Stryker XL for Whitetail?

[LucasAnderson14]

I hunt a lot of public land where it’s a mile plus one way often times. I pack in the essentials, some camera gear often, a saddle platform, and 4 hawk helium Gen 2 sticks. I’m thinking about getting a Stryker XL with a Kifaru Duplex Lite frame.

Is there a good way to strap my sticks and platform to the pack? Or would it work or be reasonable to put the sticks and platform on the meat shelf?

I’m pretty skinny and can get in some thick stuff so carrying the sticks sideways wouldn’t be my favorite because I’d get them caught. But if that’s the only way it works I imagine I could get more used to it.

 

[Justin.Medcalf]

I use my Stryker Xl for all of my hunts including whitetail. I saddle hunt primarily but some times carry a lock on in. I love the Stryker XL for all of the above. Throw on a medium and a large belt pouch and you won’t be disappointed! You can put a stand on meatshelf but i usually just strap it to outside with compression straps. Plenty of room from early to late season.

 

[Macintosh]

I use a different pack, but same/same. Yes, sticks and platform work well in the meat shelf, that is the best way I have found to carry them. I use short sticks and horizontal is by far my preference. If your sticks are full-length you may need to try both vertical and horizontal and see which catches less. For me it’s more an issue of ducking under things, which is a big part of why I went to short sticks because they carry so much better horizontally down at my waist level, and they dont protrude far-enough to either side that they catch too much.

 

[Jordan Budd]

I use the Hellbender, same concept. I stack my sticks and put them sideways in the load shelf. Then put my platform (tethrd predator) in the back grab it pocket and it fits perfect. Although I did just order the XL platform and I’m not sure it’ll fit. But I do have a concept with the Stryker that may be very good…. Get the little Tethrd platform sleeve/carrier, it has webbing all over it, and attach that to the webbing on the inside panel of the Stryker in the load shelf. That way you can slide your platform in that without having to run straps through the platform. Then sticks under that sideways or strapped to the back. I can’t try it with my hellbender because there’s no webbing, but may have to rig something up

 

[judders87]

I use the Hellbender, same concept. I stack my sticks and put them sideways in the load shelf. Then put my platform (tethrd predator) in the back grab it pocket and it fits perfect. Although I did just order the XL platform and I’m not sure it’ll fit. But I do have a concept with the Stryker that may be very good…. Get the little Tethrd platform sleeve/carrier, it has webbing all over it, and attach that to the webbing on the inside panel of the Stryker in the load shelf. That way you can slide your platform in that without having to run straps through the platform. Then sticks under that sideways or strapped to the back. I can’t try it with my hellbender because there’s no webbing, but may have to rig something up

Exactly what I did with my Stryker XL. Makes it easy to pull the platform in and out without being too strappy with the Tethrd sleeve.

 

[Jordan Budd]

Exactly what I did with my Stryker XL. Makes it easy to pull the platform in and out without being too strappy with the Tethrd sleeve.

Awesome, I knew someone had to have thought of it. I may get one and figure out how to attach with the Hellbender.

 

[judders87]

Awesome, I knew someone had to have thought of it. I may get one and figure out how to attach with the Hellbender.

I used these to attach mine.

Condor Outdoor Slik Clip

 

[LucasAnderson14]

Exactly what I did with my Stryker XL. Makes it easy to pull the platform in and out without being too strappy with the Tethrd sleeve.

When you say Tethrd Sleeve, are you talking about the universal platform pack shown attached?

 

[judders87]

When you say Tethrd Sleeve, are you talking about the universal platform pack shown attached?

Yes

 

[GOninety]

I got a Stryker when they first came out and loved it. Still got it, actually. I picked up a used XL and while I haven't used it as much, it has all the things I wish the OG Stryker does. As far as a do it all pack its hard to go wrong with the Stryker XL.

 

[doc holiday13]

i use the Hellbender. Check out Jordan Budd's post in teh whitetail forum if you want to see a picture of my setup

 

[TradLife406]

I liked mine a lot. Typical kifaru, it can haul a ton of weight with the trade off of compression strap salad.
I packed out two deer in one trip with it a couple years ago.

 

[Long Cut]

Not my video, but very well put together. I’ve started with his setup, then added more Molle, better shoulder straps and other personalized items.

Hands down “the best” backpack/saddle pack that also carries climbing sticks I have found. I have also hauled in my filming gear with it.

As far as packing deer out… Personally I’d have a frame pack / kill kit separate from this system.
In my experience, there’s too much going on and the pack will be too bulky for true “Run & Gun” style saddle hunting to have an ‘all in one’ system like that.

 

[Macintosh]

As far as packing deer out… Personally I’d have a frame pack / kill kit separate from this system.
In my experience, there’s too much going on and the pack will be too bulky for true “Run & Gun” style saddle hunting to have an ‘all in one’ system like that.

I might agree more if the only option were a full-size load-carrying pack (based on size/degree of mobility as well as $$$$ price), but my 18l pop-up says otherwise. IMO there is a point at which distance makes running back to truck to get pack and kill kit (or cart/sled/etc) a poor idea. And, even if you only hit that threshold every couple hunts, its worthwhile just to avoid re-packing your whole kit, as the tradeoff with a small pack like that is negligible. I really think there is a great place for a "minimal" load-carrying pack with a meat shelf like mine for about any kind of run and gun whitetail hunter anywhere larger than a small private parcel, and it's truly surprising to me that more packs like this dont exist.

 

[Long Cut]

I might agree more if the only option were a full-size load-carrying pack (based on size/degree of mobility as well as $$$$ price), but my 18l pop-up says otherwise. IMO there is a point at which distance makes running back to truck to get pack and kill kit (or cart/sled/etc) a poor idea. And, even if you only hit that threshold every couple hunts, its worthwhile just to avoid re-packing your whole kit, as the tradeoff with a small pack like that is negligible. I really think there is a great place for a "minimal" load-carrying pack with a meat shelf like mine for about any kind of run and gun whitetail hunter anywhere larger than a small private parcel, and it's truly surprising to me that more packs like this dont exist.

I started with the Mystery Ranch Pop-Up 18, and moved on towards the Predator XL Pack system detailed in my previous post above.

Personally the MR 18 didn’t last a season for me. Attempting to pack & strap everything down was loud, time consuming and a lot of movement (for afternoon hunts climbing up).
- The Tethrd XL Pack is A LOT better. Having a dedicated pouch that fits your platform is seriously underrated. Strapping down my Beast sticks is also easier with this pack, as I have 2 different ways to attach the sticks to this system (vertical & horizontal).

The Predator pack also takes up less space in the tree. I can keep the pack close to me and it leaves a much smaller footprint. That PopUp 18 with the waist belts is noticeably larger, even with them folded in. The material is also noisier on the MR bag than the Predator pack.

As much as I wanted the PopUp 18 to work out, it was just too loud, cumbersome and only having 2 large pouches to store a majority of my gear just made a mess of keeping things organized. It’s a burden to make the walk back to grab the PopUp18 sometimes, but it’s a trade off I’m personally willing to make.

I’m not successful every single hunt, so it’s not like I’m making that trip back & fourth all of the time.

 

[Macintosh]

@Long Cut if you still have your 18l popup Id like to buy it. The image appears to be a 28…if it didnt work for you, I dont have any of those issues, and after 5 or 6 years my 18 is getting tired.

 

[Long Cut]

@Long Cut if you still have your 18l popup Id like to buy it. The image appears to be a 28…if it didnt work for you, I dont have any of those issues, and after 5 or 6 years my 18 is getting tired.

TBH it could be a 28, I thought I bought the 18 but it’s been so long ago I’m not 100%.

At this point in time, it’s not for sale though.

 

[Macintosh]

The 18l is like a hip pack on a set of pack straps. I already have a 28 as well, but its a different animal. You might not like the 18 either, of course. Id have to try but I think your stick carrying would be a no-go for me, so we clearly have a different perspective on this, but imo it objectively works extremely well and addresses at least some of your gripes. Imo that 18 is unlike anything else Ive ever seen because it sits so low on your back—the top of the pack bag is around the middle of your back, so ducking and weaving through brush its like you arent wearing a pack at all b/c there is literally nothing there to catch on anything.

 

[Long Cut]

The 18l is like a hip pack on a set of pack straps. I already have a 28 as well, but its a different animal. You might not like the 18 either, of course. Id have to try but I think your stick carrying would be a no-go for me, so we clearly have a different perspective on this, but imo it objectively works extremely well and addresses at least some of your gripes. Imo that 18 is unlike anything else Ive ever seen because it sits so low on your back—the top of the pack bag is around the middle of your back, so ducking and weaving through brush its like you arent wearing a pack at all b/c there is literally nothing there to catch on anything.View attachment 958946

I don’t think the 18 would change my thoughts tbh. The hip belt, material and lack of multiple smaller pouches is what pushed me to a saddle pack.

Having 1 pouch for the platform, then 1 medium sized pouch for camera gear, clothes etc… with 2 smaller molle pouches with 2-3 smaller dump pouches in each makes organizing & separating gear a lot easier for my needs.