My final pack decision was between SG and Exo as well. The Exo is unparalleled due to its organization, compartments, and little features along with better weather protection. I couldn’t get over buying an expensive pack AND THEN having to buy more small organization pouches to keep my items organized. With the Exo, minimal extra pouches are needed, unlike the other option which would require a lot.
This was why I wasn't a fan of Kifaru packs. If you want a huge main pocket with minimal smaller pockets SG is a great pack.
A bomber pack with no frills. I like that analogy.I think the comment about durability is a little bit off base. I have MR pack and and SG, build quality is pretty similar although MR definitely has the upper hand on some pack models.
Biggest differences SG is $100 more, 15ish% lighter, 15ish% bigger, but it has a super sparse design without any internal pockets, water bottle holders, etc. The mystery ranch is a great hunting pack for people who like the traditional pack design/organization, the stone glacier is more geared towards someone who wants a bomber pack with no frills.
Seek Outside, Exo, Kifaru, are all in the same class of pack, kuiu and outdoorman's are a step down but good. If you are 6'3" build like shit house and expect to be packing moose quarters bone in don't screw around and get a barney's. I'm 6' 150lbs and when I put on a barney's I felt like a 10yr old wearing around his dads shirt... those things are built for ogres.
Biggest thing to remember is everyone is going to have an opinion and because packs are 1. Expensive and 2. Will last forever (so you aren't buying lots of packs), and 3. They probably just bought the pack that they could try on, ie was made in their state... CO guys like Kifaru and Seek, MT guys like MR and SG, ID guys and WY guys love EXO... You are unlikely to talk to anyone who has actually owned more than 1 or 2 and definitely not 3 or 4 of the same manufacturing year, and people are just rooting for the pack they chose in order to justify their decision to drop an insane sum of money on a pack. Gotta keep the cognitive dissonance at bay or your are gonna be f-ed justifying your purchase to your spouse.
So in the spirit of the tribalism that we humans love to embrace: Exo sucks...boooo... what a piece of crab don't buy that garbage.
The only store I’ve ever been to that had multiple brands of these packs was Barney’s in Anchorage, other than that you are going to each brands show room, or speciality hunting stores that carry high end gear, RMS in Denver for instance or schnees in Bozeman.
Scheels does carry MR, not all models though from what I’ve seen
eberlestock and exo are based In boise Idaho. cabelas here in Idaho carries eberlestock packs . exo is strictly internet or you can stop by their boise store. I recently bought the exo 3500 and believe it to be far superior to the eberlestock packs, for fit and my needs.
I flew to Bozeman a couple weeks ago and went to Stone Glacier HQ and Mystery Ranch HQ. Mystery Ranch sent me to Schnee's in Downtown Bozeman because they are revamping their showroom. I tried on both companies packs and I will be going with a Stone Glacier Xcurve frame. It was the most comfortable frame with 60lbs loaded on it. I asked if they could add more lumbar padding and they would as long as I put it in the comments when ordering online. Both companies make good packs, but for my back issues, Stone Glacier beats out Mystery Ranch, Eberlestock, Blacks Creek Guide Gear. Good luck in your decision. Let me know if you have any questions.
