Day Pack Weight- How much is too much?

[Mtndawger]

I do. One major component is the packs weight itself is essential to know as most are wayy too heavy. Especially hunting packs, the hunting community is horribly behind the ultra light hiking community and most hunters still think they need strength over weight... you don't.

Its a little subjective based on how one hunts, but a daypack shouldn't weight over 3lbs max. Neither should an overnight backpacking pack.

One exception is for hunting packs with a meat hauling design, that will add another 2lbs due to the added strength needed to haul that much weight. A good meat hauling pack, that includes the bag, shouldn't weigh over 5lbs.

Really good points on the pack itself. I carry around 20-25 lbs typically, not including rifle, but my general purpose Mystery Ranch (not a hunting specific pack as I find all the zippers and do dads on hunting specific packs to be extra weight. And a lot of fussing) has the meat shelf feature because I want to carry a load out if I shoot something. It weighs close to 6 lbs by itself. I find that lighter packs don’t carry even my day load very well so I figure it’s weigh that “pays for itself” if you will…2+ lb penalty isn’t worth worrying about. The other benefit to this pack is it stands up by itself when I take it off due to the configuration of the hip belt. This is my quick rifle rest if I don’t have a lot of time to find a tree or a rock or get prone. I can drop the pack and quickly get behind it with my rifle on top while sitting or kneeling. If I’m just sitting and glassing, I lean against a tree or rock and the pack is in front of me ready to deploy as a rest as well.

 

[Poser]

If I'm carrying a spotter, tripod, rifle, 3L of water, a full day's worth of food, full kit kit, full first aid kit, a few layers for variable conditions etc, I'm right at 37-40 lbs. That's with high end, premium gear. I sometimes carry less water, but also have found it valuable to not have to go out of my way to get more water, too. Water is heavy, though.

When I ditch the tipod and spotter and carry 1L of water, the weight really drops. I do keep a scale in my truck and weigh my packs out of curiosity for various hunts. I've even compared performance times on the same approaches with varying pack weights.

That being said, I put great effort is my training and the performance difference between 25lbs and 40 lbs isn't very significant for me. Over 40 lbs where is things start really slowing down so I don't get overly concerned with it until I get into multi day trips.

 

[Skerhunter]

My pack weight varies greatly. Good weather during archery season and I am 20-30lbs. End of the day it’s super light with no food or water!

Rifle hunt in poor weather with spotter and I am adding another 10-15lbs pretty quick (spotter 4.5lbs, tripod 2lbs, heavier layers 2-4lbs, heavier weapon additional 2-4lbs).