So here is my deal, I have two Bison gear packs. One is the Lemhi and the other is a lost river. I am doing a hunt 7 day pack in hunt. I've hunted elk in the past twice but had the luxery of horses carrying my junk.
My question is... Do I just buy a good frame and attach these two packs to it, dump the frame when I make camp and have a smaller option for day hunting. Do I scratch that whole idea and just spend the cash to buy a Mystery Ranch, Outdoorsman, Kifaru or Kuiu pack system. I really don't want to carry around a frame the whole time but if I have to it probably needs to be a really nice one.
I don't want to chase my tail on this deal. Any recommendations are welcome.
You really can't go wrong with Kifaru in my opinion, we run ours all day everyday and it feels like I'm carrying less than my old day pack days and I'm actually carrying considerably more weight. They have tons of videos and podcasts on YouTube etc. Their service before and after the sell us legendary! You will find reasons to use the pack when you get back from hunting out West too, plus the resell value is unreal, especially if you put it up at the right time of year when guys are scrambling for a pack in July and August. They are build to order for the most part so don't dilly dally ordering so you have time to dial it in. Don't be afraid to PM me any questions, I'm no expert but we have a lot of their gear and they have a lot of my overtime wages.
That's good advice, they are just sooooooooo expensive. I'm sure they are worth every penny though. I need to just buck up I guess.
I agree with everything old goat says about kifaru. It's been an awesome pack for me.
i used a bunch of packs over the years and always had a "day pack" and a meat pack. Had to go to the truck or camp to change out to start packing. When we started hunting Alaska, two packs were not practical so I went with a single. John had Kifaru that first year and I was sold. It is the only pack I carry now and I wear it every day. Straps down nice for day use and expands to carry as much meat or gear that you want to put on your back.
Mike
Dang you guys, can someone give me loan
I have no doubt that Kifaru is top shelf when taking everything into consideration. That being said, I was faced with a similar choice a few years ago and since I only chase elk every 2-3 years, and that is my only mountain hunting for now, I went with the Kuiu Ultra 6000. Half the cost, extremely light, comfortable at very high weight and room to spare on a 7 day, pack-in hunt. This year we'll be hunting for 11-12 days and it will hold everything I need. It also cinches way down and I use it for a day pack. I have been extremely pleased so far. Good luck!
I really like my Exo Mountain Gear pack.You can buy just a frame from them as well.Made in U S A.Awesome customer service
I'm a new Kifaru guy and I LOVE mine. It will outlast me easily. I've never been a big hiker, but one of my buddies is. He gave me a lot of grief about the price of the pack, until he tried it out. I have a 40# bag of corn in it that he says feels closer to 20 due to the design, and he's used several different big name hiking brands.
I would buy a Kifaru if money was not in play. If you need a real well made Budget Backpack that probably cost as much or more than a Kifaru and you already paid for once because your a US tax payer. Check out the lightly used USMC Marpat ILBE on the big auction site. They are made in the USA and extremely durable I figure if its good enough for a US Marine its plenty good for me. They range in price all set up from $60-$100.
Empty with no waste belt or rain cap mine comes in at. 6 lbs
I need to buy both the above still for mine. I used it elk hunting in Montana and it worked flawlessly.
My most important issue with all packs is finding a quiet pack. The ones we've tried are functional, but are so noisy in the oakbrush. any new ones that are truly quiet? Some claim it, but they are'n't. I've been using an old kids polarfleece that is not exactly good, but it is quiet. Any thoughts
Seems like you guys are dead on with EVERYTHING I have been reading about. Exo, Kifaru, Mystery Ranch, Kuiu and Outdoorsman seems to be the ticket. Now to look for a deal. This body type isn't going to be easy to fit. 5'8 215-220lbs 56" chest and built like a fire hydrant. A tailors nightmare
Quote from: medic77 on May 11, 2018, 10:06:55 AM
Seems like you guys are dead on with EVERYTHING I have been reading about. Exo, Kifaru, Mystery Ranch, Kuiu and Outdoorsman seems to be the ticket. Now to look for a deal. This body type isn't going to be easy to fit. 5'8 215-220lbs 56" chest and built like a fire hydrant. A tailors nightmare
That's all the more reason to go for the Kifaru, totally adjustable, three different size belts, the shoulder straps can't be minutely adjusted. Call them up and talk to them. Unless you have somebody available in your area that knows how to adjust packs, your would be best served to at least but the frame new, they will ask for certain measurements and the frame should be pretty close if not spot on, they are good at it!
Here are some pictures of the USMC Marpat ILBE it was designed by a big name backpack MFG. ARC'TERYX
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If you watch the classifieds on Rokslide you can very likely pick up one of the top end packs for a decent savings off new. There are a lot of guys who always have to have the latest and greatest, so dump their old barely used gear frequently. When you're talking packs that retail at $600 - $800 a 30% savings is a big deal.
I won a tenzing 6000 as a door prize last year( hunt film tour).
Nice pack, has a detachable day pack and hydration compatible.
Not a cheap pack , around 500$ I'm told, but it is a well made one.
I think the adage buy once cry once works here. The pack you chose will be an investment you'll use for years to come and I'd buy a slightly bigger pack than you think you'll need. There's always something else you will want to carry.
I'll second what Whip said. Also, don't rule out Exo Mountain packs. I love mine.
I've got an older Kifaru longhunter and several ILBE packs. Kifaru carries better and is light, ILBE is 90 percent as good and cheap.
Love my kifaru as well. Over 7,000ci cinches down small for day hunt mode. Money well spent for sure. Not to mention made in America... call them, give them your stats, and they will get you dialed in. Yeah they are pricey, but I don't see you regretting it down the road. Good luck!!!
Kifaru DT1 with guide lid and a few pockets it'll hold all your gear and enough food for about 8-9 days. When you get to camp it collapses down small enough for day use with some snacks kill kit and rain gear
Quote from: Biathlonman on May 11, 2018, 07:57:43 PM
I've got an older Kifar longhunter and several ILBE packs. Kifaru carries better and is light, ILBE is 90 percent as good and cheap.
the changes in the frames in the last few years is substantial. I have Gen 2 Duplex and the current Hunter Frame and Duplex is considerably less comfortable than the Hunter so I imagine your ilbe is way way way less than 90% as comfortable as the current lineup! Aron Snyder has made significant changes. Packs designed for military use are different than packs designed for backpack hunting, they don't have load lifter etc and don't distribute the weight the same at all! Are they good packs, yes, especially if you're young and bounce back quick, I'm not young!
All great info guys. I have a ton of options to go over.
I do think I have a line on an Outdoorsmans Optics hunter Pack at what I feel is a steal of a price. Thoughts? Seems like it could work well for me.
Why not just shop for a Kifaru frame, and lash your pack to it? Add in their cargo panel and you are set up for lots of hauling at 2/3 the price.
The kifaru and stone glacier are going to be on the upper end on what your going to want, if you plan on hunting with a few guys and plan on packing out numerous animals. There a big difference between doing it once, and doing it back to back to back.
The load lifters are huge, when it comes to carrying large loads. Now if your going to carry out 50lbs at a time you can run almost anything. Now if two guys are splitting a bull and try to do it one shot, then hunt the next day, its just not going to happen with something thats not designed for it. I would say on average a guy can carry 30% more with a Kifaru or SG then just about anything out there. I have not messed with the EXO but, it might move up to that level also.
FYI I would personally never hunt without being able to carry meat once they hit the ground! Done it and never ever again!!
"Buy once, cry once." This is true for almost all gear, but especially optics and packs. Spend the money once and be done with it. Having gone through several packs over the years, I can definitely say kifaru is the best I've tried. They also take care of you after the sale and are made in America. I have also heard good things about exo and mystery ranch, but haven't tried them. I don't think you'll be disappointed with the investment.
Stone Glacier.
So I've never been elk hunting but plan on it next year. Met someone last year from Denver and he said he would put me on elk if I come out. Now this may sound stupid but here goes. Been following this thread and lot of good info. This guy I met says he straps meat bags on to lightweight frame to haul out meat. So what do you guys do that carry an ILBE or Kirafu style pack. Do you strap meat bags on the outside of it? Sorry if this sounds stupid but I'm Midwest deer hunter and we just drag the deer out lol.
It's a sin to put ILBE or Kirafu in the same sentence. Seriously though, I carry a large dry bag, that I put meat bags in and they go inside the main bag of the pack.
If I'm hauling all my gear with meat. My sleeping bag is at the bottom of the same compartment in a dry bag, tent is strapped on the outside and clothing gets jammed in wherever it will fit.