Why Load Shelf?

[hadda]

Ive been out of the pack shopping game for a bit. I currently have an emr2 on a gen 2 tactical frame. Ive always been wary of a load shelf as it seems like although it puts the weight of the meat in the proper place close to your back, the gear in the pack is then further from your back. Now Im looking at getting a new pack (my kifaru never quite felt like it fit me, but thats another story) and Ive noticed that load shelves have exploded in popularity and are now a feature in alot of the packs Im looking at. I know at the time Aron Snyder/Kifaru seemed to have a similar philosophy to me (meat in pack), but that seems to have changed. Can someone explain to.me what changed? What are the pros of the load shelf that outweigh (pun intended) the con of putting the weight of camp gear further off your back? I do have a background in guiding and was a pack nerd back in the day, so Im not a complete noob, just potentially out of touch with new developments. Advice appreciated. Thanks

 

[rickjames80]

I use a MR Pintler that has a shelf, but my last pack out I just tossed the meat into the bag. I didn't have much in my pack at the time and didn't want to take the time setting it up.
I guess the benefit of the shelf is the flexibility to carry more stuff. They call it a "meat shelf", but I see it as just an additional place to pack stuff. Whatever is heavier (meat/gear/food/water) can go closer to you. The benefit is not getting the inside of your pack all full of blood for possibly easier cleaning or preventing your food/clothes touching the meat.

 

[3Esski]

I prefer a pack that has the ability to add an independent load shelf/hauling harness. I agree with you pushing all my gear out further to have meat against my back isn't something I like. I like the load shelf for putting my camp with food etc in, I use a separate bag for all those items, that I can drop and just have my hunting pack ready to go. It is nice for a first trip out to get a dedicated hauling frame, or detatch the hunting bag and put on the harness for hauling out the rest.