Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting lighter backpack

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......