Recommendations for a quality day pack for mainly eastern hunting.

[Gen273]

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

 

[snowcamoman]

How much weight are you planning to carry? I've used simple drybag backpacks that work superb. Zero worry about rain or anything getting wet, minimal straps to snag on things, and inexpensive. They can be a pain to access things, since everything is in a single bag, but if you stow your stuff in a few ziplocks or pull-outs, it's pretty easy.

 

[deerhunter628]

I use a Badlands Superday for my whitetail pack. I dont plan to pack much weight so the Superday works great.

 

[Gen273]

I have Badlands Super Day now, among others. However, I am looking for something different to try, but I don't know what I want...lol! I am gear junkie when it comes to packs, flashlights, and knives.

 

[Billy Goat]

One that fits you.


What fits me is an exo k2 with 2000 bag, and a hpg decker. The Hill People Gear stuff is designed so you can fit the stays to your back. Both are high quality as well as several others that I don't own but I did try several and settled on these for me.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Welcome to the party.

I mainly day hunt (bow) deer in NY and PA. I am between 200 yards and 2-5 miles from the truck at any given time. I started with a simple daypack but some of the public land don’t permit access and some of the private land is too steep so dragging was not an option. That sent me on a quest for something that was a daypack 90-95% of the time but could haul a quartered up deer in one or two trips.

1 - I started with aN MR crewcab. It was fine but a bit strappy.
2 - I moved to a kifaru woodsman on a 22” frame. Bag was great. Never loved how the frame fit. In fairness to kifaru and that sexy stud, Snyder, I never bought and bent aluminum stays to fit it better.
3 - I bought an MR pop up 28 and loved it. Do a search. Tons of info and reviews. It is light and nimble in daypack mode and can haul a stand or 60-70# in relative comfort when needed.
4 - only gripe I had was it was a bit small when I carried a lot of layers late in season so I started using an MR pintler after thanksgiving or so
5 - upgraded the pop up to the 38L version this year. Not a ton of use yet but it is slightly refined and I like the extra space. They aren’t cheap but IMO a perfect pack for someone that wants a daypack sized rig that can haul a heavy load on occasion.

There are others out there who think the full size frame with a small bag or cargo shelf is the way to go. I don’t fully disagree but when you are busting brush, a small pack and frame is much better for me. If I only had one, it would be the full size hauler but for me it is worth it to have the hybrid pop up.

 

[Elkhntr08]

I’ve used a X2 for years when I do all day sits. Been looking at the Sitka Fanatic pack for tree stand hunts. It’s quiet and appears well thought out.

 

[WV Mountaineer]

Are you packing meat with it? If so, get a framed pack. Lots to choose from too.

 

[Gen273]

Are you packing meat with it? If so, get a framed pack. Lots to choose from too.

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.

 

[snowcamoman]

For hauling a deer, I'd look at the Stone Glacier Kiowa 3200 or Solo.

 

[Muddler]

Welcome to the party.

I mainly day hunt (bow) deer in NY and PA. I am between 200 yards and 2-5 miles from the truck at any given time. I started with a simple daypack but some of the public land don’t permit access and some of the private land is too steep so dragging was not an option. That sent me on a quest for something that was a daypack 90-95% of the time but could haul a quartered up deer in one or two trips.

1 - I started with aN MR crewcab. It was fine but a bit strappy.
2 - I moved to a kifaru woodsman on a 22” frame. Bag was great. Never loved how the frame fit. In fairness to kifaru and that sexy stud, Snyder, I never bought and bent aluminum stays to fit it better.
3 - I bought an MR pop up 28 and loved it. Do a search. Tons of info and reviews. It is light and nimble in daypack mode and can haul a stand or 60-70# in relative comfort when needed.
4 - only gripe I had was it was a bit small when I carried a lot of layers late in season so I started using an MR pintler after thanksgiving or so
5 - upgraded the pop up to the 38L version this year. Not a ton of use yet but it is slightly refined and I like the extra space. They aren’t cheap but IMO a perfect pack for someone that wants a daypack sized rig that can haul a heavy load on occasion.

There are others out there who think the full size frame with a small bag or cargo shelf is the way to go. I don’t fully disagree but when you are busting brush, a small pack and frame is much better for me. If I only had one, it would be the full size hauler but for me it is worth it to have the hybrid pop up.

Good info, thanks. I'm basically in your exact situation and have been trying to decide between the Pop Up 38 and the Pintler. Only have the budget for one pack.

 

[wilydawg]

You might look at the Seek Outside Short Tail. Designed as a day pack/treestand pack but uses the same frame as their larger packs, so it'll haul meat great. And if you ever need a larger pack you can just change out the bag.

Also, very high quality and great customer service. Made in the USA...

 

[fatlander]

How often do you kill stuff?

If it’s more than once or twice a year, I’d get a real frame. If it’s less than that, get a pop-up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Gen273]

Good thoughts, guys, I appreciate your opinions!! What a blessing it is to learn from one another.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Good info, thanks. I'm basically in your exact situation and have been trying to decide between the Pop Up 38 and the Pintler. Only have the budget for one pack.

If I only had one and wanted it to pull general duty, pintler, no question. The pop up really only makes sense if you want something 90% daypack that can haul every now and then IMO. It is great for a 5-15# day load and then swaps to ahauler when needed. Others have stated they use it to haul more often, but if I were to consistently carry more than 40# for several miles I would go full size frame every time. Pop up fills a specialized need for me and does it well.

 

[Agross]

Since you already have a superday type pack, I would go the pintler route so you have a dedicated frame and a good bag. Its not to big and its not to small. Or maybe a exo and 2000 bag.

 

[Muddler]

If I only had one and wanted it to pull general duty, pintler, no question. The pop up really only makes sense if you want something 90% daypack that can haul every now and then IMO. It is great for a 5-15# day load and then swaps to ahauler when needed. Others have stated they use it to haul more often, but if I were to consistently carry more than 40# for several miles I would go full size frame every time. Pop up fills a specialized need for me and does it well.

How would the Pop Up 38 and Pintler compare in terms of hauling your winter layers to your stand plus everything else that you might have? That's one of my big factors/needs in a pack. I sweat like a bear when I move and then freeze when I sit/still hunt. I always seem to find spots on top of a ridge but have to park in the valley. Last year I was hiking up in my underwear in about 25F, still sweating, trying to carry all of my clothes, bow, pack, etc.

 

[prm]

Eastern whitetail pack requirements can vary from carrying a puffy and snacks a couple hundred yards to a stand, to a couple mile walk carrying in a climber and packing a deer out. You really have to describe a scenario, or narrow it down a bit, to make any guess as to what’s suitable.
Since you said you’d pack out meat, I’d lean towards a more robust pack. The two I’ve used that would both work well would be a MR Mule, and a Kifaru Stryker. The Stryker is probably overkill but it can also carry ladder stands and even a whole doe would be no problem. I’ve carried a deboned Mule deer buck including head with the Mule.

 

[npro04]

It seems like you’re in that in between space between needing just a day pack and needing to possibly pack meat. I’ve used the superday before and it’s great for all around day pack use but it certainly isn’t going to haul meat. Have you thought about moving up to the badlands 2200? Or if looking for an actual frame I’d go with the exo 2000. Tons of choices out there.

 

[Desk Jockey]

How would the Pop Up 38 and Pintler compare in terms of hauling your winter layers to your stand plus everything else that you might have? That's one of my big factors/needs in a pack. I sweat like a bear when I move and then freeze when I sit/still hunt. I always seem to find spots on top of a ridge but have to park in the valley. Last year I was hiking up in my underwear in about 25F, still sweating, trying to carry all of my clothes, bow, pack, etc.

Pintler on a full size frame is going to haul weight better, especially a heavier weight. The pop up is going to be a bit lighter, cheaper and more compact in daypack mode.

For the past two years I used the pop up 28 until I needed heavy layers and then a larger pack similar to the pintler called the overload. I got the pop up 38 after I tagged out this year so have only used it a bit but I expect to be able to get the 5-10# of music crap I haul plus layers in it with no problem. I did a packing test run with my first lite solitude set and it held everything I carry on my north east December bow hunts.