Backpacks

[Patrick]

#7114

I need to buy a backpack next year, and I want to begin the quest right now. For those of you who backpack/hunt into remote places, what would you recommend and/or what do you use? Thanks.

[trapperbob]

#58275

Kifaru…best there is. Best pedigree (patrick smith the owner.designer) started Moutainsmith packs which were on the cutting edge of moutaineering packs. He sold that then developed a whole line of equipment for the backpack hunter from packs to wood heated tents, sleeping bags and clothing. There are others people are satisfied with but I would bet none of those went from a Kifaru to another brand. Look up the website and read the blurbs on it all. The one and only downside is it aint cheap!

[Lousyhunter]

#58278

Check out badlands packs- I got mine 3 yrs ago & now it’s with me every time I go.

[Bloodless]

#58399

P — new short bow, and now new pack in your future? Either you got a raise, married well or inherited! In any case congrats and more power to you, as you’re planning to use it well. In my longish life I’ve found that the pack don’t count nearly so much as the packer. If you’re in great shape almost anything that don’t fall apart works great. There’s “best” and there’s “best for the bucks.” IMHO Bison Gear’s wool packs are the best hunting packs … but not enuf room for backpack hunting. Are you looking mostly for a camping backpack, or a hunting pack, or both at onct? I have a old one, can’t recall the name right now but it is a nylon pack with tons of room and outside pockets, waterproof, on an alumineum frame. You can easy take the pack off the frame and fold down a shelf for packing meat. It was about a hundred bucks maybe 15 years ago and still is my first choice for backpack hunting. Seriously what you’ll likely have to do is stick your hunting pack onto your backpacking pack, as no hunting pack is a good backpacking or meatpacking pack, and versa vice. My 2 sents but with a zillion years and miles of experience. What’s most important here ain’t what pack you get, but that you actually want to walk into the wilds alone with your house on your back. More power to you Patrick! bb

[Patrick]

#59003

bullyboy wrote: P — new short bow, and now new pack in your future? Either you got a raise, married well or inherited!!

lol! None of the above. I’m just thinking ahead. Actually, I’m going to be giving my current longbow to my son. The poundage will work perfectly for him by the time I get the new bow. 😉

Oh, and I NEED a new backpack 😀

[Rogue]

#59131

Patrick just a few questions.
How long are you wanting to pack in for? Overnight or for up to a week or longer?
Are you wanting to use it as a day pack also?
If using it to pack meat are we talking just deer sized animals or elk and moose?

Answering these questions will help in selecting a pack.

Bill

[Patrick]

#59177

Oops, yeah I should have included that as well.

I want something for up to a week. I would like to be able to use it as a daypack if possible.

Packing meat, hmmm…well deer would be the practical answer, but part of me wants something that would handle up to elk for the hunt(s) that I will do…someday. Probably should just get something large enough for deer. Then, if/when I need one for elk, get a larger pack (or no?).

[rayborbon]

#59663

A.L.I.C.E. Pack thanks to Uncle Sam

Cheap,simple, not too comfortable but get’s the job done.

[Rogue]

#59803

I really like the Badlands 2800 it is probably best suited for about 4 days in but I can push a week depending on how primitive I want to make it. It will pack meat and its not so overly large that you cant use it as a day pack.

Packs are like bows, try as many as possible to see whats comfortable and fits you well. 15 miles from a trailhead with an elk down is the wrong time to figure out you hate your pack.

Hope this helps
Bill

[butts]

#60490

I have the Kifau as well as one other previously stated. I have the Siwash. I and my hunting partner backpack in about 3 miles and hunt back from there. The pack is w/me 24/7 while in the backcountry. My pack gives me tremendous back support for the hardware I had installed surgically near my spine. I had to put a couple snaps on the pack for personnel preferrances and I purchased a large 0.25 pound mesh bag to carry my gear out with Strapped to the outside of the pack when I take out the meat on my first trip :wink:. The pack does not have the many pockets like most packs, which I am totally use to now. I just wanted a pack to carry big loads and me not feel the after effects.8)

[David Petersen]

#60629

You don’t have to decide between a good hunting pack and a good backpack. Nor do you have to compromise with one that’s neither. Just keep piling it on! 😛 Load heavy stuff near bottom and back. This is 11,200′ alpine muley hunt, CO. “Use it or lose it!” dave2old 😯

[butts]

#60930

Nice pack DP

[MontanaFord]

#61621

Dave, what kind of frame do you have? Is it aluminum? or? How heavy does that pack weigh? Looks like a fair bit. I need to figure out my pack for next year. I have a couple different aluminum frame packs already, just need to decide how/if I want to modify them.

Michael.

[Idabow]

#61678

Dave,
What a great photo, this one should be pasted in every hunters garage! For sure, this is the antidote for those who feel that a 4×4 quad is necessarry and the “only” way to hunt.
Traditionalists are tough!
Bill

[stalkin4elk]

#62034

Buy a good pack that fits your kid!:lol: I’ve been researching also and I’ll summarize.First decide on use,size,max #’s to be hauled, external or internal frame, versatility needs,and budget.
1)Dream packs: McHale customs(internal)or Barney’s from Ak.for external frame and huge,heavy loads. 2)Best semi-custom: Mystery Ranch by Dana Gleason in Bozeman Mt.and Kifaru by Patrick Smith in Colo. These are both outstanding internal/ sort of external frame hybrids with excellent pedigrees. They can handle heavy weight loads over 100#’s,have great warranties,are very versatile, etc.People swear they put Badlands and Eberlestock to shame with heavy loads. 3)Sporting store packs:Badlands,Eberlestock,Sitka,and various mountaineering brands such as North Face,Gregory,Osprey, etc.These work well for most and are more affodable.4)used:Kifaru,Dana Designs Terraplane and Astraplane(Dana Gleason),Gregory Denali Pro and a good old Kelty external frame with a new upgraded hipbelt.
This summary is from a compilation of hunting gear junkies including myself. And don’t ever forget a good Decker on a good mule!!! Me? Kifaru long hunter G2 will be next because of the versatility and options. Hope this helps.Getting in shape is more important than the dollars spent.

[David Petersen]

#62595

Michael — the joke (on me) is that it’s two packs, total in this case maybe 70 pounds, the only way I’ve found to make it work for a backpack camp/hunt. I load my regular backpack (it’s an old Peak I in the pic, with Kevlar frame), then hang my dayhunting pack on top of that load. That way I can hunt with a hunting day pack. If I am lucky enough to need to pack out meat, the empty Peak bag smashes down flat against the frame (would be same with aluminum frame)or I can take it off. There’s a slight flare toward the bottom of the Peak I that serves as a bit of a shelf. I always carry big game bags to make that chore neater. My othr rig is an even older alum frame meat pack with a folding shelf at bottom. It too has a detachable pack bag. That was my intended joke — you don’t have to compromise with one pack that does neither job well — just hang your hunting pack on top your camping back. dp

[MontanaFord]

#62657

One of my aluminum packs has a fold-down shelf that I like for hauling loads (I used to use it for packing a trapping bucket in high school), but it is so ungodly uncomfortable. My dad gave me one of his frame packs, but it doesn’t have a shelf, but it’s a lot more comfy to wear. I may try to modify a fold-down shelf for that frame. It has a lot more friendly hip belt, and the top of the pack doesn’t go way up by the top of my head. My aluminum with the shelf reaches way up high, and sucks in any kind of brush.

Dave, what kind of day pack do you prefer? Any specific brand/size?

Michael

[Treetopflier]

#62948

Michael — seems like it would be fairly easy to add a “hinged” fold-down shelf to any metal frame pack. The factory unit I have just has a hole through the bottom of the frame tube on either side, about an inch from the bottom, with a sleeve to keep the bolt from expanding the hole in the soft aluminum frame, and a bolt with washers on either side through the sleeve. Sleeve can be an inch or so of discarded aluminum arrow shaft. Shelf can be wood, anything. In my experience it’s the hip belt first and shoulder straps second that make for comfort or lack of. What the frame is made of doesn’t much matter except for strength and weight. snuffs

[Buckhorn73]

#63546

Patrick, take a look at the Jim Horn series of packs, one called the Canadian – very versatile, comfortable, rugged, lots of straps – won’t likely carry all the equipment Dave shows on his pack but will sure get the job done.

[bvalentine002]

#63553

Look at the backpacking-specific sites (backpacker.com, backpackinglight.com, etc.). They have the light-weight and high performance “thing” figured out.

I have a Jansport Carson 90: huge volume, light weight, removeable packbag, comfortable. And it was less that $100.

-Brett

[Rocks]

#7787

I don’t have a lot of experience with a lot of different packs, but have used an older aluminum packframe, and a few years ago bought an Eberlestock J107. It has been very good, I’ve carried some heavy loads on it and it’s always been comfortable, it will last me for many more years. I’m sure there’s better, I hear good things about other packs, Mystery Ranch is the most recommended one I hear about.

Great picture David, love it!

[frassettor]

#58587

[quote=Rogue]I really like the Badlands 2800 it is probably best suited for about 4 days in but I can push a week depending on how primitive I want to make it. It will pack meat and its not so overly large that you cant use it as a day pack.

I’ll second the Badlands 2800

[frassettor]

#58588

Rogue wrote: I really like the Badlands 2800 it is probably best suited for about 4 days in but I can push a week depending on how primitive I want to make it. It will pack meat and its not so overly large that you cant use it as a day pack.

Packs are like bows, try as many as possible to see whats comfortable and fits you well. 15 miles from a trailhead with an elk down is the wrong time to figure out you hate your pack.

Hope this helps
Bill

[Alexandre Bugnon]

#58699

Dave that is the absolute coolest picture…and the way to go too! I would latch my 2000cc wool hunting pack onto my bigger Mountainsmith backpack

[griz]

#59314

BADLAND PACKS HAVE A LIFE TIME WARRANTY .

[Chris Shelton]

#61218

I have the bow and rifle pack, by Redhead, I know that is not exactly what you were looking for Patrick, but another fellow asked about day packs! If you carry ALOT of gear like me, then it is the way to go, internal aluminum frame, long and deep for extra clothing, or extra camera gear:D. The straps on the back are useful for so many other things, even though they are designed for a bow or rifle! I use it to strap my coat on the back when I get hot!!!

[olddhaverstick]

#63033

I am a big fan of Eberlestock packs. They are very well built, designed with some real thought, and have a lifetime warranty. Check out the website at http://www.eberlestock.com.

Darren

[texasota]

#18126

I like the “Duluth Pack”. Maybe because I am from there…
but they make really nice,durable packs.

[Author]

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