Recommendations for a quality day pack for mainly eastern hunting.

[Huntmaster]

I am looking for recommendations for a high-quality day pack that will be used for primarily eastern deer hunting.

I want the capability to pack meat if I need to. Some times in the early season, I will bone a deer in the mountains and bring the meat.

I have been using the Kifaru shape charge without the belt for my tree stand pack and really love the layout and it carries much better than some of the other packs. But if you want the capability to pack meat out, then the Kifaru Stryker is the way to go. Overkill for just a day pack for sure, but then a beast if you kill or want to pack a treestand in the mountains.

 

[Athame]

Waist Belt or Beltless?

 

[TREE ‘EM]

I've tried several day packs and keep going back to my BL Superday. It's hard to beat for organization. If the MR PopUp had a better bag it would give the Superday real competition.
I'm going to try a SG Kiowa next. Had a SG Avail for one trip and couldn't get along with it.

I also run a SO Uniweep 4800 quite a bit. I have it set up with 3" frame extensions, a lid and talon. It actually weighs a little less than my Superday and handles weight and meat packing well. The trade off is size and noise when it scrapes brush, but it's a solid option for day or multi-day use. I can get along for a week with it no problem or run the bag empty and put snacks in the lid and rain shell in the talon for day use. It works fairly well for packing in stands too.

 

[Gen273]

Guys,

I appreciate all of the recommendations. I am still not sure what I am going to try, but you guys have given me a lot to think about.

 

[pirogue]

I’m in the group that says a daypack and a pack that can haul meat are separate packs. A daypack I carry in the Eastern woods to the deer stand, has totally different requirements that I want in a daypack chasing elk out West.

 

[Rich M]

I started with a fanny pack. Started hunting out west so I got one of those big packs and basically never use it. Got a lumbar pack and that's what I like - it is big enough to carry a jacket and small enough it doesn't get in the way. Think its 1500 inches. Has pockets on the belt.

 

[Diesel]

I am on the same hunt for a eastern day pack as you. I have used an old cabelas pack for 30 years and it still does the job, but it doesn't have the space to carry late season clothes.

If more than day hunts then it's a frame pack. Kifaru has that covered in spades.

From my experiences hunting the east, two packs seems the way to go. A good frame pack for bring out a kill if boning out is necessary. Or for that western hunt into the the back country when the opportunity arises.

A frameless pack for most hunts because you hunt way more days without a kill than days you do. If you kill it is usually no big deal to make a trip out to get the frame pack most places in the east.

I day hunt mainly from trees and the Kifaru Shapecharge looks like the ticket for me. It has enough organization to allow easy access while in the stand, no frame so hangs easily and when the main compartment open half way extra clothes are easy to reach quietly. I like to go as light as possible so I am not talking of carrying big weight. I would like it to be 300 c.i. or so bigger in the main compartment for bulkier late season options, but it as close to a perfect pack for eastern day hunts as I have found for my needs.

My two cents for what it's worth

 

[wrjam3]

I have been using the Stone Glacier Avail 2200 the last few seasons. I really wrestled with the cost for a few months before I pulled the trigger, but now that I have it and have used it, I kick myself for not doing it sooner. I think it has the right amount of organization and structure and it's totally bomb proof. It won't handle all of your late season clothes if you pack everything in, but that is the only thing I've found it won't do for me. The detachable waist belt is a nice feature, as is the removable frame sheet.

 

[Oregonboy]

My kifaru 14r has been a top notch day pack for years, highly recommend.

 

[ghostrider272]

I was looking for the same after the season last year. Settled on a Kuiu Pro 2300. Works good so far and I picked up a Pro 3600 in case I wanted more space. The 2300 is pretty narrow for going through the woods. With most of the recommendations, you can't go wrong.