Buying first pack

It’s like finding a wife - keep your standards high as possible and it will work out better in the long run, even if the first model you bring home doesn’t stick. 🙂
 
What are you looking for in a pack? Day hunt, hunt from truck, backpack into an area, etc… lots of questions to answer before suggesting any type, style, or brand of pack.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Single most important purchase are quality boots.

Second most important is a pack. Choose wisely and don't skimp. Fit is very personal so you may want to order a few and try them all.

I'm a Stone Glacier fan. The X curve fits me great and I like the simplicity of their packs. I use a 5900. Good for multi day trips. Good for an afternoon hunt because it scrunches down to nothing.

If you plan to haul meat, I think a load shelf is a must.
 
Went in my first elk hunt with what I thought was a good pack at the time. As soon as I got home I bought a SG and the next time I got to pack an elk out it was a much more enjoyable experience.
 
As others have said, lots of different packs for different scenarios. I have always gone with a pack big enough to fit a week long backpack outing and the customization to cinch it down for a day pack. I currently have a mystery ranch Marshall and an SG curve. The SG is a better fit for me.

I would recommend trying on several high quality packs to see what fits best. Most companies will allow for you to try them on and return them before a certain amount of days. I have tried a cheaper pack starting out and regretted it. I think it’s worth spending more one of the top tier packs than saving a bit on some of the other ones. You can find excellent used packs at great price or just narrow down your search and most of the companies will run some kind of sale or promotion to get a new one.
 
Not a single pack in the world, no matter how much you paid for it, is guaranteed to be a one-and-done deal.

I could pay $2000 for the world's most hyped and advanced pair of shoes and end up wanting to cut my feet off after twenty minutes on the trail.

Try on a bunch of different packs (with weight!!) and see what works for YOU.
 
Back
Top