what pack size

[turk870]

think ive narrowed my search down to the timberline.now to deside which one I need(and to get the money set aside)mostly will be used for 3day trips backpacking with the wife.but will also be used for 5-7day hunting trips,figure if I focus on the 5-7day size it will be ok for the other.

 

[j-bow]

I own the dt2 and wish I would have stepped up to the dt1. I was maxed out last year on a 5 day trip. Then again I don't have all the smallest and lightest gear "yet"

 

[Beastmode]

If you are set on the timberline I would get the dt1. For not much weight penalty you get 2000 more cubic inches. For packs I always say get bigger than wgat you think you need. Its amazing how fast they fill up. A bag can compress but when you are out of room you are out of room.

 

[dreamingbig]

J-bow - you need to pack less!

I can fit 9 days of gear in my dt2 but I recently sold it and bought the nomad.

 

[Rizzy]

If your backpacking with the wife get the big one for you and the little one for her

 

[j-bow]

Dreaminbig you are probably right!

 

[KMT]

I sold my DT3 last year and replaced it with the DT2. The 2 is plenty big enough for me for 5 days. But like the others have said, going bigger doesn't really hurt you. I'm happy with the DT2 and don't see the need to go bigger for my needs.

 

[Solitude]

Turk870
I do exactly the type of trips as you describe (spring-Mid October), have a good assortment of light/small gear and the T2 works perfectly with room to spare.
It's amazing the volume food takes up and it's the main difference between a couple day trip and pushing into trips a week or more (remember as food is eaten available pack volume increases)
The other main volume consumer is bulky winter cloths, if your trips typically require them then I would consider purchasing the larger size pack (or attach a pod).

 

[jlsteel]

I have the DT1 and although i may only go on one or two 7 days trips a year, I find the bigger pack beneficial on shorter hunts as well. The extra size allows for more meat storage inside the pack with all or more of your gear in there as well. I am not a big fan of stuff hanging off my pack, it could snag, fall off or promote improper weight distribution. I think its a 5 ounce weight penalty going with the DT1 over the 2.

 

[hodgeman]

Go big.... air weighs nothing and the extra material is nominal.

I've been happy to have extra volume on more than one occasion.

 

[luke moffat]

J-bow - you need to pack less!

I can fit 9 days of gear in my dt2 but I recently sold it and bought the nomad.

Or maybe, just maybe he's hoping to have enough space to pack camp and an animal out. I don't buy a pack based what I can fit in it going in for a 10 day trip, but rather what I need to fit in it coming out after a successful hunt, cause my main objective is to try to kill an animal not just go camping for 9 to 10days. Cause if that was the case I'd just go get a $150 pack at REI and call it good

 

[dreamingbig]

Good point. I bring camp and animal out separately. Elk are big; I imagine you would have to do the same.

 

[turk870]

thanks guy,thats the direction I was leaning to.just wanted to get some others thoughts.now I just have to put some money aside so I can get one.
put in for co high country muley hunt.got few other things to buy aswell.we switched to hammocks this year so I still got to get an under quilt and a few other things for that.

 

[luke moffat]

Good point. I bring camp and animal out separately. Elk are big; I imagine you would have to do the same.

Correct, but I hunt more than moose which would require a trip per leg as well and then some. If you are 10+ miles in on a deer hunt I doubt you'll be wanting to make multiple trips simply due to the pack can't fit it all in there. Different style hunts or hunting styles just require different packs, no right or wrong pack, but seems simply enough to by the large bag just in case and compress down what you don't need, the weight difference is minimal and compressed down a DT1 isn't going to be any bigger than a DT2, but it will give you more options if you choose to do a different animal to chase or different approach to a hunting style. Glad you like your DT2 though, and maybe the guy that uses his DT2 uses it differently than you as well?

 

[Rizzy]

Luke,
When you fill up that 7000 cu Highcamp with gear and meat, how much weight are you typically carrying?
I can get to my preferred payload with the 4800 pretty easily. If I had more capacity I would use it, so I guess it's more of a way to save me from myself.

 

[luke moffat]

4800 cu in of meat is for sure more than I want to carry!!! I'm talking meat, cape, antlers, and hunting gear. Even just the cape and antlers/head are extremely bulky items that eat up a lot of cu in.

 

[Hornetoad326]

You can make a big pack small but you can't make a small pack big

 

[dreamingbig]

I hear you Luke loud and clear. I wasn't trying to say that you were wrong in anyway. In fact I was wrong in not being more clear!

My scenario is an elk down usually 8 to 10 miles from the trail

 

[dreamingbig]

Hit send too early.... Cont... And I put priority in getting it out first mostly due to the temps. Usually not solo but if I was I would come back for camp because I can't carry more than 150 for that distance.

I respect your opinions and for what it is worth I sold my dt2 because I have the highcamp 7k and the nomad on order.

 

[Coyote Commander]

Youll be glad you have extra space if you need it.

Needing extra space and not having it sucks.