Back to the Pack - Hunting backpack suggestions

[DaNewb]

UPDATE: 4-1-26 (not a joke)

I did quite a bit of research into several of the brands suggested here...great packs but WAY more pack than I need for what I am doing, which was my original problem when I posted. I'm just not traveling the distances, or carrying the amount of gear those packs are designed for, while still being able to haul a boned-out deer.

I ended up with my original choice, the Alps Outdoorz Traverse EPS. It's also more pack than I need but for the price it can't be beat...$90 on sale online...$117 delivered to my door.

When it arrived I loaded it up with my hunting gear...18lbs including the 7lb pack. Then I loaded it up with a light 30lb load of assorted camping gear and went on a 5 mile hike to break it in a little. This is a far greater distance than I'll be packing a deer and this pack did not disappoint. The only thing that hurt when I walked back into my yard a few hours later were my feet from all the walking.

Out of the box, it's loud, the zippers need some wax and the whole thing needs to be drug around the yard behind the lawnmower for a while but once it's broken in it will be a quiet pack.

My only complaint was my bear spray. I prefer to carry my bear spray and a knife on a belt around my pants so that when I take my pack off I still have my protection on my person, not wherever I set my pack down. The way the waist belt is on this pack I could not do that and had to attach it to my pack instead...I might figure out something better between now and then.

For the price it will get the job done with room to spare and that's a good thing I suppose.
With care this pack should last several years.

*******

Now that I've beat the brush for three seasons I have a much better idea what I want in a pack. However, I'm looking for something with features that are apparently a bit unique. I'm also new to pack hunting so I'm not really experienced with hunting packs and what is available.

So far I'm looking at Alps Outdoorz as I don't really want to spend hundreds of dollars on a pack. They seem solid but affordable. Ideally, I only want to spend a couple hundred on it.

Alps Outdoorz Traverse pack - but it looks like more pack than I really need.
https://alpsoutdoorz.com/traverse-eps-expandable-day-pack.html

Alps Outdoorz Pathfinder
https://alpsoutdoorz.com/expandable-day-pack-pathfinder.html

I'm bow hunting local... Only walk-in day trips within a couple miles of home so no overnighting.

I am hunting early season - September - so I'm not packing any dry gear.

It must be able to pack a boned-out deer + my limited gear in one trip, but only 1-2 miles.

It must be able to carry my bow/quiver also.

Ideally, this wonder-pack would double as my scout pack pre-season. I'm in the woods scouting all year long, at least every couple weeks, and I currently use a fanny-style day pack that I really like, similar, but smaller than the Pathfinder pack linked above.

The Pathfinder pack above, expanded to it's full pack size, is perfect but I am not sure if it will pack out a whole deer, boned out. I love the idea of the dual purpose, scouting/hunting aspect of this pack, it is exactly what I have in mind.

Does anyone have experience packing deer out with this pack, or can suggest one similar that will hold a whole boned-out deer?

The Traverse above definitely will carry a whole deer, but it is a bit more pack than I need when hunting as I just don't carry much base-weight gear.

Any advice on hunting packs would really be appreciated to help dial in what I'm looking for. (I've read through most all the pack threads here already)

Thanks

[milldozer]

Buy an exo and be done with it.  If you're trying to save money, buy a used exo.

[hughjorgan]

Look for used exo mountain, kifaru, initial ascent, or stone glacier. Buy once cry once. You’ll save money in the long run.

[blackveltbowhunter]

If planning on putting meat in a pack, the pathfinder is not an option IMO. Whether you could get a deer stuffed in it or not is somewhat irrelevant. Without any sort of structure in the pack it will be A) Very uncomfortable with any sort of significant weight. B) Likely to have a major failure.

  I have seen the traverse in action. Very functional as a day pack. Half a boned out fork buck was no problem. It should fit an entire mature buck. It would be a (likely) uncomfortable load without any load lifters to speak of, but you are not going far. Aside from that I question the longevity if doing that routinely. But it sounds like you could easily have a backup plan if you did have a catastrophic failure.

Are you doing lots of packouts a year? or just one if successful? An option that might work well for you if you really like the pathfinder style, would be get the pathfinder and a cheap external frame. You could marry the 2 when needed, or hunt with the pathfinder and leave the external behind until pack out work required. You would have to do a return trip, but depending on the terrain and weather, that may not be a problem. Also, cleaning externals is waaay easier compared to any internal frame stuff.   

[Klickitatsteelie]

Another vote for exo. I was hesitant for years because of the price and once I did pull the trigger my only regret is that I wished I had done it years sooner.

[boneaddict]

Have used Eberstock for a long time.  Only downside is it is heavy right out of the gate. It is heavy duty though.  Loads I have carried have been incredible.   I've been tossing it back and forth between EXO and Stone glacier.  I havent decided yet. 

[Pathfinder101]

I bought a Slumberjack Deadfall pack a few years ago and love it, BUT when I went to find a link, it seems that they no longer make them (and I can't find one for sale anywhere).  Bummer, because it's a great pack for the money.
 I have a couple of Eberlestock daypacks and I really like them a lot if I don't have to carry a lot of gear.  You can't beat Eberlestock's rifle scabbard system for carrying a rifle long distances. 

[vandeman17]

I have tried out pretty much all the major brands (Kifaru, Kuiu, Mystery Ranch, Kuiu) and currently have a Stone Glacier that overall I am happy with and is my favorite so far. I have no reason to switch other than I can't help myself because the grass is always greener so I will likely give Exo a try here soon.

Overall, I will say that investing in a good back and properly fitting it is well worth the money. The first time I hauled out a heavy load I was shocked at how good it felt and how much less it beat me up versus my older "cheaper" packs.

[Kingofthemountain83]

I have no experience with either pack you listed... I have a Badlands 2200 that expands to 3200... For over 10 years I've packed whole deer or 100+ of meat, head, hide, and gear in, on... It has an internal frame... Does just fine... And an Eberlestock Dragonfly with an internal frame that has packed out the same... It's like a 4500? I think?... Had about 10 years... I carry contractors garbage bags to put the game bags in that go in the pack to keep the interior clean... I usually carry the Badlands pack... #1 it more comfortable... #2 It's lighter than the Eberlestock...#3 It's more stream line then the Eberlestock and doesn't get hung up as much on branches, brush, ect while moving through stuff... And if I really need to go back for another trip of meat we have pack frames that can haul more then we can carry in the truck or back at camp... 

[jbeaumont21]

I’ve been using the Alps Big Bear, which is very similar to the Pathfinder, for years. I moved away from a traditional backpack because, here on the wet side, they were constantly getting hung up in brush. Being able to compress it down into a hip pack makes you much more nimble when moving through the woods.

I’ve also been able to fit a full deboned rear elk quarter into the backpack compartment, and I’ve used it many times for packing out elk. I wouldn’t want to hike 10 plus miles with it fully loaded with meat, but it works great for getting that first load back to the bike or truck where I can switch to a larger meat-hauling pack.

In terms of versatility for day hunting, it’s hard to beat the Alps line of expandable day packs.

[Stein]

Buy an exo and be done with it.  If you're trying to save money, buy a used exo.

 

Honestly, there are several really good hunting packs out there.  I went through three until I ended up buying the one I should have bought first.  My only advice would be to buy one with an internal aluminum or titanium frame.  I don't like plastic sheet frames or carbon.

[tgomez]

Badlands 4500 works well for me.

[Dark2Dark]

You will find a lot of people that have tried a lot of packs and wound up with an EXO.

You will find a lot of people that have packs they say work fine.

What you won’t find many of are people that had an EXO at one point and now have anything else.

Packing heavy hauls of meat can be pretty brutal. Less so if you have the right equipment.

Hop on the EXO Facebook page and find a used one if new is out of the budget. You won’t regret it.