Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting LL Bean: Hunter's Carry All pack review (lots of pics)

Since I had it packed last night... this is an unwrapping of sorts. It weighed in at ~58 lbs last night with partial food and no water. I have it packed with all of my outerwear for October so my field run this weekend will be lighter. I did wear it around in the basement for 10-15 minutes and did not notice any uncomfortable spots.

Photos and some explanations follow. I will update this thread after I have it in the field.

Loaded. Notice the black straps at the top. These are extension of 1" webbing and some additional buckles.


Side view


Load sling view


Load sling opened. The top and sling covered the shelter (top left corner).
You can see the compression wings were used to contain the lower portion of the pack.


Compression wings undone and bottom folded down.
From top to bottom the stuff sacks contain

• Food, water filter, FAK, 2L pot
• Tools, parts, personals, batteries
• Base layers, socks, etc...
• Outerwear

Stuff sacks removed reveals the stove and folding saw. Green bag is the end plates, the blue stuff sack is the roll-up stove pipe, body, legs, etc...


Inside the tarp wrap is my thermarest and 0deg synthetic bag. Packing the sleeping bag like this spreads the bulk out over the entire pack.
[img]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jipE-72kDuA/TkyVgXNUHKI/AAAAAAAAB6w/YZ93X2MG73E/s512/2011-08-17%25252022.30.40.jpg[/img]

Wrap removed reveals the camelback. The camelback is attached to the webbing at the top of the pack.
[img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-eeFd0itJIys/TkyV7UGSSwI/AAAAAAAAB64/wY1j1hTPewk/s512/2011-08-17%25252022.31.29.jpg[/img]

Camelback can flip up and reveals the pockets in compression wing and the pack frame
[img]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-DUg0ksKsDEM/TkyV5ZcDZqI/AAAAAAAAB60/YnUNnPhfrB4/s512/2011-08-17%25252022.31.52.jpg[/img]

Contents of the pockets




Using 20L drybag as if for a daypack



Wing pocket is large enough for a 27oz Kleen Kanteen



Wings open and empty.
[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m4JmL-ULi5s/TkyXKhIYcVI/AAAAAAAAB9o/EpHnLXtcFDk/s800/2011-08-17%25252022.37.45.jpg[/img]

Load sling lower attachment point


Load sling stored


Compression wings can attach to far side for very small loads. Also shows the load sling stored


Attempting to show the waist belt attachments. Nothing on the lumbar pad side. Velcro on the other side.



Side view of stowed load sling


Pack being worn. Load lifters have a good angle for me.
[img]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HcRJmNoW5rc/TkyY85pezBI/AAAAAAAAB7w/_ViZbyxCvuQ/s512/2011-08-17%25252022.45.19.jpg[/img]
[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Vf8vkZJxl6g/TkyZbXKpXxI/AAAAAAAAB78/eGrfFaQm5QE/s512/2011-08-17%25252022.46.50.jpg[/img]

Non slip pad on lumbar pad
[img]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Y7xO3ds2Edc/TkyZnMDpLoI/AAAAAAAAB8A/gvnnNGtrGgw/s512/2011-08-17%25252022.48.10.jpg[/img]

Nice write-up and thanks for all the pics!

I have a feeling some on here are non-believers because of the low price. I may give one a try.

MtnHtr

One thing to note is that the harness is not adjustable. So it will fit you or it wont. With thier guarantee, if it doesn't fit it'll only cost you $6. 95 return shipping. Even used and abused they claim their 100% satisfaction guarantee. So i think that it's worth the $7 to experiment.

--thumper338

Thumper - what is your height and weight so one can have an idea of the fit?

Thanks,

MtnHtr

I am 6'4". My pant size is 38x34. Current weight is 245-250 though I'm working to drop at least 15 by the start of 1st season. I'll get DW to help with a torso measurement in a few. DW measured me at 21" torso. I'd say that you probably can't go much taller... ideal fit range is probably 19"-21" but might still work for folk on either end of that. Waist size under 34" will be challenged to get the belt tight enough to be effective.

They will take it back no questions asked. I would recommend saving your reciept as that proves what you paid for it. If 10 years from now it needs to be returned they will refund you the full amount. Without they will refund you the lowest price they sold it for. LL Bean is very very good with their refund policy. I just wish more of you guys would return their cork decoys. I get them at the outlet store whenever they have them and the price is right even if I have to touch up the paint or replace an eye. With that said I never throw out a LL Bean reciept.

Loaded for the weekend.
Three days food + 3L water on board weighs in at 65 lbs. So far I haven't heard any seams creak or pop.

My initial though is that it feels a bit like it's hanging off my back more than the Kelty Cache Hauler (KCH) did, but it's been a year since I've had the KCH on and I don't have time to repack onto it to compare. The KCH will make the trip and stay at the car as a backup in case of failure.

I still need to sort out the chest pack attachments.

My goal for this trip is to explore new territory up to 4.5 miles back and about 1800 vertical feet gain. Drive up on Fri night and sleep at the trailhead. Hike in on Sat morning. Set up camp then explore lighter. Pack up camp on Sunday morning and explore my way back downhill to the car.

Man, I almost got excited until I saw it wasn't adjustable. I am one of those "vertically challenged" people. Nice write up though. I really want to try one of those type packs someday.

Thumper, when you get a chance could you measure from the bttm of the lumbar pad to the top where the loadlifters attach. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think it's 26" listed in the spec.

Another option for those who are cautious but want a do all pack check out the Hornhunter Full Curl, USA made as well if it matters.

Well..I went ahead and ordered one. I like the concept.

I just ordered one as well, free shipping too.

Nice review, great pictures, but the pack looks fugly, complicated, and a mess to deal with. Other than that it's fine.

Lefy C

LL Bean has several good products. Especially if you can catch them on sale. I have the older version of their Hunters Day pack and like it well enough for the price. As mentioned before, it's hard to beat the return policy too.

I'll take your fugly as functional+ugly

This style works for me as I generally haul in my base camp then hunt from there. I dont pick up and move every day. Everything is organized in the stuff sacks in a way that makes camp life easier for me. I always had a hard time with keeping things organized when using a top loading pack bag. In addition, I used to bring in a small daypack because my KCH was too noisy to hunt with. Now i should be able to use just this one pack and be able to haul meat without a return trip to camp to get the frame pack.

Done with dinner now and headed to the trailhead. I'll have an update with pics early next week.

--thumper338

Looking forward too it. lefty might be reacting in part to the green poly tarp which is a noisy hard to pack monstrosity but very strong and multi-functional. I'm just going to put a soft pack inside the Bean... I have some olive ones that will look pretty good. The dry bags can go inside that. Set up camp and haul just the pack and survival day & hunting gear up the mountain.

It also looks like it will fit in my Action Packer that I drag in on the bike/rokon trailer a lot better than my frame pack.

I can't weight to take delivery.

I don't think I'm in the camp that would want to use it as the basis for a wilderness hunting pack. But for someone who wants to hike back a ways with a light day pack, or maybe someone who wants to bring along a light treestand on a hike while hunting, this sling may be something to consider in that you have something to haul back a load of game meat.

Best