Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Thinking about a new backpack

Me and BigW been talking about it via PM and I thought I would throw it out here for all to throw out an opinion. I have a G1 Siwash that I have bottomed out the belt on. Kind of leaning toward selling the belt(s) I have and getting a small, adding the CF stays and a couple of pockets and staying with it. Before I spend he money though I wanted to see if you all have something else to suggest. I really like the Siwash, just could use a little more room on occassion, but have no major compaints with it. Thoughts?

Brad,

I have been really impressed with the modified ULA Epic.

The Kifaru UL's are pretty sweet although expensive.

The G2 Siwash is nice, but if trying to keep cost inline I would suggest REI XT85 or the Horn Hunter Full Curl Combo.

There are so many great options out there that pack hunting is fun. If I was carrying bigger pack everytime I hunt I would spend the money. Being comfortable and having exactly what you need makes things more enjoyable.

I have a G1 spike camp that I am customizing for myself. I just ordered the cf stays, I have made my own gun bearer and I am sewing up pockets. I made my own pod out of black silnylon and it is sweet. I have a sewing machine and I like to try stuff. It is rewarding making your own stuff. This is what I plan on doing with my pack:

adding longer cf stays
modifying the pack to include loadlifters that work with the longer stays
sewing a grab it
sewing a top lid
sewing a rain cover

This is the size of pack I use most often so its worth it for me to spend some money and get it just right. My pack will be very light, it will carry weight ok, and it will be versatile to use in numerous capacities.

If you got the cash get a new pack. If you want to save some money play around with what you got and make it work. Have fun

These packs are rated for carring much weight.. The 70 litre pack I just looked at is only rated for 45lbs.. ?????? Maybe I'm looking at the wrong info??

With a set of Kifaru composite stays, it handles 80+ very well. With the stock aluminum stays, 60-70 is about max.

They run $270 with the dry bag, I believe.

LOL I actually deleted a post and then replied with a new post. But ya beat me too it with an answer.. Do you have a link to these packs?

So you can insert different stays? How much for the Kifaru Composite stays?

http://www.ula-equipment.com/epic.asp

$68 on the stays

http://www.kifaru.net/KU_stays.html

I did a review last year on the Epic for BPL. I found it worked great with 60 or so lbs. The addition of the composite stays takes it to a true hauler.

Very versatile and interesting...

ULA lightweight packs are a completely different animal than Kifaru ultralights. Don't be fooled in the naming or even in some shared materials (if there are any). That isn't to say ULA packs are junk. They clearly are not. Not remotely similar perspectives and execution, though.

Have you packed out a bull elk in a ULA Epic with Kifaru stays?

I have and it carries as well as the Kifaru Ultralights. I know. I have a KU 3700 & a KU 5200 and was involved in the prototyping of the Kifaru Ultralights.

When you have no experience with a particular product you should refrain from making judgment.

The ULA address most of the issues I have with my Kifaru, I trust Ed, but I'm not sure I have faith in the ULA going to 80 lbs. Going to have to stew on this one a little. Looks like the CF stays are required either way so might try that first.

One of the clients we had was using the ULA Epic on his sheep hunt this season... it didn't hold up very well to 80lb loads and basically fell apart on the pack out. He did not have the Kifaru UL stays in the pack, but the stitching failed terribly on our decent off the mountain.

Hey may have gotten a lemon or something...who knows?

The REI XT85 seemed to hold up better for a few dollars more.

I encourage you to again read my post. I didn't judge either product. I merely pointed out that each company comes from a completely different perspective and the intended application isn't remotely similar.

What do we think about the Osprey Aether 85 in that REI neighborhood?

Brad

I think the Osprey Aether frame is a little light for a hunting pack. The Osprey Cresent however is up to the job. You seen it at the skills camp Brad, it put that fancy Kuiu pack to shame.

I liked the Aether, but the XT was a bit more comfy (for me anyway) over 50 lbs and the Aether struggled above 65-70. The biggest issue I've noticed with the XT and Osprey Argon is that the dust can make the frame squeak a bit on some of the packs after extended use.

Out of all 3 I would pick the Argon 85, but it's $380 ish and you can find better packs (used) for that amount of money.

I would pick a Bora over any of those 3, but everyone is built different and likes a different feel.

Thats right Wes, had my names mixed up...

We aren't talking about intended applications but modifications than take a product into a entire different application.

Osprey Silhoutte for big osprey loads, made in Dolores Co .

About the Epic, I have one and LOVE it. It is my go to pack for most things. It is the one pack, that works incredibly well as a light day pack as well as a big pack. I modified the stays using 7071 aluminum tubing, and found it to work OK at higher loads above 50 lbs. IMO it needs at tad stronger backpanel or some horizontal structure , plus two more compression straps , preferably a 1" instead of the 1/2" to be really a load hauler, then it would work fine.

The work to make it a true load hauler is pretty minimal, and I've seen haulers with less horizontal structure than it has, in fact I've never tried a Kifaru but I can't say it has more structure. It could use 1" webbing instead of 1/2 " though, and one more compression strap per side.