Smallest backcountry pack

[jstone]

Ok. Say you are going deep for 5 days. And you want to go half way light. What is the smallest size pack you would take back with you? You pack in your food, cloths, bag and stuff like that. Then you kill that mule deer. But you have to bone him out to get him out. And whatever you have left? First of September time frame. So maybe just a tarp to cover yourself.?

Thanks

Jeff

[jackelope]

A 3000” pack with the ability to put meat between the frame and bag? Not with my gear but some guys can do it I bet.

[jdb]

I'd say 4500minimum

[shallowforks]

To save weight on the pack itself nowadays some guys are going with smaller bags(1800-3000) and utilizing the meat shelf between bag and frame for a lot of their gear. Downside is when you punch a tag you need that space for meat but the justification is that your making two trips now anyways. Five days or less id say you can do it with 3000cu. Might have to strap one or two things to the outside. As far as tarp goes..... not for me but go for it. Maybe try it scouting first

[kselkhunter]

If you have a pack where you can put boned out meat between frame and bag (ie Kifaru, Kuiu, etc.) then you can get it done in September with a 3000ci bag if you plan the packing well.   

Food is the hard part of the packing challenge.   Shelter/sleeping is the easy part.


25 years later....I just make two trips now with meat.   

[ridgefire]

I use a dt2 with a guide lid and grab it for pretty much everything. I  believe it's about 6200ci. Light small enough, big enough and lightweight enough for all my hunts.

[blackveltbowhunter]

Tons of variables in the equation.  Like KS said shelter and sleep system are easy to pare.down weight and space wise.  I have used a tarp or fast fly set up along with bivy sacks alot. But i am confident in forcasted weather, and the longest trip with them is 3ish days. Anything longer I prefer  tent. Use either option prior to commiting to see if you are comfortable with the limitations.

Clothes and food are gonna be huge. Again expected weather will be a big factor, but individual tolerance is another. I am ok rationing food to exactly what I need daily and dice rolling on some clothing items if needed. But some folks enjoy snacks and an extra layer in the AM or evening and that keeps them hunting longer and harder.

IF you have dialed in your sleep and shelter system, and are going minimalist on clothes, food. And have a quality kill kit and daypack setup.  3000 is very doable. But all meat will be in shelf so make sure the pack is able to be setup that way. If looking to pack all together, 4500 to 5000.

[X-Force]

Last year opening weekend of Archery elk i went in with a kifaru native, 2 medium belt pouches and a cargo net (probably 1,500 ci of actual bag space). It wasn’t what I would consider as ideal but with a 3 mile hike to camp and hunting every day out of camp it was capable and was pretty sweet in daypack mode. The bag, net and frame would have no problem taking out camp and a deer in one load with that setup.

An ideal setup for me is a Mystery Ranch Crew Cab, which is probably my favorite bag of all time or a Kifaru Fulcrum. Both bags collapse down tight and get as big as you will ever want.

[banishd]

You need a good frame if you want any sort of comfort packing out meat. A smaller bag on a good frame wont save you much in weight but will limit flexibility. You ever have to pack up quickly you will appreciate having a little extra room to just throw it in rather than having to carefully pack your bag. A 5000ci bag with a meat shelf can still be cinched down pretty compactly if you have more bag than you need. 3000ci with a shelf may work for you but would definitely use a dry bag for gear in the shelf. I second getting year gear dialed in really well. I can pack for wet cold weather with a 4 man tipi and stove and be ok with pack space. Just ditch the lid or some pockets for shorter trips or good weather.  I run a kifaru cargo panel with guide lid and 55L dry bag.

[Skyvalhunter]

Don't be disappointed if you don't get a deer in your Sept time frame. Just enjoy being out there.

[Magnum_Willys]

Meat between frame and bag is a given so its just how big of bag for 5 days and the weight difference between a 3000 and 5500 bag is ounces.    5000 sensible minimum for comfortable sleeping.    Ive used 3000 and had to have stuff hanging off it.

[yakimanoob]

I'll be carrying a 60L Osprey Aether.  Because.....  that's all I've got . 


(ok not ALL i've got, but definitely a better option than my 32L daypack). 

Use what you've got and follow Skyval's advice.  Depending on where you are, don't overlook the huckleberries as a food source.  Berries are superfood.  Run the numbers on the calories you want to consume, and you'll be surprised how much weight you can save by foraging.   

[Karl Blanchard]

I'm the exact opposite.  I want the biggest pack I can get.  You can always cinch it up and make it small but you can't make a small pack big when I need it.  I've never found myself wishing I had a smaller pack.  Load slinging meat is a wasted step in my opinion so I'd suggest a quality pack in the 6k+ range.  Just my 

[opdinkslayer]

I agree with Karl. In my mind space is like clothing, lots of options when you have extra of both. Light quality gear in a big pack is way better than heavy junk in a small one.

[boneaddict]

I'm the exact opposite.  I want the biggest pack I can get.  You can always cinch it up and make it small but you can't make a small pack big when I need it.  I've never found myself wishing I had a smaller pack.  Load slinging meat is a wasted step in my opinion so I'd suggest a quality pack in the 6k+ range.  Just my 

DITTO.  Go big or stay home.

[jackelope]

My 7200" bag should be here soon.

[quadrafire]

My 7200" bag should be here soon.

How are bag sizes measured? I have a Gregory pack, I'm not a backcountry hunter, but a hiker/camper and road hunter. So not sure what size mine is.
Mine does not have the ability to change bags. I may have to look into that in the future??

[X-Force]

My 7200" bag should be here soon.

How are bag sizes measured? I have a Gregory pack, I'm not a backcountry hunter, but a hiker/camper and road hunter. So not sure what size mine is.
Mine does not have the ability to change bags. I may have to look into that in the future??

They are measured in cubic inches or liters.

a 7200 is in ic.

[Armstrong]

I had 7 days of food and gear in my exo 3500 on last years elk hunt. I have pretty light and compact gear. The bag was maxed out but it still had the meat shelf available. It was doable but if I could purchase again I would go with the 5500 for a bit more wiggle room.

[Stein]

Go with a 3000 and a buddy with a 7200.

I like small daypacks and big camping packs.


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[CaNINE]

I've played the less is more game and tried to cram 5 days worth of camping and hunting gear into a 3000 ci bag.  I had that bag packed so tight that a cat couldn't scratch anything loose.  I looked like a monkey trying to _____ a football while I wrestled to access gear and get the bag repacked on the mountain.  Anything more than an overnight trip I use a 5000 ci bag minimum.   

[crabcreekhunter]

I run regular hiking back packs without fancy load shelf's so not a great comparison but between 90-110 liters, fit all of camp and a boned out muley with the head euroed and it is pretty cramped.  I always bring extra straps for lashing rifle, coat, sleeping pad, blaze orange etc to outside of the pack.  Been into camp anywhere from 3-14 days with those setups.

[teanawayslayer]

I'm the exact opposite.  I want the biggest pack I can get.  You can always cinch it up and make it small but you can't make a small pack big when I need it.  I've never found myself wishing I had a smaller pack.  Load slinging meat is a wasted step in my opinion so I'd suggest a quality pack in the 6k+ range.  Just my 

agreed. I use a Barney frontier of Alaska pack. Designed to haul some serious weight. Bigger the better. These light frames with inter changeable packs isn’t for me when it comes to going in deep. Just because you have all that room doesnt mean you need to use it. But On the way out with all your gear and a whole deer = plenty of space

[jstone]

Is there a store in Washington that carries Kafaru?

[jackelope]

Is there a store in Washington that carries Kafaru?

No but there are crap tons of people who have their packs who would likely let you check one out.

[huntnfmly]

+1 on the kifaru my emr2 cinches down very small but expands alot

[Shawn Ryan]

I agree with Karl. Once you've got the frame, the difference in bag weight for me is offset by the convenience of access. I hate gear strapped on and hanging off. Mostly carries better when in the bag.  We don't all have to do the same.

[blackveltbowhunter]

I have been using a kifaru with AMR bag and guide lid and it swallows everything I have thrown
at it and then some. I have never been  worried about room. Or weight. It collapses well enough for daypack stuff, but some of the new bags, and options are even better for slimming down and still having plenty of room. Not sure where you are located but XXX Archery in Rainier carries kifaru sizing packs and some sale options. Generally you will get fitted and look at options and then can place an order thru XXX with confidence. In the specific size and colors, and configuration you want. 

[ian_padron]

You can get into a myriad of packs between 6000 and 8000 cubic inches that weigh around 5 pounds.

No reason to go smaller in my opinion, like the guys mentioned, having more volume and higher quality gear is your best bet.

If you're set on keeping things UL, get a 3000 cubic in bag on a good frame and a dry bag in the meat shelf.

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[HikerHunter]

Even in September, the backcountry can be wet, windy, and cold. I've been through 20 degree nights and howling snowstorms during the Sept. high buck hunt, so I would caution against just a tarp in the backcountry.

For pack size, it depends on the gear you have. If you have compact and UL gear, a 3500" pack with meat shelf could work. But I would agree with the advice of going with a slightly larger size because pretty much all bags now cinch down pretty well and its easier to get into your gear when its not all crammed tight. Just avoid the temptation to fill all that space with stuff you don't need!