What day pack do you use?

[drbones]

Looking for a real day pack - last year I used a full-size internal-frame pack and it was just too much to schlep around all day, never mind dealing with fences or tight spaces.  Does anybody have a day pack they're really happy with and would recommend?  Preferably something that isn't made noisy fabric like cordura, of course.

[sako223]

Badlands Superday pack.

[WDFW-SUX]

x2

[Lobo]

I use a "tactical" daypack I picked up a couple of years ago.  It is made of heavy duty vinyl coated nylon material and has multiple zippered compartments with plenty of room for binocs, rangefinder, GPS, game processing tools and supplies as well as extra ammo, lunch, water and basic survival gear.  I paid about $25 for it.  If you look around you can probably still find it for near that price.  The shoulder straps sucked so I replaced them with a pair of Tactical Tailor ruck straps.  Inexpensive, rugged, comfortable and weatherproof.  What's not to like?

Lobo

[Craig]

Eberlestock Slingshot works good for me.

[vanhornhunter]

I bought the cabelas bow and rifle pack and I love it. Its comfortable and holds everything I need in the field when Im hunting. It comes with a bladder also.


http://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabelas/s7_515401_610_01?$main-Large$

[WonkyWapiti]

I've had the Badlands Superday for at least the last five years.  It has held up great and is very comfortable.

[huntnfmly]

I use blackscreek alaskan very nice and comfortable

[atfulldraw]

you can't go wrong with badlands they are comfortable and have a great warranty.

[bobcat]

I don't have one but I think the next pack I buy will be a Nimrod. The company is in Cashmere, Washington and the packs are American made. I've heard good things about them from others, and they have a lifetime warranty.

http://www.nimrodpacks.com/hunting-gear.html

[jdb]

i use a crooked horn outfitters master guide and it has held up well and has plenty of room

[NWWABOWHNTR]

I don't have one but I think the next pack I buy will be a Nimrod. The company is in Cashmere, Washington and the packs are American made. I've heard good things about them from others, and they have a lifetime warranty.

http://www.nimrodpacks.com/warranty.html

The NIMROD Pinnacle is the best.  Great pack made here in Washington!  

[carpsniperg2]

gerber for now looking to maybe pick up a wilderness pack, i just got to get the right tag to make me drop the $ on one and i get a discount as well.

[elkaholic123]

+1 on crooked horn pack,I have 1 that must be 10+ years old,I think it is the original trailblazer,works great for me!

[Jason]

Eberlestock X2, great pack.

[flinger]

 Hey guys first post on this awesome local site,been bow hunting wa. for well over 20 years and have used a few different pack/fanny/day,
 Recently bought a Horn Hunter G2 it is as or more comfortable as any i have had,1800+ ci. bladder capable lots of pockets,plus it is very affordable.
At least worth a look
 Again Thanks for the site
   See ya in the fields
     Flinger

[jackelope]

I'm using the old Eberlestock X1 pack. It's a little heavy for a 2200" pack but I dig the built in scabbard.  I've been looking at the slingshot as a possible replacement but am not sold on it yet.
 

[Jamieb]

One of the best peices of gear I own is my crooked horn master guide pack. Tjeir made in California so almost made in the USA

[Mookie]

I like the camelbacks. Cabelas has them on sale a lot and the go from $40 to a couple hundred depending on size and line. I have an Allen for my day pack, not the nicest but it was on sale for $40 or so from midway. I have replaced the split water bladder with a CamelBack, lifetime warranty. It so far has been a comfortable pack, nothing has broken except the water bladder. Great for day hikes as it will carry a decent amount of small stuff in the pockets and a decent sized main pack. Lists at 600 cubic inches. I have had it for nearly two years.

[runamuk]

I am ordering a maxpedition versa pack mostly because I need a carry bag a bit bigger than a fanny pack but not another back pack just something to carry the essentials. like a 357 and ammo, some firestarter a knife, flashlight, a few other odds and ends and thats it found out real fast I do not like packing a backpack even a high end good one is not exactly comfortable for me...I love my fanny pack but it is too small for extended day hikes.

[Copperwood]

I have a Blacks Creek Bone collector 1.5 and it is awesome. I have hiked many miles and it is really comfortable. A little heavy but you can fit a lot of stuff in there. I'm a bigger guy so the weight doesn't bother me.

[Pathfinder101]

I have a Camelbak with the zippered pouches.  Carried one since I had one issued to me by the Army a few years ago. 

[NWBREW]

I have the eberlestock x-1 as well. It is a little heavy for a day pack but if you throw in the built in scabbard and an area to carry a water bladder it works out very well. I wanted to pick up an x-2 but it was a 100.00 bucks more. I like what I have.

My next pack WILL be a Nimrod. A little more money but very well made. Also as was stated earlier They are based out of Cashmere and stand 100% behind their product. They will not let you down.

[littlemac]

I have used a scout pack from Cabelas for the last 5 or so years.  Does the job for the necessities and small enough to force you to pack only the necessities.  I also like the pull out blaze orange for the time I am in a safety orange hunt situation.

click here for link: Cabelas Scout Pack

 The shell is constructed of CT450 Plus, a durable, super-quiet, ultrasoft material that remains quiet in any temperature or condition. The back is Nylex-lined and molded for extra support, comfort and breathability. Mesh-lined, curved shoulder straps with Gripsion™ patches distribute the load evenly and keep it from bouncing or slipping. The large compression compartment holds rain gear, clothing and other bulky items. Internal organizational pockets and external pockets keep small items organized and where you can get to them in a hurry. It also includes a reservoir pouch, 2 liter reservoir, and tube holder, knife and light pouches and a pull-out blaze safety panel.

[halflife65]

I've use a Badlands Superday for the past 5 years (or so) - I actually have two of them, though, because my dad's about 5' 7" and the wide waistbelt chafes when he goes up steep hills.  For me (about 6' tall), the wide waist belt makes it comfortable.  I know that Badlands had poor zippers the past couple of years, but they supposedly fixed that.  The one thing that I do wish is that I had a small, lightweight frame in the pack, though (Superday doesn't but 2200 does).

If I had all the money in the world, I'd seriously take a look at Kifaru or Mystery Ranch, but they are EXPENSIVE.  The other option is to go down to REI or another hiking/camping store and pick out a nice Osprey or something similar.  They are usually well built and lighter in weight - I don't think (within a certain degree anyway - blue/purple is out, for instance) that camo is that critical for a rifle hunter if you just get something in a neutral color.

[Wild Bill]

Eberlestock X2, great pack.

That's what my Wifey rocks.... She loves it... She gets the front shoulders...
I'm stuck with the Mystery Ranch Nice Crew Cab... HEAVY! But can haul 2 elk hind quarters in style!

[longrange7mm]

Eberlestock X2, great pack.

That's what my Wifey rocks.... She loves it... She gets the front shoulders...
I'm stuck with the Mystery Ranch Nice Crew Cab... HEAVY! But can haul 2 elk hind quarters in style!

are you two part horse or are you leaving alot of meat?

[Wild Bill]

Eberlestock X2, great pack.

That's what my Wifey rocks.... She loves it... She gets the front shoulders...
I'm stuck with the Mystery Ranch Nice Crew Cab... HEAVY! But can haul 2 elk hind quarters in style!

are you two part horse or are you leaving alot of meat?

Well, lets just say part horse.... I at one point had carried 140 of hind quarters.... (on the bone obviously. Not recommended ) Although not far (1/8 mile maybe?) it was damn near straight up...

I normally take a quarter, but if its a short trip ill get em both... Not what I prefer, but in the way of speed I'll suck it up...

The wifey only carries a shoulder at a time... If her hands are free she'll grab a sack of trimmings too...

Good woman...

Pic was a short trip (obviously, two hinds on board) this one was maybe 700 yards to the truck, fairly flat, no need to debone or skin out all the way (cleanliness) .... Not my preferred meat pack (old mil. issue Alice pack) but I had not received the Mystery Ranch yet...

(dont like puttin my ugly @ss on the net...)

[MtnMuley]

drbones, what kind of hunting will you be doing?  Terrain?  Miles?  Hauling spotting scopes, tripods, or other gear?  Deer or Elk or both? Do you plan on coming back to get your meat with pack frames?  Those are the questions in my opinion that will determine the right pack for you.  There's been a bunch of good packs listed above to choose from.  As for being quiet, few are.  Nimrod makes the quietest pack that I've used, but other packs have different features that often leave the Nimrod sitting at home.

[Dansk]

Eberlestock dragonfly. 

I absolutely hate making that extra 2 hour+ round trip back to the rig to swap my cabela's rifle pack for my external frame freighter.  Now I just have one 1800ci 'daypack' that converts to a huge freighter and can put my rifle in a scabbard and hunt hands free.  Top "lid" converts to fanny pack with hydration in case I need to drop the big and go light for a final stalk.

2 added zip-in bags and it's an 8000ci monster for for extended overnighters in the mountains.

Just added the Kifaru meat baggie, and a platypus 2L 'glass' hydration bladder.

I highly recommend any of the packs with scabbards: nimrod, eberle, etc- hard to go back to a shoulder sling after using something with a scabbard system.
 

[alecvg]

It depends on the hunt for me, on a harder day hunt, I will use my Sitka 45 Bivy, just so I can pack out meat if need be.  For easier day hunts, I use my Badlands Hypervent.

[blackhorn]

I have the X2 also and enjoy it. Wish it had bigger pockets on the belt though, can't fit much in them.

[actionshooter]

 Its a little big, but I use a Badlands 2800,
I can pack something out if I get so lucky.   

[deadyote]

I also have a Badlands Superday.  It is very comfortable and mine has had an entire blacktail boned out in it, about 62 lbs and it held up very well.  I have put elk quarters in it and the hide of a couple bears.  The only issue I have with it is the zipper grips break all the time.  Not a major issue for me because I take my kids to Cabelas often enough, it's the zoo to them, that I can return it when I go.  The warrant make up for any and all MINOR issues. 

[ICEMAN]

I also have a Badlands Superday.  It is very comfortable and mine has had an entire blacktail boned out in it, about 62 lbs and it held up very well.  I have put elk quarters in it and the hide of a couple bears.  The only issue I have with it is the zipper grips break all the time.  Not a major issue for me because I take my kids to Cabelas often enough, it's the zoo to them, that I can return it when I go.  The warrant make up for any and all MINOR issues. 

You are returning it with a broken zipper grip?  I usually replace zipper pulls with a longer piece of paracord, so that I can open and shut stuff with gloves on, plus the cord is always quieter than plastic or metal...

For a daypack, currently I have a midsized Cabelas pack. Nothing fancy. I treat my daypack as my survival kit, and have to return to the truck for when we have game down. No way to pack any meat on my daypack.

[quadrafire]

Badlands Superday. No zipper problems at all on mine. Very comfortable/easily adjustable. Kinda warm on the back, But I have found all packs to be that.

[Black Plague]

I have a Horn Hunter pack that i got from my wife for a Christmas present 3 years ago.  I believe it is one of the original G2s.  my wife's uncles own and operate the company...so mine was free    i really like it a lot, and talk about comfortable. I always use it on my day hikes for hunting and fishing. I also use it for school here at EWU and haul my chemistry, calculus, and biology books in it with three three ring binders...plus my lunch and two Gatorades at the same time. i have probably spent more time with this pack than anyone I know and when i hunt with it I barely even notice its there.  I would say its worth a look, i am sure they have a new design now but I bet its still great.   

[JackOfAllTrades]

I use an older model of Kodiak day pack that has the rifle carry scabbord. They make one that carries a bow too. It is a basic single large compartment with two small outer elastic top side pockets. It has a bladder, but I usually use water bottles. It is extremely light, and for the last five years, it's been very durable. If I pass it on to one of my boys, I'll be looking at the Nimrod Bugle as a replacement, but that pack doesn't appear to have the narrow profile that my Kodiak does.  On short trips, I'll use a large Remington fanny pack that has an expandable top compartment that is blaze orange that is lined and designed more for packing meat out than wearing it as a day pack expanded.

-Steve

[Cascade_Sherpa]

I've been using Badlands Hypervent for several years and really like it. Its sold me on Badlands products, I got my dad a 2200 after a friend we hunted with in Idaho helped pack a couple of bucks with one.  Its a great game hauler but can compress down small enough for a daypack.  I had the 4500 at one time but but ended up selling it cause it was just too much. I don't do enough backpack hunting these days to justify it, but it was a really well built backpack.