Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Pack suggestion

Looking for a new daypack/scout pack
Lightest possible but with a rigid frame. Just big enough to carry the essentials extra knife, few snacks, a little water and an extra jacket kind of load.
But want it to have a shelf I can strap a quarter or backstraps to for first load out where ill grab my big frame pack.
Have an older badlands with an arched frame that holds main panel of pack away from my back that I LOVE but is a heavy empty and lacks the shelf feature.

I used a Badlands 2200 for many years, two years ago an Eberlestock Mainframe with a small bag strapped to it. Ultimately they just weren't for me/my frame. I'm 5'10" about 165 - 170 lbs.

This year I switched to a Mystery Ranch Pintler. Awesome pack. I've used it this year so far for quite a bit of meat hauling. I probably won't bring my frame pack (the Eberlestock) again, the Pintler hauled meat better than the frame pack did. Something like the Mystery Ranch Mule is even smaller than the Pintler as a minimalist daypack option.

I'll check into those mystery ranch, thanks

Black Diamond or Mountain Hardwear.

Sierra Trading, Gear Exchange, Moosejaw, etc....great prices and sales.

any particular models?

Mystery ranch...

Seek outside. I like my unaweep.

sounds like you’re describing the Mystery Ranch Pop-up- 18 or 28 liters, it’s a “daypack” that morphs into a hauler. Have trained with mine most of the summer with loads 35-75 lbs, very good concept that they executed very well

Have you considered hunting with your pack frame and attaching the other stuff in a small duffle or day pack? I did that 15 years ago and I'm thinking of going back to it, at least in semi open country where the shots are longer and the occasional squeak isn't going to scare game. Sometimes I used a CamelBak "non-bottle", a bladder with an insulated sleeve and tabs for attaching to something else, no shoulder harness, but most times I'd use a Badlands Reactor as my "bag" on the pack frame.

Back in the timber it is still hard to beat the old Badlands 2200. It doesn't stick up above my head and snag on trees 'n' stuff I'm going under the way the pack frame does.

The new 2200s seem to come with a meat shelf, soft, but well attached, that can be lashed to the pack once loaded. For deer, with my older 2200, I gut / skin / quarter, load the quarters in small custom meat sacks which I hang from tree limbs to cool and air while I work on the rest of the carcass, then load them all into a single elk quarter bag to keep them sort of contained, and lash that to the pack for the haul out. Works so well it's almost cheating.

I'm thinking about replacing my old 2200 with a newer one since they've added some features. Also looking at the Clutch .. replacement for the old 2800.

Yes, these are heavier packs, feel heavy held at arms length, but they fit me so well the weight disappears when I put them on .. more like a piece of clothing than a day pack.

Kuiu Venture 2300 is a great pack

I'm quite happy with my Pop-Up 28!

Seek outside packs are lightweight and have frame extensions that can be added when the load gets heavy.

look at the 1700 and 1800 daypacks from stone glacier.

I have been using a Pop-up 28 myself and am really impressed with its capabilities.

This is my wife's 2300 Kuiu Venture

So far its been a great day pack but doesn't have much room for a spotter in a zippered spot.

Pop up looks promising, gotta find a retailer where i can try one on now!

That looks nice, think you could get 4 quarters from a whitetail into/on it?

Tough to get 4 whitetail quarters in/on ANY ***day pack***...

? Works ok with my Badlands 2200. All 4 quarters, backstraps, etc.

That's what I am using too. It works well, but the badlands is a heavy tank, plus mine is getting pretty beat up

I am a Kifaru slut, but there's nothing wrong with Mystery Ranch, Stone Glacier, Exo and the others.

Personally, I like my main pack for a daypack too. Recently for me that would by a Kifaru Reckoning with the duplex frame. I just cinch all the straps tight to suck everything in, and it all compresses to about the size of any other daypack.
I too usually try to get a load of meat out on the first trip out instead of going back to camp empty to get a pack more suited to carrying meat.

Thanks for this tip fellas I’m gonna check this out.

Pop-up and the Mule both look really good to me....think I'm leaning more towards the Mule. Interesting.

That's a seriously smart design.

To the OP. Not to denigrate any opinions provided by others in this thread, you would be hard pressed to find one to meet your needs that is much better than Seek Outside.

I frequently use my seek outside pack without the main bag. I just use the talon bag and the top lid and they carry everything I need for a day hunt in the cold and rain (rain gear, puffy, game bags etc). Then when I shoot a deer I cut him up, put him in game bags, use the lid and talon to hold the game bags onto the frame, and carry him out all at once. So basically a day pack where you can carry 150 pounds if need be. Patrick

Also I'll add that I recently used a Stone Glacier minimalist pack the same way, and it worked well too. It was more compact as a daypack but it did not carry a heavy load (1/4 of a BIG elk) nearly as well as the Seek Outside has in the past. Patrick

Packs with nice high frame height may be a pain in the neck (quite literally) when you're trying to spot for game from prone, and can just generally be in the way when trying to bust brush - even if the pack is cinched down on the frame. The really nice thing about the Mystery Ranch Pop-Up pack is the frame is out of the way until it's time to pack out game. Additionally, the Pop-Up does not interfere with drawing a bow, fwiw.

Bout like boots or clothes, everyone is built a little different likes different things etc... I’d try as many as I could before I dropped the coin

I like the idea of the pop up. I currently use an X2 and have hauled a couple elk with it But it's heavy as a hunting pack and only decent with 60 lb of meat in it

I was out with my Popup yesterday, didn’t get to harvest anything, but did find myself in a lot of dense timber- with a full frame pack would have been a a pita (while making more noise too). I have ~ 20 lbs in it with extra clothing, emergency shelter bits, food and water, etc and couldn’t really tell I even had anything on my back - very comfy

The pop up 28 is a viable option. I did a half a mule deer
Ana a spike elk solo with it so far pictures in the link below. No idea how to place them in a thread.
Pop up working

The SO Evolution (possibly the Revolution, as well?) has removable frame extensions. I have the extensions out for general use, and carry them with me and can install them in a couple of minutes for meat hauling.

I love my Seek Outside Peregine. It cinches down to a nice size for a day pack and can haul more than you can carry comfortably. The peregrine is also great for a three to four day backpack. The ability to seperate the pack from the frame and carry a load in between them is golden.

Shape of the frame , and how clean it is has a lot to do with catching on brush. A lot of attachments, or straps loose all over and ya you will catch on stuff

I love my KUIU icon pro. The 1850 bag is the one I use the most. It is about perfect for what you’re describing. I’ve done multiple day trips with the 3200 bag, but it is was tight. I’d say the 3200 would be good for cold weather day hunting or one or two early season nights. I bought a 5200 bag off the classifieds here and it is the real deal for going several nights.

Stone Glacier Krux EVO frame with Access, Serac, or Approach bag. From 3-3.5 lbs. and can haul upwards of 150 lbs.

Would the Pop Up 28 be a daypack you want to use as an EDC for work and commuting?

I'd also recommend one of the stone glacier packs, I've been very happy with mine.

I’m using it for everything other than an overnight backpacking hunt now. It doesn’t smell like a new car anymore but I don’t mind. It’s really highly functional.

So yes I carrry it everyday and have used it as a carry on 3 times. The bag may or not work for you for EDC but the frame hasn’t been a negative at any point in that role.

The Badlands 2200 in "Earth" is on sale at Midway for $165

Check out the Seek Outside Peregrine.

I'd say no- too heavy, too bulky with the frame and larger hip belt for a commuting bag- I've looked mine over and couldn't find a way to separate the pack- the load shelf is sewn to the frame and the bag

The bag comes off the frame. I sewed myself a straight up alice style bag for mine with an integral load sling that I like but I need longer compression straps on. I absolutely understand the sentiment that it’s too bulky with the frame, but I haven’t been bothered. And It doesn’t get a second glance by tsa or boarding agents

you're right, I see now that the load shelf can be removed from the frame- unfortunately you still have no shoulder straps and the load shelf is now hanging off the bag

I wonder if it's possible to rig up some light shoulder straps? maybe the load shelf could hooked to the bag and serve as a beaver tail of sorts?

The frame and harness / belt only weigh 3lb4oz. I’ve had mine since the week they became available- and I haven’t used my sweet pea since- but even that pack might be more than you want to deal with as an edc/commuting- but it was my favorite. Now I’m happy with this enough to have used it all time- I don’t know. But for the guys wondering. The frame and all only weighs 3lb4oz and provides some real capability over anything else I’ve seen that’s a daypack.

Been looking at this on Midway for a week now. Anyone have any experience with it? Negatives?

Agreed.

I’m ordering the Mystery Ranch Pop Up 28. I just don’t see anything on the market that approaches this kind of versatility with this much comfort and durability.

Double agree and my Kifaru is closer to 20yrs old than 10. Just wish I had occasion to use it more...

Yeah. It was time to replace my Badlands 2200. I was looking at the replacement for the 2800. This timely discussion of the Mystery Ranch Pop Up packs lead to a bit of research. I chose the Pop Up 18 though the 28 may be a better choice. Both look like good setups .. one thing I'm going to like is the ability to carry the pad I sit on coyote calling between the bag and frame rather than swinging and bouncing loose hung off my other packs by a caribiner. It's sitting in the corner waiting for me to have enough time to move my regular day to day wandering gear to it.

Wondering if anyone has used Outdoorsman packs?

[video:flash]https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=361&v=BnEjxxelwI0[/video]

I'd recommend Stone Glacier as some have before.

I have four of their packs and really like them. Obviously!

Good people with good customer service too.

Been very happy with my Eberlestock Mainframe with a couple batwings zipped on. Almost infinite flexibility and a frame that you can carry serious weight with. The Buttbucket for your bow or scabbard for your rifle are excellent also.

I have and like very much my Eberlestock X2. Almost purpose built zipper pockets for spotting scope and tripod, aluminum frame, great fit (though I’m 5’9”, it likely wouldn’t fit someone with a longer torso). It’s large enough, but it is not cumbersome when moving through brush. It is also capable of packing out an elk quarter, which is a big deal to me. No more wasted trips back to the truck to get the larger pack frame.

Nearly all mine are Eberlestock, and their having a 20% off sale on their F1 Mainframe right now which is nice for someone with a tall upper torso.

Link


Phil