Best lightweight pack for elk?

[mmgrode]

Kifaru or mystery ranch are top notch!

[Hud]

If your interested in some advice from Backpacker, April issue is theie Gear Guide and it has about 17 pages on packs alone. You'll find names, websites, phone no. specifications and all kind of info. It has been out for a month but you may find it at the larger book sellers, Boarders, Barnes & Noble, or your local library.

[beachbowhunter]

Whatever you choose, I'd suggest you buy through Whip at PrairieTrad!

[Ringneck]

Jim, unless they have changed something their packs are made in vietnam.

[Curveman]

Seconded on buying from Whip at Prairie Trad!

 www.prairietrad.com

[razorsharptokill]

Badlands are made in Vietnam?

[buckster]

Elerbestock x2 is tops!  Got mine from Joe @ Prarie Traditions, one of our awesome sponsors.

[flycastr]

As others have said, it depends on what you are going to do.  Packing 10 mi in for a week requires a lot more pack than day/overnight trips in Oregon, New Mexico, Arizona, etc.  I have used a half dozen different brands, and every one is a compromise.  But for what I do, the Kifaru Spike Camp is the best I have found.

[razorsharptokill]

Lots of great info here guys thank you.

[Snakeeater]

Jim,

A guy with the handle of The Elk Reaper has a great series of threads on just what you are looking for, load haulers for elk/mountain hunting. It has gone to four threads to cut down on the loading time. It is called, "2010 PACK REVIEWS" over on another site, and here are the URLs for the threads. Get yourself a beer, make a sammich and settle down to read lots of good information on a variety of packs and manufacturers, plus some info you probably didn't know.

 http://forums.bowsite.com/TF/bgforums/thread.cfm?threadid=379652&messages=179&forum=5

 http://forums.bowsite.com/TF/bgforums/thread.cfm?threadid=381371&forum=5

 http://forums.bowsite.com/TF/bgforums/thread.cfm?threadid=382025&forum=5

 http://forums.bowsite.com/TF/bgforums/thread.cfm?threadid=382873&forum=5


Snakeeater

[JockC]

For me there are two ways to go here, depending on how/where  you hunt.  Carry a small, light pack that you can do a first carry of loins and backstraps in (then bring your big back in from the truck)or carry a really substantial pack, maybe one that folds up reasonably small as a day pack.  I carry a Nimrod guide pack I like a lot for the first application and a modified Mystery Ranch or old Kelty frame pack for the second.  Two things you don't want are 1)to rely on an inadequate, uncomfortable pack for multiple carries or 2) have a light pack break up on you with no fallback.  There are better places to cut weight from than the pack.  I'd rather lose 5 lbs myself than lose it off the pack.

[tim roberts]

Nimrod makes a great pack, that you can add parts to or take off with very little effort.  Got mine a few years ago and am always surprised at how verisatle it is.