Slumberjack

[MWElk hunter]

I was looking at the Slumberjack 6500 Deadfall. Has anyone used this pack. Is it good or bad? Comfortable? Big enough for an overnight and capable for packing out?

 

[douglasfir]

It should certainly be big enough for an overnighter. Keep in mind it is 65 liters, not 6500 cubic inches. It is closer to 3900 cubic inches. That is a good size for overnight trips, and enough room for a week in the summer if you're just backpacking.

If you look at the reviews on the website, there are plenty of happy customers. I have only handled Slumberjack packs in the store, but I would not buy one. The one I looked at was a Bounty 2.0, which looks to share many similarities with the Deadfall. I don't think of myself as a pack snob, but the whole thing seems to be a budget design made with budget materials. The shoulder straps are very thin and stiff. I doubt the quality of the foams used in the shoulder straps and hipbelt. I might be wrong - there are reviews of other Slumberjack packs on this site and many are positive.

For the price, unless you get it on sale, there are many better options. Last year's Mystery Ranch Glacier can be had for about $250 or less. That is a high end backpack that can carry heavy loads very comfortably if it fits you. Other Mystery Ranch packs can be found on clearance or used, such as the Terraplane. I would also consider a used Osprey Argon or Xenith, or a used REI XT 85, which was recommended on this site by several people a few years ago. These are not hunting-specific packs, but I believe they'd work better than a Slumberjack.

I would be happy to learn that my impressions are incorrect, though!

 

[Braaap]

I used a Slumberjack Bounty 2.0 in 2018 and packed out an elk and a deer. Sold it and bought a Mystery Ranch Selway on the new guide light MT frame. Packed out two elk and a deer in 2019. The Mystery Ranch is sooooo much better. The SJK is a good quality pack but uncomfortable with any weight in it. Night and day difference. I would find a way to buy a quality pack from one of the high end brands recommended often on Rokslide.

 

[BackcountryBloodline]

I have the bounty 2.0, had it loaded with over 120lbs this spring and it was significantly less torturous than I would have imagined, it's actually pretty comfortable with 60-80lbs...anything over 100 is going to suck no matter what pack you're running but I can 100% vouch for SJKs load hauling capabilities, they can certainly haul more weight that you or me can. I actually tried a gen 2 duplex frame 2 weeks ago and figured it would be a night and day difference...with just the frame on the kifaru certainly did blow the slumberjack frame out of the water in the comfort department but I loaded them up with 40lbs and was honestly surprised to feel the stays on the duplex jamming into my lower back through the lumbar pad while the slumberjack didn't give me any issues. Granted that may have had something to do with the stay profile and possibly could have been taken care of with some tweaking but I certainly wouldn't look down my nose at the slumberjack packs especially at their price point. I was seriously considering switching to kifaru this year but after carrying both side by side I'm in no rush to do that anymore.

 

[MWElk hunter]

I have the bounty 2.0, had it loaded with over 120lbs this spring and it was significantly less torturous than I would have imagined, it's actually pretty comfortable with 60-80lbs...anything over 100 is going to suck no matter what pack you're running but I can 100% vouch for SJKs load hauling capabilities, they can certainly haul more weight that you or me can. I actually tried a gen 2 duplex frame 2 weeks ago and figured it would be a night and day difference...with just the frame on the kifaru certainly did blow the slumberjack frame out of the water in the comfort department but I loaded them up with 40lbs and was honestly surprised to feel the stays on the duplex jamming into my lower back through the lumbar pad while the slumberjack didn't give me any issues. Granted that may have had something to do with the stay profile and possibly could have been taken care of with some tweaking but I certainly wouldn't look down my nose at the slumberjack packs especially at their price point. I was seriously considering switching to kifaru this year but after carrying both side by side I'm in no rush to do that anymore.

Thank you for you thoughtful reply. The idea is to get a pack that you can have your overnight kit for possible unplanned stays and get a first pack out done. At that point I can grab a frame and do the rest. It sounds likit would do well for that.

 

[MWElk hunter]

It should certainly be big enough for an overnighter. Keep in mind it is 65 liters, not 6500 cubic inches. It is closer to 3900 cubic inches. That is a good size for overnight trips, and enough room for a week in the summer if you're just backpacking.

If you look at the reviews on the website, there are plenty of happy customers. I have only handled Slumberjack packs in the store, but I would not buy one. The one I looked at was a Bounty 2.0, which looks to share many similarities with the Deadfall. I don't think of myself as a pack snob, but the whole thing seems to be a budget design made with budget materials. The shoulder straps are very thin and stiff. I doubt the quality of the foams used in the shoulder straps and hipbelt. I might be wrong - there are reviews of other Slumberjack packs on this site and many are positive.

For the price, unless you get it on sale, there are many better options. Last year's Mystery Ranch Glacier can be had for about $250 or less. That is a high end backpack that can carry heavy loads very comfortably if it fits you. Other Mystery Ranch packs can be found on clearance or used, such as the Terraplane. I would also consider a used Osprey Argon or Xenith, or a used REI XT 85, which was recommended on this site by several people a few years ago. These are not hunting-specific packs, but I believe they'd work better than a Slumberjack.

I would be happy to learn that my impressions are incorrect, though!

I'll look at those options. I did get the SJK on sale for only $140. Most of †he time when I see the used gear for sale you can find new on sale for about the same, so it doesn't seem like used is the best option anymore.

 

[douglasfir]

I'll look at those options. I did get the SJK on sale for only $140. Most of †he time when I see the used gear for sale you can find new on sale for about the same, so it doesn't seem like used is the best option anymore.

If you've already got it and it was a good price, that changes things. I'd say use the pack and see if it works for you! No reason to doubt the thing you already own without putting it through its paces first. SJK packs remind me a lot of older Kelty internal frames (I believe Kelty and SJK are part of the same company). Those packs were never top tier, but they worked for a lot of people.

And you're right about the sale prices versus used. There was a time when used was a good value, but it seems like sales with very deep discounts are common these days, undercutting the used market.

 

[MWElk hunter]

If you've already got it and it was a good price, that changes things. I'd say use the pack and see if it works for you! No reason to doubt the thing you already own without putting it through its paces first. SJK packs remind me a lot of older Kelty internal frames (I believe Kelty and SJK are part of the same company). Those packs were never top tier, but they worked for a lot of people.

And you're right about the sale prices versus used. There was a time when used was a good value, but it seems like sales with very deep discounts are common these days, undercutting the used market.

Well, I don't have it yet. I'm doing a combined Camofire order so I still have time. I was considering getting the Eberlestock Just one instead, which is on sale for $250 on Black Ovis. I think the advent of EBay, Craigslist, FB Marketplace has caused used gear to climb considerably. It's easier to get your gear in front of people.

 

[fort fireman]

I have the Slumberjack 2.0 and like it. I did have the older 4500 and had a wear spot on the hip belt. The support under the waist belt fabric was wearing through. I contacted SJK and they replaced the pack with the new 2.0. Can't really argue with that. I've hunted with it for several years now and like it. However I do think a Kifaru frame may be more comfortable .That being said I've never tried one so I can't say for sure. I really like how the bounty is laid out so I believe if I ever " upgrade " I may just get a Kifaru frame and some straps from Kifaru and mount the Bounty to the Kifaru frame. That will be a while down the road however.

 

[MWElk hunter]

I ended up picking up an Eberlestock Just One on sale for 250 and a used Eberlestock Mainframe. I’ll give those a try and use my Cabela’s internal frame pack if my daughter comes again. I’ve had so many needs after our first trip. I have some friends I can borrow gear from as well. I’ll see how this works and make improvements from there. Thank you to everyone for the advice. I want to be able to use my packs in the BWCA and the Just One seemed like the best option for that.