Pack size for 3-4 days

[Wapiti16]

The beartooth would be perfect for you, same layout, just bigger. The bigger bags compress down well, and the added weight is a small amount that will not matter in real life.

if you like the frame, stick with that platform... it’s a good one. I like mystery ranch, they are bomb proof as packs get.

EXO is awesome too, most comfortable packs to me, but we are all different in that regard.

I think if someone finds a pack they like, sticking with it is wise, you may not like a different frame as much

Thanks. I think this is what I've decided on. The new MR Guide Light MT Frame on my Sawtooth fit me fantastic and I really enjoyed it last season. By just switching the bags out, I can keep the frame I like so much, and use a bag with a very similar but larger design to the sawtooth design which I really like. Thanks for the advice!

Only downside is that MR said that the Beartooth Bag-Only option wouldn't be available until September. Not sure why so late, that's cutting it close but hopefully I can pick one up in time before my trip in mid/late september.

 

[Dirtydan]

I see a lot of responses on these forums always asking the question of "what if you have to carry an animal out"? Well, that is the end goal after all but I highly doubt most people (including me) will ever take everything in one load. I'll gladly carry a smaller pack and make multiple trips if I have to, and my knees and back will thank me for it in the end. Use what you have and spend time in the woods. You'll learn more using sweatequity then internetknowledge.

 

[Poser]

I see a lot of responses on these forums always asking the question of "what if you have to carry an animal out"? Well, that is the end goal after all but I highly doubt most people (including me) will ever take everything in one load. I'll gladly carry a smaller pack and make multiple trips if I have to, and my knees and back will thank me for it in the end. Use what you have and spend time in the woods. You'll learn more using sweatequity then internetknowledge.

I’m liking having multiple, different sized bags for a single frame so that I have different capacity options, however, my meat packing capacity is always the same.

 

[slim9300]

Day trip or 3-4 day spike gear, I don’t see an elk squishing into 3400, but I took algebra 4 times.

Most guys have zero experience packing out animals from the backcountry along with their kit. It seems like once an animal is packed out (especially an elk), a guy starts looking for a larger pack.

I honestly feel like the small pack trend is a product of people that don’t kill animals and the UL industry’s influence, with some exceptions of course.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[slim9300]

I see a lot of responses on these forums always asking the question of "what if you have to carry an animal out"? Well, that is the end goal after all but I highly doubt most people (including me) will ever take everything in one load. I'll gladly carry a smaller pack and make multiple trips if I have to, and my knees and back will thank me for it in the end. Use what you have and spend time in the woods. You'll learn more using sweatequity then internetknowledge.

Coming from someone that has packed countless animals out of the backcountry, I feel like this is poor advice and you are steering new hunters in the wrong direction with your advice on pack size. What is your experience hunting the backcountry and packing out animals?

Why couldn’t you pack out a boned out deer plus your gear? Most men are very capable of packing 80 pounds or more. If you can’t pack this kind of weight and don’t have an option for help, you probably shouldn’t be hunting the backcountry (at least for elk). I would never discourage anyone from backpacking of course, since it’s an amazing hobby and one of my favorite summer activities, but packing out an animal from 5+ miles back is something very different. It’s also something that should be trained for in my perspective.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Poser]

Day trip or 3-4 day spike gear, I don’t see an elk squishing into 3400, but I took algebra 4 times.

If the pack has a meat shelf design, the size of the bag itself is irrelevant.

 

[neil.hansford]

Most guys have zero experience packing out animals from the backcountry along with their kit. It seems like once an animal is packed out (especially an elk), a guy starts looking for a larger pack.

I honestly feel like the small pack trend is a product of people that don’t kill animals and the UL industry’s influence, with some exceptions of course.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I guess I'm one of those exceptions. Never saw the need for a real big pack, especially if i have a meat shelf.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[roosiebull]

Most guys have zero experience packing out animals from the backcountry along with their kit. It seems like once an animal is packed out (especially an elk), a guy starts looking for a larger pack.

I honestly feel like the small pack trend is a product of people that don’t kill animals and the UL industry’s influence, with some exceptions of course.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

if you look into it a little deeper, I think you are spot on. guys who kill lots of stuff seem to use big packs.... the super ultralight guys with a very refined system may run a smaller pack, but even them, often use a good size pack, just lighter products within the pack.

a big bag just isn't a hinderance, they compress down fine, and easily fitting your gear is really nice..... it's quicker and easier to break camp in the morning if hunting off your back, and you aren't having to strap stuff all over the outside.

trying to cram all of your stuff into a bag that doesn't easily fit it sucks, and makes accessing things in your pack a pain in the ass later.... I like small packs when possible, but a pack that is too small for the task sucks.

5 ounces of extra material is worth packing if you can use your pack more efficiently. just simple things like refilling your water bladder is a pain if your pack is over stuffed....

 

[Ross]

I wish I had not taken so many big loads for decades and listened to my body when it was hurting but carried through silly I was....I fall into the small pack trend exo 3500 packed full I can get by for 3-4 days...stove and all

 

[slim9300]

I guess I'm one of those exceptions. Never saw the need for a real big pack, especially if i have a meat shelf.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

What’s a “real big pack” mean to you? The OP is talking about a 3400 cu in pack.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[neil.hansford]

What’s a “real big pack” mean to you? The OP is talking about a 3400 cu in pack.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Anything over 3400 to 3800 inches I'd consider big, or at least bigger than I need.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[slim9300]

If the pack has a meat shelf design, the size of the bag itself is irrelevant.

I realize that the trend of using a meat shelf is growing. I am not a believer and I think it promotes imbalanced loads. But to each their own.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[slim9300]

Anything over 3400 to 3800 inches I'd consider big, or at least bigger than I need.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

Damn. I would consider that pack size small, but I do long 10 day backpacking hunts and I have to pack out elk. I couldn’t imagine backpack hunting under 4,500 cu inches. My kit is some of the best in the world and I still couldn’t do it.

I am curious why guys are hunting 3-4 days versus doing longer trips. Is it due to time constraints, or are many of you coming out only to head back in after a day of cleanup or ‘rest?’ If I have 5 days, 7 days, 10 days, or more, I’m going in with the intention to stay the entire hunt or until I’m successful.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[trophyhill]

My "large" pack compresses down as small as any 3-4000 ci pack will. Mine is around 7200 when fully loaded for my 10 day hunts. With room to spare. Just having the ability to do that, and pack out the heaviest meat loads I can carry plus gear, is worth The additional 1/2 lb of weight over a small pack any day. I'd guess that the small pack crowd are hunting from the truck or roadside camp, and only venturing into the Backcountry for day hunts vs staying in the Backcountry for the entire hunt.

I'm not quite understanding the logic of taking a small pack into the Backcountry the way these large packs compress down. To each their own, but my advice is to go big or hunt from camp. You won't regret it when you find yourself 5+ miles in and you're into the elk herds dreams are made of and don't have to go back to the truck because you're running out of valuable supplies.

 

[cuerro viejo]

You are overthinking this, your pack has a load shelf. Grab an OR dry bag and you are now close to 6k cubic inches pretty quick.

 

[Dirtydan]

I think the pack size debate really comes down to load shelf carrying or stuffing everything in the bag. I run a pack with load shelf and that is the reason I use a smaller bag. For an early season archery elk hunt my gear plus food for 3-5 days easily fit into a 3500 bag. I’ve been on enough trips to know that if I have the room then I’m more than likely going to fill the void with gear I really don’t need.
I’m good with doing 3-5 days then coming out for a recharge and a beer then going back in. This also lets me move locations if there isn’t any action where I first set up and want to go elsewhere. Some folks need reminded that to some of us this is a vacation and not a death march. Yes the end goal is to fill tags but I’m out to have a good time. 10 days in the backcountry solo isn’t a good time for me but others may enjoy it. To each their own.

 

[slim9300]

I think the pack size debate really comes down to load shelf carrying or stuffing everything in the bag. I run a pack with load shelf and that is the reason I use a smaller bag. For an early season archery elk hunt my gear plus food for 3-5 days easily fit into a 3500 bag. I’ve been on enough trips to know that if I have the room then I’m more than likely going to fill the void with gear I really don’t need.
I’m good with doing 3-5 days then coming out for a recharge and a beer then going back in. This also lets me move locations if there isn’t any action where I first set up and want to go elsewhere. Some folks need reminded that to some of us this is a vacation and not a death march. Yes the end goal is to fill tags but I’m out to have a good time. 10 days in the backcountry solo isn’t a good time for me but others may enjoy it. To each their own.

Fair enough! We have opposing motivations. You described how I look at a deer hunt. Killing elk to me is the ultimate goal and fun time. The rest is cool I guess.

If I’m into the elk, the last thing I want to do is come out. 5 days worth of gear versus 10 days worth of gear is identical other than 10 pounds of food, a few extra wet wipes, one pair of socks and a single long sleeve merino shirt. I would rather carry 11-12# more going in and not be forced to come out early unless I have good reason. Just my take though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cahunter805]

Damn. I would consider that pack size small, but I do long 10 day backpacking hunts and I have to pack out elk. I couldn’t imagine backpack hunting under 4,500 cu inches. My kit is some of the best in the world and I still couldn’t do it.

I am curious why guys are hunting 3-4 days versus doing longer trips. Is it due to time constraints, or are many of you coming out only to head back in after a day of cleanup or ‘rest?’ If I have 5 days, 7 days, 10 days, or more, I’m going in with the intention to stay the entire hunt or until I’m successful.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just curious what size bag you run for a 10 day trip?

 

[Poser]

I realize that the trend of using a meat shelf is growing. I am not a believer and I think it promotes imbalanced loads. But to each their own.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

How so?

 

[slim9300]

How so?

When using a load shelf along with a full bag, the center of gravity of the load you carry is being pushed further from your own (away from your back) and has a tendency to pull you backwards as a result. A large bag makes it easy to distribute the weight with the help of your gear, and keep it where it needs to be; which is as close as possible to your back and toward the middle with regard to height.

Here is thread on the topic. I am not the only one.

Packing out de boned meat video and tech tip thread!

I just posted this on another thread, but I figured it was the time of year to talk about this anyway! First off, there's IS a right and wrong way to pack out meat, BUT, there's also several right ways and several wrong ways (hope that makes sense). Anyway, it doesn't matter if you're packing...

www.rokslide.com

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk