Badlands summit???

Joined
Oct 1, 2013
Messages
1,067
Location
Northern California
Well, 3 deer, and 5 tough pack-in trips have destroyed my badlands 4500. I have 3 broken zippers, broken both stays, 3 broken buckles, and ripped out the strap that holds on the shoulder strap (load lifter strap?). I called badlands and they said they are going to send me a new summit pack. I am happy for the good warranty service but really disappointed with the performance of their pack. To have that many things break in so few trips is ridiculous.

Has anyone used the Summit? seen it in person? I have my doubts that it will be much better than the 4500 since they are still using the same polycarbonate stays. I have read that they have failed time and time again yet they still are putting them in new product.......

I'm hoping for someone to give positive feedback, but I won't hold my breath.

thanks
 
yea a $700 kifaru is sounding more and more appealing. Has anyone used the kifaru frame (with no bags), either bikini or other to lash a whole halved deer to? Say you are far from camp and its getting dark and you just want to split the animal below the ribs and carry out halves whole. is that doable?
 
A grab it and a lash kit and you can . Maybe not the most sightly rig but it will get it done. If you look on the elk meatpole thread there is a guy with bone in elk quarters held with a grab it and a hpg highlander as a panel but the lash kit will do the same thing.
 
How are the kuiu icon packs? I just looked at their website, I like the way they look/bag configuration. Are they as soild/comfortable as say Kifaru?
 
I just got a good look at the badlands summit, it looks like a bigger version of the badlands sacrifice I have gathering dust. While no doubt it will feel more comfortable then the 4500 I would have serious concerns about load / weight capacity. It just does not feel sturdy. Their is no lumbar pad and the waist belt doesn't go small enough for my 32/33" waist.

Do what others have said - get it, sell it and buy a top end pack, it will be money well spent.
 
+5 on getting rid of the badlands. Fyi this is how badlands business model works. Sell a sub par pack for tripple the Chinese labor cost then offer a repair or replace warranty. Badlands doesn't market packs. they market a warranty plan.
 
I used to think that my 4500 was the basis to what all packs should have been built around, and maybe they were at some point? B ut now they are junk IMO I had owned 2 4500's a 2800 and my last was sacrifice . and the only one that made it without little problems was that 2002 4500.. They lost a good customer with me!
 
My older badlands 2800 held up fine despite being punished with heavy loads. I packed several elk out with it, usually in two trips per elk. However, that badlands punished the hell out of me. The stays were worthless and the packed worked like the tail waggin the dog. (I was the dog.) My cousin has owned two badlands, and both of them have been pure crap. I you want a pack for turkey hunting or hauling 20-30 pounds once in a while, badlands packs are fine. But if you want an actual heavy duty pack that actually holds up to heavy loads and won't beat you like a dog, you are probably going to have to pay some real money for the pack. I have a kifaru and the difference is night and day.
 
How are the kuiu icon packs? I just looked at their website, I like the way they look/bag configuration. Are they as soild/comfortable as say Kifaru?

My hunting partner just got a Kuiu Icon 7200 this year. With only 3 hunting trips and several training hikes, he loves it. He hasn't packed any meat with it yet, but a few 70+ lb training hikes, and all is well. I don't know how it compares to Kifaru or Stone Glacier, but it is much lighter than my Mystery Ranch.
 
+5 on getting rid of the badlands. Fyi this is how badlands business model works. Sell a sub par pack for tripple the Chinese labor cost then offer a repair or replace warranty. Badlands doesn't market packs. they market a warranty plan.

I bet you are way under estimating the mark up. I would bet they don't have $30 bucks in a pack. It's why they don't bat an eye when you send one in to be replaced. Most customers never put more than 50 lbs in one and use it a couple times. They have a miserable time with crappy equipment and packs and quit thinking that backpack hunting is hell and there is a better way to hunt. Chinese packs , boots , stoves , ect. All of it junk and most never know that there is better equipment that would make it much more enjoyable.
 
I used a Badlands for a day hunt pack...worked well and hauled out a couple animals with it. Are they the best? Nope I don't think so. Do they work, nope. For me if I had ot choose to go from a 4500 on the Badlands pack line to anything else it'd be the OX with the Sacrafice as the "main bag" strapped onto that frame. But thats just me. Lots of good options if you get outside of the "camo clad" brands in that price range.
 
A mate and I put a heap of Kifaru Duplex and Bikini combinations, along with a MR 6500 together today and stomped a few hills in them weathering the 92 F heat, will put a thread up later with a couple of pics for those interested. Anyway, what I can tell you, is the Icons are a great concept, but they have a long way to go in user friendliness, you will get a whole lot more pack in MR and Kifaru.
 
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