Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting REI XT 85 Meat Hauler?

Anybody carried an elk quarter AND some gear with an XT 85? This pack is highly recommended by some and it's probably the one I'm going to get for my next hunt which will be hike in 5-7 miles set up camp and hunt out of camp for 4-7 days. I've been assured that the pack will collapse nicely for day pack duty. I did read the following on another site which got me a bit concerned:

"Boy, just checked out the REI XT 85. That baby is light, has a great looking frame and packed down to almost nothing when empty. Wouldn't be an elk quarter hauler but still handle a boned out deer or first trip with head and elk cape/backstraps. "

"Wouldn't be an elk quarter hauler"....is what has me concerned. If I can handle the weight I'd like to be able to pack out a quarter and SOME of my gear, hence my concern.

I used this pack last year, but did not get to pack out an Elk. The pack is very light for what it is, but hauls weight very well if the pack fits you. I was always concerned about the quality and the pack being bullet proof which is why I went with a Kifaru for this year. I have nothing to base this on other than a gut feeling. The Kifaru fits the 10% better that I was looking for and the quality goes without saying.

There are those on the bowsite who have been using them with success. I have tried it on a few times at REI and it is very comftorble.

"Boy, just checked out the REI XT 85. That baby is light, has a great looking frame and packed down to almost nothing when empty. Wouldn't be an elk quarter hauler but still handle a boned out deer or first trip with head and elk cape/backstraps. "

I guess I can't say for sure but I just picked up one over the weekend. I have hauled elk quarters on a lot less of pack so I think it will work nicely. It fits me well and is really comfortable. I also like the frame design.

Give you a full review in 8 months....

Not to hi-jack this thread, but REI supports the anti-hunting agenda (Sierra Club). when you get on their mailing list, you start getting solicitation to join Sierra Club. They don't get my business anymore. I walked in a few years ago wearing a camo hat and shirt and you would have thought I was the devil himself. A bunch a freakin' anti-hunting tree huggers if you ask me. So I can't understand a hunter spending money that goes into the coffers of a company that turns around and spends it on causes that are working to take that right away from us. Now for those of you who just got your feelings hurt, or who are not privy to this FACT (or who know and shop at REI anyway) flame away!

I spend a lot of money at REI and will keep doing so. I would rather give money to them instead of Cabelas.

And the Obama administration thanks you for your support...

If you didn't want to hijack this thread, you'd have made your own.

On topic, if I was on a budget the XT 85 would be on my short list--with the 20% coupon and all.

Great minds think alike.

touch`e

The REI 85 XT is a very good pack for the price. I have not had a chance to use mine yet for hunting- since I bought mine, also with a 20% off REI sale, last fall after the early season. At the time I had decided I was going to move away from my MR Nice frame system after 4 years of use- it was just not as comfortable as I would have liked.

I have no doubt that the 85 XT would haul heavy loads for hunting and be quite comfortable. I have used mine for winter camping this year and it worked great.

Since I bought the 85 XT- later in the fall I bought a Kifaru MMR duplex frame hauler.

And here is a cool thing about the 85XT that I posted on another forum concerning the Kifaru Frame and using different bags to mount on it and discussion of the REI 85 XT:

___________________________________

"and possibly the craziest use of all for mounting a different makers bag on the duplex frame.~ The REI 85 XT


"After I got the MMR- I was (and somewhat still am) on the fence about whether I was going to keep this pack. But-- for a recreation pack- I really like it and it fits me well and carries a heavy load well.

Well... one day I thought- I wonder what that REI XT pack weighs when you take off the shoulder harness, hip belt, and all the stays? It weighs 5 lbs with all set up as I got it- and is a true weight on my scale. Well, it weighs about 3.5 lbs empty with out the stay system and the harness/ hipbelt. I thought- man- that is less than a MMR pack bag.

So the next thing I thought- was this- even though this pack was not meant to be hung from a frame, I wonder if it too would work on the MMR frame. And you know what- I got it to work pretty darn good- with just a little bit of hardware and a couple of crossing web pieces. Granted it is about 7.5 lbs all set up- but that is still less than a MMR frame and MMR bag combo.

And after I tried that out- Here is another cool reverse modification with the Kifaru duplex frame: I was corresponding with another fella about something else, and the subject of the REI 85 XT got brought up. Well, he told me that his brother had one of the 85 XT packs and really liked it so far; and then he went to say that he thought that the best thing going about the Kifaru duplex frame was the hipbelt, and... his brother was running the Kifaru duplex hipbelt on the REI 85 XT! And he said it is easy to do. Well I tried for my self- and it is a cinch. So I thought then- for sure I am keeping this REI pack.

So I can use a 85 XT on the duplex frame, and... I can use the duplex belt on the 85 XT instead of the stock one if I want. This fella also said he runs the Kifaru Duplex hipbelt on his old Dana Design external frame and it works fantastic.

Goes to show- all it take is a little thought and ingenuity. Maybe not for everyone- but I like it when things have multiple uses."

Shown with the REI 85 XT bag only (no harness; hip belt, or stay system) shown only beside the frame- not mounted on it in these pics.

I'm a member of REI and I have never been solicited to join the Sierra Club.

I've been in more than one location and not a single employee I have spoken with had a problem with hunting.


Travis

That mirrors my experience as well. Heck, my first big bagpack was an external frame REI pack. The guy that fitted me for it also showed me how he used it for hauling out deer/elk...

Yep I agree, never had anyone give me a hard time about it at REI, granted I don't brag it up in their face that I plan to cover their products with blood and the like, but when buying boots/shoes or something I mentino that I need to go overkill on support and what not cause I pack animals off the hills sometimes and they totally understand.

Never had any problems with the employees of REI and plan to shop there in the future.

They have one of the best return policies out there! I have never had any issues as well and even been helped when telling the employees I am a hunter.

Ther XT85 is a great pack!

I have a hunting buddy who is a manager at one store, and another hunting buddy whose girlfriend (goes with him on trips) also is.

But I will say I opened this thread for the sole purpose of seeing whether REI really had a backapck in their line-up with the words "Meat Hauler" in the name, LOL.

Ironically, I just received a Sierra Club offer in the mail today. This is the second or third they've sent, and coincidence or not, it lines up well with when I bought my REI membership a few years ago. But I also had/have a Backpacker subscription and a TU membership, so I don't think my case would hold up in court.

Most of the REI employees I've dealt with have been very helpful, decent folks. The customers on the other hand.....