Recommend me a pack

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PickettSFHunter

PickettSFHunter

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Jamestown, TN
Looking for a quality pack. Would primarily be used for gear and quartered up meat. Primarily deer. I've seen suggestions for a Badlands 2200 and the Eberlestock brand. I'm okay with spending some money to get quality. Any recommendations? It's confusing without being able to look much in person at packs. Thanks


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Kifaru makes a very high quality pack. Some others would be Stone Glacier, and Seek out side pack.(Message Rockchucker30 he works for them).These are all very high end $$$. I have a KIfaru long hunter with bikini frame and i love it, and have a kifaru day pack on the way.
 
I have a Badlands Diablo right now that does a great job and would be big enough for a deer quarter. However, I would look hard at the Tenzing packs. I have had a couple of them and they are fantastic.
 
Depending on where you're at we may be able to meet up and I can show you some SO packs. I live in mid TN, but I get over to the Plateau or Smokies fairly often.
 
Mystery ranch metcalf for me. That's bigger than what your after, but they have plenty of other sizes. Badlands have proven to have weak zippers..... The Tenzing bags would likely be a better product at that price point. You will get what you pay for.
 
I have a Mystery Ranch 6500 and a Crew Cab. The problem with them is weight. You are almost 9lbs in before you even put anything in the 6500. They are tough as far as packs go. They can both haul more weight than you are willing to tote. I have been toying the idea of selling them to fund a new lighter pack system.
 
Im a fan of kuiu icon series packs. In particular i have the icon 5200 and the only problem ive had was squeaking. I fixed that with a little cloth tape on the frame. Some people had issues with their early packs. My guess is they over loaded them. I can carry 75-100lbs in mine ok. For deer and gear i wouldnt want more.
 
Stone Glacier here, before that I used a internal frame Kelty. For hauling meat I much prefer the load shelf of the Stone Glacier.
If hauling meat is your motive then keep a load shelf in mind.



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I picked up an Exo recently, but won't have you a review on it until I get back from WY in a few weeks. I love it so far fwiw.

One thing not mentioned is to consider buying used from the western forums. If you watch them awhile and see what stuff is going for, then you can get a great deal (especially after the season) and if that pack isn't right for you then you can resell it for what you paid. The only damage to you is usually the shipping cost. I've tried out most of my western hunting gear in this very manner.
 
AT Hiker":1x2w2pob said:
Stone Glacier here, before that I used a internal frame Kelty. For hauling meat I much prefer the load shelf of the Stone Glacier.
If hauling meat is your motive then keep a load shelf in mind.
Click to expand...

From what I've heard, they have the best weight to strength ratio.
I listened to a podcast and the designer is almost fanatical about removing any extraneous stuff from the pack.
 
I use a Kelty coyote, not as high end as others mentioned here, 190.00 bucks,will hold a front and rear Muley quarter and the cape/rack strapped to the outside. Has storage pockets on both sides that work well for a gunbutt or end of a bow and I use the top compression strap to hold weapon in place. It is a big pack but it will haul ALOT of gear and doesn't break the bank. Mine is olive color and the bloodstains aren't that noticeable. Pretty tough pack.mine has taken a lot of abuse and shows little wear.
 
I have a Slumberjack Bounty that I've used for the last few years including a backcountry elk hunt in Idaho. It has some interesting features: Including the ability to put a holster on the hip strap as well as the ability to remove the main pack and convert the internal frame and harness for hauling meat. So far very pleased - though I've yet to haul meat with it.
 
ChaseTM":3s1kb2os said:
I've been using the Stone Glacier Solo for a couple years now. Here is a full review of the pack and why I chose it -- https://chasethemountain.com/ctm/2016/02/15/stoneglacier/
Click to expand...

I have a coworker that is a very serious backpacker. He was thinking that hunters just spend too much of overly heavy gear, instead of just going with what backpackers use. Super lightweight gear.
We started talking packs and I told about Stone Glacier packs. He looked them up and thought the price was pretty expensive compared to his pack, even though they weighed the same.
I asked him what was the load capacity of his pack = 40lbs. What is the load capacity of the Stone Glacier = over 100lbs (I think actually 150?). He was stunned at the carrying capacity.
I told him backpackers go in heavy and come out light. Hunters go in light and hope to come out very heavy.
 
LanceS4803":1si3uvsd said:
ChaseTM":1si3uvsd said:
I've been using the Stone Glacier Solo for a couple years now. Here is a full review of the pack and why I chose it -- https://chasethemountain.com/ctm/2016/02/15/stoneglacier/
Click to expand...

I have a coworker that is a very serious backpacker. He was thinking that hunters just spend too much of overly heavy gear, instead of just going with what backpackers use. Super lightweight gear.
We started talking packs and I told about Stone Glacier packs. He looked them up and thought the price was pretty expensive compared to his pack, even though they weighed the same.
I asked him what was the load capacity of his pack = 40lbs. What is the load capacity of the Stone Glacier = over 100lbs (I think actually 150?). He was stunned at the carrying capacity.
I told him backpackers go in heavy and come out light. Hunters go in light and hope to come out very heavy.
Click to expand...

So true!


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The new stone glacier frame looks nice too. My hunting partner this year had one but the hip belt kept coming loose on his, not sure why. Mine never gave me problems, we even packed out some heavy loads too!
4eacd8b94e2af30d5ea8c32df930921d.jpg



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Stone Glacier just came out with another frame, I'm betting you could score a good deal on a older model right about now.


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Another EXO fan, I have the 3500 and like it so much I carry around Tn for my day pack. Got my first chance to pack a deer out with it this year on KS public land and it lived up to the hype! Get the meat shelf if you buy this pack, worth the $ to slide quarters between the frame and bag
 
I went to Colorado elk hunting in 1994. After killing an elk and seeing how the outfitter did it, I bought a cabelas Alaskan packframe before going back the following year. It is a better design that what the outfitter was using and Im still using it 24 years later! I added a backpack to the frame via the straps and buckles provided and it works well enough that this past year in Montana I carried a whole deboned mule deer out in one trip with it. Was I overloaded? ABSOLUTELY! I weigh 155lbs and Im almost certain I had close to that amount on my back coming out of that HELLHOLE! I couldn't stand up straight climbing out of there or I would have toppled over backwards. To rest I had to turn around and fall back into the mountain side, but I wasn't about to make that 1400 yard climb twice. Im sure it helps that Im a logger used to climbing hills lol.
 
LanceS4803":1c0dhdov said:
AT Hiker":1c0dhdov said:
Stone Glacier here, before that I used a internal frame Kelty. For hauling meat I much prefer the load shelf of the Stone Glacier.
If hauling meat is your motive then keep a load shelf in mind.
Click to expand...

From what I've heard, they have the best weight to strength ratio.
I listened to a podcast and the designer is almost fanatical about removing any extraneous stuff from the pack.
Click to expand...

I work for Seek Outside and can say that our packs are the lightest on the market that can haul 150+ lbs. Even the packs we design for the rec market have the same suspension as the hunting packs.

We have several setups that would be sub 3 lbs.


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I have a packframe with a shelf. It can carry a whole lot more than I can lift. I tried to get two elk hindquarters out at once and it was too heavy for me to walk across uneven ground. (thats a joke, I could barely stand up)

I am currently using a backback but seems to me they are not designed for carrying unwieldy clumsy things, like hindquarters or midsections. When I was going into the mountains I would wear my packframe and a small fanny pack. And yes, one time that proved to be a problem....I needed more water, more food, a blanket...




My packframe is ancient-I mean mid 1980's. I just checked straps and things--all okay. It is welded tubing very very light. Adjustable in about 8 directions seems like.
 
So I was using a kelty. Working out west the last few months I decided to step it up. Sg and exo are real nice. I went with kifaru. I've got about 30 miles on it so far and am extremely pleased.
 
I have a MR Metcalf. The thing is bomb proof. I use it for day hunts here at home compressed down and could easily use it for an 8-10 day pack in elk hunt if necessary. It's on the higher end when it comes to pricing but it's a top notch piece of equipment. Here's an awesoem stress test video comparing many different packs.

https://www.gohunt.com/video/backpack-t ... gs.sOsi6U8
 
MR are legit packs but to many options for me. In Bozeman, MT I tried one on and it was nice but I still prefer my SG.


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AT Hiker":2f4lyfpr said:
MR are legit packs but to many options for me. In Bozeman, MT I tried one on and it was nice but I still prefer my SG.


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Click to expand...

Man I checked both out before purchasing and it was really apples to apples for me. SG are most definitely top notch as well. As silly as it is the decision for me just came down to preferring the look of my Metcalf over the SG as everything else for me personally was so close it was negligible.
 

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