new hunting backpack

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troy fairweather said:
ya if it wasn't for my binos( it's a old japan pair of 6-12 swift.) there heavy, some water my 1/4 roll off TP, 2 knifes. and a few nick nacks, i wouldn't need a pack. ad the blanket i use, it's nice to fold up and use it for sitting on the rock walls or when i sit under a tree.
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blankets a good idea. I carry a 6x10 tarp on the frame of my Alice under the pack, adding a blanket would give me a little more.comfort.
 
LoonWulf said:
blankets a good idea. I carry a 6x10 tarp on the frame of my Alice under the pack, adding a blanket would give me a little more.comfort.
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i always wanted to bring a tarp with some para cord, for the days were it rained. but the deer would proby here the rain hitting the tarp. the wool blanket really helps on the very cold days or the windy ones.
 
Varminterror said:
Not sure how big your thermos might be, but I had to look it up to see how big it really is. I’ve always considered it a small pack, but I’ve been amazed several times in the last 12yrs how much it can hold. Which is what we want, right? A pack that carries as if it were smaller than it really is? I’m glad you asked, because I have never tested it out for gross volume. I have three of them, I use one for hiking with a DSLR and lenses, one for a hunting and shooting pack, and used the 3rd for my daddy diaper bag when my son was younger - since then, my wife has appropriated it. I bought my first one on a whim years ago, but we find them exceptionally handy. Small enough to haul without being annoying, but big enough to haul everything we need when we don’t need the kitchen sink.

Here are the specs as listed on the site - it’s a 6L pack, main compartment is 8 3/4” x 7 3/4” x 4”, which looks small on the outside, but is able to accommodate a surprising amount of stuff inside. The side pockets are listed as 7 3/4” tall x 4” wide x 1.5” thick (out from the side), but I can tell you, that is the “zipped closed” dimension - see photo below.

View attachment 850988

To put some context to those numbers, I had my wife grab mine and throw some stuff inside for reference.

With the side bottle pockets zipped, a 20oz Gatorade fits comfortably - I zip them shut then hook the connected zipper pull over the top of the bottle to lock them closed. It’s never come open without it locked, but it’s a handy trick. With the zippers open, as pictured below, a 1L Nalgene bottle will fit in either side. I add a bungee to corral the top of the bottle and ensure they don’t slip out, but they fit very easily into the expanded bottle pockets.

Pictured in the main compartment is an 8lb jug of Varget. It dropped in without wedging - you can see the slack around the sides, and the nalgenes do bulge just a little into the rectangular space of the main compartment, so something larger than an 8lb powder jug would fit if you had smaller water bottles in the side. The lid WILL flip closed on that 8lb powder jug, and clasp. You can fit taller stuff in the main compartment than I really want to carry in a pack like this, as there’s about 2-3” of extra strap on the buckle from where I normally use it (see bottom middle of the pack in the pic in my post above for the buckle and expandable strap).

View attachment 850993

If you have a tall skinny steel Stanley Thermos like my wife uses (and dad, and granddad), it’d be a bit too tall for the bottle pockets to secure, but it would fit. Throw a bungee around the top and anchor it to the bag, or use a shorter thermos, and you’d be fine. I just wouldn’t expect it to stand up when you set the bag down. Any thermos about the size of a Nalgene bottle would be an easy fit, and more appropriately sized for the bag.
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I use one of those tall skinny Stanley thermos, a 1 quart coffee cup and 4 16 oz bottles of water. A lighter, light, rain coat,, Paracord and 4 Cliff bars are all that are in my pack.
 
Seeing the traffic on the ALICE packs - I used an ALICE as a kid, never did like the way they carried. MOLLE is way hotter than ALICE anyway these days, and cheaper most of the time. Folks seem to be semi-collecting the older ALICE stuff, so it flies off of shelves around here, the shop says it’s the same few guys usually.

I hate taking my pack off while coyote hunting, so for about the last 12yrs I’ve been using FLC’s as chest rigs with a bunch of surplus pouches. I keep one always set up for coyote calling, it has a spare E-caller and remote, AR mags, shotgun shells on a homemade shingle, skinning tools, drag lanyard, LRF, flashlight, predator decoy, binos, windmeter, phone, etc., all at hand on my front. The other one I change back and forth for different hunts: in this pic I have the ACU one set up for a spot and stalk archery deer hunt. I never take my pack off to get to anything during a hunt. Think there’s about $75 in that photo between the FLC’s, the shingles and pouches.

064A438B-8F30-4E10-A351-F321EE0E6BDE.jpeg
 
Bfh_auto said:
It makes the deer think I'm watering the trees instead of hunting.
I've learned that taking hunting too seriously makes it no fun.
I still fill my tags and enjoy a couple weekends in the most beautiful part of creation.
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i killed a deer 2 years ago when taking a pee lol. dad always said to take the rifle with you. i lost count how many deer dad killed when he had a cigarette in his mouth.
 
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When I was in college, I shot with a guy on a spots league who had 3 of the top 10 KS non-typicals at the time. The latest at the time, he claimed he had given up on a hunt after a hot afternoon, last day of his season/vacation before heading back to work. He recounted the story that he had stood up, peed off of the back side of his stand, lit a cigar, texted his (now ex) wife, and was contemplating his walk back to the truck as he turned around to sit down and enjoy the sunset, when the gnarliest dark chocolate rack I have ever seen stepped out into view.

Of course, that’s the story an old man told to a young man who was hanging on every word while admiring the rack hanging in his den, but even more than a decade later, I like letting myself believe every word. Everything he taught me about archery competition, bow tuning, and bowhunting has proven fruitful, so I let the fantastic nature of the story be a fantastic story, and smile when I remember it.
 
Armored farmer said:
The only glimpse of a pic that I have of my pack.
View attachment 850924
You know I go on about hunting lite, with a minimum of gear. I rarely csrry more than will fit in my pockets. This pack is made by Peregrine. It is based on a five gal bucket. The main (bucket) compartment is insulated with quality insulation. The exterior has pockets for two boxes of 12 ga ammo, and a water bottle. Maybe an additional pocket also. Comfortable straps. And a watertight cushioned lid that doubles as a seat.
It is perfect for dove, ducks, geese, deer, and ice fishing. I couldnt be happier with it.
Probably not the pack you would choose for a three days hike......but a nice place to stuff your jacket and lunch.
With the lid secured, it floats. And keeps your gear dry.
Notcheap.....but looks lime it will last many seasons.
I highly recommend it.
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I took a garage sale "kid carrier" pack and kept only the aluminum frame. That I fastened to a five gallon hunting bucket for a great do it all thing. Added a piece of a second bucket to the bottom so it would sit level. Worked great especially when canoe hunting (portage).
 
I went to an estate auction and picked up about 15 or 20 packs, some US issue some REI a lot of different sizes and styles, I think they were 5 or 10$. I use one mainly for coffee,water and a snack. Usually where I hunt I am within 1 or 2 hundred yards of my truck so I can get another one if needed, the last one I shot I was standing at my tailgate and she was about 30ft from me.
I like the military ones and the first responder ones with the extra pockets and places to hook things to.
 
Nature Boy said:
Never was a fan of the ALICE pack.
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I wholeheartedly agree. My ALICE pack's frame broke on me during a 20 mi road march (where the two flat stays cross each other right in the middle of your back) and I had a jagged piece of aluminum cutting me for about 10-12 miles. I never owned an external frame pack again.

Honestly, I just don't get this attraction to mil-surp gear. All of it was made by the lowest bidder and none of it is ultralight. There is a civilian version of all of it that s better and lighter. That said, I still can't shake my addiction to my USGI stainless steel canteen cup, even though there is a titanium version out there that is 1/4 the weight. (And don't get me started on comparing the PRC-77 radio I carried to my Yaesu amateur radio...OMG!)
 
But to more seriously answer the OP, I have used a lumber pack with suspension for many years now and it has always served me well. 1400 cu inches carries all my hunting and survival gear, but I had to add a dry bag on top for dry/warm/spare clothes plus a USGI poncho. (The OTHER thing I can't shake my addiction to. LOL) I've recently toyed with the idea of going to a full on day pack.

Weight is important, but I've found lightweight backpacks (talking empty pack weight here) to be too fragile for the environment in which I hunt. So I can either carry a heavier pack for many years, or buy a lighter pack every couple years. Everything is a trade-off.

I like the quality and design of some of Black's Creek products. Plus they're made in America-and that's hard to find these days. I find they're packs to be quite heavy, but top quality. You might try something like this: http://blacks-creek.com/packs/fix-pack/
 
Another brand I would highly recommend, especially if comfort is essential, is Gregroy packs. I have a an 80L (4800 cu inches) Baltoro pack (internal frame), and, it will haul some weight. Again, heavy by comparison to others, but top quality.
 
D.B. Cooper said:
...Honestly, I just don't get this attraction to mil-surp gear. All of it was made by the lowest bidder and none of it is ultralight. There is a civilian version of all of it that s better and lighter...
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Well...

The medium ALICE packs (sans frame) were like-new and $35/ea., and the like-new MOLLE II Assault packs were $45.

There may be "lighter" stuff... but better?

Both these packs are nylon trucks.

Hauling gear 10-15 miles - just means you pack a little light, that's all.


Probably shouldn't mention that I also use the heavy MSS lightweight patrol bags, doubled up when it's cold, and the heavy MSS gore-tex bivy. When it gets down to freezing, a folded poncho liner is added. Good for 20-80°F. Two bags/Bivy/Poncho liner, in a 10" x 19" compression sack, weighs ~ 9 lbs.

:D




GR
 
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D.B. Cooper said:
Honestly, I just don't get this attraction to mil-surp gear. All of it was made by the lowest bidder and none of it is ultralight. There is a civilian version of all of it that s better and lighter.
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Garandimal said:
Well...

The medium ALICE packs (sans frame) were like-new and $35/ea., and the like-new MOLLE II Assault packs were $45.

There may be "lighter" stuff... but better?

Both these packs are nylon trucks.

Hauling gear 10-15 miles - just means you pack a little light, that's all.


Probably shouldn't mention that I also use the heavy MSS lightweight patrol bags, doubled up when it's cold, and the heavy MSS gore-tex bivy. When it gets down to freezing, a folded poncho liner is added. Good for 20-80°F. Two bags/Bivy/Poncho liner, in a 10" x 19" compression sack, weighs ~ 9 lbs.

:D




GR
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yeah, cost is what made most of us out here adopt the Alice. They hold slot of stuff (meat) and generally are what dad, had in the closet anyway.
 
D.B. Cooper said:
Honestly, I just don't get this attraction to mil-surp gear. All of it was made by the lowest bidder and none of it is ultralight. There is a civilian version of all of it that s better and lighter.
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It’s cheap, available, and durable.

Also, Military gear was modular before civilian gear, and often remains to be moreso - for example, many popular “ultralight” hunting packs are nothing more than a bag on a frame, no organization, separated pockets. It’s hard for me to give up on modularity and adaptability - so when I bought my new 10 day pack, I ordered the military version instead of the Hunting version (same company, same cut), because the military version includes molle ladders on the sides and belt. It’s a heavier pack, but more adaptable to secure my gear. A very popular ultralight hunting pack company - who makes great gear - is infamous for having incredibly basic bags without much inherent adaptability. Not a thing with molle compatible military gear.

But ultimately - mil-surp gear is cheap and durable, widely available, and modular. What’s to complain about?
 
I have a very touchy neck.
Even a reg game vest w a couple rabbits will set me off into headache land........

proly mentioned before, I always have a headache............its just normal.
When my neck gets strained...........it gets to edge of migraine.

Used to wear a fanny pack.
 
Could go with bigger, or something fitted, but when hunting far from the truck, would haul it out and take off, make it a "base camp".
Even for a day hunt.

I can barely have a rifle slung over my shoulder.
 
Varminterror said:
many popular “ultralight” hunting packs are nothing more than a bag on a frame, no organization, separated pockets. It’s hard for me to give up on modularity
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Agreed. This thread made me take a look at non-huting, backpacking, truly "ultralight" day packs, and the first thing I noticed was, as you mentioned, "sack on a frame." (If it's a true "ultralight" pack, it probably doesn't even have a frame.) My current hunt day pack is 3 lb 12 oz. I could drop as much 1.5 lbs in empty pack weight, which is significant, but I would have a Mary Poppins bag full of crap, which I would then have to completely dump out everything anytime I wanted to find anything. Like you, I like knowing where everything is and being able to get to it nearly immediately. (I'm not sure that tradeoff is worth 1.5 lbs, but each person makes that decision on his or her own.)
 
D.B. Cooper said:
Like you, I like knowing where everything is and being able to get to it nearly immediately. (I'm not sure that tradeoff is worth 1.5 lbs, but each person makes that decision on his or her own.)
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With my new 10day pack, that choice for enhanced modularity and increased strength meant increasing 2lbs of pack weight, plus whatever I end up attaching on the outside and belt.
 
Darn you guys. DARN YOU GUYS!!!! Here we are...18 days until hunting season. And now...because of THIS thread...Im going back through every item in my pack and scouring gear reviews looking for anyway to cut ounces out of my pack! As if I didn't have a ton of other stuff to do.

But it's fun and very enlightening. For example, I can buy a titanium canteen cup for $55 and knock 4 oz off my pack, or I can swap out my eVent stuff sack for an ultra-sil sack for $30 and save one ounce. When you start looking at items in terms of ounces save per dollar spent, it gets really expensive really quickly.
 
D.B. Cooper said:
Darn you guys. DARN YOU GUYS!!!! Here we are...18 days until hunting season. And now...because of THIS thread...Im going back through every item in my pack and scouring gear reviews looking for anyway to cut ounces out of my pack! As if I didn't have a ton of other stuff to do.

But it's fun and very enlightening. For example, I can buy a titanium canteen cup for $55 and knock 4 oz off my pack, or I can swap out my eVent stuff sack for an ultra-sil sack for $30 and save one ounce. When you start looking at items in terms of ounces save per dollar spent, it gets really expensive really quickly.
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Generally just add a 4th lift day, and bump the morning run up to thee miles.

I like my stainless canteen cup and nylon poncho.

:D




GR
 
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