Pack size recommendations

[bowhunthard88]

Is that the way all Mystery Ranch hunting packs are? If so, I stand corrected- every manufacturer other than MR

At least the Pintler, Sawtooth, and Beartooth bags lol.

 

[Lawnboi]

I can fit 7 days gear in 4800 easy. And thought smaller was great idea at one time. Not the case anymore

When it comes to killing things I’m a 7k minimum. Last thing I want to be doing is fussing around with my pack when it’s getting dark and I want to get the hell out of there with a bag full of meat. I also am not a fan of playing with my pack to sand which meat rather after I just spent the time cutting it up. Big bag makes everything easy and quick.

 

[mtwarden]

At least the Pintler, Sawtooth, and Beartooth bags lol.

Kind of a big oversight IMHO, looks like it has a ton of straps- just not ones that go all the way around????

 

[bowhunthard88]

Kind of a big oversight IMHO, looks like it has a ton of straps- just not ones that go all the way around????

Pretty much. One of the reasons, as well as weight, that I moved on. I will say that the new MR packs interest me a little, but not enough at the moment. The K4 with a 5000 bag is pretty much all around perfection, although for whitetail I fluctuate between the 3600 and 2000.

 

[CBJR03]

I have a Kuiu Pro 6000 and it's fine for 3-4 day trips or longer 5-7 day trips. I'd rather have extra space then have to buy another smaller bag.

 

[ben h]

This compressability discussion is why I brought it up. Whatever size you end up buying 4,000 to 7,000 you'll probably spend more time with it compressed and caring only 2-3,000, so I'd be more concerned with the small size of things as opposed to the large side.

 

[cworth]

I have the K5000 in the cart, but have not pulled the trigger for this reason. How small does the K5000 compress down for day use. The website shows it compressed, but it is hard to really tell how small or how it actually feels. Does anyone have any in insight or pictures of one as a day pack? Does it feel like a 1800 pack when compressed down, or do just have a lighter large pack on? Thanks in advance.

 

[bowhunthard88]

I have the K5000 in the cart, but have not pulled the trigger for this reason. How small does the K5000 compress down for day use. The website shows it compressed, but it is hard to really tell how small or how it actually feels. Does anyone have any in insight or pictures of one as a day pack? Does it feel like a 1800 pack when compressed down, or do just have a lighter large pack on? Thanks in advance.

Empty and compressed, it legitimately feels like you're wearing the frame... I've posted this before, but here is the 3600 compressed, next to a MR Sawtooth 45. There's really not a visible difference with the 3600 vs. 5000 (an ounce or two for the bag weight, but...), obviously the lid isn't installed, but that could be dragged down the front before the compression straps are buckled and tightened.

When used "compressed" with partial space, depending on weight location (pack organization), they feel like a comparable pack of the utilized space size.

 

[cworth]

Thanks, that helps......

 

[Watrdawg]

Empty and compressed, it legitimately feels like you're wearing the frame... I've posted this before, but here is the 3600 compressed, next to a MR Sawtooth 45. There's really not a visible difference with the 3600 vs. 5000 (an ounce or two for the bag weight, but...), obviously the lid isn't installed, but that could be dragged down the front before the compression straps are buckled and tightened.

When used "compressed" with partial space, depending on weight location (pack organization), they feel like a comparable pack of the utilized space size.

I was going to reply but your answer couldn’t have been put any better! Only thing I can add is that I have the K4 5000 and have decided to take it on my Nov Elk hunt instead of my MR Pintler. The Pintler is just a touch smaller than the Sawtooth. The K4 5000 easily compresses down to take up less space than my Pintler.

 

[cworth]

After watching a few reviews, my plan is to drop the lid at camp also.

Ordered one today. Thanks for the help.

 

[archp625]

6000ish. Just starting out your stuff may be a little bulkier so you may want to go a little bigger. But remember, the bigger the bag you tend to carry more non essential items.

 

[Macabes]

Love my Exo 4800. If you pack right 7 days is doable

 

[bowhunthard88]

I was going to reply but your answer couldn’t have been put any better! Only thing I can add is that I have the K4 5000 and have decided to take it on my Nov Elk hunt instead of my MR Pintler. The Pintler is just a touch smaller than the Sawtooth. The K4 5000 easily compresses down to take up less space than my Pintler.

Yeah, I have all the bags except for the 7200! 5000 is definitely the "do-all" bag, but for NE whitetail, I spend more time in the 2200 and 3600 (late season layers). I'm hunting western CO for elk this September; drive-in, setup base, and then day hunt; and I'm going to be bringing the 2200.

 

[webhak]

I’m also looking at packs for western whitetail, but 2-4 days. Is 5000 CU a good starting point?


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[cworth]

I got mine the other day. Really impressed and no buyers remorse at this point. My take is that It is perfect for 2-4 or longer. I can confirm what other had said, you can shrink it down to basicly being tight to the frame for a day pack or expand it easly to any size from full compressed to full pack with out it being baggy. Havent carried any real weight yet, so I cant comment on that part of it.

 

[webhak]

I got mine the other day. Really impressed and no buyers remorse at this point. My take is that It is perfect for 2-4 or longer. I can confirm what other had said, you can shrink it down to basicly being tight to the frame for a day pack or expand it easly to any size from full compressed to full pack with out it being baggy. Havent carried any real weight yet, so I cant comment on that part of it.

What size did you get?


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[cworth]

K4. (All the following is based on my 3 mile hike I do each morning - I have not hunted with it) On day hunts I normally use a Kuiu 1800, and while the K4 has to be bigger, I cant really tell the difference when it is all cinched now. You have to take the time to mend the straps, but after that it feels small and is hard to see when you turn your head. Open you can fit a lot of gear.

 

[bliner]

Empty and compressed, it legitimately feels like you're wearing the frame... I've posted this before, but here is the 3600 compressed, next to a MR Sawtooth 45. There's really not a visible difference with the 3600 vs. 5000 (an ounce or two for the bag weight, but...), obviously the lid isn't installed, but that could be dragged down the front before the compression straps are buckled and tightened.

When used "compressed" with partial space, depending on weight location (pack organization), they feel like a comparable pack of the utilized space size.

The Sawtooth in the pic doesn’t have the compression straps cinched up, so it doesn’t appear to be an accurate comparison.

 

[taskswap]

Although I've since sold it because I wasn't using it much, you might have a look at the Eberlestock J34 Just One. It's a convertible pack that lets you slide in a hide duffel while still having storage in the pack itself in what they call "bat wings". When you get to camp, you can drop the duffel and leave it - it's very rugged and has water-resistant zippers etc. You fold the wings in and do some night scouting in its smallest form. If you take game, the center section that carried the duffel becomes a meat hauler and they even have a camo/orange combo back panel that can zip in for the different modes.

They say the sizes go from 2300ci in its smallest form, to 4600ci fully expanded, up to 7500ci with the duffel.

IMO it's a bit on the heavy side compared to some more modern packs but it's cost effective and would eliminate any "size anxiety" until you figure out exactly what you need...