what are you changing in your pack for'14

[sagewalker]

nothing

[bassquatch]

How about NO PACK?! 

Let me explain...last elk season after 7 hard days of many miles I developed a knot in my back to the point I couldn't even think about throwing my Eberlestock X2 on  So, since I still had a couple days to hunt I decided to take my vest (which has many pockets like a fishing vest) and just load the essentials for a day hunt! I took 1 knife, 1 bone saw, my gps, a signal mirror, 1 silver emergency blanket, some 50/50 cord my Swiss Army multi tool in my BDU pants pocket, my tag, a headlamp, 4 extra rounds of ammo, some high calorie bars, beef jerky and a couple other odds and ends like emergency fire starter... I also wore a Camelback 2L hydration pack under my vest. Carrying my Tikka SS SL was a breeze and I was light, mobile and ended up 5 miles out and barely felt it 

I dropped my cow with this configuration and had everything I needed to dress, skin and quarter, then it's just a matter of making the first trip back to the truck with whatever you can carry, grab the pack, drop what you no longer need and back for more! Worked GREAT!

Therefore this year I plan on dumping the Eberlestock as a "day pack" and ordering a Kifaru T1 for an all arounder! I may also carry a king size bed sheet or two as a game bag and add a small water filtration unit? At first it felt strange leaving my truck without my pack but then I felt like I was getting away with something 

[northwesthunter84]

bassquatch- I was thinking the same thing but then I found exomountaingear.com.  I am pretty certain that I am going to be getting one of these.  I love my X1A1 but I would like the ability to bivy out for a couple days.  It compresses down and the price point is awesome.

[autodink13]

Well I was only planning to change from the zlite pad to the neo xtherm. But I did some dealing, I have a stone glacier pack arriving any day, I swapped my Leopold binos for swarovski, I added a swarovski spotter, I swapped from a Christensen arms to a customized rem 700 300 rum. I still havnt bought the neo xtherm because I'm debating either the regular or large. Anybody use the xtherm?

[dreamingbig]

Looking to add a Kifaru quarter bag to the kit this year


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[xXLojackXx]

Swapped my Eberle Dragonfly for a MR 6500, got some Vortex Viper HD 10's, big Agnes pad and bag, new headlamp, some Sitka gear, and a new bow. Now just need august to come!

[northwesthunter84]

Finally went for it and purchased the Exo pack.  Should see it sometime in May.

[turkeyfeather]

An un-notched tag. 

[Smossy]

Kifaru DT3 and Duplex Frame, Vortex 1000 rangefinder. That's all I can think of atm

[Bmcox86]

Was planning on a new pack but I think I'm going to wait until I know where I'm moving next year before I drop that kind of cash. Don't want to waste it if I'm just going to end up someplace flat. 

Did upgrade to a tikka t3 light 300 wm with muzzle break and vortex viper 6-20x44

Also plan on getting a rokslide kill kit and upgrade my first aid kit to save weight and be more prepared.

[Rob]

Not to derail this, but I just finished up the Wilderness First Aid class from Remote Medical International a week ago.  It was a required companion class of the Basic Climbing Class that I am taking with the mountaineers.  (Well, mostly done - I have a "scenario" night coming up in a week where we have to come in and provide aid for some kind of large scale remote medical disaster)

I have a really hard time getting excited about first aid, but I have to say, this was an EXCELLENT Class.  It was a good mixture of class room lectures, hands on practice, and wilderness based aid scenarios complete with makeup, fake blood, compound fractures, and screaming. I do not enjoy role playing, but I am not sure how one could learn this material without it.

The one thing that really stuck out was the quality of the instructors. Not only did they know their stuff inside and out, but they also had excellent teaching skills. They were able to speak and diagram complex content in an understandable manner and did so in a very structured delivery methodology (What to expect, signs and symptoms, treatments, hands on demo, scenario). The instructors were also able to field every single one of our questions (class was a little over 30 in size) with realistic, on target answers. This was a "college level" class of instructors.

So, while it would be a reach to say I “enjoyed” the class, I can say that it was outstanding and well worth the time. My complaints are solely around the fact that I don’t enjoy the subject matter, or role playing!

To bring this back to the OP's topic, I am in the process of an overhaul to my First Aid kit.  My old kit was 0.688 lbs and the new one should come in around 1.82 pounds.  A bit heavy (I hate adding weight) , but I'll be good to go for a bunch of different situations.  Still working on the list, but here is where I am at:

[Rob]

link to the class description
http://www.remotemedical.com/RMI-Training/Wilderness-First-Aid-WFA

[7mag.]

Where did you take that class Rob?

[SilkOnTheDrySide]

Ok...so are you planning on bringing all that into a backcountry situation?


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[ICEMAN]

I intend to increase the amount of food and drinks I take into the backwoods. I will place this in my kids backpacks, so mine will remain the same as before. Better use it before I lose it. Teenagers.