Elk Pack

[Jonathan_S]

Doubling it from what though? My pack and lid are 9,000 cubic inches and I've carried 130-150 in it. How is my load not secure when it is all in the main bag compressed against the frame?

[Jimmybelltown]

Tenzing 6000 for sale over on other classifieds. For cheap! I love mine.

[Karl Blanchard]

My stuff stays clean, the meat is tight to my back, I fit everything else in the pack AND I dont have to fiddle with a meat shelf.

I have done both. Utilizing the meat shelf on my exo is faster and easier then using the main compartment on my older packs. Not to mention sooo much more comfortable and secure. Your essentially more then doubling your packs capacity to carry stuff by having the meat shelf option as well.

its physics Jake. A load is gonna carry far better when loaded vertically and tight to the body, not moving weight away from your body aka bag outside of a load of meat. If a bag is designed properly with functional compression straps there won't be any barreling or shifting of weight. I've packed out hundreds and hundreds of heavy loads of meat. On frames, in bags, on meat shelfs. In fieldlines, and kuiu's, and eberlestocks, nimrods, mystery ranch,  kifaru, etc, etc.  Jon is spot on with his comments in my opinion.  Meat and gear go in my pack 100% of the time 

[millerwheeler]

Exo 3500 all hauled out several animals over last 3 years and has never let me down not once

[ridgefire]

I would suggest spending as much as you can afford on a decent pack. I have a few different Kifarus and the one I use the most is a Timberline 2 bag with a meat shelf, guide lid and grab it on a Duplex frame. It works great as a day pack and a week long pack if needed.

[huntnnw]

never ever needed or wanted a meat shelf, boned out in game bags and dropped into my pack what ever else packed around it or in other pockets. Cinch up straps and go and nothing moving or swinging.

[dilleytech]

My stuff stays clean, the meat is tight to my back, I fit everything else in the pack AND I dont have to fiddle with a meat shelf.

I have done both. Utilizing the meat shelf on my exo is faster and easier then using the main compartment on my older packs. Not to mention sooo much more comfortable and secure. Your essentially more then doubling your packs capacity to carry stuff by having the meat shelf option as well.

its physics Jake. A load is gonna carry far better when loaded vertically and tight to the body, not moving weight away from your body aka bag outside of a load of meat. If a bag is designed properly with functional compression straps there won't be any barreling or shifting of weight. I've packed out hundreds and hundreds of heavy loads of meat. On frames, in bags, on meat shelfs. In fieldlines, and kuiu's, and eberlestocks, nimrods, mystery ranch,  kifaru, etc, etc.  Jon is spot on with his comments in my opinion.  Meat and gear go in my pack 100% of the time 

Agreed have the meat tight vertically against your back. Preferably separate from all my other gear on a meat shelf. For me it’s night and day better with a lot more carry options. But we all have our opinions.

[dilleytech]

Doubling it from what though? My pack and lid are 9,000 cubic inches and I've carried 130-150 in it. How is my load not secure when it is all in the main bag compressed against the frame?

You walk around with a 9000 pack? If you have the meat shelf you could throw another bag between your pack and frame if you wanted too. But ya with a giant 9000 you probably have all the room you could ever need. It’s not that your loads not secure in the bag it’s that you have a lot more options as to how you want to carry the weight with the loadshelf option. Again not “needed” but better. Imo

[Jonathan_S]

Yeah I walk around from September to mid December with it. With lid it's 9000 and it compresses down just fine  happy hunting

[Karl Blanchard]

Yeah I walk around from September to mid December with it. With lid it's 9000 and it compresses down just fine  happy hunting

mines bigger

[CastleRocker]

If you are on a budget like I am... I've bought several higher end packs, used but in great condition, on the forums.  This forum, and Rokslide are good places to start.  Every time SG, Kifaru, EXO, or Mystery Ranch come out with a new "latest and greatest", there are several of last years "latest and greatest" for sale.  That being said...you won't find a Barney's pack for sale very often, and there is a reason for that. 

[Stein]

Yeah I walk around from September to mid December with it. With lid it's 9000 and it compresses down just fine  happy hunting

mines bigger

I might have you both beat.  I bought a pack for winter camping in college and one of the selling points is that you could use it for an emergency bivy sack.  I actually dug it out of the garage and will post it for sale here in the next few days.

I hauled all my winter gear, winter tent, ski stuff, 12 pack, an extra blanket and half my buddies stuff and had room to spare.

[CoryTDF]

3 pages and not one mention of SEEK OUTSIDE. I freaking love my SEEK packs and th eRevolution suspention system is amazing. Sold my EXO becuase I just could never choose it over my SEEK.


Tight on money?
I would look at the Slumberjack Deadfall 65 Pack. Yeah, I know Slumberjack is not some super high end pack but I have hauled 4 elk and 3 deer with mine. My testing partner has one as well and he hauled his share of meat this year with his. For the money it is a fantastic pack.


Looking for a traditional frame with optional pack? Have to shout out to BullPac's! Sam is an absolutely awesome guy and he has a solid product.   

[Karl Blanchard]

Yeah I walk around from September to mid December with it. With lid it's 9000 and it compresses down just fine  happy hunting

mines bigger

I might have you both beat.  I bought a pack for winter camping in college and one of the selling points is that you could use it for an emergency bivy sack.  I actually dug it out of the garage and will post it for sale here in the next few days.

I hauled all my winter gear, winter tent, ski stuff, 12 pack, an extra blanket and half my buddies stuff and had room to spare.

 

[7mmfan]

Yeah I walk around from September to mid December with it. With lid it's 9000 and it compresses down just fine  happy hunting

mines bigger

I might have you both beat.  I bought a pack for winter camping in college and one of the selling points is that you could use it for an emergency bivy sack.  I actually dug it out of the garage and will post it for sale here in the next few days.

I hauled all my winter gear, winter tent, ski stuff, 12 pack, an extra blanket and half my buddies stuff and had room to spare.

 

Finally, someone posted something that makes sense!