need me a new pack

[uncoolperson]

so loading up for an overnight and realized again, I'm not happy with my packs

my granite gear meridian vapor, too narrow/small for all my stuff.
my ebrelstock, too bulky and wide for me (I'm a fairly small framed fellow).

looking for something atleast 65 liters, comfy for 20-1000lbs (or whatever a deer could weigh), for multi night fishing trips to the high hunt to whatever else I come up with... pretty much need a pack for everything other than day trips.

And as with everyone funds are limited (ebrelstock [skycrane] and my granite gear pack will be sold to do this... in the classifieds when I come up with a price and pictures), which means no mystery ranch for me .

thanks

[blackveltbowhunter]

A couple packs come to mind.... I looked at your specs for the vapor online 3500 ci im assuming you want more room? Im not really familiar with the skycrane but thinks it the on the military side of the eberlestock pack. Is this correct? Either way, The Blacks Creek Barbarian Featherlight, or Badlands 4500. May  fill the bill. I have the 4500 plenty of room, comfy, a bit on the heavy side imo. No firsthand with the Barbarian but I really like alot of the features, and its a couple pounds lighter than the 4500. Also possibly the hunting style packs from Eberle? Gud luck and welcome to many sleepless nights debating over the perfect pack 

[alecvg]

Dont go with eberlestock if anything.  I LOVE my Sitka 4500 bivy

[uncoolperson]

A couple packs come to mind.... I looked at your specs for the vapor online 3500 ci im assuming you want more room?

yeah, more room is needed over that.

Im not really familiar with the skycrane but thinks it the on the military side of the eberlestock pack. Is this correct?

yup, it was cheaper than the camo'd up hunting ones when I got it...  it's basically a non camo'd up J34 (just one).

Either way, The Blacks Creek Barbarian Featherlight, or Badlands 4500. May  fill the bill. I have the 4500 plenty of room, comfy, a bit on the heavy side imo. No firsthand with the Barbarian but I really like alot of the features, and its a couple pounds lighter than the 4500.

I'll do some more looking into those.

Also possibly the hunting style packs from Eberle?

From the few I've seen, seems the eberlestock packs are designed for a slightly broader shoulder muscly frame than me...

Gud luck and welcome to many sleepless nights debating over the perfect pack 

yeah, I'm averaging a new pack every year for the last 10 years or so in my search.

[Jason]

Dont go with eberlestock if anything.  I LOVE my Sitka 4500 bivy

Why not Eberlestock?

[blackveltbowhunter]

I have the eberle Blue Widow as well, good pack but you are right about it spreading the weight out rather than up. It also expands away from my back which I dont like as well. Its still a comfortable pack and I use it, but it sounds like ur on the right track that it may not be for you.

[uncoolperson]

I have the eberle Blue Widow as well, good pack but you are right about it spreading the weight out rather than up. It also expands away from my back which I dont like as well. Its still a comfortable pack and I use it, but it sounds like ur on the right track that it may not be for you.

yeah, expands way out.... that and after some time under it, the shoulder straps are set a bit too wide to be comfy for me.

[huntnfmly]

I have a blacks creek alaskan nice pack and expands quite a bit and you are able to keep the load close to your back lots of tie downs.I can wear it all day even kept it on while glassing for long periods of time

[HunterJim]

Badlands.... No doubt.

[carpsniperg2]

I got a new badlands last year and have only got to use it a little so far but like it a lot. I got the 2800 but if I was staying back in there a couple days I would go the 4500

[7mag.]

Check out Nimrod. They have a variety of different pack configurations that you can attach to the base pack/harness. I love mine, I also have the external frame, and it is the most comfortable pack frame that I have ever worn. I don't know if they will fit your bill, but, they have different size harnesses for different size people. I think the website is www.nimrodpacks.com. They are made here in Washington, in Cashmere.

[uncoolperson]

so, about settled on mystery ranch if I can sell off my henry survival 22 and my ebrelstock skycrane I believe I should have the money together.

thanks for the input.

[dupedc]

I've got both the 2200 and 4500 from Badlands...both work great!  Depending on your use, I don't think you could wrong with Badlands.

[wsucowboy]

Badlands.... No doubt.

Love my badlands pack.

[addicted]

blacks creek canadian or alaskan.

They were too big for my purpose last time i was pack shopping but they were certainly made well. I ended up with a western and i love it.

The blacks creek packs have the adjustable shoulder strap height for us smaller sized guys.

[high country]

See if you can find a used k2 or Dana designs "bed" series pack. Arguably the standard all are judged against. Look at propper on eBay and a used mystery ranch all are gooood quality and made to last, it will be a matter of fit. The best fitting pink pack tramps a poor fitting camo one.

I like my mystery pack the most so far.

[PacificNWhunter]

See if you can find a used k2 or Dana designs "bed" series pack. Arguably the standard all are judged against. Look at propper on eBay and a used mystery ranch all are gooood quality and made to last, it will be a matter of fit. The best fitting pink pack tramps a poor fitting camo one.

I like my mystery pack the most so far.

Just like high country said, try and get a Dana Designs or Mystery Ranch. I too have had problems getting a pack to fit and instead of buying several lesser packs after finally trying a Myster Ranch for a few hikes wish I would have just swallowed the pill and paid the extra for the pack right off the bat. 

That being said, I wore a badlands for a long time and it was a great pack, I was able to send it back and have them take off some of the lenghth of the waist belt so I had more adjustability. Good luck.

[Bshiftbc]

Have the Badlands 4500. I little heavy but quality all the way!

[dfresh96]

costco has a timber ridge pack for $35 with 2800 c.in., hydration compatable.

[marmotsafari]

Don't be shy of going into REI to try some more "backpacking" packs out..

I went through a couple options last year, currently settled on a Gregory Palisades. Expands prettty big, comfy suspension, top lid removes for day hunt if you like. Kinda a dark red color, which I like, less apt to get shot up moving at dusk. If you are color conscious a pack cover keeps the kit dry.. I have an old northface cover that is black, I plan to safety pin on some tape or spare vest if I am worried about other hunters.

Nice thing about REI, they fit people to packs all the time, you can try on a bunch, and return anything after a field test if it doesn't work out. Worked out cheaper for me than most of the hunt pack options too.

Mine is sitting loaded on the floor by the door.. @45#'s + rifle... here we go!!!!

Good luck!

[TheHunt]

I like to go into REI but they support anti hunting groups that I dispise.  But as far as going in and trying on packs, renting them, it is a good idea.  I have never had any REI employee say anything negative to me about hunting.  Now a few other folks that were in the store made a few comments but backed down really quick when I dropped everything a walk over to confront them.  My wife did not like the way I handled it but such is life and I took her to dinner then she laughed it off. 

I like and own the eberstock "the one" pack.  It is a great pack for bivey hunting.

[HUNT-HARD]

Take a look at the Horn Hunter Full Curl pack system. Nice light weight aluminum internal frame. Has two options for pack size and also can just be used as a pack frame. I have one on order right now and cant wait for it to show up. I picked up just the small pack and the meat bag. $24.99 for the meat bag and $219.00 for the pack and frame.

[aer212]

According to my cousin, these are the best packs on the market. Spendy but you get what you pay for. http://www.kifaru.net/HUNTHOME.HTM

[Lowedog]

I bought a used Osprey Aether off of ebay and couldn't be happier.  Very light and comfortable and made to carry a load.

[Wtrfowlr62]

Badlands.... No doubt.

period.


i have a 2800. very versatile, quality fantastic, prolly wont ever buy another pack unless it says badlands on it.

[high country]

Don't be sold on trends and fluff. Fit, suspension and design trump color, signatures of tv hosts and magazine ads. Badlands makes a good pack, if the fit is good. For the weight, I would take a custom pack every time......and I own both.

[marmotsafari]

Sorry to kick up an aging post, but just noticed TheHunt's response-

I wasn't aware of REI being supportive of anti hunting groups- no doubt many of their employees are but that is a different thing entirely. On thier website they mention the sierra club, which I know a lot of sportsmen have reservations about. Those guys have gone through the trouble of at least trying to be inclusive of sportsmen if nothing but for the vote- check out http://www.sierraclub.org/sierrasportsmen/people/leaders/ - may be a snow job but a far cry from PETA  at least they are willing to shoulder up to hunters if it gives them a bigger voting block.

[swanny]

REI is a great place to try packs out. I would highly recommend going in to the Seattle store though if you are out to try them on. The knowledge in that store tends to be better and the selection is much greater, plus they have stairs and you can walk up and down on to get a real feel for how the pack is with a load on. We don't sell anything camo unfortunately and don't sell any snake gaiters but we do sell great gear.

I'm a little curious though what REI supports also that is anti-hunting? Just so you are aware, employees are a big part in dictating where money goes to support various programs or groups. REI is also huge in every community they are in, every new store opened does a large scale service project before the store opens. At the DC in Sumner, we recently started a salmon restoration effort of a creek that runs along our building and flows into the White River.

[bobcat]

The Sierra Club is a pretty good organization IMO. They've done a lot of good for wildlife habitat and they are NOT an anti-hunting group. I'm not sure why so many hunters have a problem with them. I'd guess that it's mostly because most hunters don't have a clue as to what the Sierra Club really is.

[uncoolperson]

thanks shoot, things came up and the cash from selling a pack went to all kinds of other things.

gonna try for spring and hope to make the high hunt next year.