I'd like to buy a good quality pack "once" without having to try several different models.
I have a large U.S.issue pack but I know there is something better out there.
I could tell you the best pack for elk, but it doesn't qualify for the "light" designation.
ChuckC
Depends on how long you want to be out in the woods. But I would look at the Eberlestock "Blue Widow", Badlands "Sacrifice", and what Oregon Pack Works is offering in the "Orion". The Oregon Pack Works packs are made in Oregon...what a surprise!
IMO? the Eberlestock x2,.
Joshua
Ok thanks guys, I'll check those out. I want one that is compartmentalized well with plenty of room to pack meat out and is more comfy than my uncle sam model.
I really like my eblerlestock dragon fly "just one". Works as a day pack to and multi day pack and will haul a load(quarters) comfortable. Very versitable.
Badlands! H
I love the Badlands Superday Pac! Not light but not heavy! I can hunt all day with that pack loaded with 25lbs and I am comfortable! :bigsmyl:
The Badlands Sacrifice is just a little under 4lbs! They have some special light weight metal for the internal staves in the pack. Suppose to be very well built, but light. They will be ready to ship in May/June.
http://oregonpackworks.com/packs_in_action.php
Check out the video section on Oregon Pack Works to see what they have to offer. It is a modular pack system that was designed by avid backcountry hunters. I had the opportunity to load one up with 60+ lbs at a Expo Show and walk around. They seem like a well designed and well built pack. The guys are very helpful and excited about what they have to offer. Their story is they kept buying and selling packs because they could never find one that fit all their needs...so they built one!
I have the Dwight Schuh Mega Pack! Had it for a few years now! It is built on a hard plastic/flexible frame, and comes with a 2lit water bladder, main pack, and fanny pack, all which are easily removed for when you only wanna use the frame to pack out your meat! Paid $150 i think!
Just switched to the Sitka bivy 45, love it!
Mystery Ranch are great packs.
Dump that rucksack for sure. Worst designed pack the military never should have used! I have a Badlands Diablo that I use a lot for one day and overnight trips that is working really well for me.
A bunch of really good packs out there. There's no reason that you should get one without a lifetime warranty, so rule out the ones that don't have it. My vote is with jhg and the X2 from Eberlestock. It's important to me that I can carry a quarter out on the first trip and the vented back is great for those of us that are glandularly excessive :)
Check out Bruzer Gear packs. I bought their day pack a couple years ago and really like it. Going to their next bigger one when work picks up.
Where is the badlands sacrifice made? I really like the weight of the badlands compared to the eberlestock Blue widow but like the extra room of the widow.
Eberlestock offers a military discount too:
"We offer a 10% discount for orders made by the U.S. government, and by government personnel including military and law enforcement. The criteria for this is that the item is being purchased by a currently employed military professional, for personal professional use. Orders made to our online store can have the discount amount applied to them, upon request".
I had the the Eberlestock J105 and it was a good pack, but I like Blacks Creek Canadian pack better. It has plenty of pockets, carries great, and has an expansion chamber to carry out meat. My vote would be Blacks Creek.
The BL's Sacrifice looks to be made similar to an Osprey pack. There was a great review and picture spread showing the pack layout and material. Great for a 3000cuin daypack, but not enough suspension for a lot of weight IMO.
Speaking of Osprey, don't discount older expedition packs like Dana Designs or Mountainsmith, not to mention the new expedition packs out there. A simple camo ruck cover can hide a lot.
Kifaru and Mystery Ranch are TOPS - great suspension, great build quality, and made in America. I've already got one, just working on the other...
I'm thinking of going with the sacrifice or maybe the 2800.
Personally, I would rather carry a pack that is 5% of the time too small and gets "maxed out" (carrying out that first quarter or packing into a spike camp) than carry a pack that is 99.99% of the time too big, like when we are actually hunting elk, dayhiking, or over-nighting.
Everyone is different of course. Taking the kitchen sink, or not, is always a choice we as individuals make every hunt.
Joshua
Kifaru or mystery ranch are top notch!
If your interested in some advice from Backpacker, April issue is theie Gear Guide and it has about 17 pages on packs alone. You'll find names, websites, phone no. specifications and all kind of info. It has been out for a month but you may find it at the larger book sellers, Boarders, Barnes & Noble, or your local library.
Whatever you choose, I'd suggest you buy through Whip at PrairieTrad!
Jim, unless they have changed something their packs are made in vietnam.
Seconded on buying from Whip at Prairie Trad!
www.prairietrad.com (http://www.prairietrad.com)
Badlands are made in Vietnam?
Elerbestock x2 is tops! Got mine from Joe @ Prarie Traditions, one of our awesome sponsors.
As others have said, it depends on what you are going to do. Packing 10 mi in for a week requires a lot more pack than day/overnight trips in Oregon, New Mexico, Arizona, etc. I have used a half dozen different brands, and every one is a compromise. But for what I do, the Kifaru Spike Camp is the best I have found.
Lots of great info here guys thank you.
Jim,
A guy with the handle of The Elk Reaper has a great series of threads on just what you are looking for, load haulers for elk/mountain hunting. It has gone to four threads to cut down on the loading time. It is called, "2010 PACK REVIEWS" over on another site, and here are the URLs for the threads. Get yourself a beer, make a sammich and settle down to read lots of good information on a variety of packs and manufacturers, plus some info you probably didn't know.
http://forums.bowsite.com/TF/bgforums/thread.cfm?threadid=379652&messages=179&forum=5
http://forums.bowsite.com/TF/bgforums/thread.cfm?threadid=381371&forum=5
http://forums.bowsite.com/TF/bgforums/thread.cfm?threadid=382025&forum=5
http://forums.bowsite.com/TF/bgforums/thread.cfm?threadid=382873&forum=5
Snakeeater
For me there are two ways to go here, depending on how/where you hunt. Carry a small, light pack that you can do a first carry of loins and backstraps in (then bring your big back in from the truck)or carry a really substantial pack, maybe one that folds up reasonably small as a day pack. I carry a Nimrod guide pack I like a lot for the first application and a modified Mystery Ranch or old Kelty frame pack for the second. Two things you don't want are 1)to rely on an inadequate, uncomfortable pack for multiple carries or 2) have a light pack break up on you with no fallback. There are better places to cut weight from than the pack. I'd rather lose 5 lbs myself than lose it off the pack.
Nimrod makes a great pack, that you can add parts to or take off with very little effort. Got mine a few years ago and am always surprised at how verisatle it is.