Back Packs?

[amicus]

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate all the advise. There is absolute nothing wrong with the old pack and I can reuse it if I wish. Just trying to improve on my equipment.

Gilbert

[Bill Turner]

If your hauling meat you need a sturdy pack. The Kelty pack frame with bag is a good one. Heavier than some but will not let you down when you need it most. Stick with what you have.

[YosemiteSam]

I gave up on relying on one pack to do everything.  I know it takes me 2 trips to get a deer and all my gear out.  So now I just leave an old but sturdy pack in the truck in case I'm successful and take the lighter camping pack for my camp gear.  

I've packed half & half in a single pack before (half my camping gear + half the carcass X2 trips).  But it was a stress on such a small, light pack to take that much weight.  So now I just leave a beater pack in the truck.  My plan is to dress out the animal, pack up camp & take all my gear back, then return with the beater pack to quarter, debone & haul out.

[Scott Barr]

I agree with others about the quality, design and light weight of the Stone Glacier packs. Frame and packs are designed to bring meat out.

[zwickey2bl]

I have an old Crooked Horn Outfitters Non-Typical and like it a lot. Used it on a Colorado elk hunt last year for my day pack, then to help pack out the meat. Also had a freighter frame along. I can put a whole boned out whitetail in the Non-Typical with room to spare. I bought it used here on this forum several years ago. It has served me well

[DarkTimber]

If you want one pack that will truly do it all, take a look at Stone Glacier as others have mentioned.   I've had mine for 4 years now and it's the only pack I bring on hunts out west now.  I used to take a large internal frame pack (5,500+ ci) for packing in camp, a smaller internal frame (2,200 ci) for day hunts/ hauling out the first load and an external frame for the rest of the meat loads.  My Stone Glacier replaces them all and does each of their jobs better.  There may not be one pack for all situations, but it's pretty damn close.

Fully loaded with camp
 

Loaded with 1/3 of a boned out elk
 

Same load on my back
 

1/2 of a boned out Mountain Goat and full body cape (maybe the heaviest load I've ever carried)
 

I also packed out a bone in bull moose hind quarter in it last week and it worked perfectly. Was in a hurry and didn't get pics of that one.

It compresses smaller than my 2200 internal frame for day hunts and will carry anything your back will.

[Ryan Rothhaar]

Bull-pac frame, game bags, cinch straps.  I've been involved in packing 2 elk out with mine - the bull pac can hold more than you can, and is comfortable in rough country.  For serious meat packing I'd leave the trendy high dollar packs behind and grab a bull-pac.  My heavy load this Sep in MT packing my bull was probably 120 lbs.  No issue.  I routinely put 4-5 treestands on it when putting up stands in the early fall averaging 20 lbs a stand.  I'd say I've carried a couple tons on this pack over the last several years, total.  Ugly and you won't be the "cool kid"..... but these are made for work, not for looking good in a magazine ad.

R

[John Havard]

Having packed moose, caribou, blacktail deer, and sheep in Alaska since the mid-70's with everything from cheesy Kelty frame packs to every brand of internal frame packs I have a couple of well-earned opinions.

First, if you want a do-it-all pack, get a quality internal frame pack with removable frame.  The two best are Kifaru and Mystery Ranch.

Second, an internal frame pack with large sack can be made small (for day trips) using compression straps or can be big (for large-volume packing) by expanding the compression straps.   You can also remove the sack and just use the frame for carrying odd loads with just the frame.

Third, external frame packs by definition do not conform to the shape of your body.  As a result they can and often do load the heaviest portion of your pack burden farthest away from your iliac crest.  Definitely bad juju.

Anyone can carry anything once or twice with any sort of pack.  If you might use it once or twice it really doesn't matter what you get.  But if you want what can and will last you for a couple of decades of hard use then get the highest-quality internal frame pack (with a large compressible/expandable bag) you can buy and be done with it.

[TomMcDonald]

If you're only looking at hauling meat check out the Swazi Stag Bag. It's specifically designed for carrying lots of meat!
 http://swazi.wordpress.zeald.com/shop/accessories/stag-bag/

[Stixbowdrew]

Kifaru and stone glacier if thats your price range. If you want an awesome budget pack look at the Horn Hunter full Curl.

[last arrow]

If you are on a budget, look at a surplus USMC ILBE backpack  2nd generation.  It has features that compete with the best internal frame packs, in a pack specifically designed to be versatile and carry heavy loads in a nice camouflage pattern.  Plus they are 1/2 the cost at most surplus outlets.

[amicus]

Thanks gentlemen, I really appreciate the advise.

Gilbert

[Nathan Killen]

Eberlestock F1 Mainframe with the F2 Transformer bag will do anything you could ask a pack to do !

[woodchucker]

If I was intending on hauling meat... I'd use a good sturdy frame, and meat bags. But hey, I used to use a pack basket too... Just one Old Fart's opinion