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I have not seen the Camelback versions of the various MR packs as all five of mine are Bozo production; but, knowing MR, I would not hesitate to buy a Camelback model, these folks stand behind their gear.

Also, the Philipines is a friendly country, unlike Communist China, I really do not like allowing them to take over our economy, so, I try not to buy stuff made there. IF, they were a democracy and go the hell out of Tibet, I would not feel this way.

IF, the MR system fits you well, as it does me, I honestly cannot envision a better heavy-duty hunting pack and it will probably last until your great-grandson starts this madness. Good gear just makes it more fun and thus is worth it.

I can Vouch for the Quality Binos Before a spotter argument. THis Year I packed a Spotter and Tripod in Oregon and Wyoming and Never pulled 'em out of the pack. I didn't mind because my pack distributed the weight so well, it wasn't an issue.

You mentioned Drop Camp...Are you being Dropped by horseback at a ready made wall tent camp? Are you planning on Bivying out from there as well? I'll assume not.

From my perspective, an internal frame pack in the 2200 to 3000 cu inch is plenty if you are coming back to a camp every night. It will allow you to pack enough stuff if darkness prevents you from returning to camp.

This size pack would allow you to transport boned meat to a pickup point that horses could access. The Badlands 2200 did Outstanding for me this Fall in that regard. Now I see why it is so popular among elk hunters. That meat shelf is slick.



I have Elk hunting partners who love the Wilderness pack specialties Bighorn Frame, for a more rigid daypack Frame Combo. Here is a 2400 cu in. pack that can be converted to a pack frame easily.


http://www.wildernesspacks.com/pages/products/packs.html

I'd try one on and see if it works for you. I personally like the Narrow profile of my badlands, but I noticed that WPS Molle frame is really adjustable. I never took the time to tweak one to fit me.

If you are doing it all afoot and packing huge loads for days at a time , then Kute has the experience and conviction to back up his recommendations. He has never made a statement he hasn't been willing to back up.

Mike, 2,100+ sf of 3/4" T&G Hardwood and 600+ sf of Tile plus tiling two tubs and one shower (another 300 sf tile)!

Kute, with all due respect, I beg to differ. I can get one for cost yet won't shell out half price because, aside from not fitting me, I dislike the twin pockets on the back and the suspension. They're built VERY well and the materials are excellent but I dislike the belt design, load lifter attachments and yoke.

My experience and body's needs lead me elsewhere... there is no "best" and I'll take a Crescent over an MR any day (for my body).

Brad,

I feel you're pain

It's all worth it in the end though.

Mike.

Funny, the rear pocket arrangement on MR packs is one of my FAVOURITE features about them, goes to show that tastes certainly differ.

With over 30 years of hard use of Dana's packs, I have been able to carry heavier loads in comfort and with fewer quality-related problems than anything else I have used. The NICE system is the most versatile available and can be configured for about any use one might imagine, so, I base my previous opinion on these points.

Anyway, I am POed to the max, as the avalanche danger here and in the Kootenay-Boundary is so high that three people were killed last week and my wife just freaked when I said I wanted to go snowshoing and camping alone. Even the hiking trails here are largely closed due to avalanches and ski hills are very curtailed, from the TV news last night; same as last year and it is this bloody warm, wet weather that is wrecking my beloved winter camping....PIZZ ME OFF!

I'm hoping for next weekend if it cools off and the slides stop, I really need to get out and away from Vancouver and house painting, a task I detest. Wives seem to like it, though!

I bought an Aether and sent back as soon as I removed it from it's plastic. Brad is spot-on in that it's not close to a crescent. The crescent series was a "bumblebee" in that it shouldn't be as good as it is.

I'd dare claim that there is reasonably nothing an MR does that the appropriate crescent cannot. Just find either pack to fit and fall in love.

While I'm on record for detesting heavy loads, I'd use the crescent for such without a second though; and I own a MR G-6000 as I say this.

The MR does havea a fantastic notion for a sleeping bag compartment closure, but it only would come into play when using a horribly unstuffable bag.

I like the Aether's but they aren't for really heavy loads. I love my Aether 60 and the new Argon 110 is an improvment over the Crescent and it's about a pound lighter

I agree with Brad & Chawn as far as I believe he Crescent/Argons will handle big loads as well as anything.

NimrodRx
Imho I would rather have a decent spotter then a super good pack. I went elk hunting in CO this year with 3 other guys. I was the only one that had what anybody on this forum would call a quality pack. I was also the only guy in the group who had a spotting scope. We spotted a lot of elk but they were to far to see whether they were bulls or cows most of the time with just binos. I have swaros and another guy had leicas so the binos were not the problem.

I would take out the spotting scope check them out and see if they were worth going after. (We ended up seeing 42 bulls and 1 cow) Anyway we were hunting this really steep canyon with a bunch of finger ridges and all the elk were across the canyon. If I would not of had a spotting scope we would of had to hike over there everytime to see if it was a bull, and then if it was a bull big enough to kill. The spotter saved us a lot of extra hiking up and down the canyon.

We ended up all tagging out and it is pretty funny that not one guy complained about how comfortable his pack was even though everybody but me had a POS pack.

I would rather have sore shoulders and kill something then not kill and have a super good pack.

Spend the money on a good spotter and then find a deal on a pack that might not be the most comfortable. Just make sure it will hold up for the trip.

Check out ebay and hiking sites for deals on used packs.

Just my 2 cents

Ed T, I have the Aether 60 and love it for my summer scouting pack.

Glass vs. Pack fit would make a great thread on it's own. I have no comment; I have no true need for spotters afield.

I respectfully disagree as far as a spotter goes. A spotter has saved me alot of wasted miles and hours on a stalk that wasn't necessary. Many times your bino's cannot pick out details that a spotter will. A spotter has saved my butt many a time while bowhunting elk. Because of the spotter I didn't go after many elk I thought were cows and legal. On several occasions the lone elk were small spikes alone or just two lone spikes. The Bino's would not reveal that and if not for the spotter valuable time and miles would have been wasted. As most areas I hunt are 3 pt min or cow only for bow. A spotter has also put a 180 class muledeer in the frezzer for my partner. I spoted several deer that were close to a mile away with my bino's. Not until I was able to set up with a spotter was the call made that one of the deer was a great buck worth going after. Being able to judge animals from a great distance in Alpine terrain is a must have tool for me.

Just a couple of examples off a list off many occasions it has made the hunt. Not to mention a buck that we deceided to go after that took 6 hrs to get at. had we not gone after that buck we would not have found the wonderful and literaly near perfect year after year honey hole that buck was hangin in. We didn't kill that particular buck but, we scored!!!

There is nothing to disgree

I just don't use them. I certainly don't suggest that their utility is in question.

Ed, are the stays of the Argon removable for shaping?

Noodle-spine.....

Flat-back

At least I have an azz...

You win! The packs just slide off....

Go fix your floor!

Two days doing the stairs... my noodle-spine hurts!

Real men do stairs in one day! Rub some dirt on it and keep truckin'..

Seriously, you took the most complicated thing a guy can face and created SOMETHING!

Good job, Brad! Be proud.

Just found out they are, and are twin stays, not a single as the Osprey site lists... still, they're 2/3 rd's stays.

Brad,

Yes as you found out. I really like the back panel on the Argon, a lot better ventilation than the Crescent and I especially like less weight.