Load Shelf Necessary?

[walnutbottomout]

I’ve narrowed down my pack choices to either an Initial Ascent or Exo. Neither come with a load shelf on the frame. For those with these bags, how necessary do you believe a load shelf is? They’re both like 60 bucks but may be worth it to get that weight from sagging to your butt. Any input appreciated!


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[BRTreedogs]

On my Exo K4 not at all if you want to leave the pack bag on all the time.

That’s not how I use my crib.

I leave the crib at the truck and then when I get back with the first load slot of times I’ll just strip the bag off with all my gear in it.

Toss on the crib and lid with drinks,snacks and my emergency pouch and pack the rest of the meat like that.

 

[Jtb.kfd]

Exo K3 and I leave mine on all the time just because I am too lazy to take it off. But like BRTreedogs said, you don’t need it unless you take the bag off for subsequent loads. I use mine on the first load always, but it is more to make me feel better about buying it. My son has a new K4 and didn’t but one with the new pack. We have hauled out some bears in the past couple months and his was just fine.

 

[mtnbound]

I’ve narrowed down my pack choices to either an Initial Ascent or Exo. Neither come with a load shelf on the frame. For those with these bags, how necessary do you believe a load shelf is? They’re both like 60 bucks but may be worth it to get that weight from sagging to your butt. Any input appreciated!


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I think it’s worth it. I have ran them on Kifaru and EXO packs. It really secures the load to the frame. I also use my pack for SAR as well so I have used the load shelf/crib to haul litters, rope gear, capstan winch, chainsaw, snowshoes, radio repeaters etc, so for me it’s worth it.

 

[nphunter]

I prefer a shelf, I use a grab it from Kifaru in my Kifaru packs. I like to be able to drop the bag and only carry meat with a lid. I think it’s well worth the cost of the shelf to be able to drop the bag full of camp or supplies and only carry meat.

It also probably depends on the hunter, and how much you will be using it. I packed out 3 bulls with my pack last year so carrying meat on my back about 10 total miles. 10 miles is a lot of miles to carry a bunch of extra crap around.

 

[plebe]

Prefer having shelf options like from SG, Kifaru, and SO to a non-shelf K4. Haven’t tried the K4 crib though or anything from IA.

 

[Tahr]

Load shelf on the Initial Ascent works a treat, I use that and the lid as a day hunt set up.

 

[justinspicher]

I’ve never used my load shelf. I find taking off the bag to be more of an annoyance than anything. Instead just put everything in my bag.

 

[mrbillbrown]

Always in the bag. Never mess with a load shelf.


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[isleofGough]

I use my load shelf a lot for SAR and it is great when you want to separate dirty or wet items from the rest of your pack. I can't imagine putting meat in with my clothes and tarp either.

 

[il_cop]

Switched to a k4 from a mystery ranch a few years ago and had the same conundrum. Never missed the shelf, much prefer the k4 without it. For me it keeps the load much higher.

 

[isleofGough]

Good load shelves are adjustable and can be high or low.

 

[doncarpenter]

The Initial Ascent pannier used along with the lid is a great daypack. I used that combo along with a large dry bag from Zpacks. All my camp equipment would go in the dry bag and stay at camp. Essential hunting items and water stayed in the pannier and lid for hunting.

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[Grizz208]

I used my k4 last season without a shelf and had no issue. It was my first season not using a load shelf and I had no complaints.

 

[Macintosh]

for you folks who never use the load shelf—Id love to hear your tips and tricks for how you pack meat plus camp for an exit from the backcountry. What you put where, how you manage space and what size pack bag you use, how you keep your clothing and gear relatively clean (esp in bear country), etc.

I have a couple day-size packs with load ahelf that I LOVE, both for carrying tree stand gear, but also for carrying meat in an already-fullish pack. BUT, while I did not draw this year, I have a couple backpack hunts planned over the next couple years and I often think about turning some of the day-hunts I do into an overnight, just to be able to avoid the drive and 2 mile hike to start hunting. I have an older dana designs arcflex alpine pack that has backpacked all over north america. As backpacking packs go it handles heavier loads very well, but am trying to decide if I need a purpose built pack at some point.

 

[atmat]

for you folks who never use the load shelf—Id love to hear your tips and tricks for how you pack meat plus camp for an exit from the backcountry. What you put where, how you manage space and what size pack bag you use, how you keep your clothing and gear relatively clean (esp in bear country), etc.

Same question, I can’t believe folks are saying they don’t use their load shelves. I hate bloody game bags in the pack.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Same question, I can’t believe folks are saying they don’t use their load shelves. I hate bloody game bags in the pack.

Add me to the never used a shelf club. Previous bags didn’t have it. I’m trying an exo after 11 years and a few animals with the kifaru.

 

[atmat]

Add me to the never used a shelf club. Previous bags didn’t have it. I’m trying an exo after 11 years and a few animals with the kifaru.

Well totally different if you didn’t have one. My old bags didn’t either. But for the last 5 years or so I’ve ran an SG and like the load shelf

 

[roosiebull]

I’ve narrowed down my pack choices to either an Initial Ascent or Exo. Neither come with a load shelf on the frame. For those with these bags, how necessary do you believe a load shelf is? They’re both like 60 bucks but may be worth it to get that weight from sagging to your butt. Any input appreciated!


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They both have “load shelves” in function, I think of a pack without a shelf as a pack you have to put meat in the bag.

 

[Wprinkle]

Never use the shelf, I just use the bag.. I'm too lazy to remember and practice taking the bags on and off...