Post by: ctwiggs1 on June 10, 2015, 08:32:58 AM
I've got some more Cabelas points to spend :D
I've spent the last 5 years hunting a big traditional elk camp and I think I'm done with that. Time to get back to my back country roots. Step 1 - get a new pack!
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on June 10, 2015, 08:45:17 AM
Any reviews for backcountry?
I've got some more Cabelas points to spend :D:D
I've spent the last 5 years hunting a big traditional elk camp and I think I'm done with that. Time to get back to my back country roots. Step 1 - get a new pack!
Rock solid and very functional pack; great warranty. They are however, pretty heavy compared to many others out there.
Post by: ctwiggs1 on June 10, 2015, 08:46:15 AM
Any reviews for backcountry?
I've got some more Cabelas points to spend :D:D
I've spent the last 5 years hunting a big traditional elk camp and I think I'm done with that. Time to get back to my back country roots. Step 1 - get a new pack!
Rock solid and very functional pack; great warranty. They are however, pretty heavy compared to many others out there.
I was thinking Team Elk, but then I thought it would be better to just get the frame and strap my pack to it. Any thoughts on that?
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on June 10, 2015, 09:01:17 AM
Post by: andersonjk4 on June 10, 2015, 09:26:36 AM
Post by: xXLojackXx on June 10, 2015, 09:45:56 AM
Post by: X-Force on June 10, 2015, 09:52:46 AM
I bought a Kifaru to begin with I would have saved money in the long run and still be using that same pack.
Sometimes its easy to to say run to someone who hasnt even started walking. :twocents: :chuckle:
Being this is your first pack Lojack makes sense on getting a higher end pack and using your Cabelas points where they could help the most. If money is a problem dont buy new. Plenty of great used packs on here, rokslide, etc. and you will be saving 25-50%.
Post by: xXLojackXx on June 10, 2015, 11:16:03 AM
Sometimes its easy to to say run to someone who hasnt even started walking. :twocents: :chuckle:
Just trying to keep people from having to play the "upgrade my pack every year" game, unless that is fun for you
Post by: autodink13 on June 10, 2015, 11:25:48 AM
Post by: sirmissalot on June 10, 2015, 11:36:17 AM
I've found I like a rigid frame for the heavy loads on the way out. My favorite for the last few years has been one that the bag can separate from the frame to be used as a load sling. This gives me the ability to haul a day pack sized bag and still carry a full load of meat on the way out.
Post by: Jacque on June 10, 2015, 11:40:08 AM
Post by: 7mag. on June 10, 2015, 11:42:36 AM
Spend your Cabelas money on other gear like a jetboil, filter, knives, GPS, etc. Whatever else you need. Get on the forums and buy a used Dana Designs, Mystery Ranch, stone glacier or Kifaru. I went from Badlands, to Crooked Horn, Horn Hunter, Eberlestock, kuiu, mystery ranch, and now Kifaru. Had I bought a Kifaru to begin with I would have saved money in the long run and still be using that same pack. People say "Eberlestock is the same as Kifaru, it's a lie. It's night and day difference.
I agree. If you are serious about backpack hunting, don't waste your money and your back on a "one size fits all" pack, I don't care what celebrities are endorsing them. Taking advice about backpacking gear from people who don't backpack, will cause you misery as well.
Post by: stromdiddily on June 10, 2015, 12:48:42 PM
Spend your Cabelas money on other gear like a jetboil, filter, knives, GPS, etc. Whatever else you need. Get on the forums and buy a used Dana Designs, Mystery Ranch, stone glacier or Kifaru. I went from Badlands, to Crooked Horn, Horn Hunter, Eberlestock, kuiu, mystery ranch, and now Kifaru. Had I bought a Kifaru to begin with I would have saved money in the long run and still be using that same pack. People say "Eberlestock is the same as Kifaru, it's a lie. It's night and day difference.
Which Kifaru are you using now?
Post by: xXLojackXx on June 10, 2015, 12:55:31 PM
Post by: bobcat on June 10, 2015, 01:08:31 PM
Post by: milldozer on June 10, 2015, 01:41:37 PM
Post by: luvmystang67 on June 10, 2015, 02:00:11 PM
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on June 10, 2015, 02:04:50 PM
That said so much depends on your budget and use that it may not be the "best" choice, however in my experience I dont think it would be a bad one.
Post by: ridgefire on June 10, 2015, 06:12:38 PM
Post by: kselkhunter on June 10, 2015, 10:05:42 PM
Post by: Camo on June 11, 2015, 10:27:21 PM
Post by: ctwiggs1 on June 12, 2015, 05:52:11 AM
Post by: Caseknife on June 29, 2015, 07:40:08 AM
Post by: Labredog on July 12, 2015, 08:24:05 AM
Post by: Big6bull on July 14, 2015, 03:28:52 PM
We bought an X1 and a team elk eberlestock. My only complaint is that they would both "squeak" , very annoying and loud enough I had to take my pack off for a stalk or if we were into animals. We inquired with eberlestock and they said it's a known problem and we needed to "tape" up our frame. :dunno: I didn't think we should need to anything on a new pack spending that much money. Still has a little noise but I can't afford a new pack :twocents:
Post by: Utah on July 14, 2015, 05:29:18 PM
Post by: skagitsteel on July 18, 2015, 07:41:14 PM
You couldn't pay me to take an Eberlestock into the high country ever again. Thank us later...
:yeah:
Depends somewhat on preference, however my kifaru bikini/ high camp is way more comfortable to haul out a load than an eberlestock. Ever heard of the 'eberlestock lean'? Load gets out away from your back, load lifters don't work worth crap and you will lean forward under heavy load with a lot of the weight on your shoulders. My personal preference is kifaru, I have heard lots of good things about mystery ranch and stone glacier as well.
Definitely save a few more bucks and get a better pack, if you are serious at all about packing animals out of the backcountry
:twocents:
Post by: Fishhuntmike on July 18, 2015, 08:17:40 PM
Bought a Kifaru.
Post by: bobcat on July 18, 2015, 08:45:10 PM
Post by: skagitsteel on July 18, 2015, 09:44:19 PM
I had an eberlistock just 1. Gave it to my nephew. Packed a bear out 5 miles with camp. Did not use it again. Weight too far out and too low. Had to walk out leaning so far forward I could almost touch the ground.
Bought a Kifaru.
:chuckle: :tup:
I think there are a few of us that have made that switch. Although I did pack out 3 bears with a badlands 2200 my 1st yr.....
Gee, these stories of leaning forward with an Eberlestock pack is sounding really familiar. Last year while packing out three quartered antelope in mine, I couldn't stand up straight. That was a tough 1 1/2 miles. I didn't realize another pack might have been more comfortable, and I have no clue what "load lifters" are. Never even heard that term until recently on this site. I guess I need to do some research. Really doesn't matter though, a new pack is not in my budget. My plan for now is to only pack out one animal at a time with the Eberlestock.
Load lifters are the straps that connect the stays to your shoulder straps. On a well designed pack they will take the majority of the weight off your shoulders, resting on your hips instead. Last fall I packed an entire bear and hide out in one trip (about 3 miles), was a 130 pound load, almost none of it on my shoulders. I had sore legs but no sore shoulders or sore back
Post by: MountainWalk on July 18, 2015, 09:50:56 PM
Post by: couesbitten on July 19, 2015, 10:40:18 AM
......it'll make ya strong...
:chuckle:, with sore shoulders.
Post by: jrebel on July 19, 2015, 10:59:56 AM
Post by: Fishhuntmike on July 19, 2015, 11:04:44 AM
I had an eberlistock just 1. Gave it to my nephew. Packed a bear out 5 miles with camp. Did not use it again. Weight too far out and too low. Had to walk out leaning so far forward I could almost touch the ground.
Bought a Kifaru.
:chuckle: :tup:
I think there are a few of us that have made that switch. Although I did pack out 3 bears with a badlands 2200 my 1st yr.....Gee, these stories of leaning forward with an Eberlestock pack is sounding really familiar. Last year while packing out three quartered antelope in mine, I couldn't stand up straight. That was a tough 1 1/2 miles. I didn't realize another pack might have been more comfortable, and I have no clue what "load lifters" are. Never even heard that term until recently on this site. I guess I need to do some research. Really doesn't matter though, a new pack is not in my budget. My plan for now is to only pack out one animal at a time with the Eberlestock.
Load lifters are the straps that connect the stays to your shoulder straps. On a well designed pack they will take the majority of the weight off your shoulders, resting on your hips instead. Last fall I packed an entire bear and hide out in one trip (about 3 miles), was a 130 pound load, almost none of it on my shoulders. I had sore legs but no sore shoulders or sore back
I love my 2200, although heavy for its size it packs out meat very well in my opinion. An elk in 3 loads is quite comfy.
Post by: Stein on July 21, 2015, 08:05:53 AM
Most hunting packs have way, way too many pockets, straps, 1,000 molle attachments and features. They put them on there for marketing and they make the pack heavy and introduce more failure points (buckles, zippers, seams). In my view, the ideal hunting pack would be incredibly simple with few bells and whistles.
If I had to do it over again, I would seriously look at an external frame meat hauler.
With Kifaru, you are looking at a huge amount of money, at least double. They may be better, but at most I use it once a year. I think most guys would benefit more from training their body to haul the load than buying more gear. The few "professional" game haulers I have seen have beat up old packs that look like they belong at a garage sale.