Back in September I started my normal semi-annual hunt for a backpack that I really could live with for Long Term use.
Not to fear I have a bunch of back packs - that I basically use a 'Day Pack'. It seems I buy something new every couple of years in search of "The Pack"
My use of the back pack really hinges around hunting in Idaho, northern Idaho, during our hunting seasons that stretch from September to the middle of December. To complicate things a little bit - I am OLD! In fact back several years ago when I was teaching American History, I once had a student ask me if I was here when the dinosaurs were!
Well, back to pertinent stuff... I am a muzzleloader hunter. I hunt regular rifle season with a ML as well the ML seasons. Because I choose to hunt Elk in December, I purchase an Idaho 'A' Tag which gives me an automatic ML Elk season, but I am locked out of the regular Elk rifle season. At my age I can not hunt what most would call the better elk spots any longer and I am no longer in search of the Trophy - the December season works very well for me.
During the early season I do spend a lot of days in the woods hunting for the really nice Whitetails that we have here but in actuality I am really hunting for Elk sign and animals and if I see a nice buck so-be-it. But I much prefer seeing Elk even though I can not shoot.
With all of the above information my pack or the pack that I need needs to carry a lot of items. Sure there will be basic survival items but more importantly it will have all the things I need to process an animal after I shoot. Deer are not such a problem but having an Elk laying on the ground does require more tools for me. So I carry most everything I might need to process the animal - WITHOUT - having to go back to the truck to pick up things and return.
It, the pack, also must contain all the ML tools and supplies that I might need in the 'What IF' events that can happen. I know I carry far more than I need but 'WHAT IF'.
The 'Pack' - must be able to carry all of these items in an organized and convenient manner. And also of important is comfort for long days of walking. After doing a lot of research I decided on the 'Spike Camp'. Initially my first thought was the 'Nomad'
I looked at it and was determined that would be the next pack.
But with a little more research, I decided that the 'Spike Camps' could/should be a much better day pack for my use.
It arrived late last month....
At this point I am really impressed with the quality of the pack and the comport of the fit. Fit and comfort - that brings another good point -
these are not ONE pack FITS all. You supply Kifaru with some basic body information and pack is customized to your body type.
I have not been able to do much with the pack yet because I have had the WORK. So basically all I have done is add the two pouches that were ordered to the waist belt.
These are what the pouches look like...
I put the two I received on the waist belt as shown in the picture below... These two will serve really well for ML loads and small tools while the other will be stock with hunt items - calls - scope covers - and other small items.
Kifaru also provided placed on the sides of the pack that pouches can be attached. At this point I am thinking I might get at least one more external pouch, but I want to wait until I actually get to put hunting equipment into the pack.
Another nice thought is the internal storage in the pack. The underside of the lid offers a zip closed storage pouch as well a another pouch high on the back inside the pack. There is also an internal storage area that extends from the top to the bottom of the pack. This storage has ample room for many different items. The main room in the pouch also extends from the top of the pack all the way to the bottom. And with that this is the only thing on the pack I would change for myself. I really wish the main internal store area of the pack had a bottom that separated it from the zippered entrance near the bottom of the pocket. This would provide two separate storage areas instead of one big one with two access points. And at this point that is the only downside that I have currently found.
This picture try to show the internal structure of the pack
As time moves along and I am really able to work with the pack I will add more information...
But right now today I really like what I have got....
