Good evening TG. Sitting here bored at work, figured I would research packs. I am moving to Missoula in late July/early August of this year. I plan on hunting from my truck to start out with, and after I get comfortable enough will progress to 2-3 day hunts. I want a pack capable of being a daypack/meat hauler that carry as much weight as I am comfortable with. My search led me to these two brands. Has any ody used either of these brands? And if so any advice would be appreciated! :archer:
I suggest when you get to Montana, you go visit Kurt and Mark and try them both with day gear and a load. They are really at two completely opposite ends of the spectrum. I had hoped to drop by Kurt's to try the SG when I was mountain lion hunting, and he offered me his pack to use on the hunt itself, but my timing did not work out for that.
PM me and I will give you some other things to look for...
2 great packs. I say try them both and see which one you like better, look at features. Both have great customer service and look at Kifaru and Blacks Creek.
I heard somewhere that there is a shop in Missoula/Bozeman that sells "2nds" of MR packs at discounted prices, that also doesn't seem like a bad idea. Now if I can find someplace that sells top end glass at wholesale prices would be great :thumbsup:
Kifaru for me. Spent time on their board and the big auction site and save some money. Hill people gear is working on something right now to and if it is anything like their other offerings it deserves a hard look.
I did 8 days out of my longhunter in the Bob last Sept. And had no complaints. On a budget, I would run a marine corp ILBE and never look back.
I would also suggest checking out the Kifaru packs. I've got a longhunter with the load sling. Excellent pack. It will carry more weight than I can.
Mr Osminski, can I ask what you meant when you said the MR and Stone Glacier are at 2 different ends of the pack spectrum?
Stone Glacier is less than half the weight of a comparable Mystery Ranch. Also one year old company vs. 50 years of Dana Gleason.
Oh, and we should drop the Mr. Osminski stuff too! :campfire:
Wow thats pretty impressive! Lol sounds good! I just wish the Stone Glacier came in that multicam pattern it is sweet!
Seriously if you like multicam try an ILBE. $150 should net you a real clean pack that carries almost as well as the top shelf packs.
MR packs are bombproof. They are also HEAVY. I like the way my Kuiu Icon handles a load and its lighter than a badlands 2200 and holds more than 2x the stuff! I don't know much about SG, but as Steve said, MR is tried and proven.
KIFARU!
i have a standard timberline 2. you might want to check out the longhunter, timberline or the new high camp bags on either the duplex or new bikini frame. the options are endless.
with the bikini or duplex frame, a bag of your choice and a cargo panel you are set. when the game is on the ground you can do one load out with meat and gear then drop the bag at the truck then go back in with just the frame and cargo panel and pack the remaining meat out.
there are may modular pods and small bags that will clip straight onto the bags. the grab-it is another item that is very handy.
Can't say enough about my MR Crew Cab. Yes it's heavier than my Kifaru but.......packs like nothing else and you can't beat the versatility of the NICE frame. Pack weight hardly matters after you truly load it if it doesn't cary it comfortably. I would rather pack 90lbs and be comfortable than 88lbs and counting every step!
Good Luck!
I have a MR 6500 it is heavy but other than that i like it, it carries loads well and fits me great.
What about Badlands and Eberlestock ? Ive owned both and like both. But Ive never owned a Mystery Ranch or a Glacier. How do they all compair ? You guys might change my mind ! ;)
Nathan,
I carried a 93# load (Sitka Blacktail and day gear) in a Badlands 2200. I carried a slightly larger mule deer and day gear in a J107. Both carries were brutal and each left me looking to improve my system. BTW, that 2200 was way back when they were USA made; I would not even think of trying that with what they put out now.
I've had 3 versions of Eberlestock (x2, J104 and J107) and they are dandy packs until you get to about the 40# point. After that, they are horrid...in my experience compared to my Mystery Ranch or Kifaru packs.
I have talked to the owner of Stone Glacier and plan to give one a try at some point soon. He is a hardcore backcountry hunter and I believe he has refined and improved on the NICE frame system.
Thanks Steve ! That's great info and you have experience with them all !
Unless you have a short torso, it'll be tough to have functional load lifters with any MR out there. I would choose Kifaru over MR, but I'm intrigued by the stone glacier packs. There's a big review being done between the Stone Glacier and Kifaru as we speak that should be available in March. It'll be on rokslide's forum, I would wait until it shows up before I made a decision on a pack.
X2 on Mr. Steve O's comments (LOL)!!!
I used a Eberlestock Blue Widow on a Alaska hunt. Overall a good pack, but once the weights exceed 40-50lbs, it was brutal (at least for me). Summer before my hunt I trained by mowing the lawn, and walking with 50lbs of rocksalt in my Eberlestock. I was sore all summer! I figured it was just me, until I borrowed a friends Sitka45 pack. No issues with back or shoulders with 50lbs of rocksalt in that pack. After I realized, my issues were more with the pack then me, I began my search for a new pack.
I really liked the comfort of the Sitka45, but I wanted more cubic inches, plus the Sitka pack is "too busy", pockets everywhere!!
I ended up buying a Kifaru Timberline 5200. WOW! Night and day difference in quality from the Eberlestock (buckles, straps, stitching, material etc.)Plus, I can add pockets, pods, pouches etc. to the Kifaru. Took the Kifaru on a elk hunt fall of 2012, very comfortable with 50lbs inside. Plus it compresses nicely as a daypack on a extended backcounrty hunt.
I have no experience with MR, but I stayed away b/c of there overall pack weight. I am sure they are good packs.
My two cents......
chris <><
Everything is a comprise when it comes to packs. I personally like the Mystery Ranch. But, yes it is a heavy pack; however, for me it is one of the few packs that fits my personal frame. The other thing that I really like about Mystery Ranch is that you have have multiple bag options if you have a NICE frame.
Their are so many great packs that a lot of packs don't even get mentioned. Janssen Hard Core Hunt pack is one heck of a pack, but gets talked about very little. Best thing to do is pick a couple that you like and have them shipped to you to try on. Take the one that fits the best.
One other thing to add, how much weight do you intend to carry. I can do 100 lbs. fairly comfortably in my MR. I tried to do a mile with 200 lbs in it this summer, just about killed myself on this. Did the pack hold up yes, did I hold up somewhat. Bottom line is how often would I realistically ever have 200 lbs in the pack, probably never.
QuoteOriginally posted by Eagle48:
Unless you have a short torso, it'll be tough to have functional load lifters with any MR out there. I would choose Kifaru over MR, but I'm intrigued by the stone glacier packs. There's a big review being done between the Stone Glacier and Kifaru as we speak that should be available in March. It'll be on rokslide's forum, I would wait until it shows up before I made a decision on a pack.
The 6500 bag has frame extensions built into the bag and corrects that downfall of the NICE frame. It is not really a pack you are going to day hunt with. But, you can take the 6500 bag off and just use the lid and a load sling on the frame to day hunt, which is a nice light setup...no pun intended ;)
As much as I would like to buy a couple to try out, being basically a newlywed college kid funds sure are very tight. Looking like almost $2000 for everything-good pack, boots, bino's, kuiu clothing, processing utensils, game bags, water filtration, food etc etc. That isn't including tags and fuel :help:
Yes, the cost of gear can add up quickly. When I was in your shoes' (early 20's with little to no money), I did elk hunts and a sheep hunt, in clothes purchased at Tractor Supply. You don't NEED high end gear to be successful. However, some of this high end gear, can make the hunt more comfortable.
My advice spend the $$$ on boots (you only get one pair of feet, you need to take care of them). Then for the rest of your gear watch for online deals,either from "hunting" warehouses or backpacking warehouses, buy used from @bay, or here on TG in the classifieds.
Used clothing from Patagonia, Northface, Marmot etc are all over on @bay, just buy in olives or brownish colors.
Enjoy the process of figuring it all out. It's taken me almost 20yrs to get "all" my gear narrowed down, and in that 20yrs, I have hunted 9 different states.....javalina to bighorn sheep.
Lots of ways to save on gear, just get creative!!
chris <><
*$2000 being my budget if I really buckle down n not spend money on fruitless things
Hey, what happened to that 2nd job?
:biglaugh:
I won't get to keep all the funds from that, just a percentage so we can move to MT! Mayb a 3rd job is in order
I can't or won't own one of everything in this world. I'm pretty sure I'll never own a Stone Glacier pack, simply due to no need and no desire. I'm sure they are excellent packs.
I've carried Kifaru and they are solid. Mine was abhorrent when it came time to pack several loads of moose meat and a moose head. Nothing wrong with the pack, but I found way better options for that type of packing. I no longer own anything (pack) by Kifaru.
Last fall I carried a Mystery Ranch Dragonslayer as my primary all-day hunting pack. It is one of the finest packs I've ever owned, and I simply love the comfort level it affords. I would replace it immediately if lost, and wouldn't consider a different pack.
Mr. Dill have you had a chance to pack out meat with your MR?
I don't use that MR pack for heavy meat loads. After a lot of expensive experimentation, I've landed on the side of rigid aluminum pack frames for hauling big meat loads. Not necessary for the occasional meat load. The semi-flexible frames found in MR, Kif, KUIU, E-stock and others allows the load to move laterally more than I like. No matter what I did in terms of fitting, the flex frame (my term) packs would dig into my shoulders with hundred pound meat loads. The rigid aluminum frame has enough vertical support to keep the shoulder straps from digging in, so long as the hip belt is doing what it should.
Some will differ with me on this of course. There is not one pack that is both: an ideal day-hunting pack and a heavy meat hauler. You give up some of one to get more of the other.
I spent weeks diligently researching packs for a recent trip. I spent hours pouring over features and measurements provided online and narrowed my choice to a single very high end pack.
I went in to my local REI and the folks loaded up the pack and there was zero chance I would be able to use it! I then pulled down a lower cost Dueter and got it adjusted and it fit like a glove with sand bags and all. I walked around the store for an hour or so and even tried on a pair of boots while wearing it.
Obviously, you are looking at other packs but the point is that nothing else matters till you put it on your back and load it up. Some packs just fit certain body shapes better than others and you cannot determine that from measurements or features alone.
That makes sense, I just want to have a few packs narrowed down that have the festures I would like, then narrow it down by fit
The new MR Dragonslayer (X framed) is a great day/overnight pack, very well thought out, comfortable & durable. Used mine a lot this last fall, though unfortunately didn't get to pack any meat with it. Confident it'll handle a boned out deer or 70lb elk load....hopefully next year.
FWIW: The MR Longbow pack is a decent compromise pack for the hunter who wants an actual frame/harness with attached bag. It's slightly bigger than the Dragonslayer and weighs a pound more (approx) but will carry a larger meat load. These 2 packs are both built with a very slim profile and they 'hide' nicely behind the body.