prm, you live in Colorado right? I've got a Duplex Kifaru you can try out if you'd like to.

I packed out 4 elk this year, one bull with a Stone Glacier 7400, and 3 cows with the Kifaru Duplex / Highcamp 4800 combo. Both packs were awesome hauling meat, but I prefer the Kifaru thus far.

Though I don't have nearly the experience that Brad does, I would have to disagree with his statement about the state of packs being in a bad way. At least to me, it seems like there are quite a few really solid offerings out there that haul and don't weigh much. The Paradox series, Exo, Kifaru, and Stone Glacier, in addition to the internals that Brad talked about, are all damn good.