Ok did a bunch of searches and hadn't found the answer to my question. Also haven't been able to get ahold of Angelo at Bison Gear.
Anyways, for those that have or had the Lost River pack, does the small compartment on the middle of the maincompartment zip open to reach into the main compartment or is it just a small compartment?
Another question is the Lost River any bigger than the first trip explorer? I've had the chance to handle the First trip explorer and was just curious to how it compares to the Lost river for size.
Thanks in advance.
The smaller outer pocket does not allow access to the larger main compartment in my lost river. I'm sure Angelo could do that for you. The lost river is larger than the fte in my understanding. I love my lost river pack!
The Lost River is bigger, but I use my FTE as my standard pack, with five meat bags, two knifes, a full survival kit, medical kit, rope, poncho, spare plastic bags for heart/liver/kidneys, two quart platypus bag of water, two contractor trash bags for sheltering out a bad storm, warm hat, neck gaiter, compass, GPS, fleece jacket, food, and other stuff--and that's with the side panniers detached. I only use them if I'm going out in heavy rain or bivying. I like having a very low profile pack that doesn't hang up as I twist and duck through thick brush, and I regularly cinch a fleece and/or shell on top. The Lost River would allow easy bivying, warmer clothes, full rain suit, etc. with some cost to your profile and to convenience. They are excellent, excellent packs, and the seamstress whom Angelo employs here in MT will likely undertake any mod you want. She is terrific and highly skilled.
Oh, I forgot one headlamp and one flashlight, extra batteries for everything, a windshell for my upper body, and a sea to summit eVent liner for the first carry of meat--again, in the FTE without side pockets.
One of the special things about the Lost River is that, using the built in game bag, you expand the capacity upwards to where you can carry a pretty huge load out, when needed, but not have a huge pack the whole rest of the time. The belts, straps etc are well placed and really distribute the weight well.
That feature is why I bought mine. The rest, like the way it is put together are bonuses
ChuckC
Thanks for the replies, just what i was looking to hear. I'm really looking forward to this pack.
I had the same thoughts as you prior to purchasing my Lost River and have absolutely no regrets. Best hunting pack I have ever purchased bar none. You won't regret your choice.
Cobie
Jason, Rusty and I all have Lost River model packs and simply love them. We've used them on Moose, elk, deer, bear, well you get the idea. They go everywhere we go.
You will not be disappointed on one of these for many years of use.
Mike
I have had both and they are awesome. I like the FTE best as it's more compact and I like the two compartments as it's easier to separate my items with water bladder in the top. Great pack on any mountain hunt or any hunt when compact gear is needed.
I don't mean to hijack, but can the lost river be attached to a pack frame? I have back problems and can only use a ridged pack frame.
George
Well I got the Lost River pack. Wow what a nice pack and made really well. Haven't really had thwe chance to use other than took it stump shooitng and it felt great. Angelo can adapt them to fit frames if needed I was told. One of these days I'm gonna paly with it and see how it would attach to my Kifaru frame.
It looks like the game bag is a different material, correct? So is the whole inside of the big compartment that material? Just wondering if you put meat in there if its easy to clean out or if it blood soaks the wool?
The game bag is removable by unclipping two clips. Game bag material is alot like a sleeping bag compression sack material. But the pack is still lined with a different type of nylon or something like that.