Why hunting-specific packs?

[yakimanoob]

Hey folks,

I'm new to hunting but have been backpacking and hiking for quite a few years. Though the hiking world I've grown to love Osprey packs (and their ridiculous warranty), but I'm curious what I'm missing by not having a hunting-specific pack. 

How many folks have tried to use hiking (Osprey, Gregory, Deuter, etc.) packs for hunting, and where have those packs fallen short?  I've looked at a number of hunting packs, but it's hard for me to justify having yet another pack in my closet that I'll use a few times a year rather than get by with the packs I already have. 

FWIW, I have a 2017 Osprey Atmos AG 50 that I use for more serious backpacking, and a 2016 Osprey Kestrel 32 that I use for literally everything else (light backpacking, day-hiking, travel, etc).  I hunted within striking distance of my truck this past year, but I'm hoping/planning to do some more backcountry hunts this fall.

Basically I'm just curious if it's worth spending another couple hundred bucks and having another pack in my closet.  What do you think? 

[Alchase]

If the Osprey works for you, I see no reason to buy another pack.

[yakimanoob]

If the Osprey works for you, I see no reason to buy another pack.

I guess I'm asking because I haven't tried hunting with it.  I envision myself lashing game bags to it somehow and hoping it doesn't rip apart under the heavy load.  No idea how that idea will pan out. 

[kselkhunter]

Osprey are a great pack.  No reason not to use it.

Some of us are gear whores and end up with lots of stuff.  I have more packs than I should.  I mean my Mystery Ranch pack is better at hauling 100lb loads of elk than my Deuter recreational pack is, but I could get by fine with a quality recreational pack.  And my Kuiu is much lighter than my recreational packs.  I'd say load bearing capability is probably the best reason to get a hunting specific pack.  But some folks hike back to their truck to get a frame pack for that so for some it's not warranted.  I prefer to gutless debone my animal after the shot, and haul out the meat/head right away without the extra hiking.  But I'm miles into the wilderness when I take a shot so the thought of hiking those miles both ways to get another pack doesn't work for me. 

Osprey, Deuter, Gregory are all great quality backpacks would be fine to use for hunting.  Just pick up a lightweight liner bag from Sea to Summit to put your meat in so you don't bloody the pack up. 

[yakimanoob]

Just pick up a lightweight liner bag from Sea to Summit to put your meat in so you don't bloody the pack up.

Good tip. 

[kselkhunter]

I hate cleaning blood off my pack.  So I just put my meat in game bags, then stuff the game bags in a lightweight waterproof sack.  I have both the Kuiu sacks and sea to summit pack liners.  Both work great for keeping blood off the backpack. 

[idaho guy]

There is no reason for you to buy another pack . Maybe a pack frame depending on how your current backpacks are set up.

[WapitiTalk1]

For me, the ability to have my hunting pack built so it an operate in a compressed day pack mode and then,  expand out to either haul meat or to carry camp in/out is huge.  I'm not sure many of the recreational packs can do that?  I have one hunting buddy with an older Gregory pack that he grabs after the first trip out with his Kuiu, he loves that big old Gregory for hauling meat; incredible belt and padding system on that pack.   

[JLS]

Your Osprey is a great pack and will do just fine.  The hunting packs give you a couple of things.  1) is a stouter frame/more load carrying capacity than most backpacking/mountaineering packs and 2) give you more options for dual loads, i.e a meat shelf arrangement.

I have a Dana Design pack that is great for backpacking/mountaineering and I used to use it a lot for hunting.  I climb with it and it works great.  Light weight and will handle loads up to about 65-70 pounds okay.  Beyond that and it isn't very comfortable.  My Mystery Ranch Metcalf is a heavier pack, and more rigid in the frame, but will handle insane loads too.  I can also use the meat shelf to pack meat and the bag for camp, should I need to take things out in one heavy trip.

Everything is a compromise, depending on what your priorities are.

[bobcat]

I think the most important reason for using a pack made for hunting is that they are made to be quiet. Maybe your style of hunting doesn't require a quiet pack. And if that's the case you probably don't need the camouflage color either.

[jackelope]

The only concern I'd see with the osprey pack is the ability to haul a load and have it up off your shoulders. If you kill a deer and Need to pack it out, you want to be able to do that.

[greenhead_killer]

The layout of pockets and easily accessible storage parts are what I like. I could make anything work, but it sure is convenient having stuff ready at hand or close and not having to dig anywhere. Plus they are designed for hunting so takes management guessing out. Not sure that makes sense to you. I have a ton of packs as well but think I found a winning ticket with last years newest addition.

[yakimanoob]

I think the most important reason for using a pack made for hunting is that they are made to be quiet. Maybe your style of hunting doesn't require a quiet pack. And if that's the case you probably don't need the camouflage color either.

I'm a rifle hunter so hopefully I won't find myself in a situation where I have to get close enough to the animals that I start thinking about the rubbing sound nylon packs make. 

HOWEVER -- incidentally, I'm packing my Atmos AG 50 up this afternoon to send back to Osprey for replacement.  I recently sent in a 2008/09 Atmos 50 for repair, they said they couldn't repair it, and sent me a brand new pack for free  .  Buuuuuuuttttttttt it squeaks and creaks every step in the most annoying way you can imagine, so it's going back.  The rep said it's a known problem and they'll gladly replace it with a properly-working pack.  All that to say, I can handle the woosh of nylon gear.  But I definitely wouldn't take a creaking, popping, squeaking pack with me while I try and stalk a cervid. 

This provides an interesting opportunity for me to sell the new one they send me and buy a different pack if I so decide...

[huntnfmly]

The only reason to buy another pack is because you can lol.
Always nice buying new gear.

[ctwiggs1]

Just a glance at the osprey site and it says 25-40lbs.  I carry more than that on a backpack hunt and I carry that range during day trips.  For a packout with meat, bones, antlers and hide.... I just don't know how much faith I would put in it.

It looks like a great hiking pack.  I just personally would want something a bit more stout.  I don't care much about camo with a pack.

[j_h_nimrod]

As with most of my early "technical" hunting gear I started started with the better mountaineering brands; The North Face, Dana Designs, Patagonia (I know!), Outdoor Research, etc.  Until technical hunting gear became mainstream there were not a lot of options. That said, I looked for packs that were big and had heavy load capabilities.  They were few and typically heavy.   

The main differences I see in "hunting" specific packs vs. other packs are the load ratings and versatility. Osprey makes a great pack (I grew up ~40 miles from their shop) but have found them more lightly built than more hunting specific packs. Mountaineering packs typically top out at <~60 lb load ratings and I have found them comfortable to that point, but beyond that the suspension is lacking. That said, there are a number of packs that are comfortable beyond that. In reality it depends on how much and how heavily you use a pack for hunting vs. other pursuits. My ideal packs are and most of my packs were bought for hunting and are heavily built for size, compactable (carry camp in then day hunt), and have multiple lashing possibilities. I am getting wimpy anymore and am looking at lighter packs with the same heavy carry abilities and other hunting specific features.

For what it's worth I have usually carried dry sacks in my pack, but typically for gear. For meat I have always carried a few game bags and a few contractor bags.  On long trips the game bags make a great hanging meat (cooling) bag and the contractor bags have multiple uses beyond keeping a pack clean.

[PlateauNDN]

No need. I use hiking packs, an Alice pack, a "hunting" pack and pack frame. Just depends on what terrain, distance and type of hunting. 1st load with whatever I got then pack frame. To silence your pack use electrical tape. Use 1 hand and shake your osprey, wherever you hear noise warp it a couple of times to silence. Then if you need to take it off it peels of easy.

[greenhead_killer]

No need. I use hiking packs, an Alice pack, a "hunting" pack and pack frame. Just depends on what terrain, distance and type of hunting. 1st load with whatever I got then pack frame. To silence your pack use electrical tape. Use 1 hand and shake your osprey, wherever you hear noise warp it a couple of times to silence. Then if you need to take it off it peels of easy.

use super +33 tape. Spend the few bucks and get the good stuff. Generic tape is garbage

[ctwiggs1]

No need. I use hiking packs, an Alice pack, a "hunting" pack and pack frame. Just depends on what terrain, distance and type of hunting. 1st load with whatever I got then pack frame. To silence your pack use electrical tape. Use 1 hand and shake your osprey, wherever you hear noise warp it a couple of times to silence. Then if you need to take it off it peels of easy.

Man I can't tell you how many times I did that in the field when I was in the service LOL

[Stein]

I have an Osprey, circa 1995 and a hunting pack.  I bought a second pack for hunting primarily because it had a scabbard built in, hydration compatible (not an issue with newer hiking packs), had pockets that fit scopes and other hunting stuff, was built to carry a heavier load and I didn't want blood all over my hiking pack.  So, pretty much what everyone else said.

You could make it work, I would much rather go in with less than optimal gear than sit home or hunt from the road.