All around pack

[willywonka]

Hello all!
Looking for a pack to fit a bunch of different rolls have done a bunch of research and can’t decide. Looking for something that will work good for summer hiking trips out west 2-3 nights out, day pack for hunting out west carrying meat, whitetail hunting in Mn with saddle and bulky late season gear. Looking at Kifaru and exo not sure how the exo will work for carrying sticks and paltform?

 

[samgann93]

I ran an initial ascent 4k this year and really liked it for the 1-3 day trips (turkey trips, bears, etc). I think they only have a 3k or a 5k now, and I would lean towards the larger pack if I had to choose. The pack is more rigid than some of the others I’ve tried on, but really distributed the weight evenly. I also like the pannier option for meat pack outs.

 

[brian wagar]

Look at Eberle stock mod frame you can add batwings, pack,.. lids or just frame and a couple of pockets is how I'm using it.. went from Mystery Ranch packs to this setup..

 

[TheHammer]

After handling the arsenal elite platform today at my local archery shop. I will be purchasing one of them for next season. My platform is in the meat shelf here, but the arsenal is very slim flat profile. Pack is a k4 3600. I ride a bike 1.8-2.4miles on this access point so everything gets strapped to my pack. If I pack one out I wrap the platform with my jacket or mid layer to protect my bow/sticks.

 

[kcm2]

Kifaru. One frame, two bags. Or two packs. I have 2 smaller Kifarus, a Spike Camp and a Minikeg.
Then the largest one is a Mountain Warrior on a tactical frame.

The smaller ones pack out quarter 1. Then, the bigger one finishes the job. (For elk....smaller animals, all bets are off.)

 

[Jpsmith1]

Kifaru. One frame, two bags. Or two packs. I have 2 smaller Kifarus, a Spike Camp and a Minikeg.
Then the largest one is a Mountain Warrior on a tactical frame.

The smaller ones pack out quarter 1. Then, the bigger one finishes the job. (For elk....smaller animals, all bets are off.)

Honestly sounds like a Stryker XL or a Hellbender or other pack with the built in load sling is exactly what he needs

 

[ShowMeState]

I'd work backwards. Figure out what frame you want an go from there. I hate a big bag with just a lil bit of stuff in it, so I would need at least 2 different bags to keep me from bitching

I'm happy with my stone glacier stuff but have been eyeballing the exo..

Same. I’m considering getting the exo k4 frame and a smaller and larger bag to swap as needed.

 

[justinspicher]

I went through this a few years ago and eventually designed my own bag and had it built. It’s on a mystery ranch frame and uses a lid by mystery ranch. I’ve been using it for a few years now, it’s hauled out a few elk, deer and a bear.

It has the features I want and how I want them and it was about a third the cost of a new system.

 

[Rleeh]

If you’re gonna go Kifaru I’d get the Stryker xl. You can add storage if you need to but it won’t be too bulky. And the load shelf could carry some saddle equipment.

 

[RJC]

Another vote for the Stryker. 2 belt pouches and/or a Sherman on the back will give you a ton of flexibility.

 

[Raiderfry]

I have a exo K4 and a Kuiu. The exo out shines my other pack when it’s loaded down. The exo carries 60+lbs a lot more comfortable.

 

[BigCountry49]

I’ve had the SO unaweep for about 5-6 years now. Packed a lot of meat a lot of miles with loads up to 60-70 lbs, never had an issue. Bag and frame weighs like 3.5 lbs and I use it for all hunts. I think it works well for me due to how it fits my body.

 

[JCMCUBIC]

Look at Eberle stock mod frame you can add batwings, pack,.. lids or just frame and a couple of pockets is how I'm using it.. went from Mystery Ranch packs to this setup..

I played with several packs and I've settled on the ModFrame. Easily configurable to whatever I need.

 

[HilltopHitman]

Exo k4. 5k I use it for everything.

 

[Seak_angler]

Exo k4 5000 for everything for me, good for a week or can compress it down to nothing as a day pack

 

[Banana_Horn]

I’ve had the SO unaweep for about 5-6 years now. Packed a lot of meat a lot of miles with loads up to 60-70 lbs, never had an issue. Bag and frame weighs like 3.5 lbs and I use it for all hunts. I think it works well for me due to how it fits my body.

How do you hav the hip belt setup? Lumbar pad or no?

 

[isleofGough]

With goshawk, I use a lumbar pad and captured mode. The biggest thing that increased comfort for me is lowering the set bolts on the bottom of the frame attachments and micro adjusting the frame height with the straps. I also use 2" frame extensions for better load lift angle.

 

[Banana_Horn]

@isleofGough 10-4, that is how I run my Goshawk as well. I have a unaweep in the mail that I got on a trade for another pack, and it is not coming with a lumbar pad, so trying to gather some data on what guys are doing.

To contribute to the thread:
My all arounder right now is the Seekoutside Goshawk 4800 2.0. I love it. Super comfy with standard weight (50lbs). I’ve only packed meat with it once, but it was a 3 day packout carrying half of a mountain goat and full camp, and it performed well. Way less barreling than my old stone glacier. I’ll chalk that up to the wider frame and aluminum cross bars.

The waterproof fabric and pockets and talon system are awesome for me, as I hunt in the wet a lot and use it for packrafting as well. Let’s me keep wet stuff on the outside of the pack, which I enjoy. If I didn’t hunt in the rain in AK, and wasn’t packrafting, K4 all day.

k4x on the horizon will probably cost me some money, but oh well.

 

[isleofGough]

PNW too. My dry weather backpack is a Kifaru 44mag on Ark frame, but I am very curious about the upcoming... k4x. The fabric should be interesting. I'm concerned about thorn punctures from dense Himalayan blackberry groves.

 

[BigCountry49]

How do you hav the hip belt setup? Lumbar pad or no?

No lumbar pad for me. I also didn’t change position of the stay but have the belt attached to the frame so bag rides as high as possible.