Lightweight pack vs meat hauler?

[Jhiggy300]

I feel like a little bit heavier pack that can handle heavy pack out loads better is the way to go, over a lightweight pack that packing meat in is a little bit of a struggle. I'm not ready to spend the money on a pack that can do both reasonably well. I like the idea of a detachable pack that you can pack the meat against the frame and not in the pack. I also think it might be better to just get a lighter pack since it's going to spend way more time on your back, with just your hunting and camp gear. What do you guys think, if you were getting your first multi-day pack which way would you lean your priority? I'm thinking something like the Horn Hunter Full Curl or Eberlestock Carrier vs something like a Sitka Bivy 45 or Slumberjack 65.

 

[Graves14]

I’d save a bit more or look for a deal on a used Exo, SG, or Kifaru setup. My personal preference being the Exo.

from what you said you seem to intend to get one eventually, I wouldn’t waste money on a stopgap when you will be much happier with a do it all pack in the long run.

 

[mrbillbrown]

I’d save a bit more or look for a deal on a used Exo, SG, or Kifaru setup. My personal preference being the Exo.

from what you said you seem to intend to get one eventually, I wouldn’t waste money on a stopgap when you will be much happier with a do it all pack in the long run.

Wish I’d taken this advice thousands of dollars and miles ago. Would’ve saved me a ton of money and trial and error only to end up in the Kifaru pack world.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Car7x]

Like most folks, I have too many packs. For mountain hunts, a MR PIntler, my son will wear to meat haul, and a SG Evo for myself. I like MR, have known Dana for 40 years, but gotta say that his packs often seem just a hair overbuilt for what ever I end up doing. The Evo works very well as a compromise, the MR seems just on the big side for the compromise approach, but carries weight great - it might get the nod for an extended spike setup, or solo, though. We use load cells on the pack and bag setups, to carry camp/gear in, and hopefully meat out.

Now that I've assembled a crew of younger guys, we hope to hunt as a foursome in two pairs. We would congregate and all 4 haul meat, at least to a first stage away from the carcass, cooling and in a spot permitting an observable approach -- it's bear country.

I may actually be putting the Evo on another guy, and rig some extension straps for my SG Avail, a brilliant day pack with a flap extension pocket on the pack. My reasoning is the compact form factor of the Avail offsets the 'first load' hassle of dense weight far behind me on the outside of the pack, which won't be bad at all if can get this mod worked out. It's just a super tidy run and gun setup, I really like it for any situation I've encountered so far.

We have a meat cart in the pickup if we get lucky close, and/or can grab a meat pack at camp or the truck after the first load. My limited experience so far is that with several guys, as the old guy I can easily end up with a big first load of weapons, excess warm clothing and gear, which the Avail can handle.

Getting rid of all the baggage lets the meat loading process start with a clean slate on those packs, so to speak, and one guy can easily allocate one trip to all the crap. The heavy load haulers have a more compact and manageable payload, and I can route find and mark, clear obstacles, stage and assist at rest stops, etc.

If I am alone or one of a pair, the Evo will get the nod. I bought the Evo bag very reasonably from a member here, then bought the Evo Minimalist frame and load cell setup from the company. If I only had one pack, or was buying a first pack for whatever situation, it would be the Evo. Good luck and Happy Trails -

 

[Jhiggy300]

Thanks for the insight guys. It's what I would have guessed it to be, spend more money it'll be worth it. lol.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Kifaru is worth it but the $$$ entry point is higher than most.

Looking at what you posted and the price points, I would consider finding a deal on an MR Metcalf. Either used or one of the discounted ones that pop up on clearance here and there. You have to be a bit of a shopper but there are deals. I bought mine new for $350 with the guide light frame.

There is a reason the Metcalf is MRs best selling pack. It is the perfect Goldilocks size to flex up for multi day hunts while remaining small enough for a day pack. It isn’t the lightest or absolute cheapest option for a do everything pack, but it is one of the best IMO.

 

[TJ]

Buy once cry once.

I would look for packs in the classifieds. I've bought packs for my sons from the clissifieds, nothing wrong with a used well treated pack.

 

[WyoBowhunter21]

You won’t go wrong with some of the packs you are looking at for 50% of the time. I have used a couple of the ones you mentioned and some others (outdoors and, badlands, eberlestock, alps) and they work for a lot of things but once you put some weight in them, they fall apart, some literally. I wasted, as mentioned by others a ton of money with my pack purchases. I have been through kifaru and stone glacier now and have settled on stone glacier. I think with kifarus new frame and stone glacier they both are a nice compromise to lightweight but can handle a load. Let be honest though, when you put 120 lbs on your back, it’s not about comfort, it’s about handling and performance because 120 lbs is not comfortable. Kifaru, exo, stone glacier all do a great job with this. The original duplex is a little heavier but that thing can take some weight. If I had any plans to pack meat out, even if it is just one trip, I would spend the extra money and go with one of the top tier companies. You can find stuff used as well.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

The more expensive frames suggested have the benefit of allowing you to change the bag (not just to put the meat close to the frame) which makes them more universal (more packs in one) type of deal. Plus it only takes carrying weight in a crappy pack and then a nice one to realized its cheap when you think about the reduction of pain per mile.

 

[RustyHazen]

I've never understood the "You carry just your gear 95% of the time, so what do I care about the miserable 5%?" argument, to be honest. Every pack out there will carry 40 lbs. comfortably. That's not the point. When you're carrying 70, 80, or over 100 pounds, that's ALL that matters at that moment. I would plunk down large amounts of cash on the spot to be even slightly more comfortable. It's not as though a high end pack is uncomfortable with just gear. At that point you're purposely choosing comfort sometime, miserable sometime, over comfortable all the time. That's not much of a choice. A little more saving, and maybe even a sparsely-used second hand system will ALWAYS pay off in the end. Try to carry a pack from as many of the "big names" as you can to find the right body style fit and be done with it. Happy hunting!

 

[WV Mountaineer]

Buy a used brand pack. Why people leave out the SO and Kuiu packs for these discussions is beyond me. Brand new, any of those you mentioned is about 80% of a new system from any of the big brands. Get a deep breath and take the plunge for a system that will do everything you need. Maybe those you listed will be fine? Who knows? What I do know is you have already decided they aren't the best for you so, you will "upgrade" later no matter how well they work for you. Bight the bullet, sell something, save for another month, etc... and buy one of the better known systems and be happy.

 

[Jhiggy300]

I've never understood the "You carry just your gear 95% of the time, so what do I care about the miserable 5%?" argument, to be honest. Every pack out there will carry 40 lbs. comfortably. That's not the point. When you're carrying 70, 80, or over 100 pounds, that's ALL that matters at that moment. I would plunk down large amounts of cash on the spot to be even slightly more comfortable. It's not as though a high end pack is uncomfortable with just gear. At that point you're purposely choosing comfort sometime, miserable sometime, over comfortable all the time. That's not much of a choice. A little more saving, and maybe even a sparsely-used second hand system will ALWAYS pay off in the end. Try to carry a pack from as many of the "big names" as you can to find the right body style fit and be done with it. Happy hunting!

My very first sentence was basically saying the ability to carry heavy loads should probably be the priority. The later statement was just looking at the choice from a different angle.

 

[Jhiggy300]

Buy a used brand pack. Why people leave out the SO and Kuiu packs for these discussions is beyond me. Brand new, any of those you mentioned is about 80% of a new system from any of the big brands. Get a deep breath and take the plunge for a system that will do everything you need. Maybe those you listed will be fine? Who knows? What I do know is you have already decided they aren't the best for you so, you will "upgrade" later no matter how well they work for you. Bight the bullet, sell something, save for another month, etc... and buy one of the better known systems and be happy.

I never said I'm planning to "upgrade" only that this would be a first pack for this purpose. I can't imagine very many people are using the same pack that they bought the first time around, after years of hunting. Not everybody has the means to buy "the best" out of the gate, doesn't mean they shouldn't get the best that they can and enjoy the outdoors.

 

[Jhiggy300]

Buy a used brand pack. Why people leave out the SO and Kuiu packs for these discussions is beyond me. Brand new, any of those you mentioned is about 80% of a new system from any of the big brands. Get a deep breath and take the plunge for a system that will do everything you need. Maybe those you listed will be fine? Who knows? What I do know is you have already decided they aren't the best for you so, you will "upgrade" later no matter how well they work for you. Bight the bullet, sell something, save for another month, etc... and buy one of the better known systems and be happy.

What brand is SO?

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

What brand is SO?

Seak outside. They have a line of packs also.

The main ones you hear about on here are Kifaru, Mystery Ranch, Exo mountian, stone glacier, seek outside, kuiu. Any of those might not fit a specific user. Do your homework on track records even of the named packs as some iterations have had histories per user reports you can find on here. There are people that have moved on from every brand frame, some brands have a little more traffic leaving them eventually than others do.

There are other frame packs folks have reportedly enjoyed but those are the common ones folks use on here.

 

[Tradchef]

Seek Outside

 

[RustyHazen]

"I also think it might be better to just get a lighter pack since it's going to spend way more time on your back, with just your hunting and camp gear. "




Sorry, just replying to the rationale of your fourth sentence, which I hear a lot. Just emphasizing the fact that the carrying ability of my pack with just gear rarely enters my mind. Loaded down, good or bad, it's all that will be on your mind.

 

[WV Mountaineer]

I never said I'm planning to "upgrade" only that this would be a first pack for this purpose. I can't imagine very many people are using the same pack that they bought the first time around, after years of hunting. Not everybody has the means to buy "the best" out of the gate, doesn't mean they shouldn't get the best that they can and enjoy the outdoors.

Brother, life has been good and not so good to me. I've made so much money at times to flip flop and not to make the equivalent of welfare at others. Its life and we will all experience it with our own deck of cards. You can take that to the bank. Hard times will hit everyone. So, rest assured my comments was with that in mind.

To further explain it, I most certainly agree with you that few here are using the first pack they bought. That is precisely why you have gotten the responses you did. From me and everyone else. We've been there, some of us are probably in the position that every dollar counts now. And, the reason everyone has tried to tell you what you have heard, is to tell you to save a few more weeks, months, sell something disposable, etc..... and buy a pack that you won't have the urge to replace when finances get better.

Yes some packs may fit better then others. But, if you buy one of the packs, new or used, listed on this thread, you'll have the customer support to ensure you get the best fit you can for your body. Then they all will work. So will the ones you mentioned. So, the choice is yours. You'll always want to try other things. But, when you get the urge on a pack, simply shouldering the pack that you love, will curtail that and allow a fella with a tight budget, to put the excess money he will have by buying once, to use for tags, gas, food, etc... for those hunting trips.

 

[Halleywood]

My suggestion would be to get a used frame from one of the higher end companies. Then you can just get a large dry bag, or similar and use straps to attach it to the frame. You can pick one up for 275-325. You could also have rugged stitching (pods8 here) sew you up a bag with the features you want and safe a bunch of money. I've got one from him that is top quality in my book.

My first backpack hunt was with a Kifaru pack. My two hunting partners made fun of me. After a hellish packout with "lesser" packs...they both own Kifaru packs now.

 

[wapitibob]

Buy a used frame and then buy or have pods8 make you a 1500ci bag and you’ll be set for day hunts or an overnighter with the ability to work up an elk and haul it out. If you get into the back country stuff later you’ll know what works and what doesn’t and can upgrade accordingly.
An older Kuiu will probably the cheapest/best alternative but the first cpl versions did have some problems. Not deal breakers but just be cognizant and treat he frame accordingly. Personally I would stick with Kifaru; stone G, exo, or Kuiu.