Backcountry Packs

[Charles-270]

Great Tent!

[couesbitten]

Great pictures, now I want to go.

[slim9300]

Great pictures, now I want to go.

It's a trip everyone should do once. Pretty neat place.


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[Vek]

Most "hunting packs" play a distant second fiddle to old Danas. 

In my opinion, the only current packs that can compete with older dana packs are the following:
Kifaru
Mystery Ranch
Stone Glacier (if they get the frame curvature or lack thereof figured out)

EVERYTHING else offered as a "hunting pack" is too frail and gimmick-laden to be taken seriously.  Barney is an exception, but having worn one beside a dana external with similar load, there wasn't much of a contest. 

I'll take an early 2000s dana terraplane ltw for $200, Alex.  Still looking for that one. 

Do not get too hung on color.  That's why they make Krylon. 

[fillthefreezer]

Most "hunting packs" play a distant second fiddle to old Danas. 

In my opinion, the only current packs that can compete with older dana packs are the following:
Kifaru
Mystery Ranch
Stone Glacier (if they get the frame curvature or lack thereof figured out)

EVERYTHING else offered as a "hunting pack" is too frail and gimmick-laden to be taken seriously.  Barney is an exception, but having worn one beside a dana external with similar load, there wasn't much of a contest. 

I'll take an early 2000s dana terraplane ltw for $200, Alex.  Still looking for that one. 

Do not get too hung on color.  That's why they make Krylon.

whats your take on the 2012 kuiu pack vek?

[scottcrb]

looking at the 2012 kuiu too . any thoughts?

[slim9300]

I like the look of the new Icon but after owning a 2011 model I will give this pack a few years to figure everything out (ie. work out all the kinks). I wouldn't recommend the 2011 Icon to anyone.

I will stick with Kifaru for now. They make the best heavy load hauling hunting pack in the world in my opinion. Both the Timberline and Duplex Timberline give a hunter all the options they could ever want.


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[dreamingbig]

   Slim has it right!  I am loving my Kifaru duplex frame and cargo panel with two long pockets and two small belt pockets.  I slide my eberlestock x2 right inside and I am ready to pack into spike camp.  Once at spike camp (7 miles in) I drop all and use the x2 for my day pack.  Next year I might have the DT3 bag and drop the x2 altogether but funds didn't allow for that this year.

[Benny]

A note on packs. Everyone will have extremely biased opinions on either what they own (good/bad) or who they choose to believe (mostly on the internet). When people start talking about a "backcountry pack" most of us will tend to focus on the weight hauling ability of the pack and the comfort that coincides with hauling heavy weight. The fact of the matter is, all hunts and loads are not created equal. A 3 day mule deer hunt is not the same as a 14 day sheep hunt.

There are without a doubt 4 or 5 bombproof, load hauling machines...but not everyone wants to pack 100lbs plus loads and not all hunts will require it. I think it's important to evaluate your personal limits on the weight you are willing to haul and the type of hunting you will predominately be doing.

[JPhelps]

I will take my Dana Designs Terrraplane longbed on both the 3 day mule deer hunt or the 14 day sheep hunt.  I love the extra room and the HEAVY hauling ability.  Plus a pack that is comfortable hauling 100+ lbs usually does alright with 40 lbs.

I haven't figured out how to kill a mule deer and still manage to have a light pack.    What hunt doesn't require heavy loads, because I want to sign up.

[fillthefreezer]

I will take my Dana Designs Terrraplane longbed on both the 3 day mule deer hunt or the 14 day sheep hunt.  I love the extra room and the HEAVY hauling ability.  Plus a pack that is comfortable hauling 100+ lbs usually does alright with 40 lbs.

I haven't figured out how to kill a mule deer and still manage to have a light pack.    What hunt doesn't require heavy loads, because I want to sign up.

the kind where your guide carries it for you or pack stock is handy
sign up, get out your check book..

[Benny]

I think there is a difference between hauling 80lbs worth of camp and a critter in a 4k ci pack or hauling 130lbs of camp and a critter in a 7k ci pack. If you like extra space...that's great but not everyone feel's the same.

[dreamingbig]

Having packed two elk quarters out at a time, I know the value of a true load hauler.  I want comfort when I have 100 lbs on my back for 7+ miles.

[fillthefreezer]

I think there is a difference between hauling 80lbs worth of camp and a critter in a 4k ci pack or hauling 130lbs of camp and a critter in a 7k ci pack. If you like extra space...that's great but not everyone feel's the same.

what kinda critters or UL gear are you running to pack critter and camp at 80lbs...?
camp and mule deer in a 4k cube pack is going to end up with stuff strapped everywhere. 7k cube pack you could just throw it all in and go...

[Vek]

I think the Kuiu frame is subject to the same comments/scrutiny as the Stone Glacier and Kifaru Ultralight, that being, it might not fit all back shapes and can't be adjusted.  The kuiu packbags do not appear to be special in any way, and they tend toward having too much of the extra zippers and straps and useless glitz that plagues eberle and badlands. 

The packbag on the Dana terraplane/terraframe is a case study in utility...