I know nothing - first backpack.

[Unckebob]

My daughter has set herself a goal of going Elk hunting in the next 3 years. She is a very fit mid-teenager who wants to start seriously backpacking this year. Rather than buy her a backpacking pack now and a hunting pack, I would like to get her a hunting backpack.

1) What would be a good, reasonably priced pack for her? I wanted to get her something good, but don't have a Rolls Royce budget. Think Honda Accord.

2) Are there places where people can buy used packs and would that be a dumb idea?

 

[Taudisio]

My daughter has set herself a goal of going Elk hunting in the next 3 years. She is a very fit mid-teenager who wants to start seriously backpacking this year. Rather than buy her a backpacking pack now and a hunting pack, I would like to get her a hunting backpack.

1) What would be a good, reasonably priced pack for her? I wanted to get her something good, but don't have a Rolls Royce budget. Think Honda Accord.

2) Are there places where people can buy used packs and would that be a dumb idea?

1) I used a mystery ranch backpacking style pack (terraframe) with the load shelf as my first “elk pack” outside of a pack frame. The mystery ranch packed a few elk out. I paid $200 new. It is a loaner now and was used last year to pack to elk out.

2) Yes, shop the classifieds here. You will get a lot more pack per dollar buying used. I have bought used there myself and still run the pack.

 

[ckc07]

following

 

[7RemMag]

1) I used a mystery ranch backpacking style pack (terraframe) with the load shelf as my first “elk pack” outside of a pack frame. The mystery ranch packed a few elk out. I paid $200 new. It is a loaner now and was used last year to pack to elk out.

2) Yes, shop the classifieds here. You will get a lot more pack per dollar buying used. I have bought used there myself and still run the pack.

I second both of these statements. I purchased a lightly used (never hauled meat) Mystery Ranch Metcalf off another user on this forum this past summer. It has worked well for me so far. Mystery Ranch packs are great packs for the money in my opinion.

Kuiu also makes a pretty nice women's pack for the money. We picked one up on sale a few months ago for a friend of ours. Hasn't been put to use in the field yet, but it seems to be of decent quality and the fit seems pretty good. Friend is pretty small-framed if that makes a difference.

 

[Dryfly1]

Stating the obvious here. Buying used makes sense but fit is really important in a pack.

2GBL

 

[roosiebull]

My daughter has set herself a goal of going Elk hunting in the next 3 years. She is a very fit mid-teenager who wants to start seriously backpacking this year. Rather than buy her a backpacking pack now and a hunting pack, I would like to get her a hunting backpack.

1) What would be a good, reasonably priced pack for her? I wanted to get her something good, but don't have a Rolls Royce budget. Think Honda Accord.

2) Are there places where people can buy used packs and would that be a dumb idea?

What volume pack are you looking for?

 

[wind gypsy]

Man, i've been really impressed with my wife's Osprey backpacking pack and our Deuter kid carrying packs for comfort. I'm sure they've got the female fit dialed as well as any of the hunting pack makes and they can handle pretty heavy loads. I'd not write them off for hunting - main downside would be if she wants a load shelf or doesn't want meat in main bag.

 

[Peaks.Valleys]

1) I used a mystery ranch backpacking style pack (terraframe) with the load shelf as my first “elk pack” outside of a pack frame. The mystery ranch packed a few elk out. I paid $200 new. It is a loaner now and was used last year to pack to elk out.

2) Yes, shop the classifieds here. You will get a lot more pack per dollar buying used. I have bought used there myself and still run the pack.

Agree on the pack and classifieds suggestions. Might want to go to a store and get fitted so you know the right frame size before buying used or new.

 

[shax2lex]

This may be high-end but it seems to be what you are looking for. https://exomtngear.com/collections/k4-pack-systems/products/k4-exs-pack-system

 

[Walker6]

Browse the Rokslide classifieds. There are a lot of great pack systems offered right now in the $500 range. Stuff that would set you back upward of $1000 new.

Familiarize yourself with the various manufacturers being offered in the classifieds and then go to the manufacturer websites and figure out the sizing that you need for frame, belt, shoulder straps, etc. Then reread the classified listings and things will start to make more sense to you.

Buy a used Kifaru, Exo, Stone Glacier, Seek Outside (if you can find one). (I personally would avoid mystery ranch. The one I had was built like a tank, but was uncomfortable and did not carry weight very well at all. )

Shop around and get a feel for pricing. If you get something and try it for a while and decide it’s not gonna work, you can resell it here and not expect to lose much, if any.

 

[YellowDog406]

Go to scheels or REI or someplace similar and get fitted and figure out what she likes. They can fill the packs up with weight to get a better idea of how it rides. If you can find the same thing used, great, but I would rather buy a new pack that fits well and load it up with used gear to save money.

 

[Unckebob]

This may be high-end but it seems to be what you are looking for. https://exomtngear.com/collections/k4-pack-systems/products/k4-exs-pack-system

She is 5'8" and could grow an inch or two more ;-).

I am pretty sure she is taller than me.

 

[Jtb.kfd]

She is 5'8" and could grow an inch or two more ;-).

I am pretty sure she is taller than me.

I have two daughters who hike and hunt a lot. When choosing their packs, I picked the size and style that would be the best of both worlds for them and then showed them pictures of all the packs that would work and let them choose. Girls view gear very differently than guys. They want their gear to match with their clothing and also have their own unique styles. My son and I care about fit and function more. Each daughter chose very different packs/styles but they both work just fine and more importantly the girls love them. One chose a Big Agnes and the other chose a Mystery Ranch. I found both on sale for around $200 dollars each. One suggestion would be to buy a womens specific pack, not a mens or unisex as they do not fit womens body shapes well at all. My daughters have hauled out many animals and taken multiple overnight backpack trips with theirs and still love them.

 

[SuperDUECE22]

https://www.camofire.com/Product/mystery-ranch-pop-up-40-womens-camo-hunting-pack