Good, Bad, and the Ugly! 2014 Gear review!

[Karl Blanchard]

So I replaced a lot of gear this past year and thought it might be informative to some of you if I did a bit of review on some things.

First off is my Kifaru Timberline 1 with Duplex frame.  What an amazing pack!  It has 24" stays, standard top lid, and is 7200 cubic inches.  I have destroyed many a pack over the years but this thing is in a league of its own! It is a very simple layout with two front pockets, two long side pockets for tripod and spotter and one small pouch on the interior of the bag.  There is also a lower zipper on the bag for a sleeping bag compartment but I went ahead and cut out the divider to save some weight.  I also cut out the snow collar from the top, and some extra strapping I felt I didn't need.  The Duplex frame has an amazing amount of micro adjustability to get the absolute perfect fit.  It is a bit of a process but once properly fitted, it is as comfortable as I have ever worn.  Compression straps are in the perfect places for maximum effectiveness.  No barreling or bulging of gear or meat ever occurs.

This pack compresses down very small for day use.  The way I would set it up goes as follows.  Only thing in the main compartment was my kill kit, misc items in a pull out(later review), trecking poles, and any extra clothes items I may be packing.  These are things that I don't need to access on a regular basis.  On the outside, bottom front pocket I kept, rhino, headlamp, electrical tape, phone, and keys.  Top front pocket I kept all my snacks for the day.  Basically all the stuff I needed to access often was kept on the outside which enabled me to keep my bag compressed down to nothing for max mobility but quick access to the things I need often.  This setup worked extremely well for me from early bow hunting to late season rifle.  Side long pockets fit my big 85mm Vortex spotter easily and on the other side, my Outdoorsmans medium tripod with Outdoorsmans panhead.  These are quickly and easily accessed.  This was one of the bigger selling points for me as I have never had a pack that carried tripod and spotter well.

The load capabilities of this pack are amazing.  I don't just say things like that either.  I pack a bit more meat than your average hunter.  This year alone, I packed out 13 deer and 3 elk with this pack.  The largest load being both hind quarters, tenderloins and backstraps from a mature 6pt bull.  Pack was 118lbs.  I'm 5'8" and 175lbs.  A load like that would have killed me with my other packs.  I'm not gonna say that this pack made 118 pounds feel like 60 pounds or anything like that.  That load def felt like 118 pounds but it was as comfortable as that much weight has ever been.  Last pack out of the year was Coach's buck.  Whole buck boned out, cape and head. 

Things I would change about this pack.  Larger D rings on the shoulder straps.  The smallest of hydration bladder mouth pieces will not fit through them without removing the mouth piece from the tube (I hate doing this). 

I will be ordering a larger Long Hunter top lid that has pockets on it for future extended pack trips where more gear is needed.

I wanted a minimalist's pack design that was functional, durable, and effective and I got all that and more.

[Karl Blanchard]

This was the 118lb load.  This pack literally has nothing but elk meat in it.  Stuffed to the gills! 

[Karl Blanchard]

Colorado.  Whole buck boned out, head and cape, all gear, scope and spotter.

[Karl Blanchard]

Coach's buck

[JPhelps]

Look at the new "guide" lid. I just ordered one and I think it will be the ticket on longer trips. It is 800ci and can be used as a ruck.

[Karl Blanchard]

Since I am on the topic of meat packing I will elaborate on how I get it done.  This year I switched from Canvas Alaskan game bags, which have served me well, to Caribou lightweight bags.  Amazing difference.  Much lighter material which enables meat to cool more quickly and also saves on weight and space.  Bags are larger and about the third of the space.  Pretty durable for as thin as they are.  Lots of meat hauled and the only rip I have is from an unknown camp creature who chewed a hole in one. 

After I have boned out and game bagged my critter, I drop the game bag into a SEATOSUMMIT 65L dry sack.  Coach bought me one as a birthday present this fall and it has been a great addition to my pack.  Along with keeping your pack and your gear from getting bloody, it keeps the load compressed and centered well.  If its hot, you can pull the dry bag out of your pack and throw it straight in the cooler when you get back to the truck without your meat water logging.  Disclaimer: If your meat is still pretty warm, get it out of the dry sack and spread out to cool faster.  Dry bags hold heat and will slow the cooling process even when placed on ice.  Use good judgement on this matter

I don't mind a little blood on my pack but for me, if I didn't take these measures, I would have to wash my pack 20 times a season.  Blood will also rot your bag if not at least wiped out.

DO NOT machine wash these dry bags!!!!  The liner does not like to be machine washed

[Karl Blanchard]

Game bags.  New vs. Old and the seatosummit bag

[Karl Blanchard]

Top rolled up making it water tight

[Karl Blanchard]

Look at the new "guide" lid. I just ordered one and I think it will be the ticket on longer trips. It is 800ci and can be used as a ruck.

  I'll check it out!  Larger lid is def on my hit list for this spring.  Got some brutal backpack hunts planned next year.  Did you order a new bag?

[kentrek]

Always nice to find a good system 

 Just curious, how much water does the Kifaru packs soak up ??

[Karl Blanchard]

Always nice to find a good system 

 Just curious, how much water does the Kifaru packs soak up ??

I was lucky this year, no heavy rain on any of my hunts.  Did get some pretty heavy snow fall a few times that left me soaked but all my gear was dry.  Few light rain storms I got stuck in didn't amount to much.  I'm a dry side guy though

[Karl Blanchard]

With any Pack that lacks pockets, organization can be difficult and 7200 cubic inches can bury gear into the dark depths of "where in the hell did my flashlight go"!  To combat this, I picked up some of Kifaru's "pull out pouches".  They are just little zippered pouches that come in various sizes and weigh virtually nothing.  I have one I keep misc gear in like, med kit, extra batteries, fire starter stuff, tape, batteries, a couple contractor plastic bags, etc.  One is my kill kit which has two game bags, orange vest for antlers while they are on my back, havalon, electrical tape, and latex gloves.  I also have a larger one that I keep all my food in for backpack hunts.  These little pouches enable me to know exactly where everything is and keeps my pack from filling up with loose gear.  They also make packing for backpack trips simple and organized.

[Karl Blanchard]

Pull outs

[JPhelps]

Look at the new "guide" lid. I just ordered one and I think it will be the ticket on longer trips. It is 800ci and can be used as a ruck.

  I'll check it out!  Larger lid is def on my hit list for this spring.  Got some brutal backpack hunts planned next year.  Did you order a new bag?

Yeah I ordered the new AMR, a custom 28" duplex, guide lid and a few more belt pouches.

[kentrek]

Always nice to find a good system 

 Just curious, how much water does the Kifaru packs soak up ??

I was lucky this year, no heavy rain on any of my hunts.  Did get some pretty heavy snow fall a few times that left me soaked but all my gear was dry.  Few light rain storms I got stuck in didn't amount to much.  I'm a dry side guy though

You mean you haven't ran a before an after weight test under the sprinkler  

Always wondered how that fabric did after a few solid days of rain...nothing worse than carrying around water ya can't drink