back packs

[beech18]

Eberlestock or Mystery Ranch packs. Looking to buy a new pack. Used my old external frame for yearsand wanting something new. Any reviews on pro's and con's be great.

[zuren1cs]

I'm not familiar with Eberlestock, but I've heard Works at Mystery Ranch hiking packs are pretty sweet........that come at a premium price.

I just went to their site and it looks like Dana (of Dana Design packs) has expanded into hunting and military applications. I'm sure anything you get from them would be quality.

[EKM]

I learned the hard way that before giving advise on packs ask what it is going to be used for (specifically) and what season (conditions.... specifically) it is going to be used for....

Otherwise one is just shooting in the dark....
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So for general consumption and not really in answer to your question:

For first rifle elk season where it may be hot or may be a thunderstormor may be a blizzard and you need a place for all your clothing layers, where water is scarce, and where historicallywe have ended up spending the night in the woods with no real camp I use a Dana Designs Astralplane, essentially a Everest pack-in model.... about 7000-8000 cu. in. but sucks up/shrinks/compresses down real good when going towards empty or emptier.

This year, since we travel into and out of our hunting areas in the pitch blackness, I packed my rifle in the back pack (barrel sticking out the top) and used trekking poles which were great in dealing with mud, water crossings, scree, snow, ice, and slick sloping terrain.

Now if you are a summer archery hunter, or hunt deer close to home.... don't really even need a pack at all, just a fanny thingy.

[beech18]

Good point. This is what Im looking for. A pack to replace my externalframe pack that I always hunt with now. Its a great pack but is getting old and beat upand its time to either buy same model again or change things up. I use this packfrom antelope to moose and everything in between. Open Prairie to Mountains. Can haul the gear I want and need. Everything from layers of clothes, spotter, tripod, knives, saw, camera, food, liquids, and other misc items. (If more than a day outing has the required roomto haul asleeping bag and other overnight items depending on weather). Has all the room to carry everythingand if not totally geared out andon just a day trip, if I kill something way back, bone or quarter the animal out and comes out on my back rather than making a second trip. Or alteast making the most of my first trip getting a part loadout if its a large animal such as moose or elk depending on the gear Im hauling. Im checking into the Eberlestock and Mystery Ranch as they seem to be good packs for this?? Thats what Im looking for in a pack. Only complaint I have of the my current pack is itsa bit noisydue to its bulkyness. If Im lightly loaded theres no way to "compress" my load to lessen the bulk which equals noise when hunting thick country Will be used formy ownpersonal hunting and guiding clients. Multi seasoned pack. Sept to December. Looking for people who have used any of these products and the thoughts on them. The Mystery Ranch has many types and styles to pick from. Many of these packs have a good price tag and like to hear what people have to say about each before buying a pack. I dont want to make the mistake in buying a "wrong" model that doesnt suite my needs and find out after I already bought it. I realise theres no such thing as a "perfect back pack", but looking to get as close as I can. Thanks for any input one may have on these products or if anyone else knows of another brand to check into??

[Elkcrazy8]

I have been using the Blacks creek alaskan. I am going to get a new pack this year, and it will be the Badlands 4500. I know alot of guys that use them. If you pack correctly, you should be able to bivy comfortably for a week in any weather and be able to stay around the 40 pound mark if not under. For great tips, check out Cameron Hanes book on backcountry bowhunting. There is no other that can compare to his back country methods. I have implored alot of his suggestions with great success. It sure is nice not having to pack back to spike camp only to return again in the a.m.

[Waterproof]

I use a Badlands and love it. It is the 2800 but the older style. I am looking at also getting me the Fanny this year but have not decided.

[bugs11]

You may want to check out the Sierra Trading Post website. They always have all kinds of packs on sale. I picked up a backpack there lastthat is identical to the Badlands 4500 (not camo though) for around $100. I'm looking for a big day pack, like the Camelback Commando. My current el cheapo day pack is too small, the 4500 is too big, I want the Goldilocks of packs.

[Wolf killer]

I will be watching this thread close. I need a good pack for rifle hunting in Wyoming. The two packs I have are both too small.

[nchunter54]

I have an Eberlestock, great pack. I have used itelk hunting inMontana and moose hunting in Newfoundland.

Don