Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Initial Pack Review: REI XT 85

The link to this pack on REI's website:
http://www.rei.com/product/844652/rei-xt-85-pack?stop_mobi=yes

My pictures and initial review:

First take- love the slate grey color and blaze orange accents. Will do a great job hiding blood if I ever fill it with meat or strap on some horns. (Note: the multi cam pockets on the side didn't come with the pack. They are Rip Zips from Mystery Ranch, and in my opinion- the best accessory side pocket out there. They happened to work perfect on this pack, and I left them on for pictures)



Here is a view of the padding:





Up close view of the frame/stays. There is a hoop around the pack and 2 full length stays that can be removed and shaped.





Side 'wand pockets' that work GREAT for holding a rifle. Not what REI intended, but it works perfect. Pocket has draw string, and lines your stock up with the side compression straps. You can also see the hipbelt pockets. Nice feature. Slim enough they don't get in the way.



Side view:

[img]http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums...9-FD0C6706109A-3123-0000034FFCEF8432.jpg[/img]

Two back pockets:

[img]http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums...4-B79D24EA164D-3123-0000035017FB10EF.jpg[/img]

Initial thoughts and impressions:
- At under $300, right near 5lbs, well made and plenty capable of hauling 70lbs- I feel great about this purchase for backpacking and backpack hunting.

- REI warranty. Take it back anytime for any reason. Not much else to say on that.

- I loaded my sleeping bag in the bottom, a jacket on top of that and dropped 65 pounds inside (Two 25lb weight plates an one 10lb plate- all in a duffle to simulate dense load of meat in a game bag). Pack design did what it should. Lifters pulled the weight off my shoulders, hip belt and shoulder straps felt fine. Need to go hiking with it.

- Well thought out design. Not a ton of bells and whistles that no one uses and only adds weight. Very blue colar pack I feel.

- Slate and orange accents just look cool.

- I like that the MR Rip Zips work with the pack. At only 5oz each, they give me quick access to spotter on one side, puffy jacket in the other. That's usually what I stuff in each. Might end up leaving 1 off to strap tripod to the side.

Will keep everyone posted as I put this pack through its paces.

Been waiting for my dividend check to pull the trigger on this pack. The design is what I want. I just wanna hear how well 100lbs rides in it. If it does as good as my 15 year old REI Great Star I'll be happy.

Good review. Thanks!

I sure hope they beefed it up. Id be leary.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...6895612/REI_XT85_Pack_Review#Post6895612

Shag-

I've read that review. Even showed it to the folks at my local REI. They told me the stitching issues from last years pack had been addressed. Only time will tell.

And if it wasn't fixed- back to REI, no questions asked.

Stiching, buckles, and zippers? I hope so.

All of the dudes at three of the local REI stores have told me that they've had no legit returns after the initial offering. Two of those dudes live in Beastmode and run this pack weekly with heavy weight with success. They could likely carry 100lbs in a bookbag though so I'd like to hear from some normal folks before I lay down coin.

What does stitching have to do with the buckle and zippers? Absolutely nothing.

And take it back no questions asked?
What good does that do you when that pack WILL fail you in the bush.

My xt85 was not the only pack that was a failure. In the Clackamas, OR store there were a couple of more that blew out and taken back, and it wasn't the stitching either.

EDITED...
A person would have to be a total fool for buying that pack and expect to use it for hunting/pack use. Especially after reading my review.

I apologize for saying this in this strong of language.

I had REI's latest pack as of last year.
No initial offering.

I suspect someones pants are on fire and its not mine.

You got burned. It happens. Ever see the number of pages a "My Leupold Scope Failed" thread gets on the optics page?? Do people still go out and buy Leupolds? Yep.

Maybe you got a lemon. It happens. I went back and read ALL the XT85 reviews on REI from last years pack. A few stitching issues, maybe 1 other buckle failure out of pages and pages of reviews. Your back broke. Sucks. I trust REI to fix it this go around. No doubt it will make me consider carrying a extra buckle in the pack. But I'd think that wise for anyone carrying any pack. Even the beefy MRanch buckles aren't going to hold up to a book and rock sandwich.

I will keep this thread updates. If it fails, you will hear about it. If it doesn't, you will hear about it.

I don't think I got a lemon. Their packs are junk.

No offense by the way.

None taken. I have a hunch Osprey builds the pack for REI. Lots of Osprey love by some of the seasoned pack hunters here. Either way- thanks for sharing your opinion.

Two years age I had one before that I ended up returning after never using it ( changed mind and had too many packs). But it looked like it would do OK.

Fast forward- I bought a like new ( last years pack) at the Jan. 2013 local REI scratch and dent sale- for a great price. Thought I would give it another go- especially for such a good deal. Figure I can't go wrong- especially since I can have my wife or daughter also use it if need be, and not load it too bad.

But, I would not have a problem taking it hunting.- Especially because after reading about all potential failures of the pack on the REI reviews and looking at potential sites of failure myself- I have figured out a way to address about every issue with the pack by doing some reinforced prevention stitching and can also replace with military hardware some, if not all the buckles on it easily. Since I did not pay a bunch for it- I can easily do this. The only possible thing that could ever really be a problem on mine that I can not pre-fix is the back zippered pockets (ones that are vulnerable to possibly splitting). But it they did- no big deal, as I do not really need those and could add my own ext. pockets.

This fabric on these has got to be just as durable- if not more so than the Kifaru UL fabric.

** another cool thing with the 85 XT pack- the Kifaru waist belt fits and works perfectly on this pack ( at least it does on the previous version)

Good luck with the pack- hope it works out fine for you.

I had the green or earlier version and thought it was a good pack. I used on a few back packing trips, but would think with heavy hunting and heavy meat my opinion may have been different. I would get another one if I needed it. Good luck and great review. If nothing else REI will give your money bck, dirty, bloody, or other.

Gee, I wonder why they didn't post my review? I sent it to them with pics.

Makes you wonder how many others they didn't post up that had pack failures.

How many reviews were from hunters hauling out meat?

Oh yeah! it's just a slight stitching issue.





Yeah, and my Tasco is a March scope. I just have this hunch it is.

Your hunches and reviews don't say anything till you really go out and use the pack. Till then, all you have is a hopefull opinion.

If you are just a casual backpacker with 55 lbs of kit you'll probably do just fine.
If you're expecting a hunting pack that's a meat hauler, buyer beware.

Thanks for the review. Will see how it holds up.

Let me know if you're done with the backhanded insults. I sure don't mind the truth. Never have when it comes to gear and spending money. But this has always been a friendly board. Mostly...

Never meant it to be back handed insults.
I'm sorry you took it that way.

I did send REI my review, a couple of times in fact, and they refused to to post it up. I was very nice about it btw.


I look forward to your review when you have used the XT85 as a hunting/hauler and not just a one time experience.

OA, thanks for posting.

Pack looks great, and I suspect it will be a workhorse.

I have gear that has worked flawlessly for me and yet the same model has failed others. Some guys pack things differently and use things differently.

I bought an entry level REI Morningstar pack for my now 26 y/o son in '06--it's still going strong, he really likes it for hunting. It has really exceeded expectations.
Me, I'm a huge Osprey fan for hiking and heavy duty hunting use, but some would voice criticism over their gear as well.

Others want 10lb lead sled Cabelas meat haulers or $1000 Kifaru 100L setups. To each his own; but the reviews, both initial and long term, are appreciated.

I bought one last spring and packed out a 5pt bull, 4pt mule deer, and three antelope during the fall. So far so good. My only complaint is the noise when brushed against Colorado oak brush but I knew that going in.

And it is hard to keep blood from staining the green version.