Looking for a new backpack for elk hunting. I saw a badlands 2200. Anyone use one or have suggestions? I anticipate being out in Mtns for about 5 days. Three people going together. Hoping my son will pack the heavy stuff, :-)
Thanks, Gary
I have spent roughly $80 a year in search of the best "cheap" backpack. Wish I had just bit the bullet and bought the Kifaru Late Season Legacy a LONG time ago. Owning one now, I see no reason to ever buy a different pack. It is my carry on when flying, bag for family weekends and pack for hunting.
Are you going on a backpack hunt? Or are you hunting from a spot and going in everyday. On a backpack hunt I don't the 2200 would be big enough. I do like the Badlands stuff....I have a Diablo, but it's just a day pack.
Take a look at the eberlestock j34. It has a lot of great features. Starts as a 2300 cubic inch pack and can expand all the way up to 7500 cubic inches. I used it on my last elk adventure and spent 10 days up on the mountain and it worked great.
It is a backpack hunt for 5-7 days. The size of the 2200 was a concern when I looked at it, but I did like the way it fit. I do have one that can work, but it has seen better days so am thinking now might be the time to replace it.
I think you should be closer to 5000 for a backpack hunt.
Buy an ilbe pack off of the big auction site. It's the only sub-$400 pack I'd even consider on an elk hunt.
I would find a place where I could try a few on.....I'm thinking 5000 would big enough if you go light. I have a Kelty I use for 3-4 day hunts in the Adirondacks.....it expands to almost 7000. But there are lots of good ones out there. The guys on here will have more thoughts I'm sure. I wish my knees would let me do it more often....lol!
I used a Badlands 2200 on a seven day backpack elk hunt last year. With food, water and gear I was just under 56lbs. This year I am going on a nine day backpack elk hunt. I upgraded some gear and have everything weighed including the pack and I am just under 45lbs. I have used other packs but for a pack that can haul in camp, then day hunt with and haul out a quarter if you are lucky to get one down this pack is hard to beat.
Wow....I must take to much stuff..... :biglaugh:
QuoteOriginally posted by ron w:
Wow....I must take to much stuff..... :biglaugh:
I guess we all take to much stuff Ron. I would not think a 2200ci would make a hunt that long.
Different strokes for different folks. A tent, sleeping bag, and clean drawers would almost fill a 2200cu pack for me. I must wear pretty big drawers.
I second the ilbe pack. Just got mine and still adjusting it and figureing everything out. Looks to be a good pack with a lot of options.
I have an ILBE and a Eberlestock x1. If I was leaving tomorrow I would take the ILBE.
My sleeping bag is not in my pack but tied to the bottom on the outside. If you pack more than 50 lbs of gear for the 2200 you will need to strap some gear to the outside (I use a sleeping bag stuff sack). I will say that anything over 50 lbs is not real comfortable to haul in the 2200 but depending on the style of hunt I do I still find occasion to pack 50 plus pounds but never over 60 lbs. I have found that the mid 40 lbs in the 2200 is comfortable to haul and everything but the sleeping bag fits in the pack. When you go with a partner (or two like the original poster intends to do) you can split the shelter and other items which is what I will be doing this year. What is great about the 2200 is you don't have to drop a ton of money and it is still useable as a day pack.
There is an REI XT85 in the classifieds.
Measure yourself, and if the torso fit looks right do it.
You'll have a pack you can use for day pack but also carry out quarters comfortably.
The ILBE is a great pack, but a lot of weight. It's based on Arc'Teryx' Bora harness, and is bombproof and can be made into a hunter if you know what to cut off and where.
camofire.com has badlands a lot. I got my 2800 there. Over 40% off.
SOL bivy for a sleeping bag
Used a 1st generation Kifaru Late Season for several years and it was a great pack. Picked up a Mystery Ranch Crew Cab last year and I'm done buying packs!
QuoteOriginally posted by D.T.:
Used a 1st generation Kifaru Late Season for several years and it was a great pack. Picked up a Mystery Ranch Crew Cab last year and I'm done buying packs!
X2 on that one. I have a Dana Designs pack which was his company before Mystery Ranch and wow what a pack. If you want one that will last you a LONG time and carry your gear in for multiple days with as much comfort as possible....look at Mystery Ranch! They know how to design a pack. Make sure you look at all the options. Hunting, adventure and backpacking. Pay a little more than some
Of the standard Bass Pro / Cabellas packs but they are worth it.
Oregon pack works!
Used to be a badlands guy but no more!
Has anyone checked out the tenzing line of packs.
My buddy has the 1200 I believe and its a great and rugged day pack.
I just ordered a mystery ranch after doing alot of research. Should be here in a week or so...
I use and like the Day One backpack. Check them out online. I preferred the ASAT pattern in Bucksuede. You can carry a ton of stuff inside and out, rides great on your back. I really like the little inside pouches for those smaller items. Well worth the money.
I know Badlands, Mystery, and others have become big names- however, you all really owe it to yourself to check out reviews on Bruzer Gear. I have their midsize pack and am VERY impressed. I have nothing vested- check it out.
I have never been on a backpack hunt but I bought a couple weeks ago from Bass a huge Redneck backpack,7000 c.i,which is very comfy.I paid 90$!
sorry ,meant Readhead!
Tell me if you wanna see pics
El greco is that redhead pack the one with the plastic frame or the super sweet metal frame pack they just came out with?
Joe,
I tried to find Day One on the Internet, but found nothing.
I love my Eberlestock Warhammer. Great suspension system. Utilizes the Alice frame we used in the military. It's about 2k cuin as is but if you open up the load bay, you can zip in a duffel and double it's size. Or zip a duffel to the outside and use the load bay to haul gear or meat. (http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii498/tzolkosky/Toelke%20Lynx/j51duo_zpsd38e64fd.jpg)
(http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii498/tzolkosky/Toelke%20Lynx/Eberlestock-J51-Warhammer-Back_zps50f5ec65.jpg) (http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii498/tzolkosky/Toelke%20Lynx/DSCF2480_zps8ae598d6.jpg)
kuiu 1850 expands an extra with load sling.
(http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/u384/elgreco1981/P7220269_zps8e970d2a.jpg) (http://s1065.photobucket.com/user/elgreco1981/media/P7220269_zps8e970d2a.jpg.html)
(http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/u384/elgreco1981/P7220270_zps73b8df47.jpg) (http://s1065.photobucket.com/user/elgreco1981/media/P7220270_zps73b8df47.jpg.html)
The frame is plastic.Which is a goog thing because
it makes the backpack so much lighter.I have no clue if it will hold up in rough conditions,hauling 80-100 pounds but for 90 $ it was too sweet of a deal to pass.this thing is huge.
El Greco I bought that pack for my first elk hunt in '09. I returned it as soon as I got back. There is no support from the bottom so once loaded it all sags and puts a ton of pressure on your shoulders. The pack its self is great just poor design. They just released a new one you can only get on line so far but the new one is a far better pack and is only 200 bucks.
Kelly cache hauler. Bomb proof
Kuiu, lightest pack out there. Used it on an 8extra day bivy hunt with South Cox last year. Very comfortable and carried well. Hauled 50 lbs through some rugged stuff it performed well. Had a bad experience with badlands and although its a comfortable pack, won't ever buy one again. YMMV.
steadman,
Which Kuiu pack and frame did you have ?, even with the smallest pack, and carbon frame, it still weighs more that a Kifaru UL 3700, unfortunately the UL line is no longer available, but was last year. According to what I read on kuiu I can carry over a pound and have almost 1850 ci more room, no argument here just looking at the specs.
P.S. The UL 3700 will be going on a elk hunt this Sept. I also have various pockets, an E+E and a pod, which could expand it's carrying ability to over 5000 ci.
My 2200 is full on a day hunt, I haul more than I need, but I'm ready for just about everything.
Njloco it was the older carbon framed. It had the 5000 bag. I guess I should have said it's one if the lightest packs. Ive never seen or used a Kifaru so can't compare to that. I've used badlands and eberlestock and now have a KUIU. The KUIU fits me best. Packs are like everything else we use, everyone has their personal preference and what works best for them and what they've had the best luck with. Just throwing out an opinion of a guy who spends a lot of time on the mountain every year with a pack on.
The first and foremost consideration when buying a pack is the fit. Otherwise you will be very, very sore! Second is capacity. Consider what you carry daily, for the trip duration and what you may need to take out as well. This means expandability. Tied for second is probably durability. What good is any pack if it doesn't hold up to the rigorous demands day in and day out? Some brands have proven their worth in this regard year after year, Badland, Eberlestock and others. If at all possible, try before you buy with the average anticipated weight in it. This test will help to separate the boys from the men right away. But the real test will be when you hike up AND down the mountains with a full load!
I do like the idea of the separate carbon frame, then use what pack fits the trip, i'm no expert and only wish I could spend more time out camping and hiking. Being older, when it came time to buy, I tried to start with the lightest and best I could find, I knew about Kifaru but didn't think to spend that much, but the more I researched it the more the Kifaru gear made sense to me.
There is a lot of good gear out there, good luck with whatever you get.
I've used a badlands 2200 for a bunch of years- it is a good day pack and but a little small for extended trips. This summer I picked up a badlands sacrifice which is around 3450 cu in. This new pack works great for trips up to 5 days and all my gear has a place inside unlike the 2200- it also shrinks down pretty small to use as a day pack and is lighter then the 2200. Here's a picture of them side by side- the new pack is on the right- both are unloaded.
(http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll259/truxturning/image_zps4320d693.jpg)