Hunting pack

[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!