Buying first pack

[Kadelong]

Going on a week hunt in Wyoming, is it worth going with a cheaper one or buy once try once pack like Mystery Ranch?

 

[TaperPin]

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.

 

[mrbillbrown]

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.


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[LongWayAround]

A week hunt for what?

Pronghorn vs elk might be a much different pack.

Mystery Ranch might not be a one and done purchase.

 

[peterk123]

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.

 

[Blackbird]

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.

 

[DrBeetleKill]

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.

 

[Kadelong]

Elk

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.


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Elk in Wyoming pack in

 

[wh0cansay]

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.

 

[Jpsmith1]

I will qualify this with the statement that I have not done pack in hunting.

I have been ruck training on an admittedly irregular schedule for the last probably decade.

Started with a cheap, internal frame pack and just kept "one upping" to solve an immediate problem. I've used packs from Walmart, Badlands, Camelbak, us milsurp... probably spent 3x what I needed to.

Get a good pack. The comfort level and the way it carries is just so far beyond

 

[mc1119]

Having had mystery ranch(guide lite frames), while they did the job at the time, I am not one to recommend them, ever. Now everyone is different and for some, MR is the most comfortable frame for their figure. Just wasn’t the case for me. I switched to a duplex lite frame and it fits me great and packing out meat was much more enjoyable.

First thing you need to know is measurements. Then go and try packs on WITH WEIGHT.

If you are on a budget, search the classifieds for your needs, if you have the funds to buy once cry once, do that.

Just my $0.02

 

[Ricebowl43]

Buy once cry once. You do not want to go cheep on your bag. You will mess up your back and not want to get outta bed come day two of the hunt. Spend the extra cash and try on bags if you can.