Guided Hunt Pack

[DamnRinella]

Hey everyone,

I did some searching but was also hoping for your expertise. I am doing a guided hunt, staying in a walled ten at 10k feet in CO. I don’t have a real pack, live in FL, and getting into hunting. First hunt out west. I have a 5.11 rush 24 bug out type bag, but looking for something more comfortable to carry my daily stuff on the hunt. Guessing 20lbs or so. I think I want my rifle to connect to it, plus if I get lucky I want to be able to pack some out meat myself.

The rest of my stuff will remain at the guides wall tent.

My thought is bringing a duffel bag of my clothes, sleeping bag,etc... put that into walled tent. Then use my backpack for day trips.

What packs should I be looking at? Badlands superpack?

Open to your suggestions and wouldn’t mind buying used.

Thx

 

[rootacres]

I personally wouldn't be looking at badlands for what you are doing. Chances are if you like the western style of hunting, the first thing you'll do is get rid of the badlands and invest in a quality multi day frame pack.

Are you packing into camp or driving?

If you are packing in. Keep your clothes and any tent items (that need to be protected from water) in a roll top dry bag. Once you get to your tent pull the tent items out, leave them there. Most packs have compression straps, just tighten them down and use the same pack for the day hunting portion.

If you are driving into camp and day hunting from there Id say still buy a quality frame pack just maybe a smaller bag. If you are successful you'll want something comfortable with a frame to pack meat out.

EXO, Stone Glacier, Kifaru are all awesome. I have personal experience with Mystery Ranch and KUIU. Both are good options IMO.

 

[bozeman]

I used a MR Scapegoat 35 for a similar hunt 2 years ago and it served me well. Use it for hiking day trips now or a 1 night trip. Just finished 30+ miles in Yosemite this past week with it and it’s a great pack! Best of luck!

 

[DamnRinella]

Driving into camp and ATVs used at various times.

 

[eamyrick]

Buy a KUIU Icon Pro setup with 2200 or 3200 bag. They are on sale. For the amount of use you are throwing at it you will be in good shape.

 

[DamnRinella]

Buy a KUIU Icon Pro setup with 2200 or 3200 bag. They are on sale. For the amount of use you are throwing at it you will be in good shape.

So I would need to buy the bag, the frame, and the suspension?

 

[eamyrick]

So I would need to buy the bag, the frame, and the suspension?

Yeh. You can get them here for $250 pretty regular or just purchase from KUIU and sell it if you don’t like it. I have had one for 20 days in the mountains and about that many training days up to 70lbs and have no issues with comfort. Guys on the web tend to talk poorly of their performance at super heavy weights (I’m guessing 80-90lbs) but I likely will not be using it more than a few miles with that much. If you don’t like it sell it for a $50 loss. Organization is great and most are right at 4lbs.

 

[xcutter]

I would agree Kuiu are great packs for the money when they are on sale. Still have an original Icon and recently sold the Icon Pro. Just upgraded to a Kifaru. Super impressed with the comfort of the Kifaru with heavy loads.

 

[DamnRinella]

My original plan was to bring a carry on backpack for hiking and a suitcase to check in for flight. Should i buy a metcalf or similar and just load all my stuff into it? I assume it can fit everything for a 6 day trip and just dump my stuff out at the camp. And compress it down with daily hiking stuff.

How would it handle with baggage handlers etc?

 

[austinphps]

throw the metcalf into a cheap, large duffel for checking. That way the straps and whatnot aren't going to get caught on anything

 

[DamnRinella]

throw the metcalf into a cheap, large duffel for checking. That way the straps and whatnot aren't going to get caught on anything

Btw - great deal for it right now on gohunt.com. I may buy it and resell it after the hunt, or keep it. Thx for the great advice

 

[austinphps]

You can definitely sell it after your hunt and see a good return on it. If you ever plan on coming back out west and hunting though, you have yourself a good pack from the get go. No reason to upgrade unless you get the itch too. Use it for day hikes, use it for airline travel. You can get your monies worth out of it on things other than hunting. Just my opinion, no right or wrong.