are the 22mm pins removeable on the epix Gen 2?

Same for me. Hoping someone will figure out a way to do this. Lots of people seem to have this question. 

I was also disappointed when I was unable to pop out the pins from my epix. My go to strap is those nylon velcro/hook straps with 5 small hook velcros (like an Apple Watch strap) that I bought from Aliexpress.

After trying unsuccessfully with screwdrivers and exacto knives, I found out that NM has a removable hook design for watches that does not have removable pins.  After looking at that, I decided to do a small dremel project.

I was able to take my dremel and cut a tiny cut on the hook section of the watch band and slide off the nylon strap.  After that, I tried to push the nylon strap through the clearance.  It is tighter than the 2mm+ NM recommended.  However, I was able to take one of those "expansion slot clips" from the computer and carefully jam the nylon strap through the clearance.

I will attach some photos.  Hopefully this will help.

1)  Cut made to the hook - I guess I could file the edges so it's less sharp, but since it works I didn't bother doing more work :)

2)  Using the computer expansion slot bracket, I was able to use the edge to push the NM straps through the tight clearance.  Any flat wide object would do.  A large flat screwdriver head would probably work just fine, but I think the computer expansion slot cover is thinner and not sharp so it won't damage the NM strap.

Great job !!! And it looks perfect !! Congratulations !!

This was perfect, My epix just arrived, I had to dremel my Nick Mankey existing strap, but this worked like a charm.  Took 5 min.

I did the first cut too just like you but to me it was too close to the end of the hook so there is a bigger chance of the band getting out itself during a hard workout. So I took another one and made a cut almost in the middle and it fits much more secure now. So if you cut the hook then better do it more to the middle just to be sure the band doesn't come off as easily. 

I must not be working out hard enough lol.  I don't have an issue with the straps sliding out.  I did try to cut it at more of an angle like the ones on NM's website.  Hopefully it stays as I don't have a spare one.

Hahaaa, no sorry, with "hard" I mean f.e. me bouncing on a trampoline with weights in my hands. Not sooooo hard but a lot of arm movement involved and with heavier weights it gets hard and then I have no control of the band anymore. But I think I cut a bit more to the end. But I really found more to the middle is a safer option here. It fits perfect there and no fear of the band getting loose. 

So after following the threads on reddit, I saw that someone was able to remove the pin.  I bought the $10 tool on Amazon.  And after a bit of effort, I was able to get the pins removed.

The way you do it is you have to put pressure on the bar and pry the ear/flange part towards the middle of the bar, then keep the pressure on the bar so that the ear do not go back into the hole, after about 3-4 times, the pins do pop out.

Could you post a link to the tool you bought?