Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Elk Photos and Ruck Question

Well, I got my elk.

Here is what an old man with an honest 120 lbs rucksack looks like at 12,000 feet after chasing beasties for 4 days. Notice my face after mile 1 in the last photo. Whipped.

Us three idiots humped out all our gear and two elk (boned out meat, hides and my horns) in one trip. 9 plus hours to go 6 miles.

I was really impressed with Mystery Ranch Crew Cab in some ways, BUT totally dissapointed in the fact that it's straps were too short to stack it more vertically. That's why I have crap hanging all over like a vagabond. The meat is in the bottom and the hide on top of it, so all my gear got hung out with 550 cord and straps. Additionally it has this 3 to 4 inch gap where you can't suck the load right up to the frame and pull the frame flat up against your back like you can on an Arc Teryx. It felt like I had to carry load on my shoulder straps and it forced me into my old army stance. My hip belt was tight as I could get it. Not happy. On my Arc Teryx Bora 70, all the weight rides on my hips and the shoulder straps only keep the frame pulled to my back and there is a vertical gap between the straps and my trapazoids/deltoids. Of course, I never put this much weight in the other bag. Maybe 120 lbs just sucks period on any ruck. Is there any way to get rid of that gap?

Conrad

Way to go! That last pic says it all! You did great! The infamous Burma death march!

MtnHtr

Congrat's man!

You also found out why I wouldn't own an MR crew-cab or anything that atattches to a NICE frame pack on a bet... if you want to buy MR I'd suggest the bigger G6000 type packs. MR packs don't fit me so I don't bother with them... if they did fit, I'd possibly use a G5000.

The pack in your pictures looks like pure torture... the frame is too small... look at your load lifters... those suckers should be at a minimum 30* angle with that sort of load. They're at a negative 15* instead!

The NICE frame was designed by Dana to replace the ALICE frame, but still be used with the old surplus ALICE bags... that means it's a compromise made for a compromise for military contracts and sold as an afterthought to the civilian market.

Forget it... your Arcteryx is a far better pack for heavy loads.

PS Conrad, where'd you hunt?

Agreed on the Nice/Crewcab load lifter problem. They solved that somewhat with the 6500 bag by extending a partial frame inside the bag to continue on where the NICE frame stops.

Here's a photo of my 100lb load last weekend. Yes, it's a true 100lb load. Long story short, no Muley yet, but I did learn a LOT about my personal physical abilities and the need to intelligently plan a two week hunt! I'm home licking my wounds right now and helping my wife with some house projects she was trying to surprise me with before I returned. I'm heading back out in a couple days. Hopefully my toes aren't numb by then......

One trip, 2 elk and only #360 between the 3 of you? Must be awfully small elk.

Conrad, I went through ex. what Brad and others have described. Luckly I found out during training. I sold my MR/CC and purchased a Kifaru Long Hunter Hauler and used my own duffle and it was superb. I agree, sell it since it didn't workout and get you a frame that will get the load off the shoulders.JM.02 --Allen--

Great job on a great hunt!!!

I"ll add to this, due to training with 120 in the pack at times, 120 just plain sucks while my 75 pound weight bag was fine. Bottom lined it to be train 120, try not to carry over 70, and hope not to ever have to pack out with 100 plus again.

I did that with half a caribou and gear once in the tundra of AK for 3.5 miles. That was the longest day of my life. And then we killed another at dark... that made it even longer and for some reason I could only manage a front shoulder and some trimmings on that pack out that night.

Jeff

BTW my bad, sometimes I get caught up... CONGRATS on the bull!!

Congrats on the elk, Conrad!

Not sure what to do with the pack issue but, I was reading on the Mystery Ranch site, and it mentioned 120lbs or so being the point where the Overkill NICE frame becomes almost a necessity for comfort. However, that's no excuse for your pack looking like it was made as a kindergartener's book bag. I'd imagine you were pretty sore after that packing that out.

In talking with MR a month ago, I was told that the Overkill frame was only intended for consistently ultra heavy loads, and quickly gave up comfort at lesser weights. If 100+/- lb loads were occasionally hauled, the standard NICE frame was still the one to use.

I wish MR would sell a "civilian" NICE system with a taller frame that didn't fit the ALICE pack, but still did the cool modular swaparoo.

That would make a lot of sense to me... MR is a small Co. and is understandably trying to do a lot with a little. Their stuff is phenomenally made, but the NICE frame is something that is better left with Uncle Sam IMO.

I prefer the GG Flatbed...

I got tired of waiting for GG to import a new batch of Flatbeds, so I canceled my order and placed one with MR---------which arrived in a week. I absolutely LOVE the construction of MR packs, but am still working on a great fit. If the G series fits better than the NICE then I may consider a swap. According to a couple MR employees, the NICE frame will haul heavier loads than the G series or BDSB. If the G series can be made to contour my lumbar area better, I don't see how they can't haul more than the NICE frame. The NICE6500 bag takes care of the load lifter problem nicely, but I still don't have the best contact with my semi-sway back. Also, the overall weight of the frame and bag starts out pretty heavy for those counting ounces, or pounds for that matter.

I really need to drive to Bozo for some quality fitting time at MR. Obviously fit is the #1 concern, but the construction of these packs is SO nice that I'm willing to "work on our relationship."

I have not gone over 70lbs (total weight) with my nice/6500 combo., but it seems to fit me quite well.

I would imagine that 100+ lbs would hurt some, though!

ALL of me hurt after a 20hr day in the rain--------18hrs of actual pack wear. Seeing my little pickup at the trail head was the sweetest sight I've seen in a long time!

Ouch!
That does sound painful-I just got done packing out around 70# of meat oh, maybe a mile and a half up a steep hill-that was enough for me!!

Answers to a couple questions. We were in Utah. Usually hunt Del Norte, CO but it seems hunted out since people caught onto the early rifle season there.

My buddy shot a spike and my bull had a decent 6x6 rack but was not a big animal. Like a 135 pound 16 year old kid with a 10 inch dong [like me in high school ;-) ] so not huge amounts of meat weight.

By the way, nice reviews of the ruck in general. Where was all this negative feedback when I was researching my purchase??? ;-). All I saw were rave reviews 2 months ago!

Do a search of Brad and Ed's posts over the past six months. You will find this critique well documented.

The good news is that A LOT of guys love the MR and if you're so inclined, I'm sure you will have no trouble selling it.

Guess I'll sell it. Anybody interested in a one hunt MR Crew Cab? Make an offer.

If you strike out here (post it in the classifieds), I've seen them bring good money on ebay.