Only one I have not seen in person is the Exo. I will have to find one next time I am in Colorado to compare

Neches21 said:

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The feature that sold me initially (internal rifle compartment for long hikes) is the same feature that will probably push me to upgrade. My rifle has been knocked off zero the past 2 years and taking the rifle in and out can't help. It is nice to be able to keep my rifle out of the elements.

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I'm trying to find a pack for an upcoming antelope hunt and I like the idea of the internal rifle storage. What solution are you looking at if you think the internal storage is hard on the scope?

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Most packs have the ability to strap the rifle to the outside these days. I'll probably do that on my trek from camp and then look into the sling PFG mentioned for easy access while I'm hunting (in his rifle classifieds thread).

Exo pack looks interesting. Easy to strap rifle to it ?
What size would you guys recommend if only getting 1 pack

I bought the 5500. I haven't used it yet, but my buddy who I'm going with this fall has the 3500, and told me he wished he'd gotten the larger one. It cinches down enough to use as a daypack as well, so the only negative that I know of is that you're carrying a bit more weight. Don't remember exactly how much extra.

They're releasing them (soon or already have) in the FirstLite Fusion pattern. I got the green, whatever it's called, so I wouldn't feel like a tool using it for summer hikes with the family, but would have gotten Fusion had it been available at the time. I got a couple of stash pockets, hip pockets, and the crib load panel (to make it easier to carry meat). I'm thinking about picking up the slurpee stalker and leaving it in the truck, to use if I'm making more than one trip with meat. Drop off the pack with the first trip, and grab that to go with the crib panel and meat. I may also get another crib panel in blaze orange, to use as a beaver tail if I'm hunting during rifle season. Wish I'd gotten that instead of green the first time around, as there's no downside that I can think of.

Did someone say budget?

I pieced together my gear over 4 years. The most expensive things I carried were my Cabela's Meidl (sp--I know it ain't right) UltraLights. Worked great for me, a cousin about froze 2-3 mornings with the same boots.
Thermals--Random mix of medium and lightweight polypro and polypro/wool from Academy and Wal Mart.
Pants--I bought a $30 pair of wool pants from a local Army-Navy......I ended up wearing regular jeans until we got snow then mud. I was wearing them during the snowstorm I killed my bull in.....and they got really freaking hot
I did have a Rivers West Hydrofleece jacket. I briefly wore it one morning.

Most of the time, I wore the standard brown/tan medium weight Academy polypro top and a lightweight, windproof Northface vest (Apex) that I've had for a few years.

Most of my socks were 15 year old assorted Smartwool from my Philmont days. I did buy 2 pairs of Wolverine wool blend boot socks.

I was generally much warmer than my cousin in all Sitka gear. Granted that is probably more of a function of being fairly warm natured to begin with.

listen here jack you let me uselessly indulge in peace. this is america!

Great thread. Never thought much about NM hunts but a trip to Valles Caldera yesterday has me thinking. Talked with a ranger there that has a son that guides in the area. May start putting into the lotto... 6 a,b or c would be awesome.

Looks like a 1 lb difference , so not much but then you may be tempted to overpack with the extra space? Also price diff is significant. But thx for advice!

I'm sure I'll be tempted to overpack. I'll let you know in a few months!

Also, camofire has the Mystery Ranch Marshall on this morning. I don't know much about it, but I think it's the one that Randy Newberg uses.

Argh...that's the one I've had my eye on. Pretty sure it is the one Newberg uses...pretty good deal too. I'm not ready to decide. Curse you camofire!!

I want a kifaru or mystery ranch pack so bad, but just can't stomach the price tag. LL Bean Hunter's Carryall is light, cheap, and carries big weight (100lbs+) comfortably. https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/64392?page=hunters-carryall-pack

For packing camp, I have a big lightweight dry bag for my clothes/sleeping system, and a light daypack (badlands pursuit) for all the stuff I want in pockets.

someone on here (cupofjoe maybe?) mentioned that they use the Alps Commander, which is a similar system but it's a frame pack with a shelf, with quick-detach pack body. Cabelas makes one too. I like the internal and as mentioned, it carries all the weight I care to burden myself with

Hodor said:

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I'm sure I'll be tempted to overpack. I'll let you know in a few months!

Also, camofire has the Mystery Ranch Marshall on this morning. I don't know much about it, but I think it's the one that Randy Newberg uses.

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Even 31% off it's still almost $450?? Wowza.

Before I bought the Exo, I used Cabela's Alaskan frame pack. I've recommended it several times for guys on a budget. It may not be as comfortable as others with light loads. But it works well as a heavy meat hauler. You can find them on sale occasionally for about $100.

The first pack I used for out west was an Alps Outdoorz Traverse ($60-$70).The hip buckle busted about a mile from the trail head during the pack in. I spent the rest of the hunt cussing the pack. I never could get it rigged up to take the weight off my shoulders. I ended up giving it away. With a new buckle it would have been a pretty good day pack.

Speaking of Cabela's and western on a budget. I always thought Cabela's Microtex series was a good option. It looks like Microtex may have been discontinued though...

agingcowboy said:

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Argh...that's the one I've had my eye on. Pretty sure it is the one Newberg uses...pretty good deal too. I'm not ready to decide. Curse you camofire!!

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I know the feeling!
I've seen that pack there a couple of times I'm the last couple of weeks, so I suspect it will be there again.

Slumberjack Bounty 2.0. I mentioned this before, but I picked up mine on sale for $225. Also, I weighed it on my bow scale, and mine is a full 6 oz lighter than the advertised weight.

Rokslide Review

Video

Another Video

Thanks for posting the LL Bean pack. What bag do you use with it? Does it distribute the weight to your hips pretty good?

I've seen the Alps Commander on Amazon. It's attractive at $130 for the bag and pack together, but the full setup weighs 9-1/2 pounds.

I'm a little guy (5'9", 140#) so I kinda expect to make a lot of trips versus carrying a lot of weight each trip, if I'm lucky enough to bag something. That said, I'm thinking just a decent backpacking pack would get the job done.

Plus the wife and I are starting to talk about hiking/camping with the kids more as they get older, so I'm looking for a pack that can do both.

arrow said:

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Speaking of Cabela's and western on a budget. I always thought Cabela's Microtex series was a good option. It looks like Microtex may have been discontinued though...

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They've been in the Rock Bottom Deals section of the Bargain Cave basically since Christmas. Never could find pants in my size.

Guys,

I am just starting out with Big Game hunts and I have 3 small kids so have to be pretty budget minded. Thoughts on this pack on Amazon?

ALPS Outdoor Pack

At max, I can do 1 big game hunt a year right now. Will this get me through it?

I KNow a couple people that hunt with that pack

Todd 02 said:

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Thanks for posting the LL Bean pack. What bag do you use with it? Does it distribute the weight to your hips pretty good?

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I use an XXL dry sack by Snugpak https://www.amazon.com/SnugPak-SN161-BRK-Dri-Sak-Waterproof-Bag/dp/B003SYTEZM/ref=sr_1_6?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1518468192&sr=1-6
it's big enough to hold my 20* bag and way too much clothing. Not as light as some of the silnylon options out there but it's pretty light, and the material has been pretty durable so far
I carry corn into my lease with it, and can keep the shoulder straps completely off my shoulders with 2 sacks of corn strapped on, so I'd say it distributes the weight pretty well!

Also regarding Arrow's post...everybody reading this thread, order a 2" buckle for every big pack you have right now, when it arrives, put them in the packs and forget about it. Actually I gave a buckle to a buddy on my hunt in November to replace one that he broke, so I need to order one too. Thanks for the reminder!

NRD09 said:

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Also regarding Arrow's post...everybody reading this thread, order a 2" buckle for every big pack you have right now, when it arrives, put them in the packs and forget about it. Actually I gave a buckle to a buddy on my hunt in November to replace one that he broke, so I need to order one too. Thanks for the reminder!

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Yep.

Not to make it even more tempting but Black Ovis has the same multicam pack starting at $463 and if you use promo code rokslide10 (10% off) it will drop it to $417 compared to $429. Also, Black Ovis has free shipping.

Probably a dumb question but how do you fly with these large frame packs? Are you able to put everything needed for the whole trip in the back pack and check it like you would a suit case along with your rifle? Trying to figure out logistics for a hunt up north where I'll be flying in.

I haven't flown with mine, but most people I have seen carry theirs on.

Ok. I figured a 5000 + cubic inch pack with metal frame would be too big for a carry on

Ok, packs. I took the $39 Game Winner daypack, and my 22 year old Coleman external frame flexframe. The daypack worked like a charm for hauling random stuff, including supporting the weight of an elk head. The old packframe ended working fine for meat transport.

I would think the 5000's plus would be too big to carry on if all your gear in it. I don't see why you couldn't just check it though.

Biggest cordura duffel bag you can find, mine is probably 4 1/2 feet long and 20" or so in diameter. Lays nice and tidy on top of my pelican case for rolling through the airport

ursusguy said:

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...22 year old Coleman external frame flexframe...The old packframe ended working fine for meat transport.

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I remember kids breaking those things carrying 30-40lbs on boy scout trips!

Yep. Keep in mind I happily carried around 30+ year old Tasco binoculars when I work. I've had good luck with the pack, including flying out of a truck at 75 MPH. I don't rock the boat.

NRD09 said:

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LL Bean Hunter's Carryall is light, cheap, and carries big weight (100lbs+) comfortably. https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/64392?page=hunters-carryall-pack

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LL Bean has 25% off everything through Tuesday. That makes this pack less than $70 shipped.