Buying first pack

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.
 
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
 
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
 
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.
 
Not a lot of details to make the decision. Are you a regular hunter, or is this a one off? If a regular hunter, where(state) and what do you regularly hunt? Are you packing in on your back or being packed in and hunting from drop camp every day? If you are going in on foot, how far?

MR is not what I would consider one of the "high end packs". You can find them all over for 40-50% off regularly in different places, and if you can qualify for GovX or expertvoice, any time you want. They will haul, I've used them, but it isn't my favorite pack.

Based on your answers to my original question, if you're going to be taking camp in a long way and hauling meat out equa distance x4 trips, I'd recommend trying on every pack you can with 60-80# and seeing what is comfortable on your back. You can look through pages and pages on this forum and find votes for every pack in equal portions. The reason is that they all fit each person different. If you're a little thick in the middle or taller than the average human, a recommendation from a rando on a website isn't going to help you much...
 
Not a lot of details to make the decision. Are you a regular hunter, or is this a one off? If a regular hunter, where(state) and what do you regularly hunt? Are you packing in on your back or being packed in and hunting from drop camp every day? If you are going in on foot, how far?

MR is not what I would consider one of the "high end packs". You can find them all over for 40-50% off regularly in different places, and if you can qualify for GovX or expertvoice, any time you want. They will haul, I've used them, but it isn't my favorite pack.

Based on your answers to my original question, if you're going to be taking camp in a long way and hauling meat out equa distance x4 trips, I'd recommend trying on every pack you can with 60-80# and seeing what is comfortable on your back. You can look through pages and pages on this forum and find votes for every pack in equal portions. The reason is that they all fit each person different. If you're a little thick in the middle or taller than the average human, a recommendation from a rando on a website isn't going to help you much...
Not exactly thread related but thank you.

Wasn't aware of ExpertVoice. Lets see if thats worth the timr
 
MR packs are excellent. They can often be found on sale. Other people have good luck with other brands, but for a lot of folks Mystery Ranch offers top tier performance.
 
A badlands 2200 pack is a solid backpack that will not break the bank. It's been a minute but they were right around $200. Probably not for bivy style, but a workhorse load carrying bag that has a lifetime warranty. You can always sell it if and when you need to upgrade.
I and 2 of my buddies used them a lot, then I upgraded to my EXO.
 
There's not a damn thing wrong with Mystery Ranch.

Sure there is. Their rigid frames do not allow for lumbar curve adjustment, meaning you don't get efficient load transfer to the pelvic region unless the curve magically fits your spine right out of the box.

Additionally I find the harness design outdated and lacking, but that goes for pretty much all non-HPG packs these days.
 
Get a good one and be done. MR, Kifaru, SG. Spend the 4 5 or $600. Probably last you a lifetime if you're only using it two three times a year. Nobody has ever said their pack is too dang comfortable.

Or buy a quality used one before a cheaper new one. Theyre so well built even a used one is usually in plenty good enough condition to last you a really long time if not a lifetime. Theyre easy to re-sell too. Its not like theres been any industry break throughs making the 10yr old ones obsolete.
 
Get a good one and be done. MR, Kifaru, SG. Spend the 4 5 or $600. Probably last you a lifetime if you're only using it two three times a year. Nobody has ever said their pack is too dang comfortable.

Or buy a quality used one before a cheaper new one. Theyre so well built even a used one is usually in plenty good enough condition to last you a really long time if not a lifetime. Theyre easy to re-sell too. Its not like theres been any industry break throughs making the 10yr old ones obsolete.

Spot on! Iv been running a used kifaru for years until finally buying a brand new Initial Ascent.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Back
Top