Best backpack and boots

[bm22]

I sm in the early stages of planning a trip to montana next year for primary mule deer and secondary antelope.

I will be staying in a house and going out during the days to hunt. I need a backpack for a days supply: spotting scope food, water, whatever else i need. What is a good day pack

The terrein is rough alot of hiking what are some good comfortable boots for hiking and stalking muledeer.

Thanks

[celticknot]

anything from badlands is on my list for packs, lots to choose from and a n unbeatable warranty, you can buy one at a garage sale and put a knife in it and the will fix it or send you a new one. Can't beat  em for the money, And I love my Irish setter elk tackers. I have owned four pair and they are the toughest boots I have ever owned backed by another great warranty. They have other good styles But I have a ultra narrow boot and very few boot makers make my width.

[Ben Maher]

I personally prefer Bison backpacks . Angelo is the man ! Great product and great service . My Lemhi and Lost River are my "go to" packs .

[Elkchaser]

I love my Eberlestock X2 pack as my primary daypack that can double as a meat hauler, if successful.
I also love my Danner Pronghorn boots, once a broke them in to my feet and got the right sock combination. Boots are very foot specific, though, and I would try on as many pairs as possible and wear them around the store under a load and up and down ramps.

[mrjsl]

Where I live backpack hunting is not the norm, but I have had a lot of packs and if I were going out west I would look at a Mystery Ranch crew cab. I have a Mystery Ranch Saddle Peak now, and it's by far the nicest and most comfortable pack I've ever used.

[John Scifres]

A day pack is pretty easy.  I wouldn't spend a whole lotta money on one.  I have one from Gander MOuntain that cost $40 that does all I need.

Boots are too personal but stick with the big names and you won't go wrong.  Try them out before you buy them.  I like Lowa but that really doesn't mean you will.

[awbowman]

Originally posted by Elkchaser:
I love my Eberlestock X2 pack as my primary daypack that can double as a meat hauler, if successful.
I also love my Danner Pronghorn boots, once a broke them in to my feet and got the right sock combination. Boots are very foot specific, though, and I would try on as many pairs as possible and wear them around the store under a load and up and down ramps.

X2 on this combination.

[eflanders]

Try on every pack and boot style you can and go with what feels best.  If there is anything that bothers you at all while you are shopping, it will bother you even more when you are hunting especially in rough country.  Don't trust opinions, trust your instincts and experience.

[ron w]

Keep an eye on the classifieds, I got a Badlands Diablo like new for less than $90. I works and carries great! Should carry all you need!

[wtpops]

X2 on the X2

[Bjorn]

Whip at Prairie Designs will fix you up on the backpack. Personally Asolo TP535 is my fav boot; boots are a very personal preference thing.

[beachbowhunter]

X3 on the X2. Meindels for me.

[DanDaMan]

Originally posted by Elkchaser:
I love my Eberlestock X2 pack as my primary daypack that can double as a meat hauler, if successful.
I also love my Danner Pronghorn boots, once a broke them in to my feet and got the right sock combination. Boots are very foot specific, though, and I would try on as many pairs as possible and wear them around the store under a load and up and down ramps.

I will second both of these suggestions.  Love my Eberlestock and Pronghorns.  Maybe you should take this as a trend.  Two western hunters that both use the same gear!  I am on my second set of Pronghorns.  They are by large the best boots I have used for LOTS of hiking.  They are extremely light weight and feel like sneakers on your feet.  The X2 pack is by far the best pack I have ever used.  You can load it down with TONS of gear or have it tightened down with just a day packs load.  I am on yr 3 with my x2 and yr 5 on my current pronghorns.  

Dan

[NBK]

The X2 pack is amazing.  Loaded with a full days supplies, including a 2L water hydration bladder, and it NEVER once felt heavy, or cumbersome.  It also allowed me to take out an 80lb. elk quarter/with loins for 2 miles, and although it wasn't made especially for that, it did the job and saved my group an extra trip.  I was the only one with an X2 and all the other guys now want one.
I don't have a ton of experience with the different brands of boots, but FWIW on our Colo. Elk hunt I wore the Vasque Taku's.  They're very lightweight with great stability, my feet never got wet (gore-tex), and coupled with the green superfeet inserts, I never got a blister from out of the box to a week of hard mountain hunting.  Hope this helps.

[jhg]

Originally posted by bm22:
...
I will be staying in a house and going out during the days to hunt. I need a backpack for a days supply: spotting scope food, water, whatever else i need...

The x2 is a great pack but its way overkill for the above if you are somewhat aware of a budget. At about 200 bucks with tax they are not cheap. Mine really shone when heavily loaded. But even though the x2 has other nice features, I did not feel those were necessarily superior to others found on packs that cost less.
The x2's aluminum frame and its ability to haul heavy out of the back country is what makes it worth the cost.
For my own taste, the x2 is a little wide and the frame to strap connection is too noisy. Not so loud as to alarm game but its like a squeek in a car dash- after awhile you are ready to strangle someone! I prefer a narrow pack as in my e3xperience they do not hang up on brush as much by quite a margin as a wider pack does.
Anyway, I would suggest a hypervent by badlands (or similar) That is a narrow pack and is nice to sneak around with.

Joshua

[Gehrke145]

I'm a Kifaru nut, the spike camp from them would work great and it carries meat well with the cargo chair.  I have several packs from them and they cant be beat!

[steadman]

I will put another vote for the X2. It is a bit overkill as mentioned, but if your a couple miles in and want to pack your animal out, it can't be beat. I love mine for a day pack! It's the best of all worlds for me.

I use meindle's for boots, but you will want to try different boots if you can, your foot may fit one better than the other.

The hunting you are doing is what I primarily do here in UT for muleys. It is a great set up for me. YMMV

[Straight Shootin']

IMHO, for the money you can't go wrong with Rocky Mountain Backpack, I personally like the "COYOTE."
Boots on the other hand is more personal. I like the Bean Boot (unlined) and Kenetrek pack boots for when it's cold...

[The Night Stalker]

More than 5 days out, kifaru longhunter guide with cargo chair. Totally adjustable to the individual. I used Danner pronghorns this year and they did well for me.
My friend had a badlands break about 7-8miles back in. He had to tie his waist belt in a knot. I am sure they will fix it or replace it but when you only go once a year and your that far in. Disappointing to carry 60lbs of gear in steep country.

[Autumnarcher]

For boots, I and my son both wore Asolo oots elk hunting this fall. We backpacked and hiked many many miles. Not a single hot spot or blister. Very comfortable. I got them through SierraTradingPost. They run online sales and clearances often. These are more a hiking style oot rather than a high top boot, but after wearing them, I'm sold on them.