I am thinking of using my my giftcard at cabela's to get a badlands or eberlestock(sp?).

What is the general consensus? I liked the SuperDay Pack and 2200 from Badlands, and the X1 from eberlestock.

I'd like to keep it around the $200 mark and have an internal frame if possible, but would not be willing to sacrifice pockets and general usefulness for the frame feature.

What is the intended use of the pack? Taking your things to/from the deer stand, or packing in to hunt, and out with animal?

Excellent question, and really something I should have said before.

I have a small pack for a deer camp stand hunt. I need something big enough with a frame to pack out an animal. My big bag has no frame and is not comfortable. My small pack is way to small to bring anything other than the bare essentials.

I do not want a $400+ full external frame pack for a 2 week long hunt in the Canadian back country.

I'm going to shoot you straight on this one. When it comes to packing out animal+gear from the back country, you want the good stuff. The packs you've mentioned are great for 20-30 pounds of gear/stuff before they start to get uncomfy. But for packing out an animal- I wouldn't trust them to hold the weight AND hold it in a manner that allows you to haul meat a couple miles without risk of failure to the pack.

I know they are out of your price range, but I'd really reccomend looking at companies that are dedicated to the true backpack hunter. Kifaru and Mystery Ranch are 2 American made pack companies that fit the bill. I recently purchased Mystery Ranch pack to help prep for a upcoming Wyoming backpack hunt. I can't begin to tell you how superior this pack is to all others I've used. My honest opinion: do what it takes to afford a great pack. Sell the gift cards, save an extra month or two. You don't want to be 4 miles deep, have a deer down, and be faced with making 2 trips because of your pack.

I started out with an older Badlands 2800 as my first pack. Liked it okay, but it would rub my waist raw. Got a Badlands 2200. Liked it as well, but it was too small, and about killed me on a packout at Meredith. Didn't carry 80 pounds of meat very well.

So I decided to spring for a Kifaru. Ordered a Kifaru MMR with my custom measurements. 4 months later it arrived. It's a beast of a pack (fairly heavy), but man, it will carry the weight. I packed two loads of elk meat about a mile down a mountain to get to the horses, and while it sucked (about 120 pounds of meat in each load), it carried it very well.

After that trip, I decided I need something slightly smaller for shorter trips. I ordered a Kifaru Express, along with several of the pockets that attach to it to increase capacity and carry smaller gear when the pack it loaded. It is an extremely well made pack, and it carries the weight very well. I can literally wear it all day. I packed my Meredith muley out with it this year in one load. It's a bit smaller, so you have to get creative fitting all the meat into it, but it can be done with enough straps.

If I were to do it again, I would probably spring for the Kifaru Pointman or Zulu, since they are slightly larger.

http://kifaru.net/pointman.html
http://kifaru.net/zulu.html



[This message has been edited by Log (edited 2/8/2011 10:06a).]

quote:

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would not be willing to sacrifice pockets and general usefulness for the frame feature.

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IMO, a simple large sack attached to a good suspension system is far more useful than a pack with a bunch of pockets/bells and whistles with crappy suspension.

Good post Log. Sounds like we are of the same school of thought on backpacks. Any reason you went with the Kifaru military line instead of the hunting line (Longhunter, Spike Camp, etc)?

I honestly didn't like that the hunting line came only in black, and you had to attach either camo or blaze panels to it if you wanted to change the color (they've since started offering the hunting line in other colors). There were also only 3-4 models at that time as well. They were a bit lighter, but I preferred the color choices and many different sizes of the .mil line, and I saw many more new/lightly used pockets and accessories for the .mil line available on trader boards and such. Plus, the MOLLE system on the .mil line is extremely useful for attaching pockets, straps, etc.

[This message has been edited by Log (edited 2/8/2011 10:03a).]

http://www.tacticaltailor.com/malicepackversion3kit.aspx

I've used this pack in multiple deployments, countless training events and several hunting trips. I think its worth its weight in gold. Get the super straps and the super belt and you will love it.

[This message has been edited by LewisChilds (edited 2/8/2011 10:29a).]

I have the badlands 2200 pack and have used it on multiple scouting trips up in the mountains in new Mexico. Though it has worked flawlessly for me up to this pointing have not had to pack an animal out with it so I can't speak of it's capabilities there. From looking it over it appears that it is designed to carry a quarter at a time with maybe some smaller stuff on the inside.

PFG and Log just listed the best two brands you can buy. I own two mystery ranch packs the longbow and the 6500 NICE and highly recommend them. They might be pretty expensive but they are definitely worth the money. I’ve owned black creek guide gear packs and the badlands 2200 and they don’t even come close to comparing to the mystery ranch packs as far as design and quality. I don’t have any personal experience with the Kifaru but have heard nothing but good things about them. Mystery ranch and Kifaru are much better load haulers where the other packs will have limitations on the weight, and lose their comfort once you get at least 40lbs in them.

PFG what MR pack to you have.

You might want to consider the Mystery Ranch NICE crewcab. It has a unique design that allows you to up the capacity as needed. It starts out as a 1900 ci daypack and goes all the way up to a 5000ci monster in the base configuration. The nice thing about it is it allows you to carry some unorthodox loads. It seems to be extremely popular with serious backpack hunters, so I think it would merit some investigation. Having a pack that could carry all your stuff to make camp, then fold down into a daypack for the hunt, the expand again to carry out your animal seems extremely useful.

I'm currently saving up for one. The price is up there, especially if you get load cells and the daypack lid, but once you consider it can truly be a do it all pack it's not so bad.

h-town:

I have the Longbow on the NICE frame. No words to describe how great the pack is. Longbow is going to be perfect for 3-4 day hunting trips into the backcountry. Can lash my tent/sleeping bag on the sides, and use the bottome straps to hold a compression sack with my food. This leave the inside for just my spotter/tripod, extra clothes, Jetboil, survival gear, etc. If I'm lucky enough to tag out, boned out meat can go in a meat baggie between the pack and frame.

How long have you been using your Longbow? I think the Longbow/6500 combo is about perfect for anything you can do. I'll pick up the 6500 when its time for a extended pack trip into the sticks. Using the Longbow this fall in Wyoming for antelope.

NRH: You are correct about the Crew Cab - its a totally diff animal. My only concern with the design is that it promotes the weight of your load to be stacked further away from your body. Thats when you start to lose control/comfort and hauling capabilties of the NICE frame. But yes, it is very popular with some backpacking guys.

[This message has been edited by PFG (edited 2/8/2011 2:00p).]

The longbow has the best internal pocket design of any pack I’ve seen. One thing about MR packs is that they have more room than their ratings when compared to other brands. The Longbow is rated at 2400 cubic inches but can fit more stuff in it than any other pack in that size range.
I’ve had my longbow for about 2 years. It works great with packing in a hang on stand for whitetail hunting. I can fit my lone wolf stand and 4 climbing sticks between the bad and frame. The crew cab would also be good for this. One complaint I have with both the longbow and crew cab is that they don’t have any load lifter due to the pack not extending up above the frame and your shoulders. The 6500 has load lifters and really helps with heavy loads.
Last year I drew an elk tag for the wilderness unit of the Gila forest in New Mexico. I did a 10 day drop camp about 13 miles in and used the 6500 NICE for when I wanted to relocate to another area and then for packing out an elk (unfortunately I did not get a change to use it on packing out an elk due to a bad shot with my bow that cost me a nice 6x6). I had rolled up the Longbow bag and put it in the 6500 NICE pack when relocating camp and then during the day I would put the Longbow back on for a day pack. This combo worked out great.

do any stores carry Kirafu, Mystery Ranch, or Badlands Packs? I would like to see them and try them on before deciding what to go with.

TIA

Kifaru is custom only, but if you happen to be in the Denver area, you can set up an appointment to go by their location, view all their packs, and get a custom fitting.

Not sure about MR. Badlands are available at most big-box outdoors retailers. The Vortex brand of "granola" packs is made by the same company.

[This message has been edited by Log (edited 5/15/2012 5:29a).]

you ever hear of http://www.oregonpackworks.com/aboutus.asp ?



[This message has been edited by texas.aggie.2010 (edited 5/15/2012 5:33a).]

I have actually seen Badlands packs at my local Academy in Longview..