was strapped to the frame of the pack, but the extremely large load stayed snug to my back while packing out. I was able to cinch down the weight enough to keep it from shifting much at all on the pack out.

One additional change worth mentioning is that the Exo Mountain Gear K4 frame is a bit more narrow than the K3 frame. This feature did make it slightly more difficult to center the meat on the frame and made it bulge outside of the frame a bit more, but produced the intended result. Given the way that the heavy load road while packing over 100 pounds, I think the change in the frame was a great move. I will gladly concede a little more difficulty getting a quarter of an elk on the pack for a more comfortable pack out.

Bag Configuration/Accessibility – Exo Mountain Gear K4 7200 Pack Review

The Exo Mountain Gear K4 7200 has a pocket and bag configuration that is specifically designed for hunters.  The bag starts with the large main compartment that gives you the majority of the space available for most of your bulky items. The zipper on the 7200 runs the full length of the bag on one side rather than the U-Shaped zipper that is featured on the K4 5000 bag.

With the Exo K4 7200 being the largest bag available, it has a lot of additional space in the main bag that can be opened up using the roll top. It also has the water bladder pouch and clip that come in from the top of the bag next to the frame. Being located on an interior pocket, the water bladder does protrude into the main compartment, taking up space in the main compartment when the bladder is full.

I do like that the water bladder pouch is water resistant, so if you spring a leak in your water bladder or want to separate some wet rain gear from the rest of your gear, that pouch is perfect for it. It even has a small drain hole at the bottom of the water compartment to dump water in the event of a bladder leak.

On both sides of the main compartment are the two full length pockets. One design change on the Exo Mountain Gear K4 bags is that these pockets have a zipper that runs the length of the bag, rather than cinching down at the top like the K3 model. These side pockets are great for tripods, tents, spotting scopes or anything else that is longer and skinny. I love the upgrade of the side pocket zipper for the K4 as it makes getting gear in and out of the pockets even more convenient.

I did find that one of my tripods, a Slik 733 with a folded length of 22.6 inches, was too tall to fit in the side pocket and still zip it up, but it wasn’t a huge deal, and I just put the legs of my tripod in the stretchy pocket and used the compression strap to hold it in place. I found that really any tripod over roughly 20 inches in folded height doesn’t fit in this side zippered pocket, so keep that in mind when selecting your tripod.

Additionally, on the outside of the full length side pockets there are smaller stash pockets that only come up a portion of the pack. I found these smaller pockets to be very useful to slide trekking poles into, a bugle tube, or a tripod that you want to have quick access to. Since they aren’t as deep of pockets, you will want to put the compression straps around any heavier or taller items to make sure nothing falls out, but it does make for a little quicker access if you stop to glass with your tripod often.

The last pocket on the main bag is the stretchy mesh pocket that runs the majority of the length of the main area. It’s not a huge pocket, but it’s super handy to keep items that are a little more flat. I found it to be a perfect spot for my sitting pad when I sit down to glass. It’s very easily accessible and convenient.

Finally, the lid comes with two pockets built in as well. There is one very small pocket on top that is great for a wallet, keys, tags, chap-stick, or similar small items. The main pocket on the lid is quite a bit bigger than the K3 lid which I found to be a benefit. I used it for my food bag, coffee mug, gloves and beanie. It is probably the most convenient compartment of the whole bag since there are no straps or buckles that have to be undone to access the pocket.

If you used the K3 model, you’ll find the new setup to be very similar in the layout. I do like the upgrades on the K4 and find it to be very easy to use overall. If you are someone who likes to organize your things using lots of pockets, the Exo Mountain Gear K4 may not be the best option f or you, however, you can add a bunch of accessories that give you more organization. While it is very practical and easily accessible, the bulk of your gear will land in the main bag.

Accessories – Exo Mountain Gear K4 7200 Pack Review

Exo Mountain Gear packs offer tons of different accessories that are available to put on any of their bag sizes. Everyone is a little different in what they need and are looking for, but with the number of Exo Mountain Gear accessories, you can really customize your pack into what you want.

Here is a list of the accessories that Exo Mountain Gear offers:

• Insulated Nalgene holder
• Hipbelt pouch
• Stash pockets
• Crib load panel
• InReach mini holder
• Quick release rifle carrier
• Blaze orange lid
• Dry bag
• Locking buckles
• Strap extensions
• Strap keepers
• Lid strap set

As you can see, there are a bunch of options to add onto your Exo Mountain Gear pack. Every accessory has a purpose, but obviously you don’t need every item. Personally, I landed on the Insulated Nalgene holder, a hip belt pouch, a couple stash pockets, the crib load panel, quick release rifle carrier, and some strap keepers.

For me, the Nalgene holder was a great upgrade. I love that it is designed specifically for Exo Mountain Gear packs. It’s really handy for carrying extra water for your meals, or in place of your bladder when temperatures are low enough to freeze your bladder hose. The hip belt pouches add a ton of convenience. They are really handy for keeping the items that you need quick access to without having to take your pack off. They’re big enough to fit most cell phones, headlamps, bino adapters, etc. The stash pouches are also really nice to keep inside the main big bag which gives you the ability to organize some of the smaller items more effectively.

In my option, the crib load panel is a no-brainer. It does a great job of keeping meat where you want it to be and you don’t have to worry about crushing the gear inside your bag. The quick release rifle carrier is another item that is a huge upgrade. The way that it attaches to the belt and keeps the weight of your rifle on your hips makes carrying a rifle a lot more simple.

I did have a little trouble with the buckle snagging between my scope and barrel when the carrier is lifted closer to the bag, but you can adjust the height of the rifle carrier so it isn’t a problem.

Lastly, I prefer to not have straps swinging all around, and the strap keepers are great at keeping the straps in order.

What I Liked – Exo Mountain Gear K4 7200 Pack Review

#1 – Overall Comfort

There is a lot to love about this Exo Mountain Gear K4 pack. One of the things that stands out the most is the overall comfort. If you have ever used a pack that isn’t all that comfortable you know how it can disrupt your hunt. Whether the pack puts pressure somewhere that isn’t ideal, doesn’t transfer weight to your hips, isn’t flexible enough to move, doesn’t handle weight well, or any other host of issues, it’s not fun. Aside from the first couple days of figuring out where the hipbelt rode best on my hips, the K4 was the most comfortable pack I have ever used, especially with a really heavy load.

#2 – Bag Configuration – Exo K4 7200

Something else I personally liked is the way the bag is designed. The one large compartment with a handful of additional smaller compartments makes for just the right amount of storage, and it can be easily organized with stash pockets if you choose. The full length side pockets are even better with the zipper setup on the K4.

#3 – Shoulder Harnesses

This somewhat falls under the overall comfort of the pack, but the shoulder harnesses specifically makes a huge difference in the comfort. As Exo explains in some of their videos, the shoulder harnesses are not designed to carry any weight. The Exo K4 does an incredible job of being able to cinch them down to keep the pack really snug against your back without the hassle of adding unwanted weight to your shoulders. Just make sure you size your frame correctly for your torso and get the shoulder harness at the proper height.

#4 – Sizing and Accessory Options

From the frame size to the belt size, something else that is really nice about the K4 is how many options there are for sizing this pack to make it fit your specific body type. Additionally, there are a bunch of accessory options that add a lot of flexibility to how your pack can perform. If you’re not one for a lot of add-ons, the pack works just fine as is, but the accessories take it to the next level if you’re looking to really customize your pack.

#5 – Molle Webbing

The molle webbing throughout the K4 is a huge improvement in my experience. I felt like the molle webbing helped keep all the accessories on the pack more snug, along with providing more versatility. Since the molle webbing is sewn right into the hip belt and on the shoulder straps, I felt like it kept anything I strapped onto the webbing from flopping around. I typically carry a sidearm while archery hunting, and even with a fully loaded clip it was still a snug fit.

#6 – Lumbar Pad

The lumbar pad on the Exo Mountain Gear K4 7200 is designed really well. It forms just enough to your body, but stays firm enough that it doesn’t slip on your back. The superfabric with the texture dots make for a fantastic ride, even when loaded down. One of the main complaints I’ve always had with packs is that they always seem to slip down on my hips when weight is added. The K4 lumbar did an excellent job of staying where I wanted when loaded. 

Make sure to check out our other gear reviews and the Backwoods Pursuit YouTube Channel to help you decide what gear will help you stay out in the field longer!

#7 – Versatility

Lastly, one of the features I love about the Exo K4 7200 pack is just how versatile it is. As I mentioned above, I used this pack on anything from a day hunt to a multi-night backpack trip. The 7200 is designed to be able to get about 10 days worth of gear in the pack. I found myself having way too much room when packing for 4-5 days and never even had to think about rolling the top of the bag.

I picked the Exo 7200 bag because I wanted to error on the side of too much space as I have young kids and will most likely be packing a lot of their gear once they are old enough to come along, but not quite old enough to pack their whole camp. While the Exo K4 7200 is more pack than I currently need, it can be compressed down a bunch when I use it for a day hunt.

Ideally, I will try to add the 3600 bag to my collection and swap it out depending on the scope of the hunt. However, even if I just keep using the 7200 bag it isn’t all that much heavier than the other bags, just more bulky than I would prefer for a day hunt.

What I Didn’t Like – Exo Mountain Gear K4 7200 Pack Review

There wasn’t much to complain about after this Exo Mountain Gear K4 7200 pack review. The upgrades that Exo Mountain Gear made from the K3 are not super noticeable to the eye, but extremely effective to the overall comfort and function of the K4. However, are were a few things that left me wanting more.

#1 – Hip Belt Pinch

As I mentioned above, the first couple of days that I used the Exo Mountain Gear K4, it seemed to pinch my hip just enough to cause some irritation. It wasn’t a huge deal, and after the first couple of days it seemed to settle in. Exo Mountain Gear recommends not wearing a belt with the pack, but my pants are just big enough that I need to wear a belt.

This was very likely the culprit of the pinching, but I didn’t want to buy new pants, and it didn’t end up being a big deal as I was able to find a good spot for the best ride on my waist with my belt still on. After adjusting where my pants were riding along with the hip belt, it wasn’t an issue the rest of the year.

#2 – Unable to Get Rifle Back on Rifle Carrier with Pack On

One of the minor issues I had with the rifle carrier was that it was near impossible to get my rifle back in the rifle carrier by myself if I pulled it off of my pack while hiking. It’s not really a one handed task so I always had to remove my pack to get my rifle back on the carrier. On the flip side, I have used rifle carriers where you don’t have to remove your pack, but the comfort and weight distribution suffers.

When talking about certain functions on a pack, there is definitely a give and take relationship with the gear. Personally I will put up with taking my pack off to get my rifle back on for the level of comfort and weight distribution the K4 rifle carrier offers.

#3 – Price Point

The only other “complaint” I have of the Exo Mountain Gear K4 pack is that it is quite expensive. Exo Mountain Gear is known for being a premium pack, and you definitely pay a premium price. However, you absolutely get a premium product that is worth every penny when you need it to perform. The old saying “buy once, cry once,” couldn’t be more appropriate.

Conclusion – Exo Mountain Gear K4 7200 Pack Review

Exo Mountain Gear has made some great packs over the years. I’ve had the chance to use several of them along with a handful of other brands. I can confidently say that the Exo K4 pack is the most functional, comfortable, and sturdy pack I have ever used. The fact that the starting weight of this Exo Mountain Gear K4 7200 pack is only 5 lbs and 15 ounces is astonishing considering the amount of weight you can load it up with. Having packed out more big game animals than I can remember for nearly the last 30 years, the load-hauling ability of this K4 is the best I’ve ever experienced.

The upgrades that Exo made on the K4 proved to be some incredible improvements that really elevate the function and comfort of this pack. On top of building an incredible pack, the guys over at Exo have some of the best customer service out there. They’re super responsive and prompt with a solution, plus are willing and happy to offer help and advice.

As with every piece of gear, the Exo Mountain Gear K4 isn’t perfect and no doubt every person will have their own opinions on the good and the bad. In my opinion, the Exo team did an excellent job overall of capturing as many of the “wants” of a backcountry hunter in the K4 pack while simultaneously eliminating the vast majority of the complaints.

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