Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting lighter backpack

Gents:

Am nosing around for an upgrade--my pack is pretty dated and more pack than I need now. Don't recall specifically what is was rated. It will easily hold 100# of boned meat, maybe a bit more. Would like a lighter/smaller pack with say around 70-80# of boned meat capacity.

I don't know what that works out to roughly--say 2500-2700 cubes or 35 litres roughly?

Any suggestions appreciated.

Seek Outside 4800 Uniweep

I’d go with the Seek Outside Peregrine, it is a few ounces heavier than the Unaweep but it is on the Revolution frame so you can carry a load between the pack bag and the frame.

I have a 1st generation Peregrine and think quite highly of it. Seek Outside in whatever arrangement blows your hair back.

Appreciate the info, Gents--will check out

I've been using and buying backpack for sixty years. I've given away or discarded more packs than most people ever own. This is my current go to pack.

Kuiu Ultra 5500 Backpack

Man I'm totally digging the newest offerings from Seek Outside.

Appreciate it, KC

What would your second or third, if you don't mind?

https://seekoutside.com/lanner-5400/

It has a Load shelf. They call it the Breakaway carry. This will be perfect for my needs. Great Ownership.

Thanks Shag.

Quite a piece of gear...and price. That looks to be more bag than i would like to use. If the calc is close on the online converters, that baby will hold well over 100#

I've been very happy with my stone glacier pack. It's the X-curve frame with 5900 sky talus bag, although bigger than you had asked , there are other great bag options from them as well.Otherwise I'd look at the new mystery ranch sawooth 45.

Is this for day hunts w/ the capability to haul if successful? I'm guessing so as 35 liters is cutting it pretty close for overnighters in the fall. If that is the case, check out Mystery Ranch's Pop Up series (18 and 28 liters)- the frame folds up out of the way when hunting and then can be easily deployed if you harvest something. You just throw in a suitable size game bag and when needed, put it in between the frame and pack. It's suitable for 75-ish lb loads, if you routinely need more than a heavier frame pack would be more suitable.

I have a Stone Glacier Krux and bag that I use for multi-day trips, the Pop Up has become my go to setup for day hunts.

Right--daypack with the ability to pack a load out, looking at the 80# mark.

Possible overnight, bivy type thing, but not a pack to support multi-day. Both the 28 and the Sawtooth look interesting.

I think Seek Outside makes fine packs, but I'm still amazed they took the giant leap backwards going from a forward pull hipbelt to a side pull belt. In the fall of 2017 I was pretty disappointed after ordering one to have it arrive with side pull straps even though the website showed forward pull.

SO still haven't fully updated their website to reflect the change, even though they abandoned the forward pull belt 2 years ago.

Below is a current suspension image from their own site with the "old" model Revolution Suspension where even SO calls the forward pull belt a "mechanical advantage." They're right. IT IS a mechanical advantage, which is why almost every pack maker over the last twenty years has gone to a forward pull belt. It's just so much easier physically, mechanically, to get better tuning and more tension pulling forward, especailly with a heavy load. And for anyone with any sort of rotator/shoulder issue, it's fairly critical, because it IS easier. Even the somewhat stubborn Mystery Ranch has finally made the switch to side pull. Anyone one that has used both systems has experienced the difference...



https://seekoutside.com/revolution-suspension/
https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-870...79835.1451661938.png?c=2&imbypass=on

I don't know, I've got packs with both kinds of pull. I like forward pull better but it's never been an issue to get the belt cinched down with side pull.

I have been using the Mystery Ranch Marshall the past few years. Awesome pack but a ton of bag unless you’re spiking out a bunch. I got a Mystery Ranch Pintler I’ll be using this year for day trips and such. Same Guide Light frame in both of them. Very happy with the MR packs. They were a Godsend in the service and the same utility in my hunting. Tough as nails and carry weight like crazy.

But there is always "good enough" design, and "excellent" design... a forward pull is plainly a better design, and it's silly to go backwards from it.

And it's far and away easier with a forward pull if you have shoulder issues.

I still occasionally use a side pull from the packs in my "collection" and am always amazed how much easier a forward pull is to use, especially with an 80lb load.

x2

If you decide on a MR Pop UP 28, I wouldn't wait too long to place an order. Most all the vendors are selling out and I'm reading that it will be 1-4 months till they're available again. Even MR has none. I was waiting a bit to see if I could catch a sale, but ordered the last one available at Optics Planet in my size and color last night. They seem to be the hot piece of gear since they debuted about 2 years ago.

A helpful feature contributing to comfort and load carrying is a hipbelt device that has a small amount of pivot to accommodate hip movement.

Appreciate the experience, Gents. Plenty to consider buying a pack...

Let me rephrase a bit.

Considering the main compartment only--how many CI would you say to hold an "average' mature buck deer (mule deer or northern whitetail) completely boned out...2000 ci main compartment? Less than that?

Personally speaking only here, like to bone them out on the spot, basically freezer, grinder ready (but geez, balls on in CO) and walk out. My old pack worked fine, except it is old, falling apart and has been sewed up plenty already. Also, all those damn straps.

If I was in the market for a new pack and found one with everything I wanted, a side pull wouildn't stop me from buying it.

Thanks for pointing out artifact photos that we may have missed. I removed them. The rest of the photos on the site are correct , however you will notice a mix of dual pull and quad buckles because we offer both.

Now, I understand some have a very strong preference to forward pull so I will go over the why, and also the how you can get a forward pull on the current system.

Why:
-- Dual pull fits some people better, and cups there hips better. There are some people that simply moving from a forward pull to dual pull noticeably improves fit and comfort.
-- On heavy loads, dual pull has some distinct advantages meaning that you can vary the pressure a bit top and bottom if you do get some soreness for some reason. Soreness can happen for many reasons including the waist belt you are wearing underneath. Dual gives some advantages.
-- Dual pull one inch is a simple field repair and the parts can be sourced practically anywhere in the world. Forward pull does not have the same reliability. While few people have had issues, they can break in cold conditions and heavy loads. I have a friend that is an excellent ice climber and he has broken many on many of the main pack manufacturers packs. Cold and heavy weight break hardware.

How to Get to Forward Pull:
-- Currently, you can take a G-hook, Bachelor buckler, 1 inch field repair buckle, or even caribiner and attach it to the first row of palls and redirect it and boom you have a forward pull. Now I will concur, this is not as "finished" as a sewn in solution , but it works.

Now, a little bit of personal opinion and beliefs . I believe, that a properly fit belt, does not need the extra tension of forward pull to stay in place under heavy loads. I do fear, that people will use the extra tension as a crutch to address less than perfect fit. Our belt system is super adjustable for a lot of different body types and I believe we can fit the vast majority of people well. I will agree though, that many people do like the usability of the forward pull . Perhaps in the future, we come up with the best of both worlds, however currently a lot of forward pull systems have limitations and problems as well.

Thanks
Kevin

My second choice backpack is an Osprey Aether 85. It's not a hunting pack but it's the most comfortable pack that I own. It's my go to pack for summer recreational backpacking.

Try to ignore all the whistles and bells for the tourists. Get the pack that fits you best. Try on several packs and load them up heavy. Then walk around the shop for an hour or so.

KC

I’ve been carrying a Lowe Specialist Cloudwalker for years and have always loved it. I used it on the backpack I went on with KC last June. The only issue is that it weighs almost 8 pounds unloaded. I bought the Seek Outside Peregrine this summer and packed into the Black Canyon with it. After some adjustment it is at least as comfortable as the Lowe and half the weight. Being able to use the breakaway bag function to pack meat will be an asset, or to just remove the bag and use the load platform and a talon to pack meat. It will be my ‘day’ pack for hunting, shorter backpacking trip pack, and meat hauler. I am quite happy with it.

KC & BeanMan--thanks, do appreciate it & will check them out.

Gents:

I appreciate the experience and advice. Looked at them all.

fwiw, neither a recommendation or a vote, went with the Kifaru 14'r & some add-on pockets if needed for gear on a 1-2 nite camp. Liked the "inside" the back fit without the sewn on bottle carriers pouches --narrower for stillhunting the bush, & rifle carry. Looks to be adequate capacity desired for a boned deer. Have never met a pack i didn't overload--needed to put a cap on my optimistic ways to continue walking erect longer term...

Weight-wise it may be a touch heavier than advertised in comparison to the old pack--haven't scaled it yet. Looks like first rate stuff, though. Interesting, how much higher the load sits or at least feels like it sits higher, than the vintage pack--like a pack board with shelf.

Anyone else using this pack?

Mystery Ranch is a bit heavier but they fit me and I'll carry the extra pound or two for the comfortable fit.

A mature mule deer buck, boned out, no neck meat, is +- 40L of volume IME. This equates to about 55-60 lbs. of meat.

I’ve used an Eberlestock X2 for years hauling out boned out Sitka blacktails. I think it’s in the 1850 range tho. Plenty of room for day hunts and average 60ish pounds of meat.

Figured 40 liters to be good. Loaded, it is close to 80# boned meat. That is as much as i want to do and it is also a good sized buck.

But you only do that once a hunt, right, if you tag out. The rest of the time, was looking for a more compact pack for day hunting with enough capacity to do a skinny nite or two out--both the Kifaru 14r & MR Pintler looked like good candidates for my purposes. The Kifaru did end up weighing less than my old pack.

Appreciate it, guys.

I like stone glacier packs.

As do I.

I dont consider myself in the same league as Brad, KC, or some of the others but have hauled a few elk. I've been using Mystery Ranch of various flavors for the past couple years. On my last load last year in elk season, hauled a front and hind about 1.5 miles to the road. A steep climb the first 0.33 mile and a relatively gentle incline all the way the the road. With trekking poles, I stopped twice. I find MR fit me fairly well with my 12 year old girl length torso. Just recd my Popup 28, now have 4 MR packs. Doubt I need another......