Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Packframe recomendations

I am looking for a frame pack and am interested in recommendations. Also would like to hear if anyone has specific experience with these??
https://outdoorsmans.com/collections/hunting-packs/products/frame-system

Thanks

i really like my MR guide litemt frame

I've used that frame for several years and like it a lot. Packed out a lot of game with it. I used my own suspension on it rather than what's pictured, so I can't comment on that part. There's a picture of my setup on the Hill People Gear thread.. I've also used the shooting notch on it many times and it works better than shooting sticks, which I no longer even carry.

Just get a Barney’s frame and pack and never have to think about it ever again.

^^^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^^^^

I like the badlands.

https://www.badlandsgear.com/products/vario-frame

I’m a Kifaru user and have been very happy with their old Bikini Frame & HighCamp bag. Old school but very durable & compressed really well when it’s empty. There are many more modern options offered thru Kifaru. I’d also analyze what you’re most likely to carry in it. I’m a backcountry hunter so I make sure I can still carry a few pieces of camp while packing meat.

Anyhow, good luck there are lots of great ones - Stone Glacier, Eberlestock, Mystery Ranch (sweet frame design) & all the ones previously mentioned.

Barney's are first rate but mine didn't fit me well cause my waist is small. It's tough to beat a garage sale or Craigslist Dana Design external frame.

Unfortunately I don't have first hand experience with the Outdoorsmans but I hear they are really good. The frames are short, which is great for hunting but not so good for hauling since it makes the load lifters just about useless. Still, I'll bet they're super usable packs and would not be a bad choice.

Barney's are top notch for hauling meat. Have used on and loved it. A Kelty Cache Hauler may be considered slumming it, but it's not a bad way to go if you're wanting an external frame and have a limited budget. IMO Cabela's frame packs have dropped several notches in terms of quality and Kelty is the only game in town for cheapo external frames. They can still be bought through Sportsmans Warehouse, usually for $100ish if you wait for a sale.

I used to be an old-school external guy all the way, until I switched to a Seek Outside Revolution. I previously considered Kifaru, Mystery Ranch, and Stone Glacier, but I was so impressed with Seek Outside that I never did try them beyond looking at them in the store or trying on ones that belonged to friends. It does not match a Barney's for huge, awkward loads, but it is a better choice for everything else.

Tcp,

This is the meat pack I like.
I haven't found a reason to go with a bunch of others. Other than a stumpy ALICE pack, I can guess that there's plenty of good choices others mentioned.

If you have a chance to try one in person, I always load them up with the weight I might carry. Walk around the store and get a limited idea if you might have hot spots, slippage and frame contact .

There's old school available if you shop around.

This one has no meat shelf underneath. It's the only one I know of that supports the load from the shoulders. After decades, I plan to make a new bag that will be Taylored for my needs. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.

Here's reviews and pics.
https://www.trailspace.com/gear/jansport/d3/

A Kelty Cache Hauler may be considered the biggest pile of chhhiitt ever...

You've clearly had a change of heart.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1318518/1

It's a $100 pack frame and expectations need to be kept in check. I think its hipbelt is better than the alternatives in the price range. Way better than Badlands, Alps, Slumberjack, etc, most of which cost more. YMMV.

Don't drop it on rocks with a full load and you should be fine.

Tcp,

There's a lot to choose from out there. Unfortunately, unless you live where they're sold, it's hard to tell if what works for me would work for you. The old jansports I mentioned are available even though they are out of production. The only thing most hunters would do after getting them fitted is to put a dab of silicone cement on the belt bolt to prevent it from scratching your rifle stock. That's one piece of hardware that has to be covered by at least tape.

https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/74122/

Here's a lot of examples of models that have survived forty plus years.

Thank you all for the replies. As I do not live in "backpacking " country, most stores have nothing to examine or try on first hand. Probably like shopping for a snow shovel in Florida.

I am looking for something comfortable, durable, and capable of carrying a daypack sized load for hunting but with a load shelf or compression rig that would allow carrying a meat bag or dry sack in addition to the day pack load.

Open to any other suggestions.

Thanks

Stone glacier and kifaru both make packs that fit their frames and would suit your needs. I believe Stone glacier makes an 1800 pack that allows you to use their frame and load shelf while just carrying day gear, kifaru does the same. Pick which company you like the best and buy it.

Abstphuckinlotley! I was a young and dumb and full of cumm. But at the time was baddassed enough to use anything. lol Yup I've learned alot sine then! Mostly the hard way. So GFY....

I'
I use an outdoorsmens frame and love it. Good for a load and very good for sitting behind and shooting off.
Did have a bit of trouble with the straps loosening under load but fixed that by tying them.

I've tried alot of packs, many of the inexpensive options, and would strongly suggest spending $100-200 more to get a top of the line pack. All packs work fairly well with 30-40 lbs. The difference comes when you jam a bunch of weight in it. I find anything over 50 lbs is where you'll start to notice the difference.

This spring I switched from Kifaru to an Exo. I have a short torso for a guy and struggle to get a pack to fit right, mainly staying on my hips. I also have fairly narrow hips to go with my 12 year old girl torso length.

A couple of things to keep in mind. First, you want the weight to carry close to your spine. I find many bags are too deep as measured from your spine to the outer limit of the bag. The farther the weight is away from your spine, the 'heavier' it 'carries'. You will notice it when you take off the pack and/or wake up the next day.

Second, it might be a me thing but make sure the waist belt is significantly padded AND has enough surface area/friction to stay where it's supposed to with weight. I like Mystery Ranch packs but their waist belt does not have enough friction to keep it on my hips where it's supposed to be.

Third, dont become enamoured with alot of bells, whistles, gadgets, pockets, zippers. I like organization in a pack but it does 2 things. First it adds weight, second its gets confusing when switching bags or adjusting. My Kifaru had about 97 buckles on the frame and various bags. I had to watch a video every time I changed bags. Plus it was heavier than my current Exo but 1.5 lbs.

Fourth, I'd suggest a narrow profile on the frame/bag. I've tried a couple that had a wider footprint and found they hit, snagged, caught on brush/trees when I was hunting. This is a feature of the Exo I really like - they hug my external body dimensions as well as any pack I've tried.

If you want to save money, buy a used pack. Rokslide is an excellent source for used packs. Good packs will last a long time and they really dont get used all that much. As an example, I wear mine almost every week from May to Decemeber either training (rucking, stepups) or hunting and it still looks new. I've been doing this for the last several years. I wash it about 1/month and they look newish. I also try to keep blood off them as much as I can. Stains wont hurt the functionality.

Good luck.

I was in a similar situation. I ordered a few different packs from GoHunt.com and ended up keeping the MR Marshall and sending the others back for refunds

I have a Seek Outside and I have been very impressed with it. Very light weight and can carry a lot. That being said I like to try new things and am looking at the Stone glaciers. Any experiences with these packs would be appreciated

I call that "Research and Development Cost". Wife loves it........<G>

That’s my gripe with kifaru as well, they make top quality stuff but there are lighter packs that carry a load just as well (Stone glacier, exo) and the buckles….holy crap kifaru likes to use buckles and straps all over the damn place.

I use 2 things.

First, Mystery Ranch "pop up". 2 years ago I used the 18L, then swapped it for the 28L for last season. I like them for hauling loads. The very thick padding seems to push on me "funny" when I'm just using them as a day pack. So .. tradeoff.

Second, 20 ish years ago I bought a Cabela's "alaska guide" pack .. frame and harness only, no bag. For hunting I put my stuff in a dry bag or small day pack and strap that to the pack along with a carrier for a water bladder. For me the harness squeaks a bit more than I like for still hunting in thick cover. Mostly now I only use it if I'm out there in support of someone else who is the primary hunter. I lay back so the squeaks, etc don't alert the deer. Mostly it just rides in the truck and I'll switch to it after the first load if I'm doing multiple loads.

Both are better than the Badlands 2200 I used for 5-ish years. It was a great day pack, a little big. One pro was I used the pack for insulation on cold days ... it'd keep me warm by keeping my back and kidneys warm. The minus was it did not handle a heavy load well. I packed a whole blacktail buck out in it in one load one year and the straps cut into my shoulders pretty badly.

Tom

For a few years ai had a couple of those cabelas frames that I left in my boat for hauling moose. They worked pretty well but unfortunatly cabelas stopped making them and I don’t think alps makes the commander any longer so the only really viable option for a frame pack now is a Barney’s frame.

I’ve been using a SG Krux frame for 5-6 seasons now. I also own a SO Divide that I use for winter backpacking/longer backpacking trips. The Krux is used solely for hunting. The SO is lighter (but the SG is far from a pig), but the SG simply handles heavier loads better in my experience. I have several SG bags from day hunting size to 7+ day trips and some in between.

I have no plans on getting rid of either frame (bags), both are wonderfully constructed with top notch materials. Both are exceptional packs imho.

Thank you very much for your response . Not looking to get rid of my SO just wanting to try something different. After packing out a whole quartered out mule deer last year I want to see if there is a pack that carries that weight better.

With what you do and the places you go your knowledge is very much appreciated.