Lets talk packs.

Hey guys! This year will be my first time hunting big game. I have an elk and deer tag. The area for deer is pretty accessible but the elk is in the mountains and I plan on getting it out on my back alone.

Coming from the infantry I know the importance of a proper pack and general you get what you pay for.

I have personally used a friends mystery ranch pack for a few missions while I was in and it was great. It held up to the abuse well. I recently was able to see and put on my uncles Kifaru pack. Very comfy and also holds up to the abuse he puts on it.

Those are the two companies I have been eyeballing for awhile. Max price at $700 but I still have a lot of gear to get before season opens so saving a few hundred would be ideal.

Suggest anything. Call me crazy for wanting to invest so much in a pack. Or tell me to spend more! What packs are you guys using and what would you suggest?

 

Both great packs! I avoided spending g so much by spending 100-200 on packs. I've spent more on packs that don't last than I would have if I just nutted up and spent the money to begin with. I'm a big fan of the mystery ranch long bow!!!

 

My advice is don't cheat yourself, spend the money for a good pack. Good Pack and boots are worth the extra money in my opinion

 

So do you have the longbow? I have been looking at it quite a bit. I am a pretty big fan of getting things that fill a few niches. That way when I drop $500+ on an item I can get the most use out of it and won't have to buy 3 bags to fit all my outdoor needs.

 

My current pack is a Kifaru. I love it but it is heavy. Made to last a lifetime though and it's carried many an animal out of the hills. It's a pack I don't worry about if I have to send it down the mountain ahead of me. They are expensive but quality costs money.

Mystery Ranch, Eberlestock, Kuiu, Paradox, Stone Glacier make good packs worth looking at. If you are young and strong, you can make it a few seasons with a cheap or poor fitting pack. As you get older, a good pack really makes a difference. The pack I goat hunted in when I was 20 would absolutely kill me now in my 40s. Get the best you can afford, but weigh it against what else you need to buy. You may have to make do for a year or two with a cheaper pack if you need quite a bit of stuff.

 

Yes I have the long bow. I wear kuiu camo and looked at there packs a bunchhhh there gear is GREAT!!! But I've heard there packs are garbage. I've never heard anything bad about mystery ranch

 

I've not personally used the Kuiu packs but have hunted with two sheephunters who had them and liked them. They were light and seemed to be well made.

 

I have also been very interested in this pack design (kifaru has an identical design) http://www.mysteryranch.com/nice-load-sling-bvs .

I feel like I could use one of my dry bags for camp gear. Set camp and attach pouches/camel back for a day pack. Then if I get an elk I can easily cinch down the meat and start the suck. I would save some cash and then next season invest in a pack for the frame.

Also, the backpack is my highest priority. I can make do in other areas. I have most of the basics. My feet hold up well to any boot but I do have a nice pair I plan on using if they make it through the summer. I have knee problems from the military already so a proper pack really helps out in keeping the load secure and snug so I don't get off balance.

 

If I had to choose between boots or pack, it would be boots every time. I spend a lot of time in the steep stuff and have bad knees. Without proper boots the pack won't matter. If your boots might not even make it through the summer, it's probably time to replace.

 

Ill get another set if I finally kill them haha. They are inov-8's 286 GTX and while they are the best boots I have worn, they aren't built to last years. I almost want to spend the $700 and just stock up on them.

Once I get the pack I will start to up the rucks so they may not make it to september.

 

Those don't look built to handle much weight. Have you carried 100lbs in them yet? They may be great, I just prefer a mountaneering type boot for heavy packs in the mountains.

 

90lbs was the most and I am pretty sure my pack would break before the boots. I didn't go far but once I get this pack Ill decide if they will hold up. I hate heavy boots with a passion. Nothing slows me down more. Worse case I pull out my old military boots and I have done 100# in those with no problems.

 

I humped quite a bit as an 11B, but never in good boots. I have several pairs of Lowa, Meindl, and Zamberlan boots that will accept crampons and are designed for heavy backpacking in rough terrain. I can't imagine sheep or goat hunting in anything the military would have let me wear. You must have good feet.

 

Haha I do have good feet. Hell, I spend 10 hours a day now in muck boots walking around in marshy fields and have no problems. My co-workers get blisters and pain pretty regularly.

 

If weight is an issue, look at the Paradox packs. You might prefer the Evolution series to use your drybags or carry gamebags. I'm happy with my Kifaru but will probably get a Paradox if I do another sheep hunt.

 

I forgot to mention SO! I have their 4-man tipi so they are very much in the line up of competitors. I am waiting for a relaxed day to give Kevin a call and see what he suggests.

 

If you have one of their tents, you know how good of a product they make here in the US. For me, I'd look at Kifaru if I wanted toughness as a priority but Paradox if weight is a priority.

 

Eberlestock
J79 Skycrane II
I got this pack last year with all the add-on duffle bags and accessories
Absolutely love the pack, most comfortable hiking,hunting,camping I've ever done.
Wasn't sure about the open design of it but quickly found out life doesn't fit in a bag and it's made to add / strap anything to it or in it. Had two kids start hunting this year and never could have taken all the clothing and gear I needed with any other system out there.

 

I hope we get to that level of wanting to get an Elk one day We barely starting and we also looking for packs. Bass Pro Shop seems to have a lot of goodies and the touch and fit is always the way to go. We did ended up getting a light pack and a medium size packs. So far so good, we picked up a Tenzing TC SP14, and for me an ultra light TZ1200 (was thinking for really light, trip to go glassing for game or daily hiking fits a 2 litter bladder. Eventually he will want to try out the TZ6000 or TZ CF13 for Deer hunt, like what other did mention they start to pick up price at these range. I like the compartments for either your bow or riffle strapping.

Wish you well with your Elk hunt! Post Pics =)

 

Eberlestock
J79 Skycrane II is two packs in one check out the video on their web site lots of nice packs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8bU7vcvadM