Exo Belt Sizing (In between small/medium)

Joined
Jun 15, 2015
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Washington
Have been really close to ordering an exo 3500 (unless someone wants to sell me a used one ;) ) in the near future but have been stuck on the belt sizing.
I fall RIGHT in the middle of the small and medium as I am usually a 32 inch waist.
Anyone else fall in this category? I am worried that with a small I might be too far on the upper limit of the belt, making it tough to wear with more layers, and conversely i would be on the lower limit of a medium, not being able to cinch it down enough when either summer backpacking or early season hunting.
I did email exo, but steve is out of the office at the moment.
Thanks for any input
 

twall13

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Jan 21, 2015
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Agreed, go with the small. You'll have plenty of room for adjustment and if you go with a medium you likely won't be able to cinch it down tight enough under load. I had a similar question when I purchased my 3500, but between M and L. I went with the medium on Steve's advice and there are times I come close to running out of adjustment on the medium when under load so I know the Large would not have worked.
 

LostArra

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May 9, 2013
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no question
I'm the same size as blackpowder and had to return the medium and exchange for a small which is the first "small" I've ever purchased
 
OP
blackpowderhunter
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Jun 15, 2015
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Washington
no question
I'm the same size as blackpowder and had to return the medium and exchange for a small which is the first "small" I've ever purchased
thanks for the quick feedback guys!
and LostArra, that was probably my main issue, I sometimes get nervous buying medium shirts thinking they'll be too small! I guess its all, or mostly mental!
 

mauidiver

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Jan 23, 2015
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Small all the way. I wish I ordered a small. I'm a size 33-34 but when carry over 60lbs, I hit fabric
 
Joined
Feb 9, 2015
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652
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SE Michigan
Small all the way. I wish I ordered a small. I'm a size 33-34 but when carry over 60lbs, I hit fabric

Damn! That's not what I wanted to hear. I was planning on ordering a 3500 tomorrow in foliage and was going to go with a medium belt. I'm a 34 and am currently dropping some lbs. and small foliage hip belts are on back order! lol

Thanks for the info though.
 

Xtreme007

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Feb 8, 2015
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770
I'm a 34 waist and have the medium belt and wish I would have ordered the small. With a heavy load I just about max it out pulling it together. Plus I plan on dropping a few more lbs also so I'd say I will have to get a small multicam belt soon
 
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I'm a 34 waist and have the medium belt and wish I would have ordered the small. With a heavy load I just about max it out pulling it together. Plus I plan on dropping a few more lbs also so I'd say I will have to get a small multicam belt soon

How much room does a small give you past 34" say if you were wearing some heavier pants? Are you still able to at least buckle it?

I ask because being from Michigan and primarily deer hunting, I'm going to use this pack from late October-December and will be wearing bulkier clothes. At least for the next couple years, it will primarily be used more for deer season than elk.
 

Xtreme007

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Feb 8, 2015
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I can't speak for the small but I know my medium has way more room than I will ever need with any clothes I wear. I also use mine for mostly deer archery hunting since I live in ky. Just planning my first elk trip for next year and went ahead and bought the pack for deer hunting in ky and Ohio this year. I feel that with a small I would be good with extra layers on in winter with my 34 waist.
 
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Just re watched the pack fitting video and and Steve is a 32-33, uses a small belt and you can tell he has a bunch of slack left over on each strap. Attached is a screen shot from the video some might find helpful.
 

twall13

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Jan 21, 2015
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Utah
I can't speak for everyone but I'm a 36 waist so right on the border between medium and large. I went with medium and feel like at times in close to bottoming it out when loaded heavy. It's to the point where I fear if I lost a few pounds is need a small belt. I can't imagine having more bulky clothes really forcing you to size up in the belts. I'd always go smaller on the EXO belts, but that's my take, YMMV.
 

Hillbilly

FNG
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Jul 29, 2015
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A couple layers of clothing isn't going to use up the slack you have left with a small. Tried mine on with base layer,kanabs,and FL NB pants plus base layers and a NB jacket. Still enough slack at 32" waist.
 
Joined
Nov 10, 2014
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Salida, COlorado
I have roughly a 33-34 waist and wished I would have ordered the small belt. It works but pretty cinched down with weight. I have not had an elk on the back, but I'm guessing I wished I had a couple more inches of cinching available.
 

Poser

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Dec 27, 2013
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I'm also a 33-34 and have to cinch it pretty far down for heavy loads. -not a lot of slack leftover. A small would probably be more ideal for me.
 
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