Seek Outside Brooks Review.

[Pro953]

I picked up one of the Brooks packs for this season. I have always liked batwing style packs so wanted to take it for a spin. I have three trips with it now and I am starting to get a feel for it.

Pro’s
Good balance of weight, size and pockets.
Very comfortable.
Love the full length zipper on the main bag.
Two buckles on the waist belt was helpful to fit the hips just right.

Con’s
Not really sure about the latch/strap method being used vs the standard style latch. Not sure what to call them. They were strong and easy to compress but they were a bit slower and took a bit more fiddling to get in and out with frozen hands/fingers.

No lid in design. Not sure why this bugs me. I did not need the space/pockets but It just seems odd not having one. I am using a AGC bino harness so some of the stuff that was in my lid is now in my harness. License/tags/knife/headlamp. No real need, just bugs me for some reason.

All in all the pack performed great and I think is a solid value at the price point. Seems well built. It has taken a few trips to get comfortable with the layout and how to best pack for weight distribution.

If anyone in the CA/North Bay Area is considering one and wants to take it for a test drive, let me know.

Best,
Phil



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[ssssnake529]

How much weight have you had in it? How does it carry?

 

[Pro953]

So far it has been nice but I have not hauled anything huge. Just a pig and that was only a couple miles at around 70lbs. I do not have the depth of haul outs that many on here do but I do think it’s a comfortable Pack. It’s a bit big for a overnight trip type pack but has great versatility.

For me I think it’s a great fit for someone we wants a nice pack that is good for backpacking and some pack outs of midsize game. Cannot speak to elk quarters or similar loads as that is out of my experience.


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[Sverimerica]

So far it has been nice but I have not hauled anything huge. Just a pig and that was only a couple miles at around 70lbs. I do not have the depth of haul outs that many on here do but I do think it’s a comfortable Pack. It’s a bit big for a overnight trip type pack but has great versatility.

For me I think it’s a great fit for someone we wants a nice pack that is good for backpacking and some pack outs of midsize game. Cannot speak to elk quarters or similar loads as that is out of my experience.


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Do you have any pics of it on you? Not many pics of people wearing it out there

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[Sverimerica]

So far it has been nice but I have not hauled anything huge. Just a pig and that was only a couple miles at around 70lbs. I do not have the depth of haul outs that many on here do but I do think it’s a comfortable Pack. It’s a bit big for a overnight trip type pack but has great versatility.

For me I think it’s a great fit for someone we wants a nice pack that is good for backpacking and some pack outs of midsize game. Cannot speak to elk quarters or similar loads as that is out of my experience.


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Do you have any pics of it on you? Not many pics of people wearing it out there.

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[Pro953]

Out of town this weekend but when I am back home I will post some up. I think I have a few.


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[ssssnake529]

I just ordered one of these packs. Really hoping it can become my all purpose hunting pack.

 

[Sverimerica]

I am wondering: how does the brooks do with say, 3-5 days worth of gear/food? 7400 cui is gigantic, I doubt I would ever fill that unless shoving an entire roe deer in there. For other trips though, does it carry well for smaller loads? I love the way the side pockets fold over, but am wondering how this thing operates when the main bag is 1/3 to 1/2 full?

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[Rossi]

I'll load mine up this weekend and let you know what I think. It won't be an all out trip report, but a walk around the neighborhood.

 

[Sverimerica]

Another unrelated brooks question: anyone carrying a packraft or float tube with a brooks? How so?

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[Rossi]

I put roughly 3 days worth of gear in the bag and it's not bad. A little blocky but I might play with it to figure how to narrow it down some. The side pockets hold my spotter, tripod, tent poles, and rain gear in one with water bladder, kill kit, and possibles pouch in the other. My tent, sleeping bag, pad, extra clothes, and food fit in the main bag. This only fills it to top of the frame without extensions. There's also some additional diameter in the upper 2/3 of the main bag. I think with some playing with it, you could find a configuration that you like.

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[Lockster]

Looks good, my current pack is big enough for 3-4 days if I pack carefully and go light in food, would be good to be able to throw it in an not worry. Obviously the capacity is there for when you go longer trips.

I’m assuming if you wanted to you could quite easily “pack narrow” to keep the load a bit taller but less bulky width wise.

Overall this seems to be an excellent pack design.

 

[Sverimerica]

I put roughly 3 days worth of gear in the bag and it's not bad. A little blocky but I might play with it to figure how to narrow it down some. The side pockets hold my spotter, tripod, tent poles, and rain gear in one with water bladder, kill kit, and possibles pouch in the other. My tent, sleeping bag, pad, extra clothes, and food fit in the main bag. This only fills it to top of the frame without extensions. There's also some additional diameter in the upper 2/3 of the main bag. I think with some playing with it, you could find a configuration that you like.

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Thanks man, great to see the pics. I really want to try a seek outside and the brooks has been in my sights for quite awhile. I know it is bigger than I need, so I have tried to talk myself out of it. At the same time, winter camping, or carrying the kids gear means extra space is needed. I have a thing against strapping gear to the outside of my pack, or the damn thing being filled so tight the zipper is a struggle. That brooks sure looks slick!

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[Rossi]

"I’m assuming if you wanted to you could quite easily “pack narrow” to keep the load a bit taller but less bulky width wise."

I should taken a photo to show how much of the main bag was empty before I rolled it down to close. I could have gone quite a bit higher making the pack narrower. The sleeping bag sideways in the bottom kind of drives the width. Turning it vertically would help in this regard.

 

[Lockster]

I guess the good thing is that this pack gives you the option of a shorter wider load or going taller and narrower, really liking all the awesome feedback. Cheers.

 

[Rossi]

My one complaint about the pack is the internal load shelf. It is not as versatile or adjustable as I was hoping it would be. It only has one option for height and only two loops on each side for horizontal compression straps for securing a load. The horizontal loops are only about 2 inches apart so not much added versatility. I would like to have seen a ladder of loops so the shelf could be attached at various heights and similarly several loops on the side to provide the ability to run multiple horizontal straps to secure loads. This would be similar to the way the Revo panel is configured currently. When I talked to SO about this, Nathan mentioned that the X-pac material does not hold bar tacks by itself very well. Therefore, to pull this off, the part of the pack that would be used to anchor the load shelf would need to be some other heavier duty material like cordura which would add weight. IMO, this would be worth the few extra ounces.

 

[darcytribe]

I just received my Brooks in Cipher (exchanged my Broadwing for it) and that too would be my only complaint so far, the load shelf design. But overall I'm finding it to be extremely versatile in how you can configure it from Tiny day-mode to mega-hauler and several different shapes and sizes in between. Very simple design which I like. I got the lid as well which helps with organization. Have to start loading her up and working on my fitting soon. September will be here before you know it!

 

[Leebob]

I agree 100%. I just received my Chipher Brooks yesterday. Build quality is excellent, comfort is excellent and it seems to be a truly versatile platform, compressing down to virtually nothing. The load shelf however, would be more useful if more adjustable. Meat will have to be hung from the four loops at the top of the bag otherwise I can see them just oozing down around the shelf.it should work well with a bone in quarter, but it would be nice to be able to move it just slightly higher. I’ve spent very limited time with the pack so far, so time will tell.

 

[Lockster]

I just received my Brooks in Cipher (exchanged my Broadwing for it) and that too would be my only complaint so far, the load shelf design. But overall I'm finding it to be extremely versatile in how you can configure it from Tiny day-mode to mega-hauler and several different shapes and sizes in between. Very simple design which I like. I got the lid as well which helps with organization. Have to start loading her up and working on my fitting soon. September will be here before you know it!

Actually they need to put some photos on the website of the pack with a lid, hard to imagine due to the unusual layout of the bag

 

[darcytribe]

Here's a few pics of the Cipher Brooks in day-pack mode with a few odds n ends in the lid and side pockets. The thing easily and quickly sucks down to very small. Me likey mucho so far!

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