Exo Mountain Gear is no stranger to big miles and heavy poundage. They’ve been producing backpacks for backcountry hunting since 2014 and have become a fan favorite among dedicated backpack hunters like myself. Exo was started by dedicated backcountry hunters with the goal to produce the best backcountry hunting packs on the market, and they’ve been focused on that goal since the beginning. Their new K4 Backpack is a shining example of that.
Got another gear video from the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo in Salt Lake City, Utah! Late last year, Exo Mountain Gear came out with their new 1800 day pack. I’ve really enjoyed this minimalist backpack in the few months I’ve used it. Recently, I had it out on a javelina hunt, and I’ve been using it for short day scouting trips. It really does hold everything you need and nothing that you don’t. You can check out a video of how I personally pack this backpack for the javelina hunt I linked above. You’ll see a layout of the pack and exactly what I am putting and where. Of course I had to stop by the Exo booth at the show to get a rundown from the company. Jake from Exo Mountain Gear runs through their whole new 1800 pack and gives insight into pricing and other options with the K3 pack system. This isn’t a piece of gear you should sleep on!
I really hope you’ve been enjoying these gear videos I grabbed from the Expo! I sure did enjoy chatting with everyone. Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the Youtube channel and blog to stay up to date with all of my future posts! Thanks for watching and good hunting out there. I’ve been currently out scouting for a spring bear hunt coming up here shortly in Arizona. Tick tock! Before we know it, hunting season is going to be here and this whole thing is going to start over again.
Just recently, Exo Mountain Gear came out with their new 1800 day pack model for the new K3 frame that they introduced last year. If you aren’t familiar with the new K3 system or other bags that they offer, head on over to the review and comparison I did of the K3 4800 bag HERE. Their new 1800 bag is exactly what it sounds like really. A bomber day pack that can still handle packing out elk quarters, due to the universal frame that Exo Mountain Gear offers.
I’ve never been much of a day pack kind of guy, but I’ve gotta admit, this little pack has grown on me a bit. It’s everything you need and nothing that you don’t. So far I’ve used it on multiple archery deer hunts and javelina hunts down here in Arizona. I even got to pack out a javelina with it! Pretty awesome.
Something that I dig about this pack is that it really makes you question what you do or don’t need. Sometimes, things can build up in my backpack and honestly get lost from time to time. It’s nice saying to myself, “actually I don’t need this at all for a day hunt.”
The 1800 bag is compatible with the K3 frame, as is all of the new bags. That’s one of the cool things about this system. I’ll likely use the day pack for quick scouting trips and placing trail cams. Once it comes time to pack in, I’ll just swap the 1800 out for the 4800 and get to the trail. A handy system every day of the week.
Something to note, is that this pack doesn’t come with a lid. Exo does offer straps that one can attach to the 1800 to use a lid from another K3 bag. This is exactly what I did, and it worked out swimmingly. There are two small loops that are located under each side stretchy pocket of the pack. That is what the extra straps attach to from the lid.
The layout of this new 1800 day pack is simple. You’ve got one main compartment in the middle of the pack, two side pockets, two stretchy side pouches(water bottle), and a small little stash pocket on the backside of the horseshoe panel. One of the side pouches is slightly longer than the other, and is perfect for housing a 65mm spotting scope. The other isn’t quite as long and I use it for carrying an extra release and medical kit. Just like on the other K3 bags, there is also a waterproof pouch to hold your water bladder. That’s it. Easy peasy.
Here, I go through the layout of the pack and how I personally am packing it for an upcoming hunt. If you like the video, please SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube Channel for future content!
For a quick trip on the mountain, or even around hiking trails in town, this new day pack is perfect fit for the bill. I’ll absolutely be using it this coming spring bear season in Arizona as I scout out new areas and place trail cameras. For more information on this pack and others visit www.exomtngear.com.
When it comes to backcountry hunting, and just hunting in general really, there are a few pieces of gear that I believe are absolutely key. The first is your boots, for they are your tires of the backcountry. Bad boots can, not just make a hunt miserable, but can also end it. The next is your clothing. Having a solid layering system will go a long way and provide you with the comfort and protection you need from the elements. And finally, the next piece of gear that I think needs to be on the top of our list as backcountry hunters, is our backpacks. It is our mobile apartment and carries everything we need to survive in the dirt. The very vessel that gets our hard earned game meat from the field to the cooler. In light of that, we are diving into the, new for 2019, Exo Mountain Gear 4800 K3 backpack. A more than worthy contender in the backpack world of hunting.
Season is about to get going here in a few days! Time has really flown by and I feel like only a few months ago I was elk hunting in September. I’m sure there are more than a few of you that feel the same as I do! Before season starts is gear season if you ask me. One of the new gear items I got for my hunts is the new Exo Mountain Gear 4800 Backpack. Exo packs have never disappointed me in the past and I’m sure that this one will deliver as well. There has been a ton of anticipation for this new pack and I thought it might be cool to do, not a review, but a quick overview and first impression type piece. For this I thought a video format would do the best so that’s the route I went. It’s just way easier to show you this kind of stuff, rather than type it out. So, here it is! Exo Mountain Gear 4800: First Impressions. Enjoy!
If you have followed my content for any amount of time, you probably already know that I am a gear junkie! I just love getting new gear and putting it to the test in the field. Anything I can do to make my system more efficient, I am usually game to check out. Plus, I just like trying out new stuff. These are a few gear highlights that I am pretty stoked on for the 2019 hunting seasons. You can expect that I will be putting together in depth reviews for each of these items in the future. They are simply too good not to. Check out the video below for the overview and I’ll include links to each item down below! Thanks for watching and let me know if you have any questions. What are some gear highlights that you are pumped on for 2019?
In the months leading up to a hunt you can usually find me scouring maps, spending an unhealthy amount of time on google earth, sifting through backpacking journals online, and shooting my bow each and every day, sometimes multiple times. I am a planner, and I always have been. Not knowing what is going to happen in the future, somewhat stresses me out and it’s an area that I need improvement. I try everything I can to make sure all of my ducks are in a row. If this isn’t done beforehand, it drives me crazy and I can’t think straight. Oftentimes, it will lead to me throwing in the towel, because I am left not knowing what to do with myself. It is my Pre-Hunt Anxiety. Each year that goes by it creeps up on me, and each year we throw hands at one another.
So, it began, or I should say continued. Another backpack hunt lay in front of us. This particular area has held a meaningful part in my heart for years. It is where I took my first archery deer and a place I have spent a good portion of my Dec/Jan archery deer seasons in the past. What the next few days would hold, we did not know. I did know that we would have a great time though chasing rutting bucks. On top of that, I had been seeing a herd of javelina regularly in the area. Lucky for us, Jake had a tag in his pocket.
January in Arizona has become a time of year that I cherish to the upmost. While everyone else around the country is reflecting on their past fall hunting seasons and warming themselves by a fire, I am usually out hiking around with a camp on my back in search of rutting bucks. The weather is beautiful, the deer are moving, and it’s just a great time to be out and about in our Arizona desert. My brother Jake and I usually take the first week or so in January to chase mule deer and coues deer with our bows. This year though, Jake drew an archery javelina tag, so that was on the menu as well. 8 days of backcountry hunting was in front of us and our arms were wide open.
Luck is one of those words that get thrown around in the hunting world quite a bit. I remember being a kid, in deer camp with my Dad, and him saying something along the lines of “Just give us some luck.” A little luck goes a long way right? While that is true, as I got older I realized that it wasn’t absolute. If we only relied on luck, I feel like we would never be successful out there filling tags. Putting yourself in the position to experience that luck is what it’s all about. By that, I mean putting in the work beforehand. Luck does go a long way, but hard work goes farther if you ask me.
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