Post by: doubletall on April 07, 2015, 07:20:24 PM
Post by: jasnt on April 07, 2015, 07:51:05 PM
Post by: couesbitten on April 07, 2015, 07:56:51 PM
Post by: Jason on April 07, 2015, 08:02:15 PM
Post by: coachcw on April 07, 2015, 08:04:27 PM
Post by: ghosthunter on April 07, 2015, 08:10:07 PM
And a 25.00 camo pack from Costco .
I bought the J 105 for the scabbard.
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on April 07, 2015, 08:11:53 PM
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Post by: doubletall on April 07, 2015, 08:12:40 PM
I have a Horn Hunter Full Curl, a Kifaru Highcamp 4800, and am expecting to receive my new EXO 5500 pack in the next few weeks. These packs are very comfortable with standard weights of 35 - 70 pounds in them, but where they shine is in their ability to allow the user to carry 100+ lbs in reasonable comfort.
Speaking of packing loads out, if you're say 5 miles in and you fill your tag do you typically pack out the meat and then come back for your camp?
Post by: doubletall on April 07, 2015, 08:16:04 PM
Depends what you use it for. I'm assuming because you posted here you want to hunt the backcountry?
Yes, I've been wanting to do the high hunt from one of the Twisp River trailheads.
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Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on April 07, 2015, 08:18:08 PM
Depends what you use it for. I'm assuming because you posted here you want to hunt the backcountry?
Yes, I've been wanting to do the high hunt from one of the Twisp River trailheads.
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A quality backpack will reap rewards down the line when hunting the backcountry.
As Couse said above, they shine when weight exceeds 70 lbs.
Also, little advice, don't tell the Internet where you're hunting. If you shoot a buck this year people will be at those trailheads next year.
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Post by: coachcw on April 07, 2015, 08:21:20 PM
pretty tough to pull a camp and meat in less your into heavy loads and are a complete minimalistI have a Horn Hunter Full Curl, a Kifaru Highcamp 4800, and am expecting to receive my new EXO 5500 pack in the next few weeks. These packs are very comfortable with standard weights of 35 - 70 pounds in them, but where they shine is in their ability to allow the user to carry 100+ lbs in reasonable comfort.
Speaking of packing loads out, if you're say 5 miles in and you fill your tag do you typically pack out the meat and then come back for your camp?
Post by: 7mag. on April 07, 2015, 08:25:18 PM
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on April 07, 2015, 08:26:30 PM
#1 being your own capabilities.
You should be training right now.
Bring a partner. Should be able to do a single load of bones out meat for any animal. Elk with two people is likely taking two trips, which sucks but second one is usually just for camp and horns.
I've packed both a deer and a bear in one trip with a friend.
I would focus on training to be able to take 100 lbs for distance. (5 + miles with elevation)
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Post by: X-Force on April 07, 2015, 08:32:43 PM
Post by: doubletall on April 07, 2015, 08:40:28 PM
Hunting packs (good ones), are designed and built for the activity of hunting. Non-hunting backpacking packs are designed in size and durability for backpacking only. The brands I've checked on (Osprey, Gregory, Kelty, REI, etc) will only warranty their packs to 60 to 80 pounds, while hunting packs like Kifaru, Stone Glacier, and Mystery Ranch warranty their packs to 150 pounds or more. They are also offered in larger bag sizes to accommodate hauling your camp and meat at the same time. I destroyed a few backpacking packs before I bought a Mystery Ranch, then a Kifaru.
This pretty much sums up what I was looking for. My Osprey hasn't even been used, I bought it after four trips up Mt Adams with a pack that was too small and I haven't been back since. If I get serious about a back country hunt I'll try to sell my pack and look for something better suited for the job.
Post by: kentrek on April 07, 2015, 08:55:46 PM
good luck and have fun with it !
Post by: buglebrush on April 07, 2015, 09:02:51 PM
I've hauled a lot of Elk in my old Kelty and Badlands 2200. If a new pack isn't in the budget just hunt with the Osprey. If you can afford it, upgrade. You will be fine either way. I think sometimes we forget what our Dad's packs looked like. He would've been totally amazed at my Kelty :chuckle:
Post by: zackmioli on April 07, 2015, 09:20:07 PM
Post by: kentrek on April 07, 2015, 09:22:32 PM
Is a Kifaru, Exo, Stone Glacier, etc... bettter? Sure! Are they necessary? No!
I've hauled a lot of Elk in my old Kelty and Badlands 2200. If a new pack isn't in the budget just hunt with the Osprey. If you can afford it, upgrade. You will be fine either way. I think sometimes we forget what our Dad's packs looked like. He would've been totally amazed at my Kelty :chuckle:
:yeah: on a wall in our shop my dad hung up his packs as he upgraded....some of those old wooden frame packs are pretty cool..an they all managed to get meat back to the truck
Post by: doubletall on April 07, 2015, 09:36:27 PM
Is a Kifaru, Exo, Stone Glacier, etc... bettter? Sure! Are they necessary? No!
I've hauled a lot of Elk in my old Kelty and Badlands 2200. If a new pack isn't in the budget just hunt with the Osprey. If you can afford it, upgrade. You will be fine either way. I think sometimes we forget what our Dad's packs looked like. He would've been totally amazed at my Kelty :chuckle:
Good advise! I tend to obsess over gear a bit too much. I suppose the worst thing that could happen is that trash my pack hauling too much weight and that would only happen if bagged deer. Truth is I'd probably trash my body before I could ruin a pack.
Post by: bowhunterty on April 08, 2015, 12:46:21 PM
Post by: jasnt on April 08, 2015, 02:34:55 PM
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on April 08, 2015, 02:56:27 PM
Main reason I was looking in to the wilderness packs is because they have a lifetime warranty on construction also there sales rep claimed 200lb rating. I plan on looking in to this more but for you guys running the kifiru's or any other packs for that matter, do they have a warranty like that?
Yes Kifaru has a lifetime warranty.
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Post by: kentrek on April 09, 2015, 02:44:00 PM
Main reason I was looking in to the wilderness packs is because they have a lifetime warranty on construction also there sales rep claimed 200lb rating. I plan on looking in to this more but for you guys running the kifiru's or any other packs for that matter, do they have a warranty like that?
For the money that wilderness frame is awesome....I've never had 200 pounds in the field with mine but I've had some pretty good loads & put it in some pretty bad places and it's still going strong
Post by: fillthefreezer on April 09, 2015, 06:14:45 PM
For the money that wilderness frame is awesome....I've never had 200 pounds in the field with mine but I've had some pretty good loads & put it in some pretty bad places and it's still going strongthe waistbelt on my wilderness fell apart packing 70+ for a few months. wouldnt stay tight or rigid. it only got worse higher the weight
Post by: kentrek on April 09, 2015, 07:15:45 PM
For the money that wilderness frame is awesome....I've never had 200 pounds in the field with mine but I've had some pretty good loads & put it in some pretty bad places and it's still going strongthe waistbelt on my wilderness fell apart packing 70+ for a few months. wouldnt stay tight or rigid. it only got worse higher the weight
That's unfortunate...i had a great experience with mine..I talk alot about it in the wilderness packs thread
Maybe something changed in the manufacturing end or you got a dud cuz I had years into mine and it's pretty dang bullet proof
Post by: jasnt on April 09, 2015, 08:27:17 PM
did you send it back? Was it fixed right?For the money that wilderness frame is awesome....I've never had 200 pounds in the field with mine but I've had some pretty good loads & put it in some pretty bad places and it's still going strongthe waistbelt on my wilderness fell apart packing 70+ for a few months. wouldnt stay tight or rigid. it only got worse higher the weight
Post by: fillthefreezer on April 09, 2015, 08:54:03 PM
they worked with me on the issue by sending me an abs plastic reinforced belt but it was never very comfortable and i gave up on the system a couple months later. i went back to using a dana designs until i was able to score my first kifaru(it was a used duplex longhunter)
Post by: kentrek on April 09, 2015, 09:39:47 PM
I wonder if the strap material holding the belt to the frame got changed to allow some stretching issues
I don't want to recommend a pack that may not be "the same" pack as what I have....some of my toughest packs have been with my old pack
Post by: Hunter mike on April 10, 2015, 03:04:50 PM
Here's where I've been:
1) Cabelas Alaska 1 - external frame, still use this sometimes and train with it a lot as well. A bit noisy and less refined than the others.
2) Surplus USMC ILBE (based on Arcteryx) - bulletproof pack, 8+ lbs was a lot, but very capable. I couldn't get enough load lift at my height for heavy loads, but I'd trust the pack itself with a lot of weight.
3) LL Bean Hunter's Carryall - pretty slick setup for the price. I like the load-hauler/drybag idea I was running for a while. The waistbelt wasn't rigid enough for me and again not enough load lift for heavier loads. I still use it a lot as a day pack with a small dry bag for loose gear. Way lighter than a Badlands and you can still haul meat if you get something down.
4) REI XT85 - Found this recommended on some of the elk hunting websites and Hill People Gear. I have the newer one in a charcoal-ish color. Very comfortable for all uses. Hauled a whole boned out blacktail in one trip along with about 25 lbs of other gear (forgot to weigh it, but about 80+ lbs total). I think its the best you can get without spending more $$$. Tons of load lifter adjustability and easy to get the weight on your hips and close to your back. It's 5.5lbs and I use it most of the time for day hunts as well since I'm usually at least a couple miles in.
Post by: kglacken on April 10, 2015, 04:50:58 PM
I like quiet materials. Like brushed nylon or fleece I been looking closely at the Yukon frame combo from wildernesspacks.comYou cant go wrong with wilderness packs. Although they are a sponsor of ours at ZG Outdoors, we have been using them for years! Id recommend them to anyone, sponsorship or not. They are tough. (They actually ran a frame over with a tank and did not break. I like a "plastic" type frame rather than aluminum. We use the combo frame and pack for longer hikes and hunts. as well as meat packs for straping quarters to as the bag comes off the frame in a few seconds. and we also use the muley pack for quick hikes and day trips.
Post by: IslandStorm62 on May 13, 2015, 09:40:29 AM
I can leave the Back Pack at camp and hunt with the pack tray and a Day/Kill Pack attached to it.
Off Topic question - Is there anyway to keep track of my posts? or even contact the moderator of this forum?
Post by: kglacken on May 13, 2015, 05:04:07 PM
Post by: dasbear on May 13, 2015, 05:09:19 PM
TRUE HUNTING Pack now I'm hoping I can find something in between with camo or a neutral grey/tan color instead of aqua grn/blue that shows up so well on ridge tops. I guess I'll take note of all packs mentioned and do some research.
Post by: Hunter mike on May 13, 2015, 08:30:36 PM
I was really interested in the Wilderness pack frames, but found that I get no load lift from the MOLLE style frames. The REI is the first pack I've had with adequate load lift (and plenty to spare as well). Being able to really dial the pack in for any load is great. I'll probably not be putting more than about 80 lbs on my knees from here on out if I can help it, just getting to be too much wear and tear.
Post by: dasbear on May 30, 2015, 05:07:17 PM
Post by: swift on May 30, 2015, 06:15:58 PM
Post by: fillthefreezer on May 31, 2015, 11:48:02 AM
My main backpacking rig was a Lowe Australus 80 works really well for back country to 5-7 days the last 15 yrs it turned into a hunting pack now the volume part works really well but when it came to packing out a bear and gear at 80-90lbs each trip I was ready for something task specific. This pack has carried 2 bears out and I will do it again if I have to but I am looking really hard for something better. So are there some hunting internal packs vs external hunting packs that anyone should consider?looking at this pack on google images, it looks pretty nice. very similar to the osprey atmos imo. probably not designed to carrry more than 60lbs with any comfort though. quite a few packs nowadays designed to do those 100+ loads, depends how much you want to spend.
Post by: swashington2128 on June 01, 2015, 02:33:14 PM
When shopping for a pack I was looking for a pack that I could go in with, set up camp and shrink it down to a day pack and wear it all day while hunting. I don't want to have to return to camp just to get the pack to get meat back. The J34 with a super spike camp duffel is more capacity that I can comfortably carry. When I remove the duffel it shrinks down very nicely.
A lot of the bags mentioned here do the same things. Just a matter of personal preference and how much you want to spend. I would have gone with a Kirafu but could not justify the cost.
Have fun with the choice.