How do you run redundancy in your pack set up

[mfllood3800]

Just as the heading states: How do you all run redundancy in your packs?

Things like flag tape, fire, water, kill kit etc?

I currently utilize a belt with dual pouches so I can drop pack and run or when I'm resting and something comes thru I can move quickly. I also have my pistol always on that belt using a concealed type holster reversed (on outside). But it requires me to have 2 belts (one for pack the other for redundant items)

I try not to have doubled up items all in same place (like in a pack), so I can never be with out the necessary items no matter what.

 

[justinspicher]

I don't do redundancy, it gets heavy.

 

[RAHC]

Not a big fan of redundancy either. I usually bring the bare minimum, and I never pack a pistol. I worked with a guy (he was a POS) but his pistol went off somehow when it was in the side holster and literally shot a hole in his foot. Thinking about that story now he probably should have died. Who need's a pistol when you got a rifle!? A pistol would be good in Alaska probably.

 

[mfllood3800]

Yea some of the items can be a waste.
But there are times I will be heading to an area in my side x side and see or hear something up in a ridge. So I want to just "check it out". I'll leave the pack and take a reduced version of needed items for the quick recon. I ilike to have certain things on me "just in case"

I also one year stuck an elk, jumped up to get eyes on it as it dropped in the draw, and found myself a ways from my pack. Thirsty and needing flagging tape, so now there are certain items I take in 2 places.
here is the actual list:
Knife, flag tape, water, matches, rope, wind checker, call, snack, light.

 

[DaveS]

Some people use a chest pack or bino harness that they always have with them that contains things like a knife, matches, calls, flag tape, etc.

 

[mfllood3800]

I bow hunt so the hand gun is nice in bear and lion country.
I just got my first Alaskan bag C bino pouch and have moved some of this to that, but the gun I like on me and not in or a part of the pack.

Just curious if any others do this and how

 

[larryschwartz]

As mentioned above, a chest pack is a great way to keep your must have items on you at all times. Many are also designed to carry a handgun if you choose to bring one and have your concealed carry license for that state.

Hill People Gear (Home | Hill People Gear) have their series of Kit Bags that fit the bill very well and come in different sizes so you can carry as much or as little as you want.

Kifaru (HOME -KIFARU) has phased out their Koala and Koala Lite chest packs but are working on a new generation that should be out sometime in 2017. They currently have a pouch called the Tombstone that is designed to fit on a belt but you can also wear it on your chest if you add a bino harness or something similar to serve as shoulder straps. I can fit my 4.25" barrel M&P40 in it with no problem, so the shorter concealed carry models will work just fine.

If you don't like cordura or nylon then you might want to check out Bison Gear (www.bisongearonline.com). They make a nice slim chest pack that can carry lots of goodies and a handgun. You can get it in wool, wolfskin (a durable water repellant fabric), hemp, or bucksuede, plus a few more I can't recall.

I like to keep my survival gear on my person all of the time, and have tried different solutions to do it. Everything from a day pack to cargo pockets to wearing a drop pouch from my belt all the time. When I found out about chest packs I knew I had found my solution.

Larry

 

[dotman]

I never leave my pack behind, it has everything I need and I've done the lets walk just over here and check it out thing only to go a few miles because something keeps catching my interest.

I get it is easier to not carry your pack always but get into game and you can go much farther then you expect. So no redundancy here and I think it smart to always have your pack with.

 

[justinspicher]

Like I said, redundancy gets heavy, so I carry needed items on my person to avoid being a stat. I used to carry a chest rig, then I realized I was packing it with junk I didn't really need, I just packed it because I had the space. Now I use my pockets on my pants and shirts and take less junk and just what I need. Works for me so far. I will admit it was a bit of a learning curve but I'm trying to get it all figured out.

 

[mfllood3800]

I have been sitting in ground blind, and had elk moving just above me quickly, so I had to up and head them off quickly. I don't sit in my ground blind with my pack on, and didn't want to take the time to put it on. I often see elk just a ways off and run to head them off. Where I hunt they have so many escape routes it's crazy. One year I used fallen trees to block as many of these as possible and funnel them closer to me, to which they responded with some sort of magic trick and still got out.
I have had to run them down many times and often ended up close to a mile up or down from my blind.
For me, the pack is off while I am waiting. Some times I have time to get it on and go chase, but if there is other hunter pressure, I often see the elk moving quickly with tongues hanging pretty low. Its a foot race and every second counts.

I just looked at my bino harness and have everything needed in there but water, and gun. I already have bino, RF and other stuff on it, didn't think the hand gun would fit and still be comfy?

 

[justinspicher]

That's the beauty of all this. You can get all the "expert" advice known to the outdoor world from the folks here, but in the end it comes down to what works for you and how you hunt.

 

[veganhunter]

I'm also of the opinion to never leave my pack behind, even for a "I'll just run up real quick to glass" situation - you never know what it may turn into. I put a lot of thought into what I put in the pack and take only what I need/want and nothing I don't so generally its pretty light.

 

[mfllood3800]

I get it, but the area I hunt sometimes leads to quick runs to cut elk off. I appreciate the comments of how you guys do what you do, I guess each of us hunts different depending on our area, and other factors. For me, the day pack doesn't stay on 24-7, and when I'm in the ground set up, I have on me what I need to burst out of there. That's what I was after is what are guys doing to house on their body needed items when they are away from the pack. I have my set up that is working for me, just curious how others might manage such situations.

If I'm scouting or checking this or that, I pack up, but as stated, there are times I see the rear end of an elk, or lead cow just a ways away from me and I need to move quickly to get them before they hit the deep draws or thicker timber.
Thx Guys

 

[mtwarden]

I make every effort to not get separated from my pack; in the highly unlucky event it were to happen- I have a knife w/ a firesteel in a loopon my belt, I carry a K&M match safe with UCO storm matches, striker and tinder (tinder tabs)- the top has a small compass and is double o-ringed to stay waterproof, rear pocket I carry a Merino Buff, cargo pockets goes my beanie and gloves (if not on) and around my neck some small micro cord w/ a whistle and a Photon light- under a ounce.

I do carry a bino case/harness- never thought about it, but could probably easily accommodate a HeatSheet blanket- will look into that

Like I said, it would likely be some sort of emergency to be separated from my pack- not "I wonder what's on the other side of the ridge"

 

[CDNPO]

Rig the lid on your bag to detach quickly (most already offer this, and they double as day packs). Keep most of your above mentioned essentials in there (and/or Bino harness as stated above). So if you do need to dump the weight of your main pack, you can just pop the lid off and bail.

 

[mfllood3800]

CDNPO nice this is what I was after, my old packs don't have this ability.
Justin- yep still trying to figure out what I need vs what others are hauling. I used to have tons of stuff Id never use, I have slimed it down and still have room for even more slimming.

The bino harness is new to me and I just checked it and filled it with only what I need.

I think I have my set up pretty well set.
But I am still carrying a side arm on a belt, as that has my small water bottle, knife, flag, and matches in it. But I'm thinking a removable lid (if detach is super quick like 2 snaps boom I'm done and running) then I think all these can go in there and I can ditch the whole belt and other items, incl gun and just put them in the lid, I really like my gun readily available so will have to wait and see how this pack looks. Never had a Kifaru before so it is all new. All my other packs are solid compartmentalized set ups, unattachable from frame.

 

[dotman]

CDNPO nice this is what I was after, my old packs don't have this ability.
Justin- yep still trying to figure out what I need vs what others are hauling. I used to have tons of stuff Id never use, I have slimed it down and still have room for even more slimming.

The bino harness is new to me and I just checked it and filled it with only what I need.

I think I have my set up pretty well set.
But I am still carrying a side arm on a belt, as that has my small water bottle, knife, flag, and matches in it. But I'm thinking a removable lid (if detach is super quick like 2 snaps boom I'm done and running) then I think all these can go in there and I can ditch the whole belt and other items, incl gun and just put them in the lid, I really like my gun readily available so will have to wait and see how this pack looks. Never had a Kifaru before so it is all new. All my other packs are solid compartmentalized set ups, unattachable from frame.

You'll have to buy a lid as the tahr doesn't have a removable lid. The guide lid has shoulder straps built in for doing this.

 

[mfllood3800]

mtwarden that is the same mindset I have. And twice I have bolted after the elk running them down. I hunt the fringe of stupid steep draws Id never go in, so I cant shoot when they get so close, and I often try to cut them off .

I utilize a lot of the human pressure on easier places to hunt, gearing up for the elk, if they are in the area on that given day, to be pushed into where I am set up, problem is they can be 50 yrds away, and I only hear them or get a glimpse of them, and I have to get in front of them quickly to cut them off.
Its just the way I hunt.
I have most areas checked out already so I am not really a sight seer, more a runnin em down kinda guy.
Heck I never used a pack until 3 yrs ago. I just used a belt with dual pouches. Got tired of suffering long days with no water, snacks, or safety items

 

[mfllood3800]

I can just attach a scope bag to the back of the pals with all my 'run and go" items, serves same idea as a lid.

Dotman is right the Tahr has a lid, but more like a cover only. The scope pouch will do same, or even med belt pouch. Thx

 

[Nick Muche]

I just toss everything in a back pack and go hunt, it's nice to not worry about all the other stuff that will eventually take away from the reason you are out there...to hunt.