Hi,
I used my regular camping backpack this season which worked but without a frame it was hard to carry out 100lb *typo before! of mule deer. Any recommendations on a solid backpack? How much weight in terms of meat should a pack be able to carry?
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Hi,
I used my regular camping backpack this season which worked but without a frame it was hard to carry out 100lb *typo before! of mule deer. Any recommendations on a solid backpack? How much weight in terms of meat should a pack be able to carry?
200lbs of mule deer? Got any pics of the deer? Or of it loaded in your internal frame pack?
As to good backpacks, the sky is the limit on pack quality and price, but anynof the upper echelon packs will carry more than you can for any real distance. Stone Glacier, Kifaru, Exo, McHale, Seek Outside, (even Mystery Ranch, although I personally no longer characterize them as “top shelf”) are all top shelf packs. All are internal frame, and all will carry as much as you can.
Barney’s in Alaska make a freighter frame and bag system that will do the same as an external frame pack.
All packs named will carry as much as you ask of them, and all will also
carry a price tag real close to $1000 cdn at a minimum.
I use the Eblerlestock F65 Littlebigtop with the F1 mainframe..works well for me, lol although I don't pack out 200 lbs all at once but I've packed out over 100 lbs of deboned meat etc and it does the job...
Seek Outside!! Dm me for details and possible discounts
Mystery Ranch serves me well. 110 lbs packouts and it is rock solid. Pretty sure I'd hit my limit before the pack would.
fun video for comparison:
https://youtu.be/J2NQmtWUQqc
I like my MR pack.....200 lbs of meat- I call BS haha Id say you have a pretty good pack already if you survived that pack out :)
I have not found a deer I could not pack out with my badlands 4500 but there is lots of good options these days
Thanks guys! Haha I saw the disbelief in 200 lb, that was a typo!! 100 lb.
Very pleased with my mystery ranch.
Are you backpack hunting or just day hunting? If you ever see yourself loading up a pack with 5-10 days of food and gear and heading into the mountains then I would spend the money and get something that works. I use a Kifaru and love it. I have a friend the has the money to buy whatever and he is happy with his Kuiu.
If you are just day hunting and need to pack out your kill then I wouldn't be as concerned about buying top shelf.
Packs are as personal as boots, what works for Fred may not even fit Ralph,
Ive tried/owned Mystery Ranch nice frame 6500 bag/ guide light frame Marshall and cabinet bags, Stone Glacier Sky Talus 6900, EXO Mountain Gear 5500, and for me the MR Nice frame and Marshall Bag works best for extended hunts and the Guidelight frame/cabinet bag I use for a daypack,
the EXO MG 5500 and SG Sky Talus 6900 are a close second but the MR Nice frame just fits my waist and hips better and holds a load better for me.
Best thing to do is try a few out if possible.
Mystery Marshall for 5-10 nights. I also have the pintler bag only which I use on the same frame from
the Marshall. I don’t know why but evertime I use or load up the pintler it makes me happy I love that bag!!! Haha
Main purpose is for day pack for packing out meat. Plan to hunt deer and moose.
I’ve been through a handful and right now I’ve had a MR Metcalf that I swap bags with a MR Mule. Comfy frame for me and fairly simple versatile bags, and not over engineered. These ones are maid in Asia if that’s a concern. And my Wife has a MR Pintler. I’ve packed out mule deer, sheep, and elk in the Metcalf/on the load shelf
buy a mystery ranch pintler you will be glad u did. Perfect size with a meat shelf!
I have a bullpack that I like. Lots of choices re: bags/size/shape etc.
I have tried MR but it just didn't fit me well. They are great packs and a couple of my partners use them. I purchased a Stone Glacier (Sky Talus 6900) last fall and am very happy I did.
Best thing you can do is try some packs on and make your decision. As others have already said, what fits me great might not be the same for you. I will say that I've found Kuiu and a few other brands to be complete garbage.
Having a pack that can hold your gun, is that really a big deal? I like having my rifle/shotgun in my 2 hands at all times unless traversing a fence. Otherwise it's slung.
mystery ranch 100%
I love my kifaru gun bearer and will always hunt with one. So nice to have both hands free and instant access to the gun.
If I were you I would look for a pack with a sturdy frame that offers good height to give adequate angle to the load lifters. Also a nice size day pack in the 2500 ci range and a meat shelf so you can pack out some large loads.
https://bullpacs.com/
Not made in China.
Exterior frame is preferable I think. That's all I've ever use although I have an Eberlstock. Just never packed meat out with it. Exterior frames make more sense in a lot of ways......after I bought the Eberl........lol
I picked up this last season a stone glacier sky 5900 and it's been awesome and fits me perfectly. My buddies own EXO and they love them as well as a Kifaru I don't think you can go wrong with any of the top bags you just have to find one that fits you just like mention earlier
Any experience with the Aplz Hybrid X bag? Got good reviews, and relatively cheap in the $250 USD range. Has meat shelf that sits between the pack and frame.
Try them all and buy what fits YOUR body.
SG for me and Exo for my buddy.
Pretty much anything will work for a day pack, depending on your hunting terrain. The key questions will be 'What do you plan to pack out, where from and where to?" The reason for that is it determines how many 'shuttles' (trips back and forth between the kill site and the closest point you can get motorised transport to) you make and how much load is on each one. With a deer, unless its a monster mulie, you are probably on one trip. With a moose or elk, you will either need a few good buddies to help share the load (and they will also need capable packs) or you are doing a lot of shuttles with a lot of weight. That is where having a solid pack really makes a difference and when you've packed out a few loads, it also determines how you hunt and where/when you hunt.
Yes, it is for me, but most packs with external straps will hold a rifle. Again, it depends on the type of terrain you hunt. For me, the elk terrain I hunt often requires both feet and hands to climb or descend. A slung rifle just smacks you in the head all the time. It's really an 'it depends' answer.
I've had the Eberlestock J107 which I liked and I also tried the Kifaru stuff which I also really likes but in the end I went with the EXO 5500. It is definitely comfortable for heavy loads but a wider, external frame freighter pack is looking likely after this years elk packouts just for the bulk. The EXO struggled to contain two boned-out rear elk quarters plus gear. Pack weight was 158lb (yes, I do have pics) but it was unstable although I doubt it was ever designed for those loads. It handled a bone-in rear quarter and boned-out front quarter (about 90lb) well though. I did a remote solo hunt where I had to pack in water and that was 102lb and it was flawless.
The EXO has just got updated to a K3 frame (I have the K2) and is adjustable to fit. It has a bunck of extras that you can get, I use the meat hauler shelf and the Slurpy Stalker water bladder so I can drop the bag and still be able to haul meat and have water available. The Kifaru depends on buying different backplates to adjust which was teh one thing that put me off it. If I lend a pack to a buddy, I want to adjust it quickly.
I bought a seek outside and couldn’t be happier. Very comfortable with light medium loads, haven’t had an animal in it yet, but I don’t see it being a problem.
Another vote for Stone Glacier Sky Tallus 69 with gun bearer. Great pack.
With out breaking the bank ... sounds like you have a daypack already ... shop for a pack frame only ... lash the day pack to it and have at er ... best of both worlds for a day hunt.
The SG gun bearer is a goatf*ck compared to the universal kifaru gunbearer. The SG one requires the pack to be off of your back to put the rifle in it, unless ypu can bend like Gumby. And if that is the case you probably aren’t leaving the house for anything except gatorade and electrolytes anyway.
Yes my stone glacier sky 5900 I have the stone glacier gun sling and I also purchased the universal upper gun barrel mount so I can run it on the side of my pack or in front of me like the gun bearer. But the universal gun bearer is super heavy compared to the lower mount from SG
I have a Arxteryx bora 62 ( that i got for 50% off) packed out just under 100 lbs of bt meat plus my gear (110 lbs total) no problem. In my opinion no one needs a dedicated day pack. Arcteryx is crazy expensive but they have an awesome warranty. The backpack is bulletproof super water resistant and very comfortable. Might not be great for 200lb loads (only 62 Leiter) but im not trying to blow out a knee. 100lbs is plenty for me.
Lots of good deals on Rokslide for used packs. Good deal might be subjective depending on your budget though. I have an Exo k2 3500. I’m in Mission and work in Langley if you want to look at one in person let me know.
I recommend a good hiking pack, built specifically for tents and gear of 100lbs. Get fitted, avoid cabelas and seek a mountaineer company other than MEC. If not sure bring weights to what you expect to carry to get a feel. Remember, camo is a color not an advantage
Had my first season with a mystery ranch metcalf with guide light frame. Seams great so far hiking around with about 30 lbs, wish i couldve tested it with a bigger load but im eating tag soup this year.
I have the MYSTERY RANCH NICE frame with the Metcalf and Crew Cab bags. Both can carry monster loads and are versatile and comfortable. I would recommend MR anyday.