Light and QUIET backpack ideas?

[whuppinstick]

I currently use my ULA Catalyst for most of my backpack hunts because it's just 3 pounds and will carry everything I ask it to, but you really can't hunt in brush with it.  The Sitka and Eberlestock packs I've touched are very quiet, but have so many bells and whistles that they are 5-6+ pounds.  Mystery Ranch is made of Cordura, so that is out.  Has anybody found a minimalist pack made of quiet material?

[WAcoyotehunter]

I picked up a kuiu icon 1850 because it's so light... there's no way I can bow hunt with that thing.  It's terribly loud.

I have an old horn hunter pack that is quiet, but it's pretty heavy.  It can handle an elk quarter easily though, so I keep using it.

[ctwiggs1]

Tagging along - I'm still using my old ruck sack from Iraq and I'd love to replace it in '17 with something less noisy.  That rigid plastic is awful. 

[Tbob]

I've been using a Badlands Superday for a while now, but it's defintely not the lightest thing, but I haven't found anything better as of yet. I really enjoy the built in pistol holster!!

[whuppinstick]

I've been using a Badlands Superday for a while now, but it's defintely not the lightest thing, but I haven't found anything better as of yet. I really enjoy the built in pistol holster!!

I meant to put Badlands on the list with Sitka and Eberlestock as companies that have light fabric but very heavy packs.  I have the Superday but am looking for something with greater capacity that I can take on a backcountry hunt.

[Mxracer532]

Stone Glacier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[whuppinstick]

Stone Glacier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the tip!  I just called them and discussed their fabric and they use Cordura like Mystery Ranch does, so that won't work.  That fabric is too loud for me when it scrapes against things.

[jtw]

The outside of the exo packs os a stretchy material thats pretty quiet. Definitely quitest backpack Ive owned, but Im not a fan of brushed materials.

[whuppinstick]

The outside of the exo packs os a stretchy material thats pretty quiet. Definitely quitest backpack Ive owned, but Im not a fan of brushed materials.

Thanks for the tip, jtw!  I'll be scouting for an Idaho hunt in early September so maybe I'll stop by their Boise office and see if I can play around with one of their packs.  I'm a bit dismayed at the weight (almost 5 pounds for the smallest bag), though.

[kentrek]

Pick your frame of choice with a load sling then have a fleece cover built for a dry sack

[Mxracer532]

Stone Glacier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the tip!  I just called them and discussed their fabric and they use Cordura like Mystery Ranch does, so that won't work.  That fabric is too loud for me when it scrapes against things.

It isn't loud at all. Do yourself a favor and check one out. Especially if you are taking pack weight into consideration.

[buglebuster]

I was worried about noise when I bought my mystery ranch but after using it, its a non issue. All of your top end packs will be made of cordura, and there's a reason for that.

[Jonathan_S]

Any material is quiet if it doesn't touch the brush. What about Kifaru's Apollo? It was made for 3D shooters but obviously anything by them is field worthy. Add a guide lid and pocket to the belt, maybe a grab it. I imagine that would be big enough for your UL adventures. Maybe too heavy though.

[shootnrun]

Stone Glacier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When out hunting, for me anyway, the pack is in bivy mode with limited things in the pack so its pretty well compressed and branches and brush don't even touch it. If it is fully expanded, its probably loaded with meat so I don't care how loud it is. But I have used it for two years for all sorts of hunting, including bow hunting elk, and it has not been the source of failed hunts. Plus its nice to have something you can comfortably load up with meat and pack out on your way out rather than having to make an extra trip for your meat hauling pack. The weight of the pack is incredibly light. I'd definitely give it a second thought.

[MtnMuley]

What's the most weight you plan on carrying with it? If it's sun 80#, I'd recommend a Kifaru bikini with a custom built fleece bag of your liking. Toss in the Kifaru cargo panel and you're set. You can take basically any bag of your liking to a seamstress or similar and have it compatible with the frame you choose with the right components. I've been in your shoes looking for a perfect quiet pack that can handle loads, and have given up. Modifications is where it's at.