What is your recommendation for a small backpack?
When I'm in the mountains I use a Mystery Ranch Crewcab pack. It's expensive and it works well. But for local hunts where the stand is hung and I'm only hunting about 2 hours I need a smaller pack. I have a badlands but it's too stiff and it takes three hand to pull the zippers shut.
Tedd
Primos Bowhunters vest
I use my daughter's old book bag from elementary school.......works excellent!
Catquiver solves ALL the problems: pack, quiver, and keeps flething dry
comes in many sizes and flavors
I had the same problem with my badlands back. Now I'm using a kuiu icon pro 1850.
But for what you are talking about I always used a camelback or Gregory etc many bike back. They work awesome. Are light weight and work like a champ.
I use a Badlands with no zipper problems.
You can probably pick up a medium sized inexpensive pack at Walmart that will do the job.
Any cheap backpack from Wal-Mart is good enough for me to tree stand hunt with. Its only going to hang on the tree beside me, no need to spend much on it. Long distance backpacking is a different matter.
Day one pack has no zippers, nice little pack.
I have a couple crooked horn outfitter packs that I use. They are nice and quite and have plenty of room for a day pack.
I only use a day pack when I turkey hunt, because I carry my ghillie in it. Mostly I just use a haversack from Asbell.
Day one. Dead silent. I don't carry my hang on on my back anymore. I carry my little Lone Wolf on my hip. Good little system that works for me.
I also love my catquiver. Plenty of room for all I carry, though it can be tough finding that little thing I need in the large pocket. That said the three pockets in mine let me separate my major categories of stuff, like calls and scents, pruning and paper and less used items and gloves , mask and arm guard into pockets I know where to look.
Camel back. Small strong and can hold some water to wash your hands after you field dress your deer
It seems every year I try to solve this problem by going minimal. I stuff stuff in my cargo pockets. I also, every year abandon this before walking out the door. I just can't get all I "need" in those pockets!
I use a Sitka fanny pack when it is warm and I only need one spare (warmer) top, I go to Sitka day pack when the temperatures drop enough to need a down vest.
I have a fleece Cat Quiver VI that I just love ... very quiet, you can put lots of stuff in it or almost nothing if you wish. Chest strap and a good waist strap. Three main compartments and three waist compartments on the right with a water bottle pouch on the left. Keeps your stuff organized so your not rummaging around your pack looking for something. Very comfortable pack and the zippers work great.
I do not use with the quiver attached, just the pack. It also has a hanging strap loop
Um, for 2 hrs I'd use my pockets.
I use a Haversack. Most of my whitetail hunting is two to eight hours. I wear a couple of different pant options so having everything in the Haversack keeps it to a dress,grab and go process. My Haversack is a Bison Gear but you could do well with Asbell
I have an old fleece fanny pack that I got for a dollar. It works great and keeps me from carrying too much junk with me. That's just for hunts that last a couple hours though.
check out the Rancho Safari Catday V. It is fleece for quietness while wearing it, has lots of pockets, nice zippers and lots of lashing points for other gear.
I no longer hunt from a tree stand. And most of my hunts are half days on the weekend. I started using a cheap Haversack last season. A $7 swedish gas mask bag. I get everything I need for the day in that bag. I still wind up carrying too much!
I use a Bad Lands large fanny pack .very happy with all the rigging options . In wet weather I use a Palmer Arrow Works quiver to protect the fletchings . You can rig them together for a solid set up.
I use a bison Gear fanny pack or my pockets.
I will be using a bison gear haversack this year for treestand hunting. I have used it once already and I think I have found the perfect pack for how I hunt. I wanted something that had enough room for the essentials to set all day if needed but not be overly huge. The biggest benefit to the haversack is it hangs to your side allowing if necessary to pack a stand or whatever else on your back. The craftsmanship of the bison gear pack is second to none, a little pricey but well worth it.
Gabe
I use a Sitka Gear Tool Box. Great design and plenty big for an all day sit with a few layers lashed on.
Can't beat Kathy Kelly Deluxe backpack IMHO - spacious, not overly complicated with too many pockets, great zippers and made of fleece
Last summer I picked up a North Face 4800 CI internal frame pack for my daughter. Based on experience backpacking with it, my next hunting pack may not be a "hunting pack."
Meanwhile, I've been pretty happy with an Eberlestock gunslinger. The large main pocket works well for bulky clothing. The rifle scabbard area carries my safety harness, tree stand straps, and pruning pole where I can get to them from the outside. The wrap-over top pocket carries license, light, knife, lunch, etc.
The only things I don't like are 1) like many hunting packs, it is heavy due to the fabric used, and 2) it's too flexible and cushy for packing heavy loads comfortably.
I have used a mountain smith fanny pack for 20 years now and have found nothing better for short sits. I also like the way the fanny pack helps keep the stand back away from my back when I walk in. It holds kill kit sent call 2 bottles of water if needed gloves snacks. Never comes off my body until I am. Safely in the tree
Haversack for my money is the best for shot hunt. Most bow hunters take too much to the woods with them.
(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b99/mule157/IMGP0050.jpg) (http://s17.photobucket.com/user/mule157/media/IMGP0050.jpg.html)
This haversack works great for me.
I use the stand as a pack ( straps) then hang my fanny pack over the upright metal works. A small bungee keeps it from bouncing. The fanny pack then straps around the tree at whatever height I want.
ChuckC
I use an ancient item you don't see anymore (I had to add extensions to the ties to fit me since mine dates to the 60s). It was a belt pouch in the back and two open pouches on each side. I keep my ropes and tree stand gear in the side pockets, trimming saw in the back. Water goes into a water bottle holder on belt and everything else goes in the various pockets.
Ive used a beat up old daypack I got from Cabelas back before they had stores all over the country. Id be lost without it.
Im not real picky. Whatever I have I will make work. Although I really dont like my pants pockets full of stuff.