Yet Another Backpack Gear Critique

[Rucker61]

Planning my gear for late September elk archery Colorado hunt in North Park. Seems kind of heavy at first glance, but this is my first one.

 

[Rucker61]

Cant even read it Rucker. Youll have to put a bigger photo up so we can blow it up.

I've been working on that since I posted it. For some reason the Photobucket 100mb file is too big. Any suggestions?

 

[fillthefreezer]

youve 3 pair socks? id ditch pair. 2 spoons? could cut down to 25' cord probably. looks pretty damn good.
i would take more stakes personally, i run an SL5 as well and carry about 10oz of stakes as ive used every one of them a couple times. (19 of them)
also, do you not use trekking poles and thats why youre packing golite pole? cut a branch?

 

[Aron Snyder]

Hopefully this works.

 

[cmeier117]

Seems like a pretty good list to me a couple things.

- Ditch the go lite pole and just use both trekking poles maybe, Luke Moffat has a video on how to do this on here somewhere.
-25 feet of para not 50 feet
-ditch the base layer bottoms maybe? Unless you are real cold blooded.

 

[rye_a]

Your list looks good to me. The only changes that I might make would be 2 pairs of merino boxers and two pairs of socks. With two of each you will have a dry pair if you get wet, and you also can wash a set. The amount of paracord that you bring depends upon whether you are planning to hang a bear bag. If so, you will want 50'. Finally, I personally think long underwear bottoms are worth the weight. I know I've been happy to have them when I got up to pee in the middle of the night, and late September mornings in Colorado at over 10k feet can be pretty nippy.

 

[MAT]

Wool boxers? Besides taking forever to dry that's the one place I don't want to get hot when hiking. Exofficio briefs or boxers (your preference) work great, they dry fast, only need to wear one and bring one. And they don’t stink, weigh and pack less too. Underamor boxerbriefs (for those who can’t decide) work good too, but are slower to dry. I always bring too much cloths, but long underwear bottoms I've used every time.

Keep the 50' of rope, that's one thing you really need when you need it. Unless you are after a very specific animal do you really need the spotting scope and tripod? Good binos can spot a bull over 5 miles away, which in most cases is further than you want to go.

 

[Rucker61]

youve 3 pair socks? id ditch pair. 2 spoons? could cut down to 25' cord probably. looks pretty damn good.
i would take more stakes personally, i run an SL5 as well and carry about 10oz of stakes as ive used every one of them a couple times. (19 of them)
also, do you not use trekking poles and thats why youre packing golite pole? cut a branch?

Socks are pretty light, and the sporks are, too. Cheap insurance if one is lost/breaks. Not sure how the bears are, so I'll be hanging the food. I have 4 MSR groundhog stakes and 6 mini groundhog stakes for the middles and guy lines. I can add more of either. How do you pitch your SL5?

I'm planning on spike camping rather than bivy camping, and if I'm using the trekking poles for the tent than I can use them for packing a load, correct?

 

[Rucker61]

Your list looks good to me. The only changes that I might make would be 2 pairs of merino boxers and two pairs of socks. With two of each you will have a dry pair if you get wet, and you also can wash a set. The amount of paracord that you bring depends upon whether you are planning to hang a bear bag. If so, you will want 50'. Finally, I personally think long underwear bottoms are worth the weight. I know I've been happy to have them when I got up to pee in the middle of the night, and late September mornings in Colorado at over 10k feet can be pretty nippy.

I show two pair of boxers, one worn and one stored. I just picked the merino ones up and haven't worn them in any kind of heat. I thought I would try them out. I've already got the ex-officio's to wear if I find that the merinos don't cut it.

 

[rye_a]

I show two pair of boxers, one worn and one stored. I just picked the merino ones up and haven't worn them in any kind of heat. I thought I would try them out. I've already got the ex-officio's to wear if I find that the merinos don't cut it.

I think you will like the merino boxers. I find that they are no warmer than cotton, but they dry faster and don't get the funk even after a few days of wear. I actually wear all merino mid-layers when I'm hunting and find it incredibly comfortable regardless of the temperature.

 

[Rucker61]

Hopefully this works.

Thanks. Missed you on Friday when I stopped by the shop for accessories.

 

[Rizzy]

Well, if you really want a critique...... I don't take: hygiene kit, trekking poles, tent pole, a quilt in late September, extra clothes, a seat, or a bowl. This is all pretty personal preference at this point though
As far as covering all the bases and having what you will need, looks good. Should be a fun hunt!

 

[huntndad]

Your bow (set up for hunting with rest, sight, quiver, etc.) seems vey light??? I usually feel more comfortable with a few extra arrows and batteries.

 

[luke moffat]

- Ditch the go lite pole and just use both trekking poles maybe, Luke Moffat has a video on how to do this on here somewhere.

Here ya go:
http://vimeo.com/40135925

 

[Rucker61]

Your bow (set up for hunting with rest, sight, quiver, etc.) seems vey light??? I usually feel more comfortable with a few extra arrows and batteries.

You're right, I was going on catalogue published weight. It's just over 5 lbs all told. It is was it is, though, as I'm not going to change anything on it. Why do you carry more than the basic load of arrows?

 

[fillthefreezer]

Socks are pretty light, and the sporks are, too. Cheap insurance if one is lost/breaks. Not sure how the bears are, so I'll be hanging the food. I have 4 MSR groundhog stakes and 6 mini groundhog stakes for the middles and guy lines. I can add more of either. How do you pitch your SL5?

I'm planning on spike camping rather than bivy camping, and if I'm using the trekking poles for the tent than I can use them for packing a load, correct?

i run 4 GH at the corners, 4 hilleberg pro pegs for the guy lines, 4 mini GH for the middle and the when the bad weather is blowing through i use 7 hilleberg vipers at all the loops to keep it sucked down.

if you want to use your poles, you can always cut a stick when you get there to save the 12/13oz pole.

buy a bear tag

 

[Rucker61]

buy a bear tag

Bought one for third rifle last year, I think they were all in hibernation before I got to the Western Slope. Safe as houses.

 

[huntndad]

You're right, I was going on catalogue published weight. It's just over 5 lbs all told. It is was it is, though, as I'm not going to change anything on it. Why do you carry more than the basic load of arrows?

Am I the only one who carries exta arrows? I don't ever plan on missing or falling and breaking a few, but it happens. There are many items in my pack that I could improvise or get by with out, but not my hunting equipment.

 

[MAT]

You don't really need extra arrows (I carry 5), but extra broadheads are a must if you don't. Chances are if you miss (or hit one) you will find the arrow but the head will be dull. I only have 4 broadhead tipped in my quiver, one has a judo tip for practice but I have 4 extra broadheads. You'll likely run out of broadheads before arrows unless you shoot at every grouse you see in a tree. Or sitting on a rock .

 

[Bambistew]

What's a "Vibrams?"

I'd pack a spotter if it was me, I never leave home without one, ever... I pack a heavy azz Zeiss up and down mountains for miles upon miles, begrudgingly some days, but am always glad to have it. With a spotter you can pick hillsides apart, with binos, an elk will have to be obvious when you stretch the range. YMMV.

51lbs including the gear you're wearing? That's pretty dang impressive IMO. Looks like a well thought out list! Any lighter, and it would seem like you're more interested in backpacking "light" than hunting.

Might want to bring a few more game bags. Not sure how big the BOMB bags are, but an elk will take about 3 bags if boned, 4 is better to spread out the meat and cool it quicker. What about meat care? Bugs, rain, heat? You have a plan?

25ft of rope? I take at least 50, and some times more. Extra rope is nice to string up game bags in the trees. Replace shoe laces, repair gaiter sturips, make chit around camp, and strap a big azz rack to your pack, etc.

Good luck on your hunt.