Hunting pack suggestions

Hi visbuurt,

Just stumbled across your post. I started with a cheap camo pack from TSC. It was fine (I hunt mostly close to home) but I wouldn't trust it on a longer trek. I broke down and got a couple of good Eberlestock packs. They are not cheap, but are extremely durable and made with capacity to carry rifles, game, etc. Badlands packs are well spoken of, but I have never used one. Generally buy the best you can afford. It is cheaper in the long run than buying lots of crap.
Lots of folks seem to like the big frame packs for carrying game. Military surplus packs are another good option for durability and flexibility of uses.
If you can get something with a softish finish to the material it will make less noise in the bush.
Good Luck.
DavidS
 
Stone glacier, kifaru, mystery ranch, or kuiu

I have a couple of kuiu icons that I really like the layout of the pack and it is very comfy to carry. Based on reviews alone it is hard to beat a stone glacier or kifaru tho
 
Depending on what I was hunting, my old Karimoor Condor 80 leftover from my soldiering years in the 1980s would do for carrying in what I would need for that length of time, but if hoping to bring out anything of consequence I would use the Kelty Cache Hauler I have just acquired because it's external frame with an easily separable pack bag. (The Karrimor is internal frame.)
 
I started my backpacking hunting with an Eberlestock J107. I like it as a day pack, but not as a multi day pack. I've since upgrade to a Mystery Ranch Nice 7500 and am very happy with it. You could probably get by with a Nice 6500, but for the small price difference I decided to go with the larger pack.
 
Exactly. When it comes to hauling a load the frame pack is king. Everything else is just a daypack.

You need to keep up with the times....advances in backpacks in the past dozen years have been incredible....old-style frame packs are becoming a thing of the past.....thankfully!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
You need to keep up with the times....advances in backpacks in the past dozen years have been incredible....old-style frame packs are becoming a thing of the past.....thankfully!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sure the backpack manufacturers would like us to believe that, but when people talk of using their Eberlestock pack to hike back to the truck to pick up their frame pack in order to pack out their elk, we'll, my visa went back in my wallet. The new packs make great packs, but not load haulers. And if you're tall, like I am, the internal frame packs will never adjust to fit properly and that is a huge impediment to the carriage of heavy loads.
 
Like I said...you need to keep up with the times.If we were having this conversation 20 years ago I'd agree but things change. I'm guessing you've never tried some of the new high end packs like the Mystery Ranch? Take a look at what the sheep guides that do this for a living are using and get back to me.
 
I'm sure the backpack manufacturers would like us to believe that, but when people talk of using their Eberlestock pack to hike back to the truck to pick up their frame pack in order to pack out their elk, we'll, my visa went back in my wallet. The new packs make great packs, but not load haulers. And if you're tall, like I am, the internal frame packs will never adjust to fit properly and that is a huge impediment to the carriage of heavy loads.

Ya, sorry bud, you're wrong. Thousands of hardcore backpack hunters would agree with me.
 
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