Internal Frame Backpack??

[jjwillie]

I'm looking for an internal frame backpack for a week long backpack hunt and was wondering about some of the different brands.

I know a bunch of people use the Badlands and other like packs. What about brands like north face and osprey, etc? I can get a 4600 cu inch north face for 200 bucks.

By the way, do any of you internal frame users find it akward to pack an elk quarter out. Seems to me it would be hard to stabilize the load.

Any opinions are appreciated.

[Elkcrazy8]

Badlands or Eberlestock are the most well known ones. You may find your load shifting a bit more with an internal frame. I prefer to have a good external for heavy long loads.

For short weekend jaunts I use the Blacks Creek Alaskan 2. I purchased a new external framefor this year. I had the Cabelas Outfitter pack. I purchased the outfitters extreme frame this year and removed the top bar and the freight shelf. The pack is 5300 cu/in and weighs 8.5 lbs set up in this manner.

Last night I weighed these following items, this kinda goes along with the gear that you posted on another post.

1-The pack and fame mentioned above
2-Thermarest 3/4 pad
3-10 ft XPG tarp
4-bivy bag
5- eureka 15 degree bag
6 -MSR stove
7- titanium cup

all these items weighed in at 15.5 lbs. This should be 1 fuel can short of taking care of my cooking needs and accomodations.

[millagerobert]

I use an internal frame for scouting and short hike hunts. I prefer an external for long duration hunts and where the probability of pacing out meat is high. An external frame seems to be more stable and easier to strap elk quarters to. The major downfall of the external is if you are doing major off trail travel in thick country, since the frame grabs brush, which is more avoidable with an internal frame pack. As far as brands go, figure out what you can spend, then see what feels comfortable and fits you for that price range. The badlands and eberlestock packs are great, (I love my hypervent Badlands daypack) but there are many other great packs on the market, and they don't have to be camo to pack meat, the granola backpackers at REI do have some great backcounty gear.

[Champlain Islander]

I like the external frame for meat packing. I use a comfortable day pack for my hunts with all the extrasI need to hunt and process an animal. When I score I usually switch to the pack frame to get the animal out. If I were to pack in for an extended multi day hunt I can switch the day pack to theframe with the large water repellant removable pack that came with it. (Cabelas outfitters pack) That set up would enable me to comfortably pack in all my gear.

[Hurricanespg]

I use a Crooked Horn High Country Extreme II internal frame pack. It is a pack built to last at a pretty good price. I got mine on sale at Midway USA for about $150.
It is not difficult to stabilize a load with an internal frame, just use the straps on the pack to cinch everything down.

[A11en]

I use a Guide Series (Gander Mountain's Brand) internal frame. It is well designed for packing our meat. Its very comfortable

[SILVERTIP-CO]

Eberlestock is prolly the best local made. And it has the gun scabbard built in which is a nice feature for those who dont hand carry.