What's on your back?

[WapitiTalk1]

Daypack until you get something down? All in one pack that compresses down as a daypack but expands to take that first load of meat out? Curious to see what my elknut forum bros (and sisters) are strapping on their backs as they head into the elk woods in September. I'll be deploying an Eberlestock Blue Widow for the first time this year. RJ

[Jahnke76]

Blue Widow here as well.

[Broken arrow]

Blue widow as well

[elkaholic]

Guess I am the odd man out with a BL 2200 on mine. After reading all the Eberlestock comments on here I am thinking I may look at a new pack for next season.

[N5J]

X1 Eberlestock pack for day pack and first load of meat out. Then I switch to my keltys cache hauler pack frame for the rest.

N5J

James

[foxvalley]

Sitka flash 20 day pack, and then for packing meat out we use the alaska freighter frame as we use the alaskan to pack into camp.

[ElkNut1]

Eberlestock X2, I can take a load out from the kill site & yet it functions great as a daypack. It is also great for 3 days 4 nights worth of gear if needed!

ElkNut1

[dreamingbig]

Another Eberlestock x2 here.

[bowpackerrob]

Eberlestock slingshot for the short trips and a Jansen Hardcore pack for the extended trips with a frame. Still debating on the MR Longbow or the crewcab.

[eltaco]

Sitka Flash 20 for my everyday use day pack. I have a Cabelas Alaskan frame back at camp for the packout. If we're fortunate enough to have a third guy along, we send one guy back for the frames while the other two do cleanup on the elk. Makes for a couple more miles, but so far has worked out really well for us!

[>>>---WW---->]

Mystery Ranch CrewCab for me. Wish I had bought it 15 years ago instead of wasting all that time and money on inferior packs over the years.

[pointysticks]

badlands 2800..one load back...and then saddle up with an old school jansport frame pack.

i think my 2800 can take a big load tho.

[2OArchery]

I will be rockin the X2. It can easily haul out a quarter for the first load. I also have a Cabelas pack frame for packing out the rest. I like the X2 because its no too big and bulky, but still can carry a heavy load.

[planebow]

Another Eberlestock x2 here

[tracker12]

Badlands Superday

[cnelk]

Badlands Superday

Me too...

[dotman]

Well thanks to the OP I'll be using a Kifaru KU5200.

[WapitiTalk1]

Well thanks to the OP I'll be using a Kifaru KU5200.

Glad I could help out. And, thanks again for the good deal on the BW

[dotman]

well it was either that or your were going to break my legs a week before the season starts jk

[mattstanton]

The rei xt 85 is a 5400ci pack that comes in just over 5lbs and has great suspension and compresses down to nothing when empty. love this pack

[Spike elk]

Recently converted from a BL 2200 to an X2. It fits me better.

[JohnFitzgerald]

And another Eberlestock x2. I can use it as a day pack, meat packer, or a bivy pack.

[MTLongdraw]

Has anybody heard anything about the new company out of Bozeman called KRUX? Seem to be a extra heavy duty pack similar to MR. I've heard they have been loaded up to over 350 pounds and didn't fail. Sounds like the company is just getting started.

[WindedBowhunter]

Mystery Ranch Crew Cab, one pack many different ways of carrying the pack!

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=159

[sockeye]

Eberlestock J-34.

[ARwarden259]

Mystery Ranch Longbow

[BobcatJerry]

Eberlestock Blue Widow. I have a badlands 2200 I'll sell ya, didn't fit me well. Long torso.

[stringunner]

x2 this year, have worn it out on several scouting trips and love it. I only 5'7" and have a 30 inch waste and this pack fits better than anything else I have put on. I also love the versatility if it being a great day pack, 2-3 bivy, and/or meat hauler if need be.

[stykbow67]

Bison Gear Lemhi for me, used it on a quik scouting trip last weekend for the first time and seemed to work well.

Steve

[Solitude]

A monkey after tag soup last year!

[one_elk]

Sitka bivy 45

[6t4nova]

Kifaru DT1

[Lefty]

A ten year-old Crookedhorn, maybe 11

[drrandypepper]

Badlands 2800. Works great. Kelty cache hauler for second trip.

[Dor]

Sitka Flash 30

Alaska Extreme Frame from cabelas at camp.

[Chukarhunter]

I've got a BL Superday, BL 2200, and an Eberlestock J-34. Of the three, I like the J-34 the best. Definitely the most comfortable (I'm 6'-6. 225 lbs), and will carry the most weight with the most comfort on the first trip back. Then I grab my Cabela's frame and go from there.

[Freebird134]

Badlands Ox.

[mlauber]

Mystery Ranch Crew Cab......it is a hauling machine! Love this pack!

Moving through mountains for a few day my Sitka Flash 32 is a nice touch. Easy to draw your bow with it on your back when you bump in to them.

[pointysticks]

badlands 2800.

it's alright. i dont think i'll ever break it.

[LNGBOWFLYER]

MR Longbow. If I could divorce my wife and marry this pack I would. It's a pack I can use as a day pack of a 4 day bivy pack and either way I can still haul out a 1/4 of an elk. Comfortably I might add. Oh and the internal pockets are absolutely amazing.

[NH Hunter]

BL 2200. Been using it for a while and I don't hunt enough to wear it out. I'll be using it for a while unless my son "adopts" it.

[FireWillie77]

Horn Hunter G2 MAQ quiver pack

[Gevärssmed]

My favorite is the BL 2200.
For short trips BL Nano -or- BL Monster.
For longer trips BL 4500.

[ferris bugler]

Camelback cloudwalker or a Platypus 9.0. If it's an overnight I use a Granite gear 3000ccm pack.

[pointysticks]

i have now packed out a heavy meat load with my Badlands 2800!! the thing is amazing!. i pulled out the blaze orange "leaf" out of the bottom pocket and secured an entire elk hind on my back. we had no proper cutting tools besides the knives..so as rookies we took the hinds and shoulders out with the shank and hoof attached..so HEAVY! my pack was comfy!! the load puts the hips belt firmly into your hips..my shoulders only kept it all from tipping back. i love it.

how you take off a hoof at the "knee" will be a question in another thread

[Broken arrow]

Pointysticks you can completely disassemble any critter with a decient knife minus sawing off antlers. You just cut between the joints.

[Vanish]

I believe Fred Eichler shows how to remove the lower leg in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGCAY5Amvn4

I packed out with a Badlands 4500. It handles really well at 80-100 pounds, I was happy about that. Not so happy at having that much weight on my back, but you do what you must.

[pointysticks]

I believe Fred Eichler shows how to remove the lower leg in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGCAY5Amvn4

I packed out with a Badlands 4500. It handles really well at 80-100 pounds, I was happy about that. Not so happy at having that much weight on my back, but you do what you must.

i should have watched this BEFORE my trip. thanks.

[ElkNut1]

Unless very close to roads in high heat I'd recommend hide removal!!!!

ElkNut1

[Dirty D]

I use my BL 4500 for most everything.

Most of our hunts are "bivy" style so I really only consider taking one pack. Then if we end up setting up a small spike camp, I dump all the gear I don't need, cinch it down as tight as possible and call it a daypack.