Hunting Pack

[Charles S]

Members,

I am in the market for a new hunting pack. I have hunted for 25+ years so I have a really good idea of how I like to hunt and what I want with me. I know about what size I want because I currently am using a pack with a 1300 cubic inches and it is more than large enough for all my stuff on any occasion.

Here are the must.

I really want a narrow pack that has internal support (not necessarily a real frame). I am looking for the 1100 cubic inch range. I want internal hydration. I really want wide straps and a comfortable suspension, a sternum strap is very nice, a good belt is a must. I am about 6 feet tall and broad through the shoulders. I have a long torso so this is in an issue. I am not fat, but I am not small (about 190#).

Here are the three I have in mind. I appreciate any suggestions or thoughts.

Cabelas Elite Scout

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...Pack&noImage=0

Camelbak Striker

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...770&hasJS=true

Kelty Red Fox

http://www.kelty.com/kelty/products....d%20Fox&id=110

[Charles S]

Just a bump. I would appreciate anyone's thoughts.

[odsixer]

I have the camelback ranger, which is a little bigger than the striker but I wouldn't go any smaller. I love this pack, I use it all the time, not just for hunting. what did we ever do before hydration bladders

[Charles S]

Thanks for the response.

Do the thin belt straps bother you?

[odsixer]

with this pack I don't find I have enough weight in it for the thin straps to be an issue, I use a lowe alpine for backpacking/camping which is very comfortable, I am also 6'0" and 185lbs.

[Charles S]

Thanks,

I have a Camelbak pack that I currently use for short tips that I really like. I may step up to the Ranger for my hunting pack, it would give me a place to put my coat when it gets warmer.

[ogso]

Have you looked at Kifaru? They are made by Patrick Smith (of mountainsmith fame) and seemed to get good reviews. I'm looking to replace my current mountainsmith with a Kifaru Express. I would look real hard at a mountaineering pack before purchasing anyting. Afterall, it will be on your back for years and years (I had mine for 10 years and use it a couple times a month) and you want comfort. I like Patrick designs because like you I have a long torso and they fit. Additionally being big (270#) I hardly know the pack is on my back. Check military morons for their reviews of some military/civilian packs.

The spherical one

[Charles S]

Have you looked at Kifaru?

I just did, thanks for the suggestion. Kifaru looks like incredible products and they are made to fit an individual. I really like that aspect. I imagine that they are an excellent value for what you are getting, but I am not really in a position to get a pack that expensive for this hunting season.

I am in graduate school working on my masters, once I am done (assuming I can find a good job) I should be able to swing one no problem. I really like that pack.

Decisions...decisions

I really don't like my current pack....it is a very nice fanny pack with a suspension. The pack is well made and is quite comfortable, but it does not have hydration, and is really too wide for me. My existing pack gets hung on all sorts of brush and briers when I am stalking in the bottoms, the pack is a bit on the noisy side also.

I really am hoping to upgrade to a pack that is in the $65-$75 range that is more narrow than me, has hydration, will fit me, and is not noisy.

I appreciate everyone's input and suggestions.

[elkslayer4x5]

Check out the Kelty Cougar, it's a little more $ than the Red fox, has more capicity, and is adjustable. Very comfortable pack.

[Charles S]

Check out the Kelty Cougar

That looks like a great pack. I need comfort, but it is just as important to me to have a pack that is low profile so it does not hang on brush in thickets.

I really think that the Kelty might work since it is compressible.

I am looking hard at the Camelbak Striker also.

[elkslayer4x5]

Not sure what you call low profile, but here's my cougar loaded with everything I'm carring later this year on an draw elk hunt in central Oregon. My plan is to climb to the top of the buttes, set up a blind and scope for recuperating bulls. The area we are hunting is pretty open and the top of the buttes have sparse cover, so I will need a blind to concel myself from being skylined.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...r/DSCN0622.jpg
Here is everything thats in the pack
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...r/DSCN0625.jpg
The only thing that the cougar did'nt have was enough belt space for me to keep things handy. So I added a belt, seen here, its the black web strap over the flat belt pocket. I made two small slits inside the zippered pockets that the waist belt come out of, useing webbing strap and buckles that I got from Ace hardware ( around 3-4 bucks ) I ran the belt through the metel D rings that are on the waist belt, through the slits and the radio , range finder, gps cases and that empty place in this photo is where the sidekick holdster goes.Right above the time/date stamp
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...r/DSCN0623.jpg
Hope this helps you. As I said in my earlier post it is very comfortable, I barely notice it with all this gear in and on it. By the way, in the first photo , the water bladder is full, and all of the gear is in the main compartment. I still have the space between the zippered compartments, the outer zippered compartment, and the outermost half-net bag, so three bags left for more gear.

[Charles S]

Elklslayer,

That is the kind of advice I am looking for, and I plan on doing some elk hunting (similar to what you are doing) next year.

A pack recommendation from someone who is using a pack for what I intend on using one for means a lot.

A couple more questions.

Does the compression straps do a good job of compacting the pack when you have a light and less than full load?

How does it do in the rain?

Thanks again. I think this will be the pack I order.

[elkslayer4x5]

Yes, the compression straps will do just that. As seen in my photos, my elk spotting kit is quite bulky, but the pack controls all that bulk very well. The two main compartments of the pack have 3/4" seals over the zippers, leaving only the bite tube hole for water to enter the pack. I carried this pack last year on a blacktail deer hunt on the Skokomish River in the south eastren corner of the Olympic National Forest where the skys dumped 2" of rain on me one day.Everything inside of the pack remained dry, I did'nt fare so well. And I did'nt even pull out the attached rain cover thats hidden inside of a velcro fastened pocket on the bottom of the pack. Those two straps on the bottom is where I carry my rain gear, sorta rolled up like a sleeping bag. Here's a photo with the rain cover deployed, I've added the local flora camo paint job to break up that solid color. As you can probally tell, I like this pack.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...r/DSCN0626.jpg

[FirstFreedom]

Sounds like you've already decided, so this may not help, but you might take a look at Eberlestock gear. These packs have special slots and/or hardware for carrying gun or bow or both:

I love my "X1" - super high quality & comfort.

http://www.eberlestock.com/introduci...x__project.htm

I plan to get either the "Phantom" or the "Gunslinger" for a BIG pack - haven't decided which yet.

http://www.eberlestock.com/GS05%20Gunslinger.htm
http://www.eberlestock.com/Phantom%20Backpack.htm

The "Just One" models (J104 & J107) are a pretty interesting deal, too - ultimate in versatility. They also have a new model called a "Barta Stalker".

http://www.eberlestock.com/hunting.htm





Also, these Badlands packs look pretty danged ergo & sophisticated , too:

http://www.badlandspacks.com/packs.php

Take a look at the "Ultra Day" Badlands pack - click on the name, then click on the picture at the top center, then click on "Pack Details". It's quite a bit larger than you want, at 1750 ci, but man it's nice. Too bad it's still "under development".

Also, the "Monster Fanny" pack there happens to be exactly 1100 ci, and you can get to your stuff without taking it off, by just twisting it around to the front. Comes with a nice shoulder harness for comfort.

[FirstFreedom]

By the way, don't want to hijack, but just thought I'd let you know that this thread inspired me to go ahead and get the Badlands "The Monster" fanny pack today. I love fanny packs, as you can get in them without taking them off. This "Monster" has a unique top that folds down like a bag of potato chips, so that you can get in and out of it without making noise by ripping a zipper. Edit: Actually, when I checked out, it rang up as the Monster, but now I'm not so sure comparing it to the ones online...hmmm....

If it is, then now I have 2 of the biggest fanny packs known to man - The Badlands Monster:

http://www.gunmuse.com/Reviews/Badla...20Fanny%20Pack

And the Gerber Quadrant fanny with separate-able hydration pack:

http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/st....html?s=GB1024

Anyway, PM me later if you want to know which one I like best. Of course, on these fanny packs with harnesses.....I wear them without the harnesses in order to be able to twist them around to the front for access. But I could see a scenario when you use the harness (with hydration in the case of the Gerber), for the long hike to your general area, but then when actually hunting don't use the straps.

Now back to your regularly scheduled question.

Charles, did you get the Kelty Cougar or what?

[FirstFreedom]

Charles, I really wanna know which one you ended up getting, if you make it back to this thread; thanks.

[Charles S]

FirstFreedom, I apologize for taking so long to get back to the thread. I had already ordered by the time you replied, but I wanted to get the pack in so I could give everyone an honest assement.

Actually the packs you suggested Eberlstock, and the Badlands packs particularly the Hypervent appear to be the permier non-custom packs on the market at this time, unfortunately I am in back in school (graduate) and am somewhat limited in my finances.

http://www.badlandspacks.com/

I had set a price limit of about $75. The Kelty was actually out of my price range until I found a sale. Actually I still spent more than I really wanted to but I felt like it was a good deal and I had a recommendation from someone who had actually used one.

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/st...berId=12500226

Initial impressions....

This pack is somewhat larger than I was looking for, but I think it compresses well enough that it will work.

This pack will be perfect for hunting out West, actually it is trully a great pack for all day hunting away from camp, again a little much for a long stalk in low country.

Very, very comfortable with my light load. My impression is it will carry a heavier load well also.

I think that while comfortable it will be hot in early season weather in East Texas.

I love the Binocular Carrier, I love the Binocular harness, a great accessory.

The hydration system seems good. I will have to use it some to let you know.

Lots of pockets and well thought out. It will easily carry any load out I would normally use on a day hunt.

I like the integral pack cover.

I will give a more detailed assessment after I have used the pack.