Hunting pack

[PacificNWhunter]

Hey guys-

I am going to be shopping for a new hunting pack and was wondering if any of you have some advice you don't mind passing on to me. I am going to be using for backcountry hiking and hunting for the most part. Most of my trips have been 2-5 days long. Right now I have an internal frame pack and it seems to work fine, sometimes it's hard to get deer out from a long ways back though. I was wondering who prefers external frames vs. internal and what brands you prefer. Thanks in advance. Jordan

[BLUEBULLS]

i use an older badlands 2800. for me it is way more comfortable than any external i've ever used and the ruggedness can't be beat, i don't think i could tear it up if i tried and the zippers couldn't be pulled apart with a truck. I threw 65lbs on it for deer hunting this year and it felt great. if you get creative you can use it for 5-7 days. oh yeah, blood comes right off with a garden hose after days of being dried on it.

[Houndhunter]

got to cabelas and check out there outfitter packs. my friend jst got one and its incredible, if your looking for the best hunting and hiking pack this is the one

[Bighorse]

Arcterex Bora series is fairly rugged and has some nice features.......Sorry to say but no pack is gonna make getting a deer out of the backcountry easy!

[boneaddict]

What size are you after, day, several day, or big frame.....

[gray brow]

PacNW - Check out the Nimrod pack systems at www.nimrodpacks.com.  The following is a testimony of my experience with these things.  Sorry it's so long, but needless to say, I'm very impressed with them.

I bought the N-325 four seasons back and it has been absolutely the best pack I've ever used.  The cool thing with these packs is you can hunt with them configured as a fanny pack which carries all your normal stuff like lunch, water, saw, rope, survival kit,etc and there is a pocket inside that holds the large cargo pack.  Ample straps let you strap your outer wear to it when you get too hot.

When you get an animal down, you just convert the pack to cargo haul mode which just takes a couple minutes with a little practice.  There are a couple of internal frame parts to slide into pockets on the cargo pack then you just buckle it onto the top of the fanny pack and to the shoulder straps.  The thing will tote a legitimate 100 lbs without issue, which I can tell you from personal experience since I've used it repeatedly to haul meat, capes, & horns.

This system has three main components.  First is what they call the Base Belt, which is the shoulder straps connected to a small fanny pack which easily holds a big water bladder.  To that you attached the main fanny pack, what they call the Pinnacle Pack, which is not oversized but very good sized and will carry everything you will need for day hunting with complete ability to pack out up to a boned out muley buck.  Again, I  know from experience.  The third element is the Wilderness Collapsible or cargo pack as I call it.  This thing is 3000 cubic inches with lots of compression straps to cinch down and keep the meat load from shifting around on the way out.  If you're not concerned about packing meat with it, leave it out of the Pinnacle Pack to lighten it up some.

All together, the pack system provides 4300 cubic inches of space and I believe Nimrod rates it for 100 lbs of cargo.  There are enough pockets, straps, etc for you to customize how you haul your water, gear, etc.  I like to keep my water in the Base Belt to help keep if from freezing and to free up space in my Pinnacle for meat bags, etc.

Since I got mine, 4 of my hunting partners have seen it in action and converted over to it and another one is getting one before next season.  We have used them to pack in for the high hunt and they worked great.

Just my opinion based on using the thing.  If you find something that looks like a better proposition, please let us know.  I searched awhile to find this thing and still haven't found a better solution to my needs.

Good luck.

[M_ray]

I also use a Badlands 2800. It's a pack/packboard all in one. It serves well as a day pack it is expandable enough to spike out or pack in a camp and it also is your packboard. 

for me it is way more comfortable than any external i've ever used and the ruggedness can't be beat, i don't think i could tear it up if i tried and the zippers couldn't be pulled apart with a truck.

I have to agree Badlands packs are the most comfortable packs I've worn, This year I put it to the test first on tmikes cow and then my Bull. I packed 70-80 pounds of meat and gear and it was more comfortable than my old day pack with 20 pounds in it!

http://www.badlandspacks.com/

[boneaddict]

So far most of the big names are here.....nimrod for packframe or packing big meat. (moose)
Eberstock or badlands for hunting packs are good
Big frame??there are more options.

[Mortgage Hunter]

As with all gear, it all comes down to personal preference. Every pack fits a little different, and every pack has different features.  It's really tough to find the perfect combination of the two.  My wife just bought me the Eberlestock "Just In One" Pack for Christmas.   For over a year, I've been looking for a good backcountry pack to replace the pack frame setup that I've been using.  After looking at the Badlands, Cabelas, and a bunch of other packs, I found the Eberlestock.  It has a full length gun scabbard, and converts from a 2900in daypack to a 7900in meat hauler.  They're motto is "go out light...come in heavy".  Obviously, I haven't had the chance to field test it. But, like a little kid on Christmas morning I loaded it down to simulate a loaded pack, and it's extremely comfortable.  I really like all of the adjustments that you can perform while wearing the pack to fine tune the ride of the weight.  The gun scabbard is awesome...no straps to unbuckle or loosen to access your gun.  It also has a lifetime guarantee which includes normal wear and tear.
If any of you guys have this pack, I'm really interested to hear how you like it.
Here's a link to there website, check it out....
http://www.eberlestock.com/J104%20Just%20One.htm

* There's only one pack I would have like to have seen before buying this one, and that's the Hardcore pack.  I looked at it online, but never found anyone who carried it locally so that I could try it on.  Does anyone know where you can find them?

 

[PacificNWhunter]

Thanks for all the help so far. Right now I have a hand me down Gregory pack, I think it is a 3900 cu in. and is an internal frame. I would continue to use it but I cannot get it to fit right. I do allot of recreational hiking as well as hunting and hope to be able to get a pack that can accommodate both. I'll keep you all posted on what I get, or find out there!

[gray brow]

Probably the most important feature to me about the Nimrod is that when you are hunting, it is just a moderately sized fanny pack.  1300 cubic inches (maxed out)that goes up to about the lower third of your back.  Quiet manueverability through brush & trees is excellent.

Like some of the others, the real value is going in able to hunt comfortably and be able to come out loaded without any fuss.

[jackelope]

I have the eberlestock x1 daypack and really like it. it has the rifle scabbard. too much of a pain in the ass to use it as much as i thought i would, but for hiking in and hiking out, it works great, just don't expect to pull any quick draw gunslinger type moves with a scoped rifle in it. i will be needing/wanting a new bigger hunting pack soon and will probably get a bigger eberlestock assuming there are more points on the outside of the pack to strap things to than there are on my little one...thats the only thing i don't like. i tried my bow using the ripcord feature thing and it's pretty slick as well.
the quality is definitely there in an eberle pack.

[257 Wby Mag]

I dig Badlands. I have 2, one is a day pack I've had for 6 or 7 years, its been abused and trashed with no failures. Last year I bought a 2200 Badlands before my BC Caribou trip, it to has performed up to my expectations, and then some. The 2200 has an internal frame, the day pack doesn't.

[M_ray]

I have the eberlestock x1 daypack

I looked at them when I was shopping and one consideration I had was the fact that the eberlestock weighs in dry I believe at almost 9 pounds and the badlands is 3 1/2. For me I figured why start off 6 pounds heavier before I even put my $h!t in it.

[jackelope]

mray...it is heavy for a little pack. i am definitely gonna be more considerate of weight when i look into the bigger pack. for a day pack, i wasn't too concerned. when i put all my crap in it along with the rifle in the scabbard, it weighs a ton anyway...seems like i have a contest with myself to see how heavy i can make my daypack. gets heavier every year.

[Mortgage Hunter]

I have the eberlestock x1 daypack

I looked at them when I was shopping and one consideration I had was the fact that the eberlestock weighs in dry I believe at almost 9 pounds and the badlands is 3 1/2. For me I figured why start off 6 pounds heavier before I even put my $h!t in it.

On a 3-4 day solo hunt.....I'll take the 6 pounds over having to make 2 trips to pack out
Sure there's other factors such as material etc, but the dry weight of a pack is predominately relative to size/space.  If your hunting with a buddy it's not a problem, but I often hunt alone.  When there's two of you...1 guy has the tent, while the other compensates with more of the misc gear like spotting scope etc., therefore a 2800in pack will work fine.  But, if your going 3-4 days solo, a 2800in pack will work great for the trip IN, (or, if you don't plan on killing anything on the hunt).  But, what if on the 3rd day, I kill something way back there...I'd be wishing for a bigger pack.  I'm pretty conservative with what I pack, meaning I only bring what I need to: a) be safe b) to survive.  I'm just saying that I can't pack in one trip...... my camp, food, water, survival stuff, an extra change of clothes, light rain gear, spotting scope, tripod, and all the other misc items that everyone will respond that I'm missing from my list...plus a boned out muley, head, and cape.
    

[actionshooter]

From my experience a 2800ci pack wont cut it for any extended hunt bringing meat out. An Elberlestock might with the load system on the exterior of the pack but I have heard a lot of complaints about the load straps not being long enough. I have gone thru a few packs, but I can't speak to the Badlands, I have looked at the 4500 and I am impressed with the quality of the packs. I have looked at the Nimrods and they are not for me, I do use a Nimrod fanny though.
 I currently use (and have for a long time) a Dana Design terreplane. Its a 6800ci, and I have the room but I don't fill it up 
 Packs are probably the most personal piece of equipment someone could buy. Its almost a sure thing that what works for one guy is a pile of crap to the next.
 Try as many as you can.

[M_ray]

Mortgage Hunter & Action Shooter,
My response to jakelpoe was to point out the difference in weight to two comparable packs not a 2800 vs. a 4500 or 6800. And jackelope admits that in his response back to me.

mray...it is heavy for a little pack.

Also Pacnwhunter doesn't specify if he is alone or not most do hunt with a partner so a 2800 will work fine as you say.

When there's two of you...1 guy has the tent, while the other compensates with more of the misc gear like spotting scope etc., therefore a 2800in pack will work fine.

Plus the 2800 Badlands is expandable in the center where you carry your meat sacks and can carry more than the 2800 cubic inches of pocket space.
I did a 3 day into the Alpine last year with 2 other guy's and carried in 50 pounds of camp. You are right I had to leave my camp behind so I could pack a big muley out but that was with 3 of us so there is no way you are carring out your camp and a big deer by yourself in one trip anyway.

Its almost a sure thing that what works for one guy is a pile of crap to the next.
 Try as many as you can.

I will agree with you there actionshooter ... I just know the Badlands is comfortable to me. 

[high country]

I must have at least 10 good to better quality packs. I prefer the badlands 2800 for my high country deer hunts. I pack light as a feather and have no problem getting me and my deer out....BUT, like I said I am a minimalist and the weather is better in sept. than in november....keep that in mind. I did the last weekend of modern rifle with the 2800 and it was a coin toss as to if it was enough pack. the beauty of the 2800 is that it compresses to nothing and as mentioned before the build quality is pretty good.

I have a few external frames that others seem to boon, but they fit me and I never bitch about em' so why fix what aint broke. in my fleet of ext frames is an older REI frame that is 1000x more durable than the camp trails design, no pins/clips for strap adjustments. this pack has a system like the peaks for the strap adj. I have a smaller and the full sized peak. the full size is killer for b-packing, it is light and super comfy.  I have hauled 2 hinds of a spike bull out in one trip with the peak frame and if that aint tough enough.....well than I aint tough enough. the complaint I have on the peaks is the bags themselves arre less than waterproof, and could be a bit tougher. I have dwight schuh pack.....in stock form it is a waste of money. I swap in better straps and tossed the bags in favor of a nimrod meat hauler....that is a good setup for elk hunting in the nasties.

I have had expierience with the nimrod's and I think they have a good/very good build quality, but for the weight they are not for me. I really don't need a rifle scabbard and I find the 2800 to be more comfy. I did keep the nimrod meat bag. the meat bag can compress down to nothing and expand to easily hold a boned deer.

I would caution anyone looking at packs to take everyones opinion with a grain of salt. to ME I find fit to be 100x more important than features, which I find to be more important than looks. I would carry a pink pack that fit well before I would carry a fancy camo pack.

dana-mystery ranch-k2, arc terx, gregory, kifaru,  granite gear......all make great gear go find one that fits.

if external is your gig and you are looking for a one time high quality frame purchase, check out barneys sports chalet in anchorage...a lot of pack for a lot of money. the dana externals have a nice thing going if it fits you.some think the suspension is "killer" others say it is a killer.....again fit is everything.

I would also not bea faraid to take a "backpacking" pack over a camo one. I used a lowe alpine before my badlands as my go to pack. tha badlands is waterproof so that swayed me....as did the 100% warranty.

good luck.

[Mortgage Hunter]

Sorry guys, I didn't mean to sound so opinionated.  I don't know if I'm more excited about the pack, or the fact that my wife of all people bought if for me.  It's one small step for man, and one giant leap for mankind. 

I know that we can all agree on one thing.....there isn't a pack on this planet that can make that 6-10 mile hike totally enjoyable! 

[jackelope]

there isn't a pack on this planet that can make that 6-10 mile hike totally enjoyable! 

i can't tell you how much i'd enjoy a 6-10 mile hike right now.
throw 60lbs on my back, i'll still enjoy it.
 

[addicted]

there isn't a pack on this planet that can make that 6-10 mile hike totally enjoyable! 

i can't tell you how much i'd enjoy a 6-10 mile hike right now.
throw 60lbs on my back, i'll still enjoy it.
 

  

[BLUEBULLS]

With my badlands 2800, if i'm hauling an animal and camp i load most of my camp in my sleeping bag and the open space left in the center is then plenty big to load a boned deer. bring 50' or 100' of parachute cord and this pack can haul way more than I need, comfortably. there may be a better pack out there but i sure don't have the money to try them all.

[high country]

With my badlands 2800, if i'm hauling an animal and camp i load most of my camp in my sleeping bag and the open space left in the center is then plenty big to load a boned deer. bring 50' or 100' of parachute cord and this pack can haul way more than I need, comfortably. there may be a better pack out there but i sure don't have the money to try them all.

are you saying you put the deer in your sleeping bag?

[BLUEBULLS]

only if they're tired or cold, otherwise I put the meat in the open middle portion of the pack.

[M_ray]

Sorry guys, I didn't mean to sound so opinionated.

Don't even worry about it Motgage Hunter we are all just stating our preferences.

But just so you all can see what Bluebulls and I are talking about I'll add some pics in case you haven't seen the 2800.

Here it is as your day pack.



The top expands as you load the center.


Unclip what they call the bat wings and this exposes the packboard area.


this is where you put your meat sacks or if you are packing in this becomes extra space you can use that isn't included in the original specs of the 2800 cubic inches. I will use a large size ziplock to put items in and place them here. I will use another large zip lock for my fart sack and strap that to the bottom.


Clip the bat wings back together and your ready to pack it out with all your gear still in it's original locations unless you packed in a camp of coarse.



 This year I packed out tmikes cow three trips 2 1/2 miles with an average of 60-70 pounds and then my bull three trips average 80+ pounds 1 1/2 miles and it worked like a charm! My bulls head and cape were over 100 pounds.

[tmike]

I highly recommend M_ray's pack, in fact if one of you guys gets one you can come with us and I won't have to carry anything Seriously it did perform well.

[M_ray]

I know that we can all agree on one thing.....there isn't a pack on this planet that can make that 6-10 mile hike totally enjoyable!

You may be right!  But call me crazy I'd rather do it with a pack full of meat! 

[Mortgage Hunter]

Thanks for the pics.  That pack expands out more than I thought.  When your in the store looking at an empty pack it's tough to gauge how a "real world" load will fit. 

I think I see what your saying, but I'm still having a tough time visualizing.  The pics are great, but I think I need the same demonstration you gave Bluebill....if you could just walk in front of me with my elk on your back, I'd get to see the "batwings" at work.   

[M_ray]

No problem as long as I get to keep what I carry! 

[M_ray]

Just kidding ... heck I'd do it just for the fun of it!

[Mortgage Hunter]

That's a deal.  I can handle the meat, head and rack.  You've got the hooves, ankles and knees.   

[actionshooter]

Mortgage Hunter & Action Shooter,
My response to jakelpoe was to point out the difference in weight to two comparable packs not a 2800 vs. a 4500 or 6800. And jackelope admits that in his response back to me.

Easy Mray, I said in my experience that the 2800 wasn't large enough.The post wasn't directed at you. If it works for you thats what works for you. In my post I pointed out that I don't have any experience with the badlands. From your pics I'm not sure that pack would be classified as a 2800(I know thats what they call it), theres a ton of room when its opened up. My first real pack was an REI 2900 internal and the problem with it was that it wasn't big enough, there was no way to attach anything to the outside (easly). I could get a boned out deer and some camp in it or some boned out deer and camp  It never seemed to workout right 

 The most important thing is the fit, Its amazing how much weight a person can pack if its comforatable and balanced

[shootemup]

i use a jim horn canadian....very comforable big built in frame and expands from about 2800 ish to almost 4000ci

[jdb]

I use several. for every day use I use a crooked horn outfitters, when traveling light I use a browning and for packing meat I use a cabelas alaskan JB

[M_ray]

Easy Mray,

I'm easy I simply wanted to pointed out that I was comparing two like items ... you said you use a 6800 and that a 2900 didn't work well for you and that

From my experience a 2800ci pack wont cut it for any extended hunt bringing meat out.

  I think your are right unless you have a 6800ci pack and are 300 pounds of solid muscle I don't care who you are you are making more than one trip so it may as well be a comfy one!  The reason the badlands is classified a 2800 is because that's what the pockets hold, you cant really count the space designed to be a pack board because it isn't really a enclosed pocket. Actionshooter I had the same problem you did in the Alpine last year here is a third of a mule deer and very little of my camp. With a very uncomfortable pack I might add!


I had to come back in to get the rest of this later.

The most important thing is the fit, Its amazing how much weight a person can pack if its comfortable and balanced

My point exactly I'm with ya there we do agree more than you think

[actionshooter]

In that pic is that an Arc teryx (sp?)?

[gray brow]

High Country, my Nimrod N-325 didn't come with a rifle scabbard.  You can buy a scabbard as an accessory for an extra 120 bones or so, but I didn't and don't find the need for one.  Are you thinking of an Eberlestock maybe?  It looks like they have an integrated rifle scabbard you can't opt out of.

I should probably post pics of mine.  I'm not sure a lot of guys know what they are.  If you look at the catalog, it appears the thing is a frame pack or something.  Actually, it's a soft pack with 2 simple aluminum bars in the fanny pack for a frame.  It's basically a fanny pack attached to shoulder straps with a wide padded belt, so it's real secure and adjustable for comfortable fit/weight distribution.  The best way to describe how it works when in hunting mode is to look at the Pinnacle Pack in the catalog or website.

Some of the comments I've read seem to indicate guys think these packs are beefy/heavy internal or external frame back packs or something.  Not so.  These things are light, waterproof fleece fanny packs and only convert to a serious hauling pack when you need to pack meat or haul cargo.  The thing is, all you really do to convert to heavy hauling is pull the cargo bag out of the fanny, insert two aluminum bars to form the internal frame for that part, attach it to the shoulder straps and it sits on and attaches to the top of the fanny.

I know my buddies had to see the thing in action hunting and then hauling meat before they could believe how well it worked.  On one trip, packing elk out a few miles out to the truck, my one buddy was convinced after he noticed I never fiddled with my pack when we stopped for breathers (uphill about the first mile and a half, of course) while he was constantly adjusting the straps on his external frame freighter pack to get more comfortable.  And yes, like all of the rigid frame pack board types, his was a mile away from us at the time the elk went down.

Since I got my Nimrod, I have not seen another one in the field except for the ones my buddies have converted to.  Not sure most guys understand them too well, yet.

[high country]

trust me I know what I bought. made right over in cashmere......that is why I bought it. I see the nimrod crew on my high country hunts every couple years, I tried to help the local guy. the build quality was good, the theroy is good too, but for me, I never need to convert my b-pack to a fanny pack, if I did that is when I would can a doosie and have to go back for my pack....see what I mean?

no two guys can wear the same pack with the same comfort.....differnt stroke for different folks.

find one that fits and be happy.

[M_ray]

In that pic is that an Arc teryx (sp?)?

No it's something cheap ... I think it's called an Infinity.

[coonhound]

I'm another fan of the Eberlestock J104.  It is a work horse that is easily converted to haul meat.  I've used it on day hunts and multiple night hunts. 

I hauled out an elk in September, 5 miles in some tough ground and a buck this December.  In all I have packed 2 elk and 3 deer and couldn't be more pleased.

Coon