Need a backpack

[Snowwolfe]

First about me. I will soon be 72 and in no shape (or desire) to carry heavy loads. I am 5-10 if that matters. The pack will be used to carry my day to day hunting gear until I kill a blacktail or moose then hiking back to camp with a small load of meat. Doubt I would ever exceed 50 pounds. The most meat it would carry is one boned out Kodiak blacktail plus my gear. I do prefer an internal frame.
There might be a few occasions it will be carrying 30-40 pounds of salmon. Budget is $600.
I am in no rush to buy as I will not use it till most likely next fall.
I am a complete novice with this subject. When I lived in Alaska before most of my deer hunting trips were with the old style military backpacks. It has to be pretty comfortable to wear all day when not carrying meat and not in the way of interfering with me shooting a rifle. I also carry my bino's around my neck and they rest on the outside of my jacket when hunting.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

SG solo or the smaller exo pack would be great.

 

[Randy2117]

Kifaru Stryker XL and frame. Bag is just big enough to carry what you need. Compress it down until you need the room. Correctly fitted frame would position the weight. It’s a workhorse, no frills. Honestly, 50 lbs would feel like nothing.

 

[Caseknife]

Exo K4 2200 or 3600 would fit the bill, except a tad over budget.

 

[Roughneck]

I recently went through this same deal. I have been running a Outdoorsman Optics Hunter for a very long time and for some reason decided I needed a new pack. Well I went bonkers and bought a used Kifaru with Duplex frame, a new Kifaru with Ark frame, 2 Stone Glaciers one with each frame and I picked up a used Exo K3. I tried them all for about 2 weeks and rucked daily with 60lbs usually 3-4 miles each day, I live in Montana and did a lot of elevation gain rucks to see how the packs handled. They are all great packs just different. I am 5’10” and 200lbs and for me I hate to say it my Outdoorsman handled the weight the easiest. But I really like the Exo K3 and will be keeping that one but won’t know if it really handles the weight till I get out there with it on a hunt. The other packs were very nice and Xcurve frame fit me very well as I have a sway back but like the Exo bag layout better of the two. The quality of the Kifaru bags are really nice but the frames didn’t work me personally. When I lived in Alaska i bought my Outdoorsman from a guy that was upgrading and i hauled a good amount of moose & caribou with it, it’s a tough pack just a little heavier than the rest but not by much.

 

[Snowwolfe]

Thanks guys. Keep the comments coming.

 

[Team4LongGun]

Exo

 

[keystone112]

I used an Eberlestock X2 on an elk hunt this year. Sounds like it might work for what you are describing.

 

[Snowwolfe]

Kifaru Stryker XL and frame. Bag is just big enough to carry what you need. Compress it down until you need the room. Correctly fitted frame would position the weight. It’s a workhorse, no frills. Honestly, 50 lbs would feel like nothing.

When you are in your 70's even your wallet can feel heavy

 

[prm]

You described the Stryker XL. Find a used one with the Duplex frame.

The Eberlestock X2 as recommended above is a solid choice for what you describe.

 

[Echo]

Another vote for the eco k4

 

[AKEK]

I bet you would be very happy with the AKEK 3200 with all the features and price. See this short video showing what makes it so appealing:

 

[Kaleb]

Following

 

[Choupique]

soon be 72 and in no shape (or desire) to carry heavy loads. I am 5-10 if that matters. The pack will be used to carry my day to day hunting gear until I kill a blacktail or moose then hiking back to camp with a small load of meat. Doubt I would ever exceed 50 pounds.

First, that's awesome. I hope I'm still toting around 50 pound loads in the back country at 72

Second, maybe a mystery ranch assault pack? Never seen one in the wild but it seems like it'd fit the bill

 

[grizz19]

I have a SG solo 3600 with the x curve frame and love it. It handles weight pretty darn well. Very minimalist bag layout. Wish it had a couple more pockets. A few weeks ago loaded it down with a bones out elk shoulder, neck meat, backstrap, and head, along with my rifle and day hunting gear. Held up great. If you use the load shelf and tighten the meat down good the frame will have some “barreling”. I actually like it, it fits my back tell. I have kind of an athletic build and it fits the curve of my back. Some people don’t like that though. Something to consider.

 

[The_Jim]

If you’re only going to haul a max of 50lbs I’m betting almost any pack will work. I used a mystery ranch metcalf for a lot of years and it was good, even under heavy loads. I upgraded to an exo k4 this year and although with a heavy load it was considerably more comfortable(I think was mainly because of the wide belt), with 50 pounds and under I couldn’t tell a difference.

Find yourself a deal in the classifieds this spring!

 

[lhbackcountry]

I’ve been running the SG sky talon and the x curve frame is great.

 

[Sibe03]

This is going to be way overkill but I currently use mystery ranch Marshall. Carried roughly 75lbs through the Selway and it worked great. Plenty of room and even if it isn’t completely full, you can cinch the straps down and make the load balanced on your back

 

[Bluumoon]

EXO 2200, add stone glacier side bags to make access to jackets/rain gear/ poles/tripods easier.

 

[jmez]

Stone Glacier Avail 2200. Has a light internal frame sheet. Your description is a day pack that will serve as a light hauler once in a while. Framed with small bags are haulers that can be used as a day pack. They are not as comfortable to hunt in and wear all day as a light internal frame. And yes, I have and use both. I rarely take the frame anymore. I use the Avail, bring back a load and then take the frame back. With a small deer I wouldn't need to get thr frame.

Avail is set up really well. Great day type pack that can pack a little weight.

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