Originally posted by jhg:
Originally posted by Elkchaser:
... We pulled the frame out and took black electrical tape and wrapped it around the frame (like wrapping a tennis racket or bicycle handle bars) and put it back together.
Squeak GONE. ...
Thanks, I will try that remedy.
Joshua [/b]
Glen Eberle gave me the same recommendation about wrapping the X2 frame with electrical tape (the old friction style, not the plastic tape), and it does work perfectly. The X2 is a great pack that is very versatile. I love mine, but its toughness and features do come with a weight penalty. The Kifaru packs are another top line of packs and are super well built. Patrick Smith (Kifaru's founder) produces both a really heavy duty series as well as a lightweight series of packs, all of which are quite expensive but will hold up as well as any equipment on the market. The Badlands packs are very good too, but not as durable in my opinion as the others I have mentioned. The Badlands Sacrifice is the one I would pick for light weight and ability to haul several days worth of gear. I also have several of the Sitka Gear packs and like their light weight, strength, durability and comfort. Perhaps the very best of the batch, and certainly the most innovative in new designs, is the Kuiu Icon carbon fiber pack frame with either the 3000 or 6000 packs (I have both). It is super light, comfortable and collapsible, so you can actually use the 6000 pack as a day pack of sorts if you wish and then expand it to load more than most of us can even carry. The main problem with the Kuiu (like the Kifaru) packs is the cost. Most people don't need to spend so much to get a pack that does what you want -- but if you truly want the best....
As for the boots, there are some very nice ones on the market, but our feet are VERY individual and fit is the most important factor. Somewhat less expensive boots like the Danner Pronghorn and the Asolo hiking style boots are very nice and will work for most people. For double or so the price, full grain leather boots made by Kenetrek are wonderful boots that will stand up to the toughest abuse in elk and even sheep hunting, and when broken in, they are very comfortable. If you want lighter weight along with the durability, the Kenetrek Hardscrabble Light boots are a great choice. Another boot that is comparable to the heavy duty Kenetreks is the Schnees Granite boot. I like the fit of the Granite better on my feet than the higher, heavier Kenetreks, but the Kenetrek Hardscrabble Light fits me well in a boot that is not as tall. Meindl is a good boot too, but the quality in the US went down somewhat when Cabelas became the exclusive US distributor and demanded a lower price point to compete better in the domestic marketplace. Lowe boots are great too and are along the same quality as the Kenetreks and Schnee boots. There are boots out there that are even more expensive that some people argue are the best, but I personally don't see the need to go there for the conditions and frequency of my hunts. If you don't hunt in tough terrain, any comfortable footwear can suffice, but in mountainous terrain with packs and gear, sturdy, well-made boots are indispensable.
Allan
Topic: Best backpack and boots (Read 414 times)
