Help me choose a pack

[Huntrgathr]

I've always been a minimalist and a utilitarian. I've hunted for a long time now ( elk,deer, bear, predators, birds, sheds...) with a very small daypack (Camelbak Fouteener). It's tiny by just about any standard. Just big enough for:
100 oz water
spotter
tripod
Havalon
Cel
vest
100' para cord
3-5 game bags
Sometimes food
Emergency crap ( TP and a lighter)
I can still pack out a 1/4 elk or 1/2 deer in this pack if I get one down. Then I come back with the pack frame.

If I go multi-day ( which I do less and less now. I found I can be more mobile and adaptable by camping at roads and hiking in 2-5 miles everyday) I'll throw the same pack over an Alaskan Guide frame, lash all my sleeping and cookin crap to it in small duffles and go in like that. Either way, I leave the frame behind 90% of the time unless I'm hunting elk sheds or on the final day of a hunt...
I've never minded this pack system too much. It works. And it hurts. In sure there's got to be a more comfortable set up that will come close to having the same versatility. Also, I got a much lighter dog gun that I want to pack regularly on shed hunting and scouting trips.

Sooo, that's kinda my style ... Here's what I need the pack to do/be good for...

Fit a 30" waist
Able to carry a rifle
Big game hunting - able to pack 90+ lbs
Shed hunting ( deer and elk )
Bladder compatible
Compact/lightweight
Padded, easy access to spotter
Convertible / component system ( make it big or small)
QUIET, QUIET, QUIET Fabric, zippers... ( It's that important )
Don't care for waist belt pockets
Don't need tons of pockets in general

I think that's about it. I've done a little preliminary looking around. The Hornhunter system that Paul reviewed looks enticing but I don't want anything behind my head...
Eberlestock - can't remember the model name now...
Kifaru - probably not...

Anyway, I've rambled enough. What say you Elknuts ?

[ST52V]

It seems to a good time to pick up a pack right now. Lots for sale on the rokslide classifieds and ebay ect. Just before Christmas I picked up a kuiu 6000 for $280 to my door. If I could just find a 3000 bag. I have not had any time to test it on any hikes yet but I think it will fit my needs. If not I can probably sell it and not lose any money.

[G Posik]

Look into the stone glacier packs. I use them and they are top quality and very comfortable. Warranty is unbeatable.

Glenn

[kevin_t]

Granted I am the manufacturer, but you should check out the Paradox Packs http://seekoutside.com/lightweight-backpacks/. We have a "Talon" function that is daypack and we have a very robust frame / suspension so it could replace the Alaskan Guide frame and provide better load handling at a much lighter weight. Our build quality is very high. We really stress making a pack that can handle years of use.

Kevin

[Huntrgathr]

Kevin, everything sounded great until I looked at the Talon "daypack". No waist belt ? Not bladder compatible ? Kind of a deal breaker...

Maybe the ultralight 4800..

[jmez]

I'd second the Stone Glacier based on your wants/needs.

[Mikeha33]

I have the Eberlestock Blue Widow, or "JP9" and I loved it last year for a week in CO. There aren't a ton of pockets, but the pack alone is pretty good sized, around 4700 cubic inches. I think the feature I like most about it is that I can zip on the Super Spike duffel, and make it about 7600" if needed, but easily take it off, and compress it down for day hunting, hiking, packing loads,(I haven't put an animal in it yet, but I've put 100 lbs on it several times and it carried well). Its bladder compatible with 2 pouches in the actual pack made for bladders, and 1 pack in the detachable fanny pack that will hold a bladder as well. The back of the pack has a zippered pouch that accepts a rifle scabbard that lashes or clips into the molle webbing, and is very secure and comfortable. I bow hunt, but I put a gun in my scabbard for a long hike, just to see what it was like, and it was hard to tell it was even there. There are no hip belt pockets on it, but molle webbing, in case you want to add a holster, knife, etc.
I picked mine up used, with several accessories for a really good price, and have been very pleased so far. Check it out, the company is a good one to boot.

[jmez]

I have a Blue Widow as well and the empty pack weighs almost 9 lbs. Stone Glacier Approach has more ci, a better more versatile frame and weighs 3.5 lbs.

Blue Widow is a good pack but I wouldn't put it in the minimalist category.

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

Mystery Ranch Crewcab with NICE frame and detachable frame extender. If I would have known they were coming out with the extender, I would have never let mine go. The pack goes from about 1900 cu in - I think around 5200 cu in.

[kevin_t]

Kevin, everything sounded great until I looked at the Talon "daypack". No waist belt ? Not bladder compatible ? Kind of a deal breaker...

Maybe the ultralight 4800..

The Talon daypack has a bladder compartment, so I'm not sure where that information came from. It does not have a real waist belt though, as that is not needed on a small pack that is shorter than your torso. You can buckle it , for more stability, but even that provides very little. The Talon day is actually based more on an ultra long distance runners pack as far as shape and cut, so it's very stable on it's own.

[FemoralArchery]

Granted I am the manufacturer, but you should check out the Paradox Packs http://seekoutside.com/lightweight-backpacks/. We have a "Talon" function that is daypack and we have a very robust frame / suspension so it could replace the Alaskan Guide frame and provide better load handling at a much lighter weight. Our build quality is very high. We really stress making a pack that can handle years of use.

Kevin

I have the evo frame as well as a base talon. Its great. I can carry everything I need for a day hunt in the base talon. If I need more clothes, I just strap them down with the compression straps. I've worn it all day for day hunts and its very comfortable and light.

[Huntrgathr]

Is there anywhere to try on these Paradox packs ? I'm finding a lot of the pack makers are only selling through online...

[RockChucker30]

If you're in the Southeast or near Colorado it will be easy to try one, just PM me or Kevin.

We're also planning to be at SHOT, I was at ATA last week, and we will probably be at the wild sheep show in BC as well as at the AT Trail Days in March.

We do offer a 30 day money back guarantee, so if you don't like it you're only out the shipping.

Nathan

[Huntrgathr]

If you're in the Southeast or near Colorado it will be easy to try one, just PM me or Kevin.

We're also planning to be at SHOT, I was at ATA last week, and we will probably be at the wild sheep show in BC as well as at the AT Trail Days in March.

We do offer a 30 day money back guarantee, so if you don't like it you're only out the shipping.

Nathan

I'm in Idaho. Will you be at the Hunt Expo in Utah ?

[Huntrgathr]

Anyone have experience with the Eberlestock " Just One Pack " ?

[Olydog09]

Anyone have experience with the Eberlestock " Just One Pack " ?

Pretty much the same thing as the Blue Widow but tailored a bit more towards gun hunting.

If you are short maybe a Mystery Ranch Crew cab. I just ordered the Horn Hunter and have a new Kifaru Bikini frame with Timberline 1 bag I am going to compare it against. If you keep an eye on Rokslide right now there are a lot of good pack deals because everyone wants the newer models that just came out. Good luck

[ChukarNUT]

I have a horn hunter full curl...it doesnt ride high behind my head...they are adjustable. with any full size pack--as in, a pack that could be used for multi day adventures--but also serves as an awesome elk day pack that will still allow you to pack out a 100#s ---they all are going to ride a little behind your head---nature of the beast. if you dont like that then small traditional daypacks are best--but kill your first load out capacity. i have used and tested all sorts of packs the last few years going from daypacks, backpacking specific packs (best made by far BTW), to the new and popular hunter specific high end packs (kifaru-mystery ranch-etc). if im buying a pack specifically to hunt off my back in the backcountry for multiple days hands down going with a backpacking specific pack--gregory, granite gear, osprey, etc--they are far superior than kifaru and the other high end packs targeted at the must have hunters....but IMO the horn hunter full curl is the best designed pack for elk hunters due to the fact it will carry a very very heavy load comfortably, and is laid out well for day hunts, but does allow you to have the capacity for long, multi day hunts...but the meat haul on this pack is the best ive seen yet. the belt could be better--but once broke on and formed to you gets alot better. thats the only downside ive found yet and ive hauled some serious pounds in meat in mine this fall.

[NCelkhtr]

I just looked on Kuiu's web site (I cant afford it but I like to look lol). they have 2 packs on their outlet tab for less than half price. one 7000 cubic inch and one 5200 cubic inch i think. Both are $300, that includes the pack and the carbon fiber frame.

[RockChucker30]

I'm in Idaho. Will you be at the Hunt Expo in Utah ?

We don't have plans to go to Hunt Expo at this time, but that could change depending on scheduling.

Where are you at in Idaho?

[Huntrgathr]

Rockchucker - I'm in the Boise area.

Thought I might get off cheap with the Eberle "Gunrunner" on my cabelas frame. No go. I tried it without the frame and it almost killed me. Having that 8-10" of scabbard hanging off the bottom is a BAD idea. Snagged it constantly and it almost threw me face first down the rocky canyon I was descending. That rules out most of the Eberlestock packs except the X2, which I exchanged the Gunrunner for. The Gunrunner is a really poorly designed pack. I won't go in to too much detail but here's a couple highlights -

Top lid wants to dump it's contents every time you open.
Sternum strap popped off its attachment and is really hard to reattach.
Very little cargo space with zero expandability.
Pull back waist belt instead of pull forward.

Honestly , nothing good to say about the Gunrunner.

[Huntrgathr]

Trying out the Eberlestock X2 now. It's obvious I will need a scabbard of some kind. I don't want any portion of the rifle hanging down below my waist. Any good scabbards/ rifle containment add-ons you guys can recommend ?

[itsnlkthing]

I used the Kifaru gun bearer on my internal frame pack and it did a great job. I went through a lot of rough country, dead fall, etc. without a problem. Scope is protected well and you can rapidly remove for a shot if needed. The weight is also transferred to the hip belt.

[Pac8541]

Have any of you used the Kifaru Zulu on any of your hunts? Its in their tactical line and comes in at 3200 c.i. and 4lb 5ozs. I've got one that I used overseas on 4 deployments and although its not expandable/convertible/superloadoutskycrane-ish, it does have the ability to be massively over filled. Any load would have to be able to fit inside the main compartment though. Just wondering how its worked out. I really don't need to spend that kind of money on another one...