Pack Size - How Big is Big Enough?

[murf45]

You'll never regret getting the larger bag. I'm running the T1 with the long hunter lid x2 small pockets and x2 medium pockets and i've never wished it was smaller. You will appreciate a bag that makes it easy to organize all your gear. I think the EMRII would be the ticket.

 

[Violent Hippie]

I agree . I have owned many packs and multiple times made the same mistake of getting to small of a bag. The suck factor of having gear swinging around on the outside of your pack and zippers bursting is high. The larger bags actually have negligible weight and now days compress down no problem. I have been VERY happy with the T1 even for day trips.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I can do 12 days with a 3500 cu in pack easily if not packrafting. But I don't buy a pack for what I am hauling into the woods....

I'm not sure I could pack 12 days of food alone in a 3500 cu in pack.

 

[Muledeernv]

You have to find a pack that fits and feels good loaded then size is a mute point i have a high camp 7000,back pouch and 2 med. Pockets and it is not full on the way in but always have the room to fill on the way out with meat.plus it compresses way down for day hunt mode.my 2cents

 

[luke moffat]

I'm not sure I could pack 12 days of food alone in a 3500 cu in pack.

You might be surprised what you can fit in 3500 cu in packbag.....plus never said I wouldn't straps the sleeping pad to the outside or put my rain coat in my top lid and such. If just backpacking its a very doable proposition.

 

[Mad Mountain Mike]

With the DT2, long hunter lid, back pouch and a long pocket I'm over 7500ci. Strap the sleeping pad to the outside and I have room for more stuff and meat than I can carry.

 

[gil_wy]

I currently use a 1500 cu/in pack for up to 7 days... BUT I carry camp on the meat shelf in a dry sack... So basically I carry my daypack with a functional frame and pack system that allows me to extend my time nearly indefinitely by carrying camp and food between the pack and frame. I've done 7 days with this system but could easily do several more days. Right now I'm using the Stone Glacier Krux frame and the Mystery Ranch Hitchhicker pack. Very versatile system...

 

[trapperjay]

I currently use a 1500 cu/in pack for up to 7 days... BUT I carry camp on the meat shelf in a dry sack... So basically I carry my daypack with a functional frame and pack system that allows me to extend my time nearly indefinitely by carrying camp and food between the pack and frame. I've done 7 days with this system but could easily do several more days. Right now I'm using the Stone Glacier Krux frame and the Mystery Ranch Hitchhicker pack. Very versatile system...

Does the hitchhiker buckle right into the krux?

 

[dotman]

I currently use a 1500 cu/in pack for up to 7 days... BUT I carry camp on the meat shelf in a dry sack... So basically I carry my daypack with a functional frame and pack system that allows me to extend my time nearly indefinitely by carrying camp and food between the pack and frame. I've done 7 days with this system but could easily do several more days. Right now I'm using the Stone Glacier Krux frame and the Mystery Ranch Hitchhicker pack. Very versatile system...

I have moved to a similar setup, bikini frame and Mystery Ranch Longbow. Can sandwich a dry bag between for camp gear. I have tried different setups from a KU5200, T1, HC7k, Nomad to the Longbow the last few years. I have an EXO 3500 bag that I'll probably sell. Oh yeah have also gone from a std lid to 2 different longhunter lids (gave this two chances and I just didn't like the big pocket) and now run a Mystery Ranch daypack lid if needed.

I can easily do 7 days with this setup.

I'm just not a big bag does all guy from what I have experienced. Now if I ever hunt AK I'll probably wish I had a huge bag but I'm not buying for a once or twice in a lifetime hunt.

 

[kodiakfly]

Seems like the trend is towards bigger bags that can compress and I'm part of that trend with an EMR II and a Barneys frame that I had a custom, compressible bag made for it. And it's worked well for me and I agree that the few ounces of extra material that are folded up are worth the weight when you need them.

I do still think there's room on the market for the "smaller" bags in the 5000 ci range depending on what and how you're hunting. Monster bags are good for bear, moose and heavy goat hides. But if you're in AK with a guide, the guide will be prepared to carry those and you don't need an 8000 ci bag yourself. To each their own. But I see myself sticking with the big bag made small style of packs. They really seem to be able to do it all.

 

[MuleyFever]

Crazy the difference in how people use packs. I saw one post that a 5000ci pack was for 1-2 days and another that a 1700ci pack worked for 12 days. I had a 3000ci pack I could do a week out of. I then got a DT1 for an expected 10 day hunt. I decided it was too big so I got a DT2. I used it on a hunt I packed 5 days for. I packed my gear and a deer out in the DT2. The one and only difference in a 5 day hunt and a 12 day hunt for me is food, I could dump food and get my gear and a deer out with a DT2 from anywhere.

 

[luke moffat]

I currently use a 1500 cu/in pack for up to 7 days... BUT I carry camp on the meat shelf in a dry sack... So basically I carry my daypack with a functional frame and pack system that allows me to extend my time nearly indefinitely by carrying camp and food between the pack and frame. I've done 7 days with this system but could easily do several more days. Right now I'm using the Stone Glacier Krux frame and the Mystery Ranch Hitchhicker pack. Very versatile system...

So you have your camp in the meat shelf......what do you do when you get meat and want to haul camp out?

 

[dotman]

So you have your camp in the meat shelf......what do you do when you get meat and want to haul camp out?

I'm guessing he has the same issue I do, either you go back in and get camp or pack out a little with each load or you/partner still has another tag so camp isn't coming.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

I'm not sure I could pack 12 days of food alone in a 3500 cu in pack.

That was my exact thought.

 

[jherald]

Stone Glacier Terminus has done me fine for my own personal needs, 6000 cu bag. Have done many trips to date with it and it has done well on day trips up to ten day sheep hunts. I did have to strap my Crocs slippers and sheep cape to the back of the pack bag but it wasn't an issue being those items were pretty light compared to the bag load and meat in the meat shelf, strapped the horns onto the top bag under the lid compressed down, rifle strapped to the side of the bag. Everyone's needs will differ greatly in how they pack in and what they pack in, some prefer heavy, some like ultralight, some like somewhere in between.

 

[luke moffat]

That was my exact thought.

Should have seen what 18 days worth of food for 2 people looked like

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

Should have seen what 18 days worth of food for 2 people looked like

I imagine like 6 grocery bags of "oh god I'm really going to eat this for 2 1/2 weeks".

 

[greyghostnw]

trial and error...... 5100 size is more of a weekend 2-4 day size imop. food takes up space not to mention layers if weather is all over the place, optics etc...... better have the best, lightest, packable, multi function/use gear for that to be a doable size. my exo 5500 worked this season but only because the meat packs in between the bag and frame, gear stayed inside bag. more space that compresses i think is a better option than looking like a gypsy on the mountain. having a frame that works for you and belt i think will be the next battle. that will really make or break you on the way down with a critter. good luck...... a larger bag is in my near future.

 

[Manosteel]

Like others have said, I pick a bag for the pack-out, not the pack-in. Currently have a bikini frame, with a T1 bag and high camp bag, use both for day hunting when needed and I have never said it was to big, but I have been in a position, before these packs, when hauling out elk and moose and thought "wish I had bigger pack"!

Big packs compress to nothing but small packs only get so big before bursting.

 

[Jared Lampton]

I'm with most of the above as I recently switched to a bigger pack (6300 cu paradox) because I've never felt like my pack was just to big and often times found myself wishing I had a bigger pack. Now after having a busy season under my belt with the 6300 I don't think it's too big either because it compresses down so tightly.
However, I've found myself beginning to bring more "stuff" on backpack hunts simply because I have plenty of space when I always did just fine going a little more Spartan with my smaller packs in the past. Don't let the big bag tempt you to bring more stuff that you probably don't need and just weighs you down. If you can avoid that trap, you've just left yourself with more space to pack your camp and as much meat as you can handle on the first trip out on a backpack hunt. Being able to keep the number of pack trips (getting camp and meat out) to a minimum on these hunts is worth a lot! The big bag gives you the flexibility to do that.