Wilderness Pack Question??

[colockumelk]

Hey gents trying to get a little bit of feed back here on how you guys operate when it comes to living out of your pack for 4 days.  I am looking at getting a pack so I can do the wilderness thing for 4 days at a time. 

Here's my questions:

1.) How many Cubic inches will I need in a pack to carry enough gear for 4 days in a wilderness area.

2.) Should I leave the external frame at the truck or bring it with me?

3.) What is your back country set up?



Thanks for any advice.  I've only done the wilderness thing once and I'm trying to steepen my learning curve by using your advice and experiences.  Thanks again. 

[luvtohnt]

Not sure where they are but there was a couple threads about this. The OP even had a picture of all his gear for you to see. I will see if I can dig it up.

Brandon

[luvtohnt]

Here are some links to threads about backcountry travel for starters. Don't be afraid to use the search feature.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,6294.0.html
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,1398.0.html
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,15404.0.html

Brandon

[scoutsniper17]

I have been using the Badlands 4500 for almost 4 years now and actually did 16 days back in the Norse Peak Wilderness a few years ago on a Peaches Ridge archery tag.So you should have no problems with 4 days and that pack.It hauls everything you can throw at it and has multiple points of adjustment.Another great pack to look at is anyone of the set-ups that Kifaru makes,pretty spendy but well worth the jingle.

[Tim]

take a look at the Kifaru message board "trading  post" there are one or two older used ones there plus those new KU ultra lites look pretty sweet.Once I saw the  weights on those KUs than weighed my old pack I was hooked
Tim

[teanawayslayer]

my pack is around 3500 cubic inches.  I bought it last year. It weighs around 8 pounds it is an external frame.  I went on the glacier peak high hunt for 5 days.  I was happy with the size of the pack.  I had plenty of room for all my gear.  This Is the only pack you will need to bring with you.  I saw you were asking about leaving one at the truck.  When your up there you make one trip with the animal.  When your that far back in I don't recomend two trips to pack out your animal.  So buy a pack with plenty of anchor points, that way you can tie everything on. 

[timberghost72]

I have 2 Kelty external packs. One is my wife's. they are 3500 and 4500 ci and weigh 3.5 and 3.75 lbs. I haven't hunted with them but have gone on quick weekend trips and one 3 day (all a few years ago). I like the externals better because they seem to carry the weight on my body type better. I originally bought an internal pack and didn't like it. I am 5'7" and at the time 160 lbs. Also the internal  packs hug your body more so you will sweat more because of the lack of airflow. Best bet is to go try all of them on with weight in them. REI is a great place to get that done even if you don't want to buy from them (some people have issues with REI). Also with internal packs you have to be more organized and methodical when packing it up as opposed to externals. Just some thoughts. I am dusting mine off and itching to go this summer.  Oh one other thing, you can remove the pack from the frame on externals quickly and use the frame for packing out your meat.

[atfulldraw]

X2 to the badlands 4500

[JimmyHoffa]

I've been using a Kelty 4500 internal frame.  I'm looking into swithing to the Kelty Cache Hauler with a waterproof dufflebag that can be thrown on, or maybe a seabag.  Just hook the gear on, or take it off for packing out.  A buddy uses a pack from Cabelas in which the 'pack' detaches so he has the shelf to mount the game bags for the pack out.  I have found for the long range hunts, the pack fit makes a bigger difference than the weight.  My pack for 4 days is between 75-85 pounds (with very little water...I plan my route through watering holes), and the biggest killer is the belt.  If I can't get the belt portion tight enough, then the pack feels heavy.

[Skyvalhunter]

So are you only going with one pack? How far in the wilderness do you plan on going? Reason I ask how far in is comfort when packing in and packing out with a heavy load if you get an animal. Reason I ask about the one pack is if you plan on having a base camp then not using a smaller pack to do your day hunts with. A pack like say the Eberlestock Blue Widow or one of the other expandables works nice. That way when you choose to take the pack along when hunting the size of the pack you went in with can be made smaller. Also when you get a deer you can expand it and make one load out. But some people make multiple trips out. Just a few things to consider. You will get a variety of suggestions. There was a guy on here a month or so ago asking the similar question. So you can do a search also and find peoples input.

[colockumelk]

So are you only going with one pack? How far in the wilderness do you plan on going? Reason I ask how far in is comfort when packing in and packing out with a heavy load if you get an animal. Reason I ask about the one pack is if you plan on having a base camp then not using a smaller pack to do your day hunts with. A pack like say the Eberlestock Blue Widow or one of the other expandables works nice. That way when you choose to take the pack along when hunting the size of the pack you went in with can be made smaller. Also when you get a deer you can expand it and make one load out. But some people make multiple trips out. Just a few things to consider. You will get a variety of suggestions. There was a guy on here a month or so ago asking the similar question. So you can do a search also and find peoples input.

I guess my main question is which one should I do. 
#1 Buy a Eberlestock Blue Widow/Badlands 4500 etc and put all my gear in it.  Then if I shoot something put 1/4 of an elk in the pack along with my gear and head to the truck.  Grab my external frame pack and head back up the mountain.
#2 Strap an Eberlestock Blue Widow/Badlands 4500 etc to an external frame (Bull Pac or Nimrod) and hunt with it like that.  Then get an animal.  Strap a 1/4 of an elk to the pack frame and lash my pack to that and head to the truck.  Drop both off and head back up with only my Packframe.

I guess another question is how comfortable is an internal frame pack compared to an external frame pack.  Both with just your gear and also with your gear plus 1/4 of an elk.  Can the Blue Widow or 4500 handle a 1/4 of an elk plus your gear?

[Coastal_native]

coluckumelk,

when you get the answer you're looking for...share it with me and let me know how it works .  I've been on a quest over the last year to become a smarter wilderness backpacker.  I've been doing a lot of research on how to pack light for extended back packing trips.  I do really good on trips that only last a few days, but it really takes some planning to make for a comforatable week+ long trip, especially if you're hunting too. 

[timberghost72]

I've been using a Kelty 4500 internal frame.  I'm looking into swithing to the Kelty Cache Hauler with a waterproof dufflebag that can be thrown on, or maybe a seabag.  Just hook the gear on, or take it off for packing out.  A buddy uses a pack from Cabelas in which the 'pack' detaches so he has the shelf to mount the game bags for the pack out.  I have found for the long range hunts, the pack fit makes a bigger difference than the weight.  My pack for 4 days is between 75-85 pounds (with very little water...I plan my route through watering holes), and the biggest killer is the belt.  If I can't get the belt portion tight enough, then the pack feels heavy.

  Holy cow! 75-80lbs for 4 days? What are you packing thats so heavy?  Just curious.

[JLS]

I've been using a Kelty 4500 internal frame.  I'm looking into swithing to the Kelty Cache Hauler with a waterproof dufflebag that can be thrown on, or maybe a seabag.  Just hook the gear on, or take it off for packing out.  A buddy uses a pack from Cabelas in which the 'pack' detaches so he has the shelf to mount the game bags for the pack out.  I have found for the long range hunts, the pack fit makes a bigger difference than the weight.  My pack for 4 days is between 75-85 pounds (with very little water...I plan my route through watering holes), and the biggest killer is the belt.  If I can't get the belt portion tight enough, then the pack feels heavy.
Holy Cow, you taking a couple of sides of ribs and a BBQ?

[JLS]

So are you only going with one pack? How far in the wilderness do you plan on going? Reason I ask how far in is comfort when packing in and packing out with a heavy load if you get an animal. Reason I ask about the one pack is if you plan on having a base camp then not using a smaller pack to do your day hunts with. A pack like say the Eberlestock Blue Widow or one of the other expandables works nice. That way when you choose to take the pack along when hunting the size of the pack you went in with can be made smaller. Also when you get a deer you can expand it and make one load out. But some people make multiple trips out. Just a few things to consider. You will get a variety of suggestions. There was a guy on here a month or so ago asking the similar question. So you can do a search also and find peoples input.

I guess my main question is which one should I do.  
#1 Buy a Eberlestock Blue Widow/Badlands 4500 etc and put all my gear in it.  Then if I shoot something put 1/4 of an elk in the pack along with my gear and head to the truck.  Grab my external frame pack and head back up the mountain.
#2 Strap an Eberlestock Blue Widow/Badlands 4500 etc to an external frame (Bull Pac or Nimrod) and hunt with it like that.  Then get an animal.  Strap a 1/4 of an elk to the pack frame and lash my pack to that and head to the truck.  Drop both off and head back up with only my Packframe.

I guess another question is how comfortable is an internal frame pack compared to an external frame pack.  Both with just your gear and also with your gear plus 1/4 of an elk.  Can the Blue Widow or 4500 handle a 1/4 of an elk plus your gear?

1/4 of an elk plus gear is pretty ambitious.  The reality is you're looking at five trips with elk and gear, unless it's a small spike and then you might do it in 4.

The quality of the internal frame will make a lot of difference in comfort.  I have a Dana Design  that I've loaded up with close to 100 pounds of elk meat.  It's not comfortable, but what is at that point?

I do option 1.  I hunt with a smaller pack and leave the frame or the Dana at the trailhead.  You've got to get camp out anyway.    Haul camp and some meat out, and pack meat out from the trailhead.

My early season pack for 2-5 days is a Badlands 2800, total pack weight including water is 35-42 pounds depending on number of days/amount of food.  Obviously later season trips the weight goes up.  The first backpack hunt I did in November I was carrying about 65 pounds.  But, I've significantly upgraded (lightened) my gear since then too.