Backpack selection?

Jahnj0584

Jahnj0584

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Halifax NS
Looking for a good pack for day-hunting. I already have a camping rucksack (MEC Cragosaurus, 30L) which fits my tent, sleeping bag+pad, and 2 days of food/clothes.

Looking for a small pack that's good for day-trips on a hunt or hiking a few km's into the wild to shoot targets in Nova Scotia.

Ideally, I'd like padded hip straps. Some way to strap a rifle on the side (MOLLE system with clasps?). Ideally some sort of dark green camo pattern.
Enough storage for a 8" target, sweater, few boxes of ammo, snacks and earmuffs. My guess is something around 25L would be what I'm looking for.

Thanks folks. Lemme know what you use, but I'd like to keep this under 100$.
 
Ebelerstock gunrunnerll is a great pack. Even comes with the internal rifle sheath. Another ootion is a Mystery Ranch pop up or something similar As the meat shelf can be used as an overload for whatever you want. Todays packs all compress down to practically nothing so going a bit bigger doesnt mean you have a floppy noisy bag and you have room to do 2-3 day hike/ hunts. If your serious about the under 100$ you wont have many options. Best bet there is go look at school bags and pick whichever you like best. Any quality bag will start off 2x your price range or more. Just my thoughts
 
eberlestock f1 mainframe with a couple batwing pouches is very versatile, they have a great green color as well as camo options or mix and match with green frame and camo batwings etc., run a kifaru gunbearer on all your packs
 
It sounds like your Cragosaurus is already the right size? Or does it lack a padded hip belt?

Personally I don't do small packs. I would rather carry a big pack cinched down as small as it can go, that way I don't have to return to the truck for a big pack if I down a deer or bear. With all the compression straps on my 60L bag it can get pretty darn small if I don't have much stuff in it. It weighs more than a daypack would though (I think my pack is close to 6lb empty) so YMMV.


Cabelas has their "Elite Scout Pack" on sale for $120. Probably won't find much in the way of a camo pack with a padded hip belt for less.
 
I don't see much of a benefit to a small pack for hunting other than maybe a bit of weight savings or if you're crawling around in thick cover. I have several Badlands Diablos set up for various situations and they are perfect for me. Vented backs so you don't sweat as much, super comfortable hip belts, straps on the back for extra stuff and a built in rifle boot. They're quite a bit more than your 100 dollar limit but I've learned long ago not to skip on something that's going to be strapped to your back for hours, day after day, mile after mile. Your body will thank you. I find them to be the perfect day size, with the capacity to do more if needed.
 
A 30 to 40 liters backpack is the perfect size for me ... and for a day out hiking in the woods in the fall ...

I don't like having to strap things to the outside of my pack ..... and with a 30 to 40 liter pack ...everything fits inside ... rain gear ... extra warm jacket ... lunch, etc. ...
 
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I use a Mystery Ranch Metcalf anywhere from day hunts to week long trips. For day hunts, I just use the main compartment and meat shelf if I shoot something to pack it out.

If I go on a longer trip, my tent and food bag goes in the meat shelf. Once camp is set up, I use it as a day bag. I'm leaving Monday on a 5 day canoe camping trip, taking the Metcalf and everything minus water I'm at 41 lb. In contrast, I will use the same backpack when doing a day hunt and will only have food, water, game bags, additional clothes and emergency stuff. It's pretty versatile with all the straps that you can run it completely full, including meatshelf, or completely empty, and still be very comfortable.
 
I've had a 5.11 rush 72 for almost 10 years now. Such a solid bag. It's not light at all but the nylon is tough as he'll and dries pretty fast. Moller all over the thing(I've never used it for actual Molle equ. But I've clipped stuff to it and it's strong). A ton of pockets and pouches for organizing. It's Mt favorite pack and if it wasn't so "tactical" oriented I'd use it for everything. I do use it for the hardest use cases and it's been tough as he'll. A rush 72 is a 55L bag but they make a rush12 and a rush24. Might be worth looking at and I'm fairly sure it's close to your price point.
 
Just lookin it up. Seems you can get the rush 12, which is a 24l pack, for 125cad. Comes in black, green, tan, multicam and and grey/black
 
I have a rush 12 in coyote tan. Its a great range bag but very heavy for what it is no waist belt or load lifters so its not comfortable for heavier loadouts or long carries.
 
obsessed1b said:
I have a rush 12 in coyote tan. Its a great range bag but very heavy for what it is no waist belt or load lifters so its not comfortable for heavier loadouts or long carries.
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And that's my issue with most smaller packs. If they're significantly smaller than my big pack they either lack all the features you need to carry any weight (say, a deer quarter) or they cost a fortune.
 
Its a fantastic truck pack or range bag even a prs style bag to tote a few shooting aids along with you or act as a rifle support ( either front or rear) but as a hunting day pack ill take a hard pass. It lacks all of the most important features of a hunting pack
 
Ahh I see. Like I said I have the 72 and it's got the bells and whistles. It is heavy though, I have to admit. I never worried too much about that but less weight is always better. However, op sounds like he's not planning on loading it up too heavy. Also the ol' jansport never let anyone down. Could be very grey man esq.
 
Jahnj0584 said:
Looking for a good pack for day-hunting. I already have a camping rucksack (MEC Cragosaurus, 30L) which fits my tent, sleeping bag+pad, and 2 days of food/clothes.

Looking for a small pack that's good for day-trips on a hunt or hiking a few km's into the wild to shoot targets in Nova Scotia.

.
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You carry all this stuff in a 30L pack?


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For hiking to a shooting location, for less than $100. You might want to have a look at one of the Chinese Eberlestock-knockoff
 
scruffee said:
I use a Mystery Ranch Metcalf anywhere from day hunts to week long trips. For day hunts, I just use the main compartment and meat shelf if I shoot something to pack it out.

If I go on a longer trip, my tent and food bag goes in the meat shelf. Once camp is set up, I use it as a day bag. I'm leaving Monday on a 5 day canoe camping trip, taking the Metcalf and everything minus water I'm at 41 lb. In contrast, I will use the same backpack when doing a day hunt and will only have food, water, game bags, additional clothes and emergency stuff. It's pretty versatile with all the straps that you can run it completely full, including meatshelf, or completely empty, and still be very comfortable.
Click to expand...

X2 This is a great allround pack. Large enough for a weeks hunt, compressible enough for a day pack.
 
Arcteryx LEAF Assault/Khard 30 or 45. I have both and they have been amazing packs for day hunts and hikes in the Rockies and across Europe and Africa. I have really cool pics of an elephant trying to steal my 45 from the back of a truck; had to strap everything down tight.
 
You won't get anything particularly good for $100. Spend your money wisely and buy from a company like Kifaru where you will get what you pay for.
 
I have a small backpack for day trips it's about 33L I have had it for 5 years now. Not a single issue with it and it had held up perfectly. Not even one stich came apart. It's a bit more then your budget but not nearly the cost of some of the other bags mentioned. It's an LL Bean Continental Rucksack in black

My over nighter is a 65L Kifaru Navigator
 
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