Training with your pack

[KMBH]

For those that do training hikes their hunting pack on. Does your hunting pack get damaged by the constant use? Do you train with a different pack? Do you limit the weight when you train?

 

[COlineman78]

I have a Kifaru, so I'm not worried about the extra miles as I am confident it's up to the task. As far as how I train, 40lbs of wood pellets in a zip-tied USGI laundry bag is the standard. Every once in a while I'll throw in another 25lbs that I have in a smaller bag that I got from David at NTColorado.com. I think that you should train with whatever pack you plan on hunting with and if it isn't up to the task of every day use perhaps you should look into getting one that is if you are using it that much. The ability to cancel my gym membership by doing ruck training will pay for my pack within 2 years.

 

[7mag.]

I also use a Kifaru, and I'm not at all worried. I train all year with my pack loaded any where from 45-100 pounds. I've never had an issue, and if I do, I'm confident Kifaru will make it right.

 

[justinspicher]

I don't use anything in my pack except what I plan on taking to the woods. Weight doesn't equal volume. Found that out the hard way at a trail head.

 

[Dinger]

Kifaru Bikini and Highcamp bag......filled with a few sundries and a full NATO water jerry.

Never considered wear as a factor....I'll be worn out before that pack is.

Dinger

 

[Felix40]

I have a considerable amount of wear on my bikini from hauling bumper plates. My hope is that when it becomes more than just cosmetic kifaru will repair it for little to no cost. Either way it's worth it to train heavy so 60 pounds seems like cake when I hunt.

 

[mfolch]

I used 50lbs of rock salt, the chemicals from which leaked through the bag and dissolved the water coating inside the backpack. I bet there's a solvent added to the salt. Anyway now I keep it in trash compactor bags inside the pack.

 

[SWVA_Tim]

Use mine (Kifaru Moutain Warrio and Duplex Frame) regularly to train ....not too worried about it

 

[wasatchcomm]

i use my kifaru as well,,i use the wood pellets as weight
have also used water jugs, i like the bag of pellets better
i also bike with the pack on as well
such a huge difference in training with weight and then going for a hike in the woods
the kifaru packs are built to last

 

[elkyinzer]

Use my MR to train regularly, no problems with wear. Spend that much $ on a pack they better be able to take it. Sometimes I use a 25 pound dumbell, that about simulates my heaviest possible day pack, other times I will use a 45 pound sand bag, on rare occasion, both. I always take the weight out when I store it to take the stress off the frame and make sure no straps are pulled super tight, as I think that can cause some stress over time. Other than that the only thing I can think of is that it starts to stink like a locker room after awhile from the sweat, but washing and air drying before the hunt has always taken care of that.

 

[honer]

I use Kifaru as well, Tac Warrior on a new hunting platform filled with dunnage and ballast 45-100 lbs or my Duplex frame with a Cargo panel and water container.
As stated above I believe I will wear out before either of these pack systems.

 

[jtw]

Ive done this with many different packs over the years and even my old backpacking packs didnt seem to mind. My current setup is an exo 3500 and it shows no signs of wear after a year of abuse and regularly hauling a 60lb sandbag.

 

[chuckeglenn]

I use my Kifaru DT2 that I hunt with on all my training as well.

 

[LongWayAround]

I worry about my kuiu getting beat up after reading cases of frames breaking. I would hate to have my frame crack on a real packout because I got some little fracture training. My long-term plan is to pick up a kifaru frame and attach my kuiu bag to it. In the short-term, I'll keep loading up my cheapo frame pack for training.

 

[AdamW]

All of my pack training has been with my Kifaru T2. That's what I'm hunting with, that's what I'm training with. At first I had given consideration to "wear and tear" but that is what I bought it for. Doesn't matter how one pack feels to me when I'm putting another one on to hit the mountains. I think if you are using quality pack from a quality manufacturer then I wouldn't be concerned about it. The first few times I used my Kifaru, I scuffed the lid on some concrete. My OCD kicked in. Then I remembered I'm hoping to pack out an elk from some country I'm not sure this flat lander is ready for so suck it up.

 

[Cant hit em]

I worry about my kuiu getting beat up after reading cases of frames breaking. I would hate to have my frame crack on a real packout because I got some little fracture training. My long-term plan is to pick up a kifaru frame and attach my kuiu bag to it. In the short-term, I'll keep loading up my cheapo frame pack for training.

I did a ton of wieghted training with my Kuiu ultra , hikes , runs , elliptical plus Train to Hunt with it , its held up fine.

 

[Jason Snyder]

If your pack won't hold up to training with it, I sure wouldn't want to put my faith in it when I need to get camp and four elk quarters out.

Good point above about the rock salt. Put it in a contractor grade trash bag. Salt is hard on stuff.

I usually hit my pack with a garden hose when it's starting to get crusty, and once a year I throw it in the tub with some Woolite.

 

[CLICKBANGBANG]

I'm using a Kuiu Ultra pack and it holding up great. I've had everything from dumbells to water jugs and bags of flower in the pack for weight with no problems.

I'll do another quick 4 miles this afternoon. The weight and distance won't kill you when it's only 30 lbs and 4 miles... But by the time I'm able to go, it will be 95 degrees.

 

[LongWayAround]

My logic is this: I didn't spend $500 on a training tool. I spent the money to pack gear and meat. It held a front and rear quarter (both bone in) from my buddy's bull just fine and I hauled my own young cow out in one trip. My post-purchase research suggests carbon fiber fails over time from developing cracks you may not be able to see, thus my concerns. I also did two TTH events and a bunch of other stuff with it. It's not that I dont trust it, I just don't want to shorten its lifespan unnecessarily.

 

[KMBH]

Thanks for the replies. I thought I was the only one who trained with wood pellets. I recently discovered a failure point with my pack, and was wondering what others were experiencing.