zpacks exo versus ULA Circuit

I just received mine from Joe. I was worried about how it carried as well. I loaded it up with gear/food/water and wore it around the house for about an hour. It carried much better than I thought and the fram was very stiff, to place the weight on my hips. For me I was down to the Exo and the Ohm 2.o…..Im glad I went with the Exo

How comfortable is the Exo with a 7-day bear canister? Do you think some extra padding would be needed to keep the canister from digging into your back?

as I usually hang a bag. Although, I did add the option to the pack for it to carry a foam pad between the supports (such as the GG nightlight torso pad). I would imagine that this would eliminate the possibility of the bear can digging in your back.

-Eric

Here is a photo Joe sent me of an Exo that he made to carry a bear canister on the JMT. This is something that you would have to contact him about if you were interested as it is a custom item.

I own the Zpacks Exo and will take it this summer on the JMT with a Bearikade Expedition. The bear canister fits vertically in the pack and leaves some space on the side. I use a Therm-A-Rest Z-Lite with 4 panels in the pad holders to protect my back from the hard bear can. That works very well and by now I actually like to have a seat pad handy.

Going from the Osprey Exos 58 to the Zpacks Exo saved me not only 1.5 lbs, but also forced me to become more critical about what I take and how much volume it takes up because I have roughly 10 l less available to fill up with stuff. It took some experimenting, but in the end it all saved me even more weight. For example I replaced the Platypus 3l water bladder inside the Exos with 1l bottles in the shoulder strap pockets of the Exo. The water bladder just didn't fit into the Exo together with the bear can at the same time. I have taken the Exo now on several trips and carried it with a full bear can of food for a total of over 30 lbs. So far I like my Exo and can't wait to take it on the JMT this summer.

Manfred

Thanks guys, I for one appreciate the pic and comments. I just need to throw some money and UL gear. I dearly want to do this in reverse order, a lighter, smaller pack first then pack accordingly. Although my SMD Starlight is doing fine at 25 oz.
Duane

That bear canister attachment seems mighty interesting. I wonder if that external system works better than putting the canister directly into the pack.

Ouch! I read a few recent reviews thru a link to White Blaze while checking out reveiws this morning concerning the frame breaking on the Exo. A few reported problems, I was looking for something to handle around 25 lbs. maybe. Anyone else see those?
Duane

On white blaze about that as well. If I'm not mistaken, that was an earlier design that has been changed.

I also saw those, along with a report here when the Exo was initially released. Had a Circuit, switched to an HMG Windrider, wanted to go Exo, but the frame breakage was enough to turn me away. I have a trip planned this summer with 2 weeks with no resupply, so I'd be pushing the Exo weight limit a little too close.

I have a Zpacks Exo with frame, which is set up for a 21 inch height. Since I generally use a bear canister, I ordered the sleeping pad holster; I insert a Gossamer Gear SitLight pad to "protect" my back. I have several canisters, but most often use a Bearikade Weekender model, which sits vertically, but comfortably, in the Exo. I assume a Bearikade Expedition would carry almost as well. Although not yet used extensively, it seems to me The Exo is a well-made, lightweight pack that carries up to 30 pounds well. As mentioned previously, Joe is very responsive via E-mail and/or telephone.

I have 8 lbs of base gear and I went to the PCT kickoff party 2 weeks ago to find a COMFORTABLE light back pack and I did. I tried GG backpacks, tried the Feather by Six Moons and the EXO. The Exo by far was the most comfortable, I was amazed how well it felt with 8 lbs of gear, 3 liters of water and 10 lbs of food. It really was the most comfortable backpack I have ever tried. So I ordered it from Joe a week ago, hopefully I'll have it soon and tell you guys how it feels in the woods. I also got a sleeping bag from Joe that I received 3 weeks ago and so far it seems like a good investment. Well I know you want to go backwards and purchase your UL back pack fisrt but I think you should buy all your gear then determine what is the best pack to carry it. Here's my list, I can EASILY go 2 lbs lighter but comfort is way bigger for me!!!

(SHELTER SYSTEM)
Platinum Fly Creek UL2 (19.3 oz) $499
Special Carbon Poles (5.6 oz) $115
Polycro Ground Sheet (2oz) $8
10 Titanium Stakes (2 oz) $12
TOTAL: 28.9 oz or 1.8 lbs

(SLEEP SYSTEM)
Zpack Sleeping Bag 30 degrees (20 oz) $365
Neo Air Large (17.3 oz) $140
Dry Bag w/Strap (turns into a small day pack) (1 oz) $10
TOTAL: 38.3 oz or 2.39 lbs

(BACKPACK SYSTEM)
Exo Zpack (14 oz) $300
2 Vapour Bottles (.8 oz)
Super Delios Filter (1.6 oz)
TOTAL: 16.4 oz or 1.02 lbs

(COOKING SYSTEM)
Snow Peak Lite Max Stove (1.9 oz) $60
Snow Peak 600 Pot (2.7 oz) $30
Snow Peak 110g Canister (7 oz) $6
Bic Lighter (.3 oz) $2
Windscreen (TBD)
TOTAL: 11.9 oz

(CLOTHES SYSTEM)
North Face Diez Down Jacket (12.8 oz) $150
Rainshield Jacket (5.5 oz) $30
Rainshield Pants (4.0 oz) $20
Therma Rest Pillow Cover/Beannie (2 oz) $20
Gloves (2.5 oz) $30
TOTAL: 26.8 oz or 1.67 lbs

(ESSENTIALS)
First Aid Kit and Duct Tape (1.5 oz)
Compass (2.4 oz) $30
Ruta Locura Headlight (.9 oz) $12
Razor Blade (TBD)
Map (1.7 oz)
TOTAL: 6.5 oz

(HYGIENE/BUG-SUN PROTECTION)
Sunscreen (.8 oz)
Body Glide (.3 oz)
Bandana/Handkerchief (1.5 oz)
Hair Net (.7 oz) $15
Bug Repellent (.5 oz)
Tooth Brush/Spork Hybrid (.4 oz)
Tooth Paste (.2 oz)
Toilet Paper (.7 oz)
TOTAL: 5.1 oz

TOTAL: 133.9 oz or 8.37 lbs Base Weight

Forgot to say that the Exo I tried had a GG pad and it wwas comfortable so I had Joe add this option, nothing more.

Wow Fabian, looking at your list, most of my stuff is similar, maybe just a few little things that add up that I have you don't, I'll have to review your clothes. I for one appreciate the feedback. If I got a smaller pack to try, I'd first use it for weekend trips to see if I need to make some adjustments to my gear. No spare socks, undies or shirt?
Duane

Hi Duane,

My trips are no more than 4 days because I have 3 year old twins that miss me when I leave. I already feel guilty when I go for 2-3 days so I don't leave home for a long time. I only need one shirt for 3 days. If I feel that it's getting bad on the 2nd day then I just wash it during a lunch break and it dries really fast. I do the same with socks. I typically do 15-20 mile days and I feel the less I carry the better. I also find that people carry way too many clothes when camping/backpacking. My thermarest pillow cover works as a beannie and a pillow. I put my backpack in it, my down jacket and its really comfortable. At night if it get's really cold I use the 2 small stuff sacks for my rain jacket and rain pants and they keep my feet warm!

Well hope this helps.

That's ingenious using the Thermarest pillow sack as a beanie. I tried mine to see if it would work but my head was too big. :(

Hi Jeff,

Mine actually fits pretty loose. It's 2 oz and you can find it at REI or have someone make you one. Mine cost $20 bucks!

Fabian, thank you for the clarification, I do many 1-2 night bp trips year round, on my vacations I go 7-8 days here in the Sierra Nevada, that's why I mentioned clothes. Short trips I still have a clean change of clothes, not much more to carry for the trip in. I think a small pack would force me to discard things I take now, kinka like when a friend and I loaded our mountain bikes up with stuff strapped on, had to take the absolute necessaties was all.
Duane

I'm interested in the OP's question. Does anyone have the experience to make a comparison between a Circuit or Ohm and an Exo? I'm also interested to know for the Exo:

– How do the shoulder strap attachments work?
– Do they slide freely across the attachment bar? How does that feel?
– Does anyone have one with loadlifters – do they serve a purpose with this pack?
– Does the frame dig into your back, sides or neck at all?