Thinking of taking the plunge on an Exo K4 7200. Other consideration is stone glacier terminus. This would replace a mid 1990’s Dana Design Terraplane (5800). The Terraplane has no load shelf. Meat goes into game bags and then trash bags. I mostly hunt solo. Currently use a mystery ranch pintler for day hunts (2500 CU) for elk/antelope and use the Terraplane for late season diy mule deer hunts. Mule deer is either day hunts or backpack hunts if temps aren’t too crazy low in MT. I can typically only get 3-4 days due to bulk with 0 degree bag, bulky down jacket/pants, etc. Will also plan to use the pack on a dall sheep hunt within the next 5 years. I’ve put in for moose/sheep/goat here in MT for over 25 years so hoping to draw one of these years.
Stick with what I have or take the plunge and upgrade?
I had a Terraplane and Astralplane of about the same vintage, and they were workhorses for long trips - few of that vintage that had a good suspensions - at the time Mountainsmith also had a tough pack that carried well. For hunting, my main complaint was the height of the frame when not carrying a lot, which is most of the time. You’ll notice many of the dedicated hunting packs don’t extend as much above your shoulders. There aren’t many packs of any size that carry lots of weight as well as the Terraplane, so I doubt you’ll see any benefit going into or out of a high camp
I found packing meat inside close to the body to be much better than anything outside the pack, so I don‘t think you’ll see any advantage to a newer pack over the Terraplane as far as hauling.
I would suggest a new hunting pack, but until you have them side by side it will be hard to estimate how much you’ll use it. Something larger than what you have would be great for 7 day trips, especially in crappy weather, but will be just as tall. A pack the same size as what you have, but with shorter frame is what you’ll want to grab every time even if more stuff has to be strapped to the outside on the way in to spike camp.
I sewed up two long skinny stuff sacks for 7 day trips that road really well strapped to the sides of the Terraplane, much like a tent does. That made the pack noticeably wider on the trip in, but didn’t take up nearly as much internal capacity. Then I upgraded to the larger Astralplane and could do away with one of the long skinny stuff sacks, but otherwise wasn’t really helping with day hunts while spiked out and I was packing a small day pack to hunt with.
I finally picked up a good hunting pack and didn’t use either Dana pack hunting, but a Dana always went on long backpacking and fishing trips. It’s a lot easier if a buddy has a pack you can borrow.