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.