Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Suggestions Needed

Don't no anything about what to choose in a pack.I haven't used one since my Boy Scout days in the late 50's.I need something light,comfortable to carry essentials for a day of hunting,i.e.:water,lunch,frogg toggs,wallet of ammo,first aid,knife,binos,etc.I will just be hiking from a drop off point to the stand.Would like a pack that rides nice and balances well.
What and where do I look for such?Tried the old pack from B.S. days and everything settles into one heavy mass at the bottom and the straps dig into the shoulders,hard to remove in tight quarters.Any suggestions for a moderately priced pack?
Thanks,
Jim

jim;

check out crooked horn outfitters pack. about 2,000 cubic inches, separate pockets for knife, water bottles and spotting scope, bombproof construction. available on their web site or at cabelas.

you can also look at badlands. they have a life time warranty. another good pack.

kifaru is another to look at. they come in many diff sizes. bombproof and lifetime warranty. you get what you pay for.

Jim ,

I have an eberlestock x-1 day pack this is my first real pack so i can't give any comparative advice.
I'd like to ask a question alongside yours about kifaru packs hopefully it will help us both.
On kifaru"s site the "siwash" pack is priced at $444 then it says complete $600 ish.What does that mean ? is the $444 incomplete or $600 ish customized ?
Back to the eberlestock x1 --> the jury is out on whether i like it or not.Yesterday i loaded it up w/down bag -food -stove -firstaid -etc-etc. and a rifle in the carrying slot.The pack seems to pull me over backwards more than i like.It seems to be more pronounced the fuller you pack it also.
I think when you add the thickness of the material of the carrying slot plus the width of the rifle those 4ish inchs put the pack out away from the body too far and that leads to the pack tugging backwards.
With a rifle placed between the shoulders down to the butt it holds the pack away from the natural curve of the lower back thus causing the discomfort.
Although if i had the rifle over my shoulder on a sling and the pack flush to my back it could well be just as uncomfortable due to the rifle tugging at my shoulder <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" />.Best of luck Jim
Mike

Hunting Packages.
Your Kifaru pack is offered as either a Basic Package with just the essentials, or the Complete Package with the most popular accessories at a discount.

http://www.kifaru.net/huntpkgs.htm

Basic Package
(standard on all Kifaru Hunting packs)

Includes:
DQ Panels, GunBearer


Complete Package

Includes: DQ Panels, GunBearer, Possibles Pouch, Rifle Rain Cover, Water Reservoir, Cartridge Pouch, Handwarmer Pch, CargoChair

For the simple stuff, not carrying lots of meat, I've had good luck with the Bianchi Endurance packs. Not for loads over 12, maybe 15 lbs.
The larger ones mentioned, like Crooked Horn, are very good too, but for a guy that carrys lots more stuff, like warm clothing, and more weight.
I've got two Kifarus, a Spike Camp and a Late Season. For the guy that carrys out heavy meat or does really minimal over night stuff. Vastly superior suspension system for 60-80 lb. loads. E

Look at what a complete versus basic Kifaru pack is. I have a long hunter with the cargo chair. Was the best pack ever used for humping out quarters of elk. At 6'7" they gave me a pack that fit with just a minimal amount of tuning. Kifaru makes top shelf stuff and it is Made in the USA. I have some Badlands stuff, it is now made in the People Republic of China. Maybe you don't care where stuff comes from, but I find it important to keep as many dollars in the USA as possible; F%^K the PRC.

For daytrips, the Kifaru SpikeCamp is a great pack. I use mine for day trips and short overnighters here in BC and it's a great pack. You absolutely can't beat Kifaru quality or comfort under load. The Kifaru Late Season might also suit your needs. If you can afford it, buy the complete package.

Jim,

This is the pack I picked up prior to this years season. I used it quite a bit and could not be happier. It is narrow and both a top load and a panel load, waterproof, etc. This is not a lightweight pack, but I can't say that I notice the difference when it's on.

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/...mp;feat=8884-tn

I just picked up this for one of my sons for XMas. He didn't want one as large as mine, but I wanted to make sure it would hold up. Cannot tell you how it's working out as of yet - he just got it yesterday. This pack seems to be suited for someone with a shorter torso though.

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/...47369&dds=n

Good luck.

Mike.

Thanks to all.Have the catalogues on the way!
Jim