Pack Size - How Big is Big Enough?

[gil_wy]

Does the hitchhiker buckle right into the krux?

No... I used Sea to Summit replacement ladder locks attached to the webbing. I also cut off the shoulder straps on the hitchhiker... So far the system has worked great!

As far as camp goes, usually the 2nd load is light/small enough to take camp with me ( assuming to guys packing)... Laid out flat my camp system is pretty small...

 

[JP100]

I have the Ultra 6000 and its huge. biggest pack I have ever had. the problem I have is no matter how big your pack is you will fill it up. having a big pack you tend to just add little extra things in that you dont need just because you have the extra space. I think a small pack with a good frame and load shelf is the best option. that way you can pack out meat and skins.
If you want a light pack take a small one.

 

[Ironman8]

I took an EXO 3500 to Idaho for 9 days chasing elk in November. My plan was to pack all gear in the bag and food in the load shelf. If I got an elk down, then I'd make multiple trips with meat in the shelf and gear in the bag. Everything went according to plan and the only thing I had to strap outside was my tent stove. However, what I learned was that it's a pain in the a$$ to re-route straps and use the load shelf every time you want to move camp. I had 4 different camp spots in 9 days and having to adjust the load shelf every time got old fast. For a trip of that length and time of year and where you might be moving around a lot, the smaller bag may not be the best option.

 

[luke moffat]

I have the Ultra 6000 and its huge. biggest pack I have ever had. the problem I have is no matter how big your pack is you will fill it up. having a big pack you tend to just add little extra things in that you dont need just because you have the extra space. I think a small pack with a good frame and load shelf is the best option. that way you can pack out meat and skins.
If you want a light pack take a small one.

I guess this is true for many, but I often have my Highcamp 7K or EMR 2 8400 well less than half full. Just because you have the space doesn't mean you need to fill it to capacity. If you have not self control I suppose that is a way to curtail that. But I'd rather than options to load more if needed like taking people that can't pack as much along for example. A little self control

 

[sojourner]

For me, the Exo 3500 has been perfect for day hunts to 7 day pack-ins. On the 7 day, the bag was definitely packed to the brim so on a 10 day I could see maybe wishing for a bigger bag, but I never get to go out for that long- usually just 2-3 days. After getting my elk down I took 70# of meat and all my gear out in the first load.

Honestly, using the load shelf in this way was perfect for me. I liked that the meat could breath and was high and tight to my back and I didn't have to worry about keeping blood off of my gear. For the second load I went back and put 85# ponds of meat directly in the bag with just some essential items in the lid and back stretchy pocket. This is the only picture I have of how that looked.

To me this worked exactly how I had planned and hoped I couldn't really imagine wanting a bigger bag. I think if I was trying to get everything out in one trip, the load shelf could easily swallow 100# and then still have camp in the bag. I would never be able to carry more weight than that so a bigger bag wouldn't help. This is my opinion, but of course I'm still learning.

 

[desertcj]

For me, the Exo 3500 has been perfect for day hunts to 7 day pack-ins. On the 7 day, the bag was definitely packed to the brim so on a 10 day I could see maybe wishing for a bigger bag, but I never get to go out for that long- usually just 2-3 days. After getting my elk down I took 70# of meat and all my gear out in the first load.

Honestly, using the load shelf in this way was perfect for me. I liked that the meat could breath and was high and tight to my back and I didn't have to worry about keeping blood off of my gear. For the second load I went back and put 85# ponds of meat directly in the bag with just some essential items in the lid and back stretchy pocket. This is the only picture I have of how that looked.

To me this worked exactly how I had planned and hoped I couldn't really imagine wanting a bigger bag. I think if I was trying to get everything out in one trip, the load shelf could easily swallow 100# and then still have camp in the bag. I would never be able to carry more weight than that so a bigger bag wouldn't help. This is my opinion, but of course I'm still learning.

Being able to strap meat to the frame like that is a HUGE advantage IMO. Why would you put meat inside of your bag on the second trip instead of strapping to the frame like you did the first time? Just to try it? Were you able to carry more like that?

 

[Rizzy]

For me the extra space comes in handy for bulky cold weather gear and/or capes, especially capes. I also have gone up to an EMR2, but I haven't used all the extra capacity yet. I imagine a really big bear cape or moose quarter would change that though. When I packed out my Mtn Goat cape, meat and camp in one load, it was so convenient and easy to be able to just load the main bag with camp, then meat, then the cape and be good to go for the pack out. This ability pays dividends when you have to do it in the dark on the side of a mountain. It's a lot easier than having to rig and reconfigure everything and strap stuff to the outside wherever it fits. Keeping everything in the main pack bag allows it to stay close to the plane of your back by loading upward and to the sides rather than loading outward. Loading out usually results in leaning forward a little to counter the load in my experience.

 

[sojourner]

Being able to strap meat to the frame like that is a HUGE advantage IMO. Why would you put meat inside of your bag on the second trip instead of strapping to the frame like you did the first time? Just to try it? Were you able to carry more like that?

The main reason I did that was because with two full bomb bags the load was going to be really tall and I was worried the top might flop around too much or fall forward toward my head. With it in the bag, the snow collar and lid straps were able to keep it solid enough even though it was so high above the top of the frame

 

[Madnik]

Go big! Rather, go big with the ability to compress down. You won't regret it.