Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting MRNICE GGFlatbed

Long time lurker first time posting be gentle. Was wondering which one of these packs would you reccomend for packing meat and 2-4 day backpack hunts, Thanks

Welcome, I think that you will find that this section of the Campfire has both the most experienced actual backpackers AND the most consistently courteous posters on any forum I have seen. Most of us are old enough to realize that none among us knows it all and sharing opinions and tips about gear and techniques is both enjoyable camaraderie and a real learning experience.

I have never seen a GG Flatbed, so, I can't comment on it; the general impression here of those who have/are trying them seems to be very positive. I have no need for another pack, so, I won't buy one, even at a bargain price as I am not into buying packs, testing them once or twice and then selling them; I tend to keep stuff until it is worn out.

I will say that I have and use a NICE-6500 bag-Load hauler combo, a Mystery Ranch BDSB and a Mystery Ranch Deluxe, all with two Fliptop pockets on the hipbelts and two Longpockets on the sides. These are the BEST packs I have ever owned, used or seen and I will not buy anything else in future.....not that I will EVER wear out one of these!

If, I had to do it all with one pack, I would get a MR NICE Frame, Load Hauler, 6500 bag and Crewcab and there is nothing one could not do with this combo. It is expensive and a tad heavy, but, I can put 100 lbs. on it and walk away in comfort, none of my other non-MR packs feel as good under load or are as well made. HTH.

Not that Kutenay doesn't know his gear...

...but a couple of prominent outdoorsmen on this board, have recently picked up those flatbeds. My guess is that the jury is still out; hunting season is still on.

I'd wait a bit and see what they end up commenting.

One of the guys I'm thinking of is hell-for-fussy, so if he gives it a thumbs up, it's got to be good! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

There is one major point concerning these two packs and the original query which, IMO, tends to favour the Mystery Ranch NICE combo. That is simply that the GG Flatbed is ONLY a packboard and not a full pack system, thus, it is less versatile with respect to 2-4 day camps than the NICE.

One can, as I have posted here several times in the past, use a system of stuff sacks and a packboard; I have done this and still have camo fleece covers that fit various stuff sacks to carry my camp plus any game, these are used when I carry my Bullpac.

However, this adaptation does not begin to campare with the MR NICE system, it is an absolutely brilliant design and built like no other pack I have ever seen. I am as "fussy" as anyone you will meet concerning my gear.

The REAL problem is cost and the complete MR system is considerably more money than a GG-FB with stuff sacks; this is something that only the user can decide as to what expenditure is acceptable to him/her. But, for short term camps plus packing out game, I can't imagine anything superior or even equal to the MR NICE system.

I think that Dana Gleason simply builds packs that, under heavy loads, perform and last much better than anything else. I have my first pack from him, in good shape, that is 28 years old, that's performance.

Thanks for the quick response guys. Kutenay I been reading your stuff for years and your knowledge is remarkable, I will be looking at the NICE option very closely but will still be hoping for some Flatbed comments. Thanks again guys. Kutenayyou need too write a book on backpack hunting I know I would buy it.

There are at least two guys here, JimF and EdT, who have far more experience with different gear than I do and BOTH of them have been VERY positive about the GG-FB, so, that is a positive recommendation to me.

I also think that there is a LOT of knowledge here, every bit as sound as mine and this is why I participate. I know lots of guys here in BC with just as much bush experience as I have and some with more, it is largely a matter of just having been born in an area like BC where wilderness opportunities exist and so I am nothing special.

I am not really into outdoor writing and am more interested in this medium of exchange than in writing for publication as most "outdoor" books strike me as BS, writ large. There are exceptions, such as Gary Shelton on bears, "Winter Wise" by Monte Alford and so forth, but, the drivel scrawled by some is just pathetic....

I certainly would grab one of the GG-FBs if REI still has them on sale, you cannot go wrong on a deal like that! Good luck with your choice.

GG Flatbed = best $100 I've spent in a very long time ...

Totally agree with hmt. Used my GG flatbed sheep hunting a couple of weeks ago and it worked excellent. Stuffed all my gear in a large duffel bag and hiked in to base camp. When out day hunting I compressed/strapped down the GG, and it worked great.

The other two fellas I was with also used a GG flatbed and were equally impressed. Suffice it to say these two gentleman are very experienced backpack hunters, and for them to be so impressed with the set up speaks bounds for it's abilities.

Levi

Levi, it's killing me to sit in this office with new snow on the ground... single digit's tomorrow in the am, but dentist's appointment around noon... drat!

Must be something in the air Brad. Know of a place that just begs to be hunted the day after a storm. Problem is my main guy is off until Wednesday so I'll be opening up the shop bright and early instead of out hunting tomorrow!

Levi

Thanks for the input guys would like to see pictures of these packs in action.

Put in in the NICE column! I'm a 46 yo flabbly, sedentary doctor, but I humped a caribou half over about 5 miles of tundra in comfort (relative) not matched by any other pack, and I've had a few.
Don

GG Flatbed in action... boned-out elk meat, 87 lbs total weight:



That amount of weigh SUCKS no matter the pack, but the GG handled it as well or better than any other pack. I'm satisfied.

Congradulations Brad! I take it that you did just fine this season. And the Jetboil??? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Is the pistol just for bears when you are packing out the meat, or do you keep that with you full time?

Chawn, posted the results on the elk forum. Pistol only goes in when packing out meat... ornery bears and all that!

Jetboil was a blessing... love it.

ould someone please tell me where they have found the GG Flatbeds on sale .I for the life of me can't find any, and hmt did you really find one for a $100.00 bucks? I'm very interested.---Allen---

Allen

REI had them on sale a while back plus some additional % off deal ... came out to be about $85 shipped to my door ...

Plus, I needed the optional XL pack straps and XL belt to fit me properly, so another $14 for shipping round trip of the NEW size large components to/from GG in exchange for the XL pieces.

As long as the condition is NEW, GG will swap out no charge + shipping any pack components to meet your fitting needs. That is what I call customer service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Total cost about $100 even and incredible customer service from Granite Gear. I also own their Vapor Trail and Virga packs so I had no reservations of buying the flatbed regardless of price ...

... the deal was just a great bonus. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

While I didn't get any blood on mine, I did get in enough miles with enough weight to be very impressed. I started a thread a while back about the first shakedown cruise and I have gotten out once with it since then. I am very satified.

Aside from it's VERY good suspension, the benefit to me is the modularity it allows in packing your load. I used a dry bag for my main compartment and when I hit a likely camp area, the dry bag and sleeping bag stuffer zipped up a tree in no time. Then I was able to continue with a small fanny pack that is my "possibles" pouch tucked under the load flap. I think that a really light 2500 CI pack like a golite or some such might be very useful main bag that could easily do some double duty for you.

I jumped after it basically sight unseen because of Brad's reccomendation. At the REI closeout price it was like stealing, but honestly this pack is worth quite a bit. If mine was stolen tomorrow, I'd buy another and I'd pay quite a bit more than I happened to the first time around.

Gosh!! it's nice to write a paragraph or two about something besides skis......... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

JimF

Yeah, lets see one about your latest rifle project.

I've got too many goofballs in the air right now to be thinkin' much about the next project. (it'll be a .243) I'm lucky to be able to lurk here and drop a quick line once in awhile.