Bivy/backpack hunting gear

[VT Sasquatch]

I am starting to put some plans together for a backpack or bivy hunt for deer before Christmas. I am planning to hunt in an northeastern state (not sure which one yet - maybe Ohio, Maryland or NY) on a large tract of public land using a muzzleloader. I have a lot of gear already but I want to go light and not set up a base camp.

My thought is to track or still hunt all day and sleep where I happen to be when it gets dark. I have a goretex bivy, sleeping pads, some fairly warm sleeping bags, stove, etc. Rather than bring a tent (weight is less of an issue than me oversleeping in the morning) I will use the bivy. I am expecting overnight temps around 20ish. Is it crazy to use a bivy and 5 F bag in that weather?

Can anyone here recommend gear that I should bring? Backpack suggestions without getting too expensive? I have a couple decent packs but they are either full sized backpacks (non camo) or smaller daypack types (Eberlestock X2, Eberlestock Transformer). I am thinking that I should look for something in the 4,000 cubic inch range.

[VT Sasquatch]

Right now I am looking at the Eberlestock Dragonfly (although I'd rather spend less). Does anyone have experience with this pack? Can it fit a cold-weather sleeping pad inside without me having to strap it on the outside?

[husky390]

I like Eberlestock packs but have a big issue with them and that is they don't adjust "tall" enough for me. I'm 6'1" and their load lifters do not work for me which becomes an issue with anything more than 30-40lbs in the pack. I had a Gunslinger and I also did not like how my calves would hit the barrel when my gun was stowed in the pack and I stepped over logs. I gave that pack to my nephew and picked up a Halftrack which is okay but I primarily use that as a daypack to ride on the back of my quad as I'd rather destroy that pack than my Kifaru or Stone Glacier. YRMV.
The good news is, for the price of the Eberlestock you're interested in, you can get a helluva nice pack right now if you watch the classifieds on certain hunting forums. Most of the seasons have closed and guy's are dumping their Kifaru, Stone Glacier, EXO, and KUIU packs now.
My motto for packs is "bigger is better" so the smallest I would go is 5,000ci. One of the main reasons I go with big packs is that when I want to pull up stakes and move out, I don't want to waist time playing Tetris with my gear as I'm trying to stuff it into my pack. This can become a huge issue if you're bringing extra clothes for late season hunts.

As far as sleep systems go, I use a Big Agnes Q-core insulated air mattress and an Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20 degree quilt. The Q- core pad insulates me from the ground and the quilt has kept me very warm when temps dropped down to the teens one night. I sleep hot, so I'm sure it would be fine in even colder temps, again, YRMV.

I've never slept in a bivy but two recurring themes I see about them on forums is 1. They're no fun to stay in if it's raining and you need shelter and 2. Some have condensation issues. I'd bring a tent for backup to keep in the truck just in case.

Hope this helps and good luck to you.

[VT Sasquatch]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Does anyone have experience with Sitka packs? I'm looking at used packs and see one for sale. I know Sitka has a good reputation for clothing but I'm a little bit leery of buying a backpack from a clothing company.

What about Tenzing? They look to be less expensive.

[VT Sasquatch]

Okay, I ordered a Kuiu Icon Pro 5200. Hopefully it will be good for backpack hunts. It wasn't reallya pack that I was looking at but with 30% off I figured I would take a chance.

[Mathewsz7-elkridge]

I would have sold you mine for $300 with a spike duffle. I like my elberstock dragonfly only reason I want to get rid of it is the weight.

[VT Sasquatch]

I'm fat anyway so a couple extra pounds are no big deal. I didn't see anything in the classifieds so I pulled the trigger on the Kuiu. Both look like good packs. I have the X2 and the F1 mainframe with a Transformer pack. I use and love both. I hope I like the Kuiu as much.

[WapitiTalk1]

Okay, I ordered a Kuiu Icon Pro 5200. Hopefully it will be good for backpack hunts. It wasn't reallya pack that I was looking at but with 30% off I figured I would take a chance.

Nice! A very good deal on a rock solid pack. It'll serve you well for many, many years.

[Mathewsz7-elkridge]

I'm fat anyway so a couple extra pounds are no big deal. I didn't see anything in the classifieds so I pulled the trigger on the Kuiu. Both look like good packs. I have the X2 and the F1 mainframe with a Transformer pack. I use and love both. I hope I like the Kuiu as much.

Yeah I have been putting off selling it. Still using it but would sell it at anytime just figured the demand for it right now isn't very high.

[VT Sasquatch]

More questions: I got the pack in and it looks good. I don't like the fabric as much as I do on the Eberlestock packs but it is definitely lighter. Anyway, I have experience backpack hunting but I have always packed out a couple miles and set up a base camp. I am putting the plans together for a true bivy hunt where I will carry all of my gear on my back and sleep where I end up at the end of the day. I am hunting in the East and bivy hunting is less common because a lot of deer hunting is done on small plots of land where you are never more than a mile from your truck or camp.

So here are my questions: Is it possible to sleep in reasonable comfort in 15-20 degree temps without a tent? If so, do I need anything more than a bag, bivy sack and sleeping pad? I am thinking a wool hat might help too. Is there any other gear that I need to keep from freezing? Some kind of tarp in case of rain maybe?

[WapitiTalk1]

VT, I would think a 15-20 degree bag would be fine for many late season applications. I have a 15 degree Marmot that has served me well down into the upper 20s. If you add a silk bag liner (they weigh almost nothing), you can pump the warmth up a bit also if needed. Obviously, a wet bag won't serve you well. You may wish to look at a lightweight tarp to pitch during your planned bivy outings. I know VIAM Outdoors makes some dandy lightweight tarps that I think are very reasonably priced. They're one of our sponsors so please give em a look. They also have a good selection of other lightweight/reasonably priced backcountry gear you may wish to review.

http://www.viamoutdoors.com/

[VT Sasquatch]

Thanks Phantom. I have done a fair amount of winter camping but have always packed heavy (sometimes using a pulk). I have several sleeping bags but I sleep cold. I have a bulky -20 synthetic bag that I use on winter trapping trips. I also have a bulky 0 degree synthetic bag that is rectangular so better suited to car camping. I bought a down bag rated to 5 F recently and found it to be reasonably warm at around 30 degrees but I haven't gone colder in it. I think I might try it this weekend for kicks and see how it does. I also have a Wiggy's overbag that I could potentially bring that might add a few degrees of warmth. I need to save some money and invest in a high quality down bag (I wish I was born rich).

Also, have any of you ever tried a vapor barrier in a down bag?

Thanks for the tips. I love the outdoors but don't have the experience of a lot of you guys.