Hunting pack or backpacking pack?

[hawk22]

I'm looking to get a pack to use for multi-day hunting trips out west and just wondered what pack the other backcountry hunters are using?  It seems there are some god backpacking packs that have a lot of good feature but they just aren't camo.  Do you guys think the features of the hunting packs are worth the extra money?

[pintail_drake2004]

for longer hunt/camp trips I take my Alaskan fram pack. Plenty of space for all my gear and then some. For short day trips, or even overnight trips I take a backpack.  Is the hunting pack worth the extra $$$, absolutely-they make packing game out easier, and allow you to store your gear neatly and readily accessable.

[Daz]

Order of priority in pack shopping:
1. Fit. How does the pack ride with 65-80lbs in it? Is the belt on the pelvic girdle? Are load lifters working? Are shoulder straps right length?
2. See #1
3. Durability. Will it hold up to the aforementioned 65-80lb loads ALL THE TIME? Backcountry pack repair sucks. Bad.
4.Organization/Size. Will it hold what you want how you want it? This is often a personal preference, but remember loading is critical in a pack depending on uphills/downhill etc.
5. Price/use value. Will this be a once week, once a month or once a year pack? How many miles will you put on it?
I'm not even going to comment on how low down the list colour should be when buying a serious pack for hunting.

Brands? Arc'Teryx, Dana, Mountainsmith, Gregory and even some of the REI in house are great. Kifaru, Mystery Ranch, Eberlestock if camo floats your boat...
If you do not know how to size a pack, spend the time and get it done properly, and make sure the pack fits. Boots and packs are no places to cut corners.

[YORNOC]

Daz is right. I bought a pack for a newfoundland hunt and ended up dragging the thing behind me. It was a Cabelas daypack. It had no business where and how I was hunting.

[Zbearclaw]

I wanted a pack for everything from day hunts out west to 10 day adventure backpack hunts.

After trying a bunch and owning a few I have a MR Crew Cab and have the pack for me for everything.

I have an uber shirt torso and other packs didn't fit right.  This one does.

It is expensive, but far cheaper than buying the wrong pack 3 times and suffering on every hike...

There is no way a backpacking internal frame pack will comfortably get out a deer and camp in one load.

Good luck.

[Canyon]

Eberlestock pack model that meets your need. Don't go to big instead manage/minimize your equipment.

[hawk22]

What's everyone's pack of choice?

[njloco]

Kifaru does not make regular camo packs, but they are very good packs, definitely worth looking into.

[jhg]

Originally posted by Canyon:
... Don't go to big instead manage/minimize your equipment.

Heed the above advice.

 I met two guys (very nice people) at the trailhead as I was coming out that were going up for a two day bivy. They had enough on their backs for at least a two week epic hunt. Each guy had a big pack crammed full and tight. On this majestic and weighty foundation was strapped anything else that couldn't be shoe-horned into those big freighter packs. Poor guys.

I will grant you that not everyone will do things in the same manner. One persons can do without is another's must have, but really if you are smart about the learning process you can be comfy and warm with a lot less than most load onto their backs.

Anyway, for a hunting pack that can handle 3-4 day bivy hunts easily AND everyday elk duty with game bags etc (15=20lbs including pack) AND haul a 60lb quarter out no problem look at the Eberlestock X2. If you plan on longer hunts out of a pack, consider that you will want another larger one.

The smaller pack is great and a go to size for almost all Western hunting. Longer trips will require xizing up.
 But you will still want a smaller pack for all those days you hunt from a base camp.

I bivy up to a week using the X2 BTW in warmer times.

J-

[jdeck]

I have a Eberlestock Blue widow. Nice comfortable pack. Last year I put an doe antelope in it minus the head cinched it down and walked out about a mile and a half. The pack looked like it was empty and carried the load very well.
I bought this pack to replace an arc'teryx bora 80 and it carries just as well if not better. Expands very large with the detachable spike camp duffle. It also cinches down small enough to use as a day pack.

[Canyon]

hawk22 I carry an Eberlestock blue widow like jdeck. It has lots of configurations but that doesn't mean it is right for you.

[Bivyhunter]

I spend 20-30 days in the backcountry every year and have used many of the packs out there.  Last year I carried out a bear and my camp in one load in the Blue Widow, 114 pounds.  The load wasn't fun, but it wasn't because of the pack--I really don't think I could have carried the load with any other pack I've used.  It was super comfortable.  I used the Ebrlestock Destroyer on 110 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail earlier this spring and was equally impressed with that pack.  Just finished up back to back hunts in Nevada and Colorado with the Kuiu Icon 6000.  That is a sweet pack with a low base weight and really comfortable with a load.  The Badlands 4,500 is a good one as well, though I don't think it is quite as comfortable as the above packs.  Try on as many as you can (if possible), picking a pack can be a personal fit (like a good stickbow).

[wislnwings]

As others have said, try on as many as possible with a load in them to see which fits you best.  I went with a Mystery Ranch Crew Cab and was very pleased with how it performed on my Colorado elk hunt this year.  It wasn't cheap but I see no need to buy another pack in the future and if I did need a different pack I could always buy another Mystery Ranch pack that fits my NICE frame.

[Whip]

If you end up going with something from Eberlestock please keep me in mind.  I have Blue Widows and X2s in stock and can get any of the others as well.  But it will be a bit - i'm going to be carrying my pack and hope to put it to the test hauling some elk meat.    :D  
I'll be back on the 24th.

[jhg]

Originally posted by hawk22:
...Do you guys think the features of the hunting packs are worth the extra money?

Missed this the 1st time. I used a regular pack that I made a light fleece cover for that was not only silent, but worked great. Don't be limited to just hunting specific packs. Many packs made for mountaineering or rock climbing are fantastic and simple packs that lend themselves to hunting.

As mentioned go with the pack that fits and meets your needs- then make it silent. My hunting specific pack is not that quiet all by itself, so that "feature" is not very effective or worth the extra money. To make it really quiet it needs a cover. This negates the camo fabric it uses too. But hunting packs sometimes offer shelves for strapping on meat loads and THAT is worth the money.

J-

[Gary Logsdon]

For a short, 2-3 day, bivy I use a Bisongear "Elk Pack" model.  For week to 10 day excursions I strap the Bisongear and my other gear to a Bull Pack frame.

[wihill]

The pack's frame is it's foundation - without a good one even the strongest houses will tip over.

Look at the frame/fit first - a lot of "three day packs" out there barely have more than a plastic sheet to keep them rigid.  Great for saving weight, but uncomfortable as all heck when the pounds kick up.

I've got a couple older internal frame packs (3k-5.5k cuin) from places like REI, Mountainsmith when they were still American Made, and other than the colors, they'd be great hunting packs - quality material and build have made them last.  Right now I've got a Mystery Ranch NICE Longbow, and for me it's the most comfortable (if it's possible to call it comfortable carrying heavy weights) I've tried so far.

I've heard good things about Kifaru also, but they have a mandatory wait as things are built when ordered.  My Mystery Ranch shipped the moment I okayed the payment, and there was no problems for returns if something didn't work out.

You pay a lot for the expensive packs, but I think they're worth it - the next time I'll buy a pack like this will probably be when I decided the technology/fit has surpassed this one.  That could be a while.

[stykbow67]

I bought a Eberlestock x2 from Whip this spring and used it for 3-4 day bivy hunts opening week in CO and it worked awesome. Unfortunately didn't get a chance to haul meat with it, but the guy that hunted with me is goin back last week of season and is borrowing it from me,hopefully it'll get some blood on it! Lot's of sound advice here so far!

[Breakfast Boy]

Yep, if you go with a Eberlestock pack (LOTS of guys love that X2 pack), get it from Joe (aka Whip) at Prairie Traditions.  Super nice guy to deal with and good prices.

 www.prairietrad.com