Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Who else isn't happy with current ready-mades?

I finally got disgruntled with the day packs that I can find currently available. The manufacturers all seem to want to slather on more bells and whistles than I can stomach. Oh, foofraw is mighty fine in its place, but I don�t happen to be one of those that thinks the place is on a day pack that�ll be used by a hunter.

I don�t want a built in hydration pouch (which long ago in The Land of All Bad Things we called blivets). When I get thirsty, I�ll stop and pull whatever I�m using as a water bottle from my day pack and have a drink. The forced stop will encourage me to use my binoculars and spot my prey before it spots me.

I don�t want zippers. Zippers of plastic (or whatever synthetic is used this week) tend to melt into an unusable mess if my bottle of bug dope leaks a bit and gets on the teeth. Zippers of metal just screw up too regularly. I want plain old pull-cords to cinch up the openings. Besides cinch cords are quieter than zippers, and much more so than Velcro.

I do want some sort of quick release system on at least one of the straps. Should I need to shed the pack because I misjudged its effects on my balance while doing a bit of climbing that is harder than it looked, I want to be able to slip a strap and let the day pack take the tumble rather than me. If my spotting is a little slower than my stalking and I need to shed the pack while prone, I don�t want to have to wave my arms about attracting the attention of every elk in the valley.

I want plain colors. On regular occasion, I drop my pack and make the final few yards of my approach unencumbered. Once the animal is down, I want to be able to gut it, and not have to spend a few hours searching for my day pack because the camouflage is a bit too good. Plain brown, or green, or even dull red is good enough.

I don�t want to carry too much, so make it a bit smaller. If I�m going to be gone for days on end, I�ll use a full-sized backpack, not a day pack. A day pack should hold just enough for one day, otherwise I�d call it a week pack.

Nobody makes a plain jane pack for regular hunters, so I got ahold of a not-so-local �tent-and-canvas� outfit and had one made that makes me happy.

How many other hunters unhappy with the current crop of junk have simply had their own made?

Rupert

One of these www.ula-equipment.com/ might have fit the bill for you.

I like hydration pouches, there are no bugs here in October so the Deet is at home, push your thumb up under the adjustment cam on the shoulder strap and they release real fast, agree on the colors, you are pretty vague on the sizing issue.

Heres a very popular pack that we use in New Zealand. Tough canvas inner with lots of pockets etc with a high quality fleece outer. I have had one of these for years - even taken it as a main pack through India on a backpacking trip - they are tough non-nosense packs designed by hunters for hunters. Just as you describe - no zippers etc. This one is made in NZ.

http://www.huntech.co.nz/109.htm

Here is another brand that has a handy 'framed day pack' that has a removable frame - have not used one but friends that have love them - made in China though.

http://www.ridgeline.co.nz/default.php?id=Packs_Gunbags

Good value for our friends from the States because of the exchange rate. Any questions fire away <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> - we have some very good hunting gear down here that is particulary designed for extended use in wilderness areas.

You've just described the Kifaru Zulu, a military pack. It may be a little bigger than you want, but otherwise, it hits most every spec.

kcm,

That's certainly one of the closest commercial packs that meets my wants, but doggone if it isn't a bit pricy! I don't mind paying for good equipment, but were I going with an OTS pack, I suspect I'd just get a medium ALICE and have it slightly modified. It'd work just as well, even if I did have to replace it every 4 or 5 years because the nylon is a bit 'thin.' On a bit further thought, I think the ALICE might be superior because of the 3 readily accessible back pockets. Spare ammo, GPS, compass, pogey bait and waterbottle would fill the pockets nicely and would be those items I'd want most easily.

For the other suggestions, I appreciate it, but I'll pass because they aren't even close to my specs.

http://www.mysteryranch.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=5_22

Does that fit the bill at all?

Not really, although it is closer than many others. My dislikes with it are that it rides a bit too low and is too wide. I have a sling on my rifle and I use it as a carry strap (in some places and for some species). A wide pack interferes with standard old 'hang the rifle over the shoulder and cover ground' walking.

Too, looking at the straps, they are nice and thick, which is what a lot of folk want, especially those that are carrying 30 or more pounds of dreck on their back. Being a contrary sort, I rarely carry more than 20 pounds for a day hunt, and I want the shoulder strap to be thin enough so that I can mount my rifle even with the pack on. And, of course, it has zippers everywhere.

Like I noted at the beginning, my wants seem to be quite different from those of the vast majority of folks, so I simply had one cobbled up to meet my own specifications. I was just wondering whether there were others out there of like mind.

Actually, I guess I can't relate. Sorry.

The one I linked would be a good deal less wide with less cargo. I think they're trying to illustrate it's maxed out capabilitiy.

I've always had decent luck using the top hood of the longhunter, as like you, carry little in a day pack.

It sounds like you have rigged up something that works so you're all set. To improve from there, I actually think you would need to check out tactical tailor, or such.

A 2pc MAV vest with selected malice pouches would get you there with the ability to be dumped off your body quickly.

The Kifaru pack to consider would be the express, I think. Although, you seem like a "pack" is not your prefferred setup.

Rupert, one of the advantages of the Kifaru is that you can carry a quarter back to camp, then get the biggie. I carried out both front quarters from a cow elk in one last year, no big deal. And I am not that big.

RupertBear,
You have definitely described the Kifaru Zulu. I own one.......what a versatile ruck.