WHICH PACK FOR HUNTING AND HAULING OUT GAME

[Chet43]

It's been a long, long time since I used one but I am in the market for a pack that can be used for day and overnight hunting if need be plus can also with my gear be used to pack out bone out meat and/or quarters. Any recommendations? There are a ton of packs on the market but most I have looked at don't seem to be setup for comfortable meat packing plus overnight gear and the other are sold by the manufacturer so I can touch and feel it before buying it, which makes me nervous.

Would an internal or external frame be better? Any suggestion on what I need to know before buying a pack or the best one out there?

[carlyoungs]

I would pick one of the 3 top dogs. Kifaru, Stone Glacier or Exo Mountain gear. I went with the Exo. Super comfy and set up perfect.  I went with the saying buy once cry once. Also I tried out the kuiu pack and it was about 3 steps below the Exo. You will probably get 20 different answers but this is my take.

[colersu22]

I have a Kifaru tactical frame with a woodsman and have used an EXO in the past.  Where do you live? Maybe someone close can have you check out a pack or 2 before you drop the coin on one. 

The main company’s that come to mind are Kifaru, EXO mountain gear, Stone glacier, Mystery Ranch and Seek outside.  The Rokslide forum has tons of threads asking the same question and you could spend months reading about different packs.

[lamrith]

Man, that is like Ford, Chevy, Dodge.  There will be no single best. 

There are a few different types of bag setup, plus there are a number of really great companies out there making bags out there.  You need to figure out if you want external frame or internal frame.   I was lucky enough to have a hunting partner that had a couple old setups he let me use on a hunt as did another camp member.  Two of the packs were the traditional metal external frame and while comfortable I quickly found that I did not like how they handled busting thru brush.

Then you can narrow down brands and features.  Same partners also gave me a chance to examine their packs, exo, Kuiu.  Each brand tends to have a different idea on how they like to do pockets and organization as well as openings and access to compartments.  I found I liked the Kuiu best and ended up buying one on sale a year ago, then bought a larger pack to put on the frame.

You will find that what bag works for you can be personal much like bow or shoes or any other gear.  If you have any friends that have setups see if you can borrow one for a weekend and use it to go out scouting.  Put some weight in it and put boots to ground and see how it does.   I also recommend taking a good look at the gear you carry daily, as well as what you want to haul in for an overnighter.

As for my choice I went Kuiu for a couple reasons.  While it is external frame it is a carbon frame which can be split from the pack and hey have a number of bag sizes that can be swapped out onto the frame.  I bought mine as a 1850 thinking it would be more than enough space since I use it primarily as a daypack.  I then stumbled on a deal locally on a 3300 bag only.  After a few days hunting I felt like he 1850 was just a hair small for the gear I carry, heavier clothes needed for morning would not fit inside it after mid-morning removal.  So I swapped the 3300 on and was all set.  The Kuiu also as mentioned can separate from teh frame, so when you get an animal down you bundle up the quarter, remove the bag form the frame and then put the meat right on the frame, then put the bag over it and cinch it all down so the meat is tight to your back for best hauling.  You can also put overnight came gear between the pack and frame, just possibly means an extra trip out at the end to haul camp out after the meat is at the truck.

Maybe let us know where you are located and a few people might be willing to at least show you their bags since many companies are mfg direct only.

[northwesthunter84]

I really have been happy with Exo, I passed my 2014 on to a guy in Colorado that was in your shoes, and picked up one in the pattern I originally wanted. I have tested mine with day pack loaded and 160#s of sand. Nothing is going to really be comfortable at that level. Did 2 miles just to see if I could do it. The pack ran really well. I think for 2-4 nights and daypack items look at something in the 3000-4000 Cubic in range. All the packs mentioned are excellent. Write a list of features that you want. Find the pack that has the most of them and then if you can get a used one. Resale value will still be in the same ballpark as what you paid so if it doesn’t float your boat you can move on and try another one. Now is a good time too, to find a used pack.

[Magnum_Willys]

If I could grab any pack it would be the Kuiu 3500 for my hunting daypack and first trip out,  Stone Glacier or Kifaru for subsequent trips or packing in.   I like the minimalist Kuiu for day-2-day hunting and it packs a 100# out fine just doesn't have quite the cushy belt and back cushion the bigger packs have.  But I don't want to just day and short hunt with a full-size camping pack.

[Wolfdog2314]

Ditto what everyone else has said.

I started with a kuiu, and tho I love their clothing, I couldn’t LOVE the pack. I did “like” it tho, and it got the job done. Especially the capability of hauling out meat was awesome. But with squeaks I couldn’t get rid of, and the feeling of being a little too stiff in it, I ordered an Exo Mountain.

I got the Exo 3500. Have only used it on one turkey hunt so far last week, but so far so good. I barely feel it there. And super quiet.

I was on the fence between a Kifaru pack. Don’t think u can go wrong either way. Just have to decide what features mean the most to you.

Good luck!

[Chet43]

I live in the Burien/Des Moines area

[Bullseye108]

I really like the kuiu icon pro 1850 for day hunts. Packed out part of a bear last year with it. Weighed pack with bear in it at house 174 pounds.

[kselkhunter]

You're on the right track trying to see one first.   

My  is it's a trade off of pack weight (wearing it all day) vs. the pack's ability to haul heavy loads out (ie elk quarters).   Then price, quality, brand trustworthiness, etc. come into play.   So, depends on what your budget is.  And what your style of hunting is.

Kifaru and Mystery Ranch are the old dogs that have been doing it the longest, and supply both hunting packs as well as military and recreational and fire categories.  Exo and Stone Glacier are the popular new kids on the block.  Kuiu rounds out the top 5 as a lighter weight option, that has been around longer than Exo/Stone Glacier, but not as long as the old dogs.   

An alternative is some folks opt to buy a less expensive pack brand (or even a recreational pack) and just use it to take out the first load, then switch to a pack frame meat hauler to pack the rest of the quarters out.  And that is a perfectly fine strategy as well.

I only hunt wilderness areas in the backcountry, so my backpack never leaves my back.  These days I primarily use the Kuiu Ultra series, with 1800ci bag, 6000ci bag, and load sling attachments.   Very lightweight for carrying on my back all day.  I have fit an entire quartered deer in the 6000ci bag multiple times.  For elk quarters, you strap it between frame and bag.  I also have an older (ie heavier) Mystery Ranch Crew Cab that is my pack of choice if doing an elk backcountry hunt....it's a tank and handles very heavy loads well, but there is a weight trade-off for carrying it all day.  Today's MR models are lighter than mine.

Kifaru is a great, trusted established brand that you know will continue to survive and you can't go wrong with that brand.  The guys that hunted with me last year, one had the Exo 3500.  Much too small for our 8 day backcountry hunt in the snow.  He had quite a bit of stuff strapped to the outside of that pack.  I'd view the 3500 as a 2-4 night early season pack.   Need the bigger bag if going longer and in rougher weather.  The Exo quality looked good, but in the same class as a Kifaru, MR, Kuiu, etc.   I haven't had my hands on a Stone Glacier, so can't comment on that brand personally but have heard many good things about it.

Good luck on your pack research.   I live on the west side, so can let you look at the Kuiu Ultra and MR systems if you wanted.

[High Climber]

I really like the kuiu icon pro 1850 for day hunts. Packed out part of a bear last year with it. Weighed pack with bear in it at house 174 pounds.

That is a big azz bear! Any pack mentioned is a quality pack. For me the ability to haul meat between the bag and frame like in this pic is top of the list. I went with the EXO, have buddies with kuiu, kifaru etc. and they are all nice.  Mine may be on the market soon, only reason is I’m 6’3 and the frame isn’t quite long enough to make the the load lifters work as they should. But I’ve been contemplating mounting my 5500 bag on a kifaru 26” frame as I really like the bag.  Like others have said, I would go 3500 max if primary use is a daypack

[OltHunter]

I run the stone glacier sky archer 6200 and love it. It converts down to a 4000 so it's a great all around option for a day trip or 10 day.

$$$ but I try to go US made and willing to pay more. That eliminates a few on this list I think (Kuiu for sure), but I agree with everyon on the top 5. Unless you're hauling moose, you won't need an exterior frame one too.

[Crunchy]

The KUIU Icon Pro 3200 is perfect for me.  Can do a 2-3 day hunt or day hunts.   Hauls out meat just fine.  Not too big or too small.

[fisheral87]

The philosophy of Exo and Kifaru are very different and if you listen to Steve or Aron talk you’ll begin to understand their approaches.

Exo is a more trim minimalist backpacking style, like what you might find at REI, while Kifaru takes its cues from heavier military style roots with lighter weight material adaptations for civilian use.

@ 6’ 4” 220 with a very flat back I found the Exo just didn’t fit me well enough to maintain the height necessary to get full benefit of the load lifters but I loved how much the pack moved with me. Exo has since increased the size of the lumbar pad but the 26” Kifaru hunter frame fits me very well. I also like the benefits of molle attachments on the belt and pack along with a larger lid on the Kifaru. The modularity for packing meat between the bag and frame is not as slick compared to Exo but it does work.

Customer service from both has been stellar.

Al

[PlateauNDN]

Like someone said, there is no one single best. The one I use the most and is so far the most comfortable is one I got at an estate sale. It was covered in dust and under a couple of other frames.

I've hauled elk and bison on it and it's getting the job done with comfort and style. find what you like and run with it.