Mystery Ranch Metcalf vs. Kifaru Timberline 2 or 3? Update! Purchase made!

[Smossy]

Any reasons why you went with multicam over highlander?

Cause multicam looks cooler!  That and its on sale    Seriously though i think multicam is one of the most universal camo patterns out there.  I wear it a lot but wish someone would make some higher end stuff in that pattern, like First Light or someone.

How do you know if its on sale, Ive been trying to price some stuff and Im only seeing the DT3 on sale with the multicam.

[RadSav]

For your first pack I would recommend the eberlestock blue widow, good pack at a good price

. The blue widow is a decent pack but it did not hold up to my abuse.  Didn't even make it through one hunting season.  Did not seem to carry weight well for me.  That being said I have a friend who has had one for 4 seasons and loves it.  He only packs about one deer a year with it though.

Send that pack back to Glen.  Eberlestock packs should never wear out!  I've misused and abused mine.  Have had over 150# in it many times.  Some awful out of balance loads a few times too.  Never a problem!  I've heard the same story about Eberle a few times, so I guess it's not unheard of.  I've just never experienced it myself.

If you have salt on anything it's a good idea to always soak and re-soak.  Blood is not so bad, but it does start to have an effect over time.  Especially on the stitching.  I've ruined some dang fine packs over the years and finally learned my lesson. 

Once you get it back you could have a nice backup pack for those guys, all of us know at least one, who show up to elk camp and say, "Sorry, I can't help.  I have no pack."  I always enjoy seeing the look on their face when I tell them, "That's ok. I've got extras!  You want internal or external?"   Even the women pack meat around our camp!

[Karl Blanchard]

I was just punching in what I wanted the other day and noticed that the multicam came up discounted when I punched it in with aluminum stays.  Didn't really mess around too much with other combinations though.  The DT2 came up discounted as well.  It was just shy of $100 off.

[Smossy]

I was just punching in what I wanted the other day and noticed that the multicam came up discounted when I punched it in with aluminum stays.  Didn't really mess around too much with other combinations though.  The DT2 came up discounted as well.  It was just shy of $100 off.

I must be missing something, I cant even get it to show up where I choose the stays, I must have have to choose a frame to eh?

[SilkOnTheDrySide]

Congrats...welcome to the Dark Side...I'll never go back.

[Karl Blanchard]

For your first pack I would recommend the eberlestock blue widow, good pack at a good price

. The blue widow is a decent pack but it did not hold up to my abuse.  Didn't even make it through one hunting season.  Did not seem to carry weight well for me.  That being said I have a friend who has had one for 4 seasons and loves it.  He only packs about one deer a year with it though.

Send that pack back to Glen.  Eberlestock packs should never wear out!  I've misused and abused mine.  Have had over 150# in it many times.  Some awful out of balance loads a few times too.  Never a problem!  I've heard the same story about Eberle a few times, so I guess it's not unheard of.  I've just never experienced it myself.

If you have salt on anything it's a good idea to always soak and re-soak.  Blood is not so bad, but it does start to have an effect over time.  Especially on the stitching.  I've ruined some dang fine packs over the years and finally learned my lesson. 

Once you get it back you could have a nice backup pack for those guys, all of us know at least one, who show up to elk camp and say, "Sorry, I can't help.  I have no pack."  I always enjoy seeing the look on their face when I tell them, "That's ok. I've got extras!  You want internal or external?"   Even the women pack meat around our camp!

This was about 4 years ago.  I did send it back for a new one and then I sold it.  I didn't want to pack a load of meat in my arms ever again   It only made it two months into the season.  It was probably just a bad strap but it was enough of a bad experience to shy me away from them for life.  I have been trying very hard as of late to try and buy American made as well.  Its tough let me tell ya.  And my buddies get my old bi-mart frame with the broken waistbelt

[Karl Blanchard]

I was just punching in what I wanted the other day and noticed that the multicam came up discounted when I punched it in with aluminum stays.  Didn't really mess around too much with other combinations though.  The DT2 came up discounted as well.  It was just shy of $100 off.

I must be missing something, I cant even get it to show up where I choose the stays, I must have have to choose a frame to eh?

Yep, buy it as a combo and you will get the options.  I don't believe they sell the bag with the bikini frame as a combo though.

[Karl Blanchard]

Congrats...welcome to the Dark Side...I'll never go back.

  I wanted soooo bad to send you a pic of my new Mystery Ranch

[RadSav]

This was about 4 years ago.  I did send it back for a new one and then I sold it.  I didn't want to pack a load of meat in my arms ever again   It only made it two months into the season.  It was probably just a bad strap but it was enough of a bad experience to shy me away from them for life.  I have been trying very hard as of late to try and buy American made as well.  Its tough let me tell ya.  And my buddies get my old bi-mart frame with the broken waistbelt

They did have a bunch of bad stitching right after the fire.  Not sure if stock got rushed or they didn't pay due diligence on inspection trying to get back in business.  That's a bummer!  I packed a hind quarter a mile in my arms one time when I was young...NEVER again!

I'm going to try the new Eberlestock frame/hauler this year before I break down and do the same as you.  But, I'm hoping to go a little lighter rather than changing because of reliability.  I like the idea that they named the pack after my late friend Bill Krenz too!

One of the reasons I always keep a spare is because I have to use a guide up north.  Most of those guys are so poor they have garbage packs.  Been more than one occasion where the guide had a broken pack when I arrived.  I even had a guide, whom I am very fond of, who carried a shotgun for our bear protection.  When a grizzly acted threatening one day I noticed he dropped the gun and pulled out his big knife    When I asked him what he was doing he told me he didn't have enough money to buy slugs for the gun so it was empty.  Apparently he was carrying it just to make me feel better.  I now usually bring ammo for whatever the guide says he carries as a backup too

[Karl Blanchard]

This was about 4 years ago.  I did send it back for a new one and then I sold it.  I didn't want to pack a load of meat in my arms ever again   It only made it two months into the season.  It was probably just a bad strap but it was enough of a bad experience to shy me away from them for life.  I have been trying very hard as of late to try and buy American made as well.  Its tough let me tell ya.  And my buddies get my old bi-mart frame with the broken waistbelt

They did have a bunch of bad stitching right after the fire.  Not sure if stock got rushed or they didn't pay due diligence on inspection trying to get back in business.  That's a bummer!  I packed a hind quarter a mile in my arms one time when I was young...NEVER again!

I'm going to try the new Eberlestock frame/hauler this year before I break down and do the same as you.  But, I'm hoping to go a little lighter rather than changing because of reliability.  I like the idea that they named the pack after my late friend Bill Krenz too!

One of the reasons I always keep a spare is because I have to use a guide up north.  Most of those guys are so poor they have garbage packs.  Been more than one occasion where the guide had a broken pack when I arrived.  I even had a guide, whom I am very fond of, who carried a shotgun for our bear protection.  When a grizzly acted threatening one day I noticed he dropped the gun and pulled out his big knife    When I asked him what he was doing he told me he didn't have enough money to buy slugs for the gun so it was empty.  Apparently he was carrying it just to make me feel better.  I now usually bring ammo for whatever the guide says he carries as a backup too

WOW!!!!!!!!  I think bludgeoning the bear with the gun would work better!!!  I think defects happen with every product.  I probably just got unlucky.  When I first got my Blue Widow I had something adjusted wrong, can't remember what, but it made the pack squeak really bad, but I called their customer service and they were extremely professional and knowledgeable and they had me up and running in stealth mode in know time.  I also had a new pack, no questions asked in no time.  They got an A rating in the customer service category.

[RadSav]

Hopefully if something does go wrong with a Kifaru there won't be the long lead time for repair.  No question it's the cream of the crop, but crap does happen.  I'll be looking forward to your after season review of the pack come December this year.  You know us dreamers are going to be wanting one

[fillthefreezer]

the waistbelt on my kifaru got messed during spring bear and they sent me a new belt. then i returned the other belt. no down time. 

[dreamingbig]

All the cool kids are using a DT1 in multicam

. I guess I am not cool.  DT2 in multicam for me.


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[Smossy]

All the cool kids are using a DT1 in multicam

. I guess I am not cool.  DT2 in multicam for me.


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I think that's what Ill be getting to, DT1 seems alittle too big for me.

[dreamingbig]

I can fit 9 days of gear in my dt2 with no issues. I do have a high camp 7000 for family trips when I am the pack mule.


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