Ideal frame pack size for day hunt

[Jeremybj]

Hello to all,

I have been a long time reader of the forum, but recently got an account.

I am in the market for a new frame pack. A little back story, last season I was on a mule deer hunt in South Dakota. We were about 3 miles from the road. I dropped a very nice 5x4, I swear it was the biggest bodied mule deer in the entire county. My brother in law and I both had regular backpacks. We ended up having to consolidate our gear into 1 backpack, put meat in the other backpack, then relay the meat out because it was too much weight for 1 pack(He had a frame pack in the truck, useful) So after that God awful experience, I decided time to spend some cash on a new frame pack.

My hunting style is go to camp at night, hunt during the day. My pack basically needs to contain food and water for the day, gutting gear, ammo, toilet paper, game bags, a long sleeve shirt/light jacket, and other stuff I probably forgot. Our camp is near the roadway, so we don't have to pack camp in or anything like that.

To me, less is more when it comes to weight and bulk. I am not a minimalist, but I don't want extra stuff.

I am curious to know what you folks would recommend for a size pack for that style of hunt. I was thinking somewhere along the 1850 ci size, but I want some input. Basically I want something I can store all my gear in, then when the time comes, deploy the load shelf and haul some meat AND all of my gear out.

Thanks for any input.

Jeremy

Oh and by the way, any pack under $600ish is fair game, buy once, cry once.

 

[realunlucky]

Did you look at any nomad threads? Kifaru bikini frame will let you be modular as your needs change. More after market and used things for kifaru then other makers. Your choices are wide open with that budget and small of a bag

 

[colonel00]

Well, it will probably exceed your $600 limit but a Kifaru Nomad sounds like what you are looking for. The new Exo packs look pretty slick too but they are brand new and there isn't a ton of info on them quite yet. Really though, just about any pack can compress down to a "day hunt mode" but what I think is really important is the capacity and flexibility to handle situations like you describe with your hunt last year. I had it happen to me as well where my pack did not have the capacity to hold everything and it would probably have been too much weight so I had to make two trips instead of just one heavy one. My knees let me know about it and I decided that I would always be prepared for the worst from that hunt forward.

Yeah, I should mention to keep your eye on the classified listings as you can pick up quite a bit of gear and accessories at decent discounts.

 

[Aron Snyder]

Hey Jeremy,

Are you brothers with a guy that's name begins with Z?

Hello to all,

I have been a long time reader of the forum, but recently got an account.

I am in the market for a new frame pack. A little back story, last season I was on a mule deer hunt in South Dakota. We were about 3 miles from the road. I dropped a very nice 5x4, I swear it was the biggest bodied mule deer in the entire county. My brother in law and I both had regular backpacks. We ended up having to consolidate our gear into 1 backpack, put meat in the other backpack, then relay the meat out because it was too much weight for 1 pack(He had a frame pack in the truck, useful) So after that God awful experience, I decided time to spend some cash on a new frame pack.

My hunting style is go to camp at night, hunt during the day. My pack basically needs to contain food and water for the day, gutting gear, ammo, toilet paper, game bags, a long sleeve shirt/light jacket, and other stuff I probably forgot. Our camp is near the roadway, so we don't have to pack camp in or anything like that.

To me, less is more when it comes to weight and bulk. I am not a minimalist, but I don't want extra stuff.

I am curious to know what you folks would recommend for a size pack for that style of hunt. I was thinking somewhere along the 1850 ci size, but I want some input. Basically I want something I can store all my gear in, then when the time comes, deploy the load shelf and haul some meat AND all of my gear out.

Thanks for any input.

Jeremy

Oh and by the way, any pack under $600ish is fair game, buy once, cry once.

 

[Jeremybj]

Aron,

Negative, why?

So based on the replys, I'm thinking 1850 is enough.

What are you thoughts on the Kuiu? The prices are a lot cheaper.

I should add that I am 6-3, 220. Torso length is 22ish"

 

[muleman]

From what you describe I envision the Stone Glacier Krux frame and Approach bag. I used that combo last year to pack out a mountain goat, mule deer, and two elk. I have done overnight scouting trips with that combo too. Price is under your limit and you can add other bags later just like with Kifaru.

There are a lot of good packs out there try and find people in your area with the packs you are interested in and see what fits you best.

Hello to all,

I have been a long time reader of the forum, but recently got an account.

I am in the market for a new frame pack. A little back story, last season I was on a mule deer hunt in South Dakota. We were about 3 miles from the road. I dropped a very nice 5x4, I swear it was the biggest bodied mule deer in the entire county. My brother in law and I both had regular backpacks. We ended up having to consolidate our gear into 1 backpack, put meat in the other backpack, then relay the meat out because it was too much weight for 1 pack(He had a frame pack in the truck, useful) So after that God awful experience, I decided time to spend some cash on a new frame pack.

My hunting style is go to camp at night, hunt during the day. My pack basically needs to contain food and water for the day, gutting gear, ammo, toilet paper, game bags, a long sleeve shirt/light jacket, and other stuff I probably forgot. Our camp is near the roadway, so we don't have to pack camp in or anything like that.

To me, less is more when it comes to weight and bulk. I am not a minimalist, but I don't want extra stuff.

I am curious to know what you folks would recommend for a size pack for that style of hunt. I was thinking somewhere along the 1850 ci size, but I want some input. Basically I want something I can store all my gear in, then when the time comes, deploy the load shelf and haul some meat AND all of my gear out.

Thanks for any input.

Jeremy

Oh and by the way, any pack under $600ish is fair game, buy once, cry once.

 

[Aron Snyder]

Aron,

Negative, why?

So based on the replys, I'm thinking 1850 is enough.

What are you thoughts on the Kuiu? The prices are a lot cheaper.

I should add that I am 6-3, 220. Torso length is 22ish"

My buddy said his brother was joining Rokslide (his name is Jeremy) and he was looking for a pack too.

 

[Jeremybj]

Must be that time of the year. By that I mean the time of the year where the bank account gets emptied from gear and tags

 

[dirtytough]

I think a timberline would be a good option. Easily compresses down for day hunting, and has the room to expand for hauling out an animal. Also if you stick around you will probably end up wanting to try a pack in hunt and 1850 cubes is pretty small for that.

 

[dreamingbig]

I would go with a nomad if I were you.

 

[kickemall]

If your interested in Kuiu then read the review of the 1850 on here by Darin Cooper if you haven't already. Kuiu is also releasing their Ultra series next Tue. with a live feed which should end up on their web site if you can't watch it. The Ultra will be available in 1800, 3000 or 6000 so you have the option of upgrading bags if you want bigger than 1800 later. The price is $350.00 with the 6000 bag and it weighs 3lbs. 9 oz. It does sound like an Ultra 1800 or Icon 1850 would work well for you as both are capable of hauling meat between the frame and bag. I have no affiliation with Kuiu.

 

[hammer0419]

Get a Kifaru Bikini frame with a Nomad pack. Once you have that, your options are endless. You will not buy a pack more comfortable than the Bikini frame.

 

[mt100gr.]

If you are coming from a traditional "backpack" (bookbag style??) experience, you need to decide if you want to go with a full frame pack, internal frame, external frame, modular system, etc. There a dozens of packs that would suit your needs. You won't regret buying a 600 dollar pack, but depending on what YOU need the pack to do and how you want it to perform, you may not need to go all in financially.

 

[Hunt'nFish]

Jeremy, spotter & tripod, yes/no? Bow/rifle/both? Bladder or bottle?
How much importance to you place on load lifters and overall frame height?
Hunt'nFish

 

[Tanner]

$600 for a daypack with meat hauling capabilities screams Stone Glacier Solo, to me.

Tanner

 

[Scotto]

I have the same basic hunting requirements for a pack as you describe. I would recommend trying on as many as you can. 1850 ci will work just fine, but, in my opinion, its the frame and suspension you really need to key on. I tried on Kifaru, Stone Glacier, Kuiu. In the end, I ditched my Eberlestock and bought a Bikini Nomad because it flat out was the most comfortable on my back when testing them all with up to 70#. It did exceed $600, but expect it will be worth every penny.

 

[ScottP]

I'll throw my $0.02 in here. All of the packs mentioned above will be excellent, and you should try on as many as you can. I happen to use a mystery ranch crew cab, which is basically a load sling with a small day pack on the outside and a couple of wing-style pockets that fold flat against the frame or out to the side. The beauty of it is you can carry almost anything in it. Works great for hunting from truck/home where you want to get a large majority of your animal back in the first trip. For example, I shot a mule deer last year and carried the entire thing out, 4 bone-in Q's, loose meat and the head/cape. Plus all of my day hunting gear. Cow elk come out two bone-in quarters per load in this thing, easy. Its a short frame, so not a ton of lift but that hasn't bothered me and can be corrected with a 'lift kit'. Other downside is they are heavier then the Kifaru and SG packs. However, there are a couple you can almost steal off the classifieds here and on hunt talk forum for <$400. Feel free to PM me if you want some detailed pics of it in use.

 

[Jordan Budd]

For that style I'd seriously look at the Eberlestock x2. Well in your budget and a perfect day pack.

 

[mattstanton]

Nomad or a mystery ranch crew cab would fit your needs well by the sound of it.

 

[stevenm2]

I too have the Mystery ranch Crew Cab, They are a bit heavier but built like a tank. I love mine. The really lightweight packs just seem like they are not heavy duty enough to take the way I abuse stuff. So I went after a Kifaru or Mystery Ranch and found a Mystery Ranch first. I have no regrets and I am sure I would have been Happy with the Kifaru as well. Both are well built and I have no experience with the new lighter,less expensive packs out there. I came from a Badlands 4500 and 2200 I can tell you it worked for me but not like this Crew Cab.