I can't decide...AMR, DT1, DT2!?

[Gumbo]

I just got an AMR with the goal of being able to fit a bone-in quarter, straps, loins, and my camp gear inside the bag. Yeah it will be too much room for my extended trip gear, but as elkfitness said, winter gear gets bulky quick, and I seem to be able to fill up 5000 CI in a hurry. Besides, it compresses down really well. Can't wait to see how it works out this year!

 

[luke moffat]

I can't fathom how anyone could max out an AMR or DT1. How long are you going for, a month? I do 2 week tahr hunting pack in trips with a T2 no problems and like someone mentioned earlier if the AMR was full of meat or even all your gear and the balance was meat I'd never be able to carry it. It would weigh more than myself!

Personally for me I routinely use up a lot of cubes when I go hunting or packrafting and especially both. I have tried the smallish sub 5K packbags for week long trips before and yes it can work especially if you organize it well and/or strap some stuff to the outside. That said for me when I kill a mountain goat and skin it life size and have all my gear for a winter hunt its pretty full regardless and the dang winter hide is a cubic inch eating machine in a pack!

I just find it easier and quicker to have a pack that I can easily toss things into regardless of order and how I pack or order I put certain items in there or make sure I place this or that on the outside of the pack is what I prefer. The big bags compress down so well it doesn't really matter. When going with buddy's and we tip over animals sometimes one guy just takes all teh bulky gear and others pack the meat to keep the heavier packs more low pro in the alders and such.

Just a different style and different needs. If you use a load shelf espeically and don't mind some stuff strapped to the outside of your pack then yeah you can get by for a week on some hunts with just a 3500-4000 cu in pack. But I found I like like the load sling method to packing meat after trying it. I find meat properly loaded in the pack is more comfy for me atleast. To each there own.

I don't think anyone is packing 7K cu in of meat anywhere.

But different hunts or backpacking trips require different amounts of gear:

T1 loaded up pretty good:


But the extra bulks isn't an issue as they compress down so well who cares if it a 7K in pack when in day hunt mode it gets plenty small, same trip just day hunting out of a spike camp:


In my mind a larger pack just gives you options. Which isn't a bad thing. A big pack can be a little pack if the compression system works well. The reverse is not true. Back when this site first got started I kept telling folks that bigger is better and a few extra oz that yields thousands more cubic inches eliminates the need for most smaller daypacks, but through the years I do find it nice to see more and more that nay sayed me in the past see the light.

 

[Steeliedrew]

Thanks for your post Luke. I've got an AMR and a 26" Hunter frame with composite stays, grab-it, guide lid, and some medium and small belt pouches on the way. I couldn't be more excited to take delivery of this pack!

 

[Highcountry_Hellrazor]

I've used the Timberline 1 extensively along with a about almost every Kifaru pack. My go to for extended trips is still the Timberline 1. The AMR is awesome, but has only those two front pockets for external gear organization. I like the Timberline 1's side pockets for easy access to Rain Gear etc.

All this being said some of my friends absolutely love their AMR, and wouldn't switch for anything.

I've packed half an elk whole mule deer, and all of camp in my Timberline 1 multiple times. Pack loads exceeding 190 pounds, and down to 25 pounds for day hunting. Unless your packing bear hides or moose quarters I'm going to stick with recommending the DT1.

If your a bear hide, moose quater, and pack raft ninja then I'd say EMR II all day every day.

 

[Highcountry_Hellrazor]

A bit of gear in the Timberline.

 

[luke moffat]

R

I've used the Timberline 1 extensively along with a about almost every Kifaru pack. My go to for extended trips is still the Timberline 1. The AMR is awesome, but has only those two front pockets for external gear organization. I like the Timberline 1's side pockets for easy access to Rain Gear etc.

All this being said some of my friends absolutely love their AMR, and wouldn't switch for anything.

I've packed half an elk whole mule deer, and all of camp in my Timberline 1 multiple times. Pack loads exceeding 190 pounds, and down to 25 pounds for day hunting. Unless your packing bear hides or moose quarters I'm going to stick with recommending the DT1.

If your a bear hide, moose quater, and pack raft ninja then I'd say EMR II all day every day.

I have never ever packed more than a measured 135 pounds of any distance. But to me the EMR 2 is much more than just a bear and moose hauler or packrafting. Quickly strapping meat between the wings of the EMR 2 I found is way faster than sliding it in and out of the top opening of the DT1 especially when by yourself and there is no one to hold the bag open when lifting heavy meat bags into to bag or hold the pack down when pulling them out. It is so much easier and quicker IMO to load down with meat than any other pack I have ever use.

I only used the DT1 style bag for 2.5 years so not likely as extensively as high country hell razor but it was enough packing a couple dozen animals out with it (all loads were 120 pounds or less cause I am a wimp ) to realize the first time I loaded up my gear and a full winter goat cape and some meat that the DT1 was getting sold.

 

[7mag.]

What do you weigh Luke, about a buck fifty? And you're hauling 120 pound loads? That's only like 80% of your body weight, what a wimp.