Daypacks which one?

[RockChuck]

Thanks for all the replies the pictures really help, I will check out the Horn Hunter packs as well.

[ridgefire]

i own the superday, j104 and the g1 siwash and for my style of hunting the superday is worthless for dayhunts for elk but works good for turkey and deer, no good for packing meat though. i love the expandability of the j104 but its a little heavy and bulky but a decent all around pack. yet to use the g1 but thinking its going to be the ticket, quite a bit lighter and way less bulky but near the same size as the j104 at 4000 c.i.

[GlennGTR]

I own the Kifaru Express, with the right pods this thing can go from a day pack to a couple of days out back pack. It is my go to pack. Add a cargo chair to it and you can pack out an entire boned out blacktail deer or boned out elk quarters. The Kifaru packs are built to your specs and are warrantied for life. There is no finer pack in my humble opinion. They are also made in the US by American workers. Most hunting packs are now made in Vietnam or China.

[SkookumHntr]

Ive had a Cabelas elite scout pack for about 10 years. Ive tried a Nimrod pack and a Badlands and have sold both of them becouse I  like my little scout pack better! When im hauling meat I head to camp and get the frame! For a daypack I think the Cabelas Elite scout pack is hard to beat!

[RockChuck]

Well I went with the X1 it is comfortable and has the features I was looking for, I found it online for $114 shipped to me. it even showed up the next day! I rechecked the price the next day and it was up to $159

[Schwag173]

Everyone's needs are different, but I have found Cabela's Elite Scout as close to perfect as anything else on the market.  Expandable from 850 to 1050 cubic inches, it's the perfect size for day-pack use and the exterior compression-flap has secured my bulky coat on a number of hard climbs.  The BIGGEST bitch I have is that it has no internal aluminum frame to keep the pack properly shaped to my back.  Without the internal frame, my back gets sore.  I'm thinking of having a local place add an internal frame (a couple thick aluminum strips in sewn sleeves).  I bought and used a different pack (with a frame), but the framed packs on the market are all too large (1600+").  For about $105, the Elite Scout does a nice job right off the rack.

[dromero]

Check out Horn hunter, Bull pacs, Nimrod, Mystery Ranch, and Wilderness packs. All made in USA.

I have a Nimrod Pinnacle day pack, 1300 CI and love it, works great, comfortable, quiet, and holds everything I need for a quick hunt trip.

[huntinfool86]

crooked horn outfitters master guide is great, all the pockets you could want in all the right places and lifetime warranty

[Forester]

I use the Badland 2200 and love it. The Feb/March Eastmans has a review of the following packs: Badlands Diablo and Super Day. Eberlestock X2 and X1E. Sitkas Flash 20 and a pack I have never heard of the Mystery Ranch Three Day Assult Pack.

Might be worth picking us and issue if you don't already subscribe.

[carpsniperg2]

Just got a great deal on a Badlands 2800 and its sweet! Have not got to pack much weight with it yet. But threw 50lbs of weights in it and it felt good. I should be able to pack 100+ without a worry in it.

[calawahsteelie]

Just bought the Badlands 2800 at the sportsman show. I also threw about 50lbs in the pack and it was amazing. The weight distribution is spot on. And it is big enough to have enough gear for a couple of days. The built in pistol holster is a nice feature. It is in a little awkward position but it works.

[JackOfAllTrades]

Are we talkin day packs, pack boards or packs to get all our gear in to spike camp?

I don't expect my day pack to pull out an Elk quarter and back straps. All I expect my day pack to do is (it does have a rifle tie), to hold my stove, water, pot, soup, jerky, trail mix, a little emergency kit, and maybe my bivy bag, some packable rain gear, extra ammo, my GPS, knife sharpener, and my game bags.

That said, I have a Kodiak Hunter day pack. It is not a packboard. It is not my backpack to carry my camping gear.

-Steve

[fair-chase]

You bring up a good point Jack. I think a lot of people go overboard on the size of a daypack. Unless you are an outfitter/guide or packing your wife and kids in you really don't need a very large daypack. I currently use a Badlands TreeHugger fanny pack. More than enough for all of my gear even with my Foxpro Firestorm in it. I wouldn't call this an ultralight setup, but even with the foxpro I am weighing in at under 12 lbs.

Here is a list of what I fit into a fanny pack:
Foxpro Firestorm and remote
License and tags with zip ties, pen, and hole punch
2 water bottles 16oz
100' para cord
3 knives
4 big game dressing bags
2 packages of latex calving gloves
Waterproof matches and lighter
1 Headlamp and 1 flashlight
Half roll of TP
Extra bottle of windicator
Small bottle of cover scent
2 lense cleaning cloths
2 hard cases of diaphram calls
2 open reed calls
2 closed reed calls
GPS
Foldable map
2 packages of peanuts
2 nutrition bars
Cell phone
Full box of ammo
Emergency space blanket
Small first aid kit


Now I am not trying to promote this pack at all. It sounds like the original poster was looking for a backpack and not a fanny pack anyways. I am just trying to point out that you can store a lot of gear in a relatively small space, often keeping it organized at the same time. Going too large on a daypack can produce it's own set of problems. If things are not stored tightly they will shift, which is a real pain. It will not fit properly, and a lightly packed bag will also create more noise. I see quite a few postings for the 2800. I am sure that it is a great pack and not trying to start an argument with anyone but I use a 3000ci kelty for trips lasting up to 4 days. 2800ci is a lot of room for a "daypack".

I would recommend getting all of the gear together that you would normally pack on a day trip. Find a couple different sizes of shoe boxes and see which one will hold all of your gear tightly. Measure that box to find out how many cubic inches it is. Then add 25% to that number to allow for unknowns (weather/different game) and you should have a good idea of how many cubic inches you need for a daypack.

Disclaimer: These are only my opinions and have been found to be wrong on a number of occasions.

[JackOfAllTrades]

2800ci is a lot of room for a "daypack".

I would recommend getting all of the gear together that you would normally pack on a day trip. Find a couple different sizes of shoe boxes and see which one will hold all of your gear tightly. Measure that box to find out how many cubic inches it is. Then add 25% to that number to allow for unknowns (weather/different game) and you should have a good idea of how many cubic inches you need for a daypack.

Disclaimer: These are only my opinions and have been found to be wrong on a number of occasions.

I've been going with a fanny pack for several trips. I've found there's a bunch of stuff I didn't really need. Even my overnight trips,... I've cut out a bunch of weight of things I really never used.

You're opinion...  Some good ideas.

-Steve

[Widgeondeke]

 I have the Cabela's bow/rifle pack.  Used it in Wyoming this fall and loved it.     When I bought it, I looked at the Eberlestock and Badlands packs.  The Cabelas had the same features for less $$. More camo options as well.  Very comfortable, plenty of room for my spotter, lunch, gear etc...  The pouch for packing my rifle when packing/dragging out my antelopes was really nice, I used that a lot. Was also able to strap my bipod to the side. Another thing I like is the little tag of orange material that you can pull out of the outside pocket to mark your pack if you have to leave it.