Check out Steamboat Mountain Outfitters - they horse pack (not guide) residents into stone sheep/moose/elk country. Might be a little much for now, but not hard to save up for over a couple years. Couple grand I think.
Sheep hunting pack options
- Thread starter ChiefG
- Start date
Check out Steamboat Mountain Outfitters - they horse pack (not guide) residents into stone sheep/moose/elk country. Might be a little much for now, but not hard to save up for over a couple years. Couple grand I think.
Well, to be fair, if you are wanting a pack to carry better than 100lbs constantly then you are going to be looking at a Barneys external frame Freighter, not the MR internal frame.... I don't disagree that MR makes pretty good stuff, but they haven't really kept up to advancements in materials like newer companies have. And newer companies don't farm their gear out offshore and have them mass produced like MR does now. There is a definite difference in quality of workmanship and materials between a Ranch pack of 10 years ago that was made in Bozeman, and one made now in the Philippines.
While I respect that you guide and see some gear, some of us use gear too....
As a sheep hunter, I've long lived with the knowledge that if you take care of the ounces, the pounds will take care of themselves. If I can use gear just as strong, just as tough, just as long lived, that carries weight better, that transfers the load better, AND save POUNDS, then I can get farther back into the hills and stay longer.
But to each their own.... I myself don't really care what anyone else carries, if they are tough enough to carry their own weight. I just know what gear I choose to use, after trying a lot of different stuff. However, the OP did ask about options on high end gear, so I purely offered opinion after having actually used it all...
pete dobinson
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Courtenay BC.
Could you explain the difference in materials and quality of the ranch packs that are made in the Philippines . I read somewhere that mystery ranch couldn't keep up to the demand because they supply the millitary and police force with packs and the plant in Bozeman wasn't big enough. I don't know how true that is or if its just an excuse. They were supposed to maintain the same quality in the Philippines as the plant in Bozeman, I don't know how true that is either. Their new packs are lighter than the old packs due to the Guidelite frame. I believe the ranch pack is cheaper to buy than Stone Glacier and Kifaru.
I'll throw out my opinion on packing weight. First off a pack has to fit. 80 pounds is not a lot of fun to carry, and anything over 100 is no fun at all. But the difference between no fun and painful- god everything hurts- and I might have blisters in places that shouldn't have blisters type of no fun quite often boils down to pack fit and quality of workmanship and materials. $1000 seems like a big hit until you buy that $400 wonder pack and it comes apart on you on the mountain.
I'll admit that I'm a fan-boy for Stone Glacier. I've used one for a number of years now and for me its the best pack I've ever used. I don't buy the argument that you need an external frame for heavy weight. I've packed numerous 100+ loads over the years with internals and last year I came off the mountain with 130 pounds of Dall and camp and the SG performed flawlessly. Their integrated meat shelf is great and the whole pack pulls in tight when taking it on day excursions. It's slightly narrower than most packs and fits a slim build very well.
YMMV...
RC
I'll admit that I'm a fan-boy for Stone Glacier. I've used one for a number of years now and for me its the best pack I've ever used. I don't buy the argument that you need an external frame for heavy weight. I've packed numerous 100+ loads over the years with internals and last year I came off the mountain with 130 pounds of Dall and camp and the SG performed flawlessly. Their integrated meat shelf is great and the whole pack pulls in tight when taking it on day excursions. It's slightly narrower than most packs and fits a slim build very well.
YMMV...
RC
The new ones that I have seen (the LGS sells a full line of MR packs hanging on the wall) have a lighter/shiny material now, with stitch lines that aren't as nicely finished as what I had owned previously. The zippers as definitely not as robust, and feel somewhat chintzy compared to the previous YKK stuff that was used. I loved my 6500 and Longbow, wasn't especially enamored with the CrewCab, but I carried it quite a bit (and still have the load cells) and the Metcalf seemed alright, but once I bought the SG and put 120lbs in it and carried it around the property alongside the MR bags, the MR bags went down the road. They *might* be built tougher, but they just didn't handle the weight as well. Being able to secure a heavy load down and hold it in place tight against your back is crucial, and the pack design simply doesn't allow for that the same way that some other manufacturers do.
There was more ownership of the product made when it was made in Bozeman, and it was just a handful of people putting their names on each individual piece they made. I talked with Seacat for a couple hours one night when I ordered my 6500, and later when I bought the crewcab I ended up talking to the guy who had inspected my particular 6500 himself and signed off on it. To say I had much MR love would be an understatement.
What I do know, is that MR does do a lot of .mil and police sales, as well as woodland firefighters. And good on them for doing that. However, you won't be able to convince me that shipping your product overseas to be produced is going to make you a pack that is as tough or of the same quality as one that was made in house, by someone who put his name on it before it went out the door. What you could convince me of though, is that the company is making a lot more money by producing a lot more product at a lower cost. Whether that is a good thing or not......
There was more ownership of the product made when it was made in Bozeman, and it was just a handful of people putting their names on each individual piece they made. I talked with Seacat for a couple hours one night when I ordered my 6500, and later when I bought the crewcab I ended up talking to the guy who had inspected my particular 6500 himself and signed off on it. To say I had much MR love would be an understatement.
What I do know, is that MR does do a lot of .mil and police sales, as well as woodland firefighters. And good on them for doing that. However, you won't be able to convince me that shipping your product overseas to be produced is going to make you a pack that is as tough or of the same quality as one that was made in house, by someone who put his name on it before it went out the door. What you could convince me of though, is that the company is making a lot more money by producing a lot more product at a lower cost. Whether that is a good thing or not......
pete dobinson
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Courtenay BC.
Thanks for your reply KodiakHntr, thats the information I was looking for.
Yet to see anything that is just as strong, just as tough, long lived, transfers load etc and is ultralight. Not saying it doesn't exist, but from what I've seen Ultralight gives up some to durabiltity, always.
I’ve owned and used a bunch of different packs over the years. Several Kifaus and MRs. Been using a Seek Outside Evolution for everything the last 5-6 years and no plans to change. Waterproof, durable, way lighter than any hunting specific pack I’m aware of, and carries weight better than anything else I’ve owned. Big fan, even if I don’t love their politics.
One of the only packs I’ve not owned or used is Stone Glacier, that’s the way I’d go if making a change from SO.
One of the only packs I’ve not owned or used is Stone Glacier, that’s the way I’d go if making a change from SO.
Well here is my two cents.....I have 2 eberlestocks, one Barneys external frame Yukon pack and two stone glacier packs...one being the 2200 Avail for day trips or flights. Have looked at the others and have used all the packs I own. The eberlestock is good gear. But doesn't load like the other two brands.....so now my boys use them. The Barneys pack is built like a tank and would be the best option without doubt if your packing in for an extended trip and plan on packing out a full moose. The pads are heavier and the pack loads extremely well. Last summer I went stone glacier and got the 5900 pack...packed into a backcountry elk hunt and overloaded on purpose....about 75 lbs. and well I was extremely pleased as to how well the SG loaded and packed. On that trip we put on over 22 mlies in a day and a half. No rubs or sores cause the pack stayed were you put it. SG put lots of R&D into the frames and how they load. Don't hesitate to get yourself a SG and never look back. Made in America is a big deal to most people....
Not sure if this helped but spend the $$$ and save yourself a lot of discomfort and disappointment in the future. Don't overlook the Barneys packs also but keep in mind if your packing in on horseback the external frame may be a hinderance cause it may contact the back of the saddle......
Again just my two cents!!
Pack in lite, come out heavy!!!
Not sure if this helped but spend the $$$ and save yourself a lot of discomfort and disappointment in the future. Don't overlook the Barneys packs also but keep in mind if your packing in on horseback the external frame may be a hinderance cause it may contact the back of the saddle......
Again just my two cents!!
Pack in lite, come out heavy!!!
Really appreciate the input everyone is giving on this. I am pretty much down between the Kifaru Duplex lite frame with the muskeg bag and Stone Glaciers 5900. Just waiting for one of my buddies to go pick his duplex up so I can load it up and go for a stroll. Just my two cents but I think we often forget that what works for some people doesn't necessarily have to be the same system that works for others. One of my buddies swears by his Eberlestock and just the way that unit sits on my body I get blisters and want to use it as firestarter. There may often be more than one "right" answer. But i'm also a firm believer in the buy once cry once theory..
Very interesting comments here. I used a eberlestock j107 dragonfly for years and still feel nothing compares to its organization. The external pouches and the gun scabbard are amazing. However, I found it didn't handle the heaviest loads well. I bought a MR cabinet and love the way it carries. I am leaning toward picking up a Marshall for my big pack. Besides a comfortable suspension system, I find external pouches for organization to be vitally important. I like to be able to access my spotter, rain gear, lunch etc without having to dig through the pack. The eberlestock was wonderful for that. If only the dragonfly came on a MR or SG suspension setup.
The thing to remember with external pockets and pouches and zippers and buckles, is that they all add weight, and add nothing to structure. If you have two packs that weigh the same, but one has extra pockets and such, something else had to be given up to offset that. And every zipper or buckle you have is a potential weak point. Break a zipper on an external pocket and you won’t be using that pocket. And pockets, unless you have something that fits it exactly, are wasted space because it won’t be full, but it WILL count to the advertised overall cubic inches (or litres). Food for thought.
OP, if you are leaning 5900, you might as well lean 7400. Squishes down to absolutely nothing, and has the cubes you will
find yourself wishing you had.
OP, if you are leaning 5900, you might as well lean 7400. Squishes down to absolutely nothing, and has the cubes you will
find yourself wishing you had.
You can compress it down to nothing.
In the mystery ranch bags, I carried the crew cab or the long bow at times when physical all of the 6500 was too much. I definitely found myself wishing for the 6500 when there was an elk on the ground.
Now I simply carry the 7400 everywhere I go.
In the mystery ranch bags, I carried the crew cab or the long bow at times when physical all of the 6500 was too much. I definitely found myself wishing for the 6500 when there was an elk on the ground.
Now I simply carry the 7400 everywhere I go.
