When kifaru released the Stryker I was really excited. Having a frame pack that could work for western day hunts and be detached from the frame quickly to use for hauling a treestand and sticks for whitetail for hang and hunts would be perfect.
The Stryker was a great pack but I learned two things quickly:
1. I didn't like hauling a frame around when I wasn't hanging a stand. The majority of my hunts are in preset stands or from ground. It was worth the comfort on long walks with a stand on my back but only then.
2. The main bag of the Stryker is just too small. When I needed to throw in extra layers and everything else for an all day hunt it was a very tight squeeze. Even with two belt pouches.
I ended up picking up a shapecharge, I knew well before this that I would love it for whitetail but I didn't really want to spend the money but in the end I bit the bullet. I've used it by itself on a handful of hunts and it's set up perfectly to use in a tree.
Tonight I set it up on my duplex frame with my lone wolf assault and cut down sticks. I am confident that this will be the best possible set up for my needs. I can detach the bag at the tree when I hang the stand by just unhooking 4 buckles and leave the frame at the base of the tree.
Not the cheapest route but I don't think I'll need to buy another bag, ever. The shapecharge will work for pretty much anything and I could even put a dry bag between it and the frame is I did overnight trips.
The Stryker was a great pack but I learned two things quickly:
1. I didn't like hauling a frame around when I wasn't hanging a stand. The majority of my hunts are in preset stands or from ground. It was worth the comfort on long walks with a stand on my back but only then.
2. The main bag of the Stryker is just too small. When I needed to throw in extra layers and everything else for an all day hunt it was a very tight squeeze. Even with two belt pouches.
I ended up picking up a shapecharge, I knew well before this that I would love it for whitetail but I didn't really want to spend the money but in the end I bit the bullet. I've used it by itself on a handful of hunts and it's set up perfectly to use in a tree.
Tonight I set it up on my duplex frame with my lone wolf assault and cut down sticks. I am confident that this will be the best possible set up for my needs. I can detach the bag at the tree when I hang the stand by just unhooking 4 buckles and leave the frame at the base of the tree.
Not the cheapest route but I don't think I'll need to buy another bag, ever. The shapecharge will work for pretty much anything and I could even put a dry bag between it and the frame is I did overnight trips.
