Hmmm. short answer, I run belt pouches on my hunting packs and prefer seek outside or 500D versions from a tactical gear company called try tactical or tactical tailor. they are on the outside of my pack and take a beating when the pack is set down and moved around.
Somewhat longer... I am all for saving weight but I think at some point you compromise durability. For lighter backpacking I will make that trade, but for hunting, I tend to want slightly more durability, albeit with a weight penalty.
Case in point, I have a gossamer gear pack (mariposa) and it is wearing some of their pouches and has built in pockets on the belt. Within a year the pack as pickuped up a few rips and tears, some of which are more than cosmetic. I have patched it with tenacious tape, glue and a little sewing. For the price and the unloaded weight (well under 3# empty with pouches), I will accept that this pack has a shorter life span than my hunting pack and it will hold up to a reasonable amount of hiking use. However, I wouldn't take this pack or the belt pouches hunting, where the abuse level is much higher and I just don't think they would hold up.
