Help me decide fellas

[Luke Downing]

In my quest for info here I have read a lot about all kids of stuff gear wise.
I think I have my mind made up on a tent so I think I got that covered.
Packs however is another story. I'm planning on my trip being about 6 days in the back country. So I am thinking a pack in the 4500 ci range is what I will need
The 2 that I am looking at is the badlands 4500 and the eberlestock blue widow. The widow is quite a bit more money and I have seen great reviews on it. But I could probably find a badlands a little cheaper.
I am on a budget somewhat but don't care to pay the price for the eberlestock but thought if the badlands would work fine I could use the extra cash I would save on other gear.
So let me hear it fellas what is your opinions on these two packs

Now I know there are a lot that use the mystery ranch or kifu packs but those are out of my price range


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[extreme minnesotan]

If I remember right your trip isn't until the fall of 2015, right? If I were to give any advice it will be, be patient on buying gear. I went through this a couple years ago and jumped the gun on a few purchases. Research and look for used products also! Spend money wisely by knowing what you want, but always find it on sale or even used if you can. You have over a year to comparison shop and read reviews on products. It is surprising on how many new things come out every year that will make some things not so good.

If at all interested look into Kuiu's new pack or even Exo Mountain gear. I have watched videos on both of these and think they will be better than a badlands. I have never used one or priced them out, but a pack I would suggest spending more here than other areas to have a good one from the start instead of upgrading in a year or two. That's my opinion.

 

[Luke Downing]

You are correct that my trip isn't until 2015
My plan is to try and buy used as much as possible to keep the cost down. Just trying to get ideas so when I see a deal I can grab it.


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[ScottR]

Luke, send me a pm with your trip information and I will build you a gear list.

 

[Luke Downing]

Scott what type of trip info do you need? Area time frame? Day count? Or anything else?


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[extreme minnesotan]

Do you know how to send a private message on here? Very top of screen check notifications.

 

[ScottR]

This is exactly what I need.

Scott what type of trip info do you need? Area time frame? Day count? Or anything else?


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[Luke Downing]

Scott you have a PM bud

 

[Musket Man]

I would go and try some packs. Not just how they fit but features, pockets, how they open and close, ect and see what you like and dont like. You might also look at some military surplus packs like the ILBE if you are on a budget.

 

[cnalder]

I can't compare the Badlands 4500 with the blue widow but can tell you this. I have hunted with a badlands superday for 4 years even doing 1-2 night spikes with it. Last fall I bought a blue widow for $175 off craigslist. Even for day hunts I will likely never use the superday again. I packed out an elk and a whole deer in the blue widow and was very impressed. There are other packs that may be better made than eberlestock but they come with an increased price. I'm very impressed so far and like I said will probably never use the superday again for hunting, the blue widow just has too many advantages. Worksmanship appears to be superior with the eberlestock compared to the badlands.

 

[ssliger]

Here are my thoughts on the subject. I have owned both an Eberlestock pack and currently selling my Badlands 4500. The features on the Eberlestock that I liked were the hydration pocket, and the built in gun scabbard. The problems I had were the load lifters are not functional, and the pack I had did not have many pockets for organizing things. What I like about the Badlands is the load lifters were functional, and had a nice variety of pockets. The things I didn't like about it was the way the hydration system, and it is such a deep bag with only top access. I carried 70lbs on a backpacking trip last fall and the Badlands worked great, my hunting partner had the new Team Elk Eberlestock and did not enjoy it as much, due to the fact that the load lifters are not very functional. Here are pics of the packs we used to give you an idea.

Just a note, my buddy did not have the best gear and had to strap his tent and sleeping bag to the outside.

 

[jjenness]

I just picked up the Tenzing 5000. A good friend of mine used this pack last year and he has raved about it since. I will finally get it out this weekend for shed hunting and will let you know what I think.

 

[RUTTIN]

I have had the badlands, and eberlestock and just sold both of them to get a higher end pack. It really does make a difference in comfort. My suggestion would be save your money and get a high end pack if you can. If you can't swing it I would go with the badlands 4500 it is much more comfortable than the eberlestock, in my opinion.

 

[Luke Downing]

I keep going back and forth on the badlands 4500 and the eberlestock blue widow and sure both are great packs I'm sure. The one thing that keeps me coming back to badlands is the price. I seem to see more used ones for sale for a cheaper price than the widow pack. I'm on somewhat if a budget but have plenty of time to squire gear but to me going with the badlands at a cheaper price finding it used would give me more cash to get other gear such as optics is why I keep looking that route
I know a lot use the higher end gear like mystery ranch and kuiu packs but they are a little more than I want to spend. I know they are better but it's hard for me to justify that amount of money in a pack.


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[CoHiCntry]

I'd be looking at the Badlands 4500 that's for sale on here pretty hard if your on a budget. Last I saw he wanted $200 and was considering offers. Not sure you'll find one to much cheaper...

 

[25contender]

I have been in the same boat. It is tough to justify the money for some packs but......You have heard this before!! If I knew what I know now..... About packs after talking with those in the know about the suspension systems, frames, bags, materials,etc I would have saved up and got a great pack to begin with. I have a closet full of so so packs that I spent more money on than the current pack on order. I am old school and sometimes its hard to part with the cash.

I keep going back and forth on the badlands 4500 and the eberlestock blue widow and sure both are great packs I'm sure. The one thing that keeps me coming back to badlands is the price. I seem to see more used ones for sale for a cheaper price than the widow pack. I'm on somewhat if a budget but have plenty of time to squire gear but to me going with the badlands at a cheaper price finding it used would give me more cash to get other gear such as optics is why I keep looking that route
I know a lot use the higher end gear like mystery ranch and kuiu packs but they are a little more than I want to spend. I know they are better but it's hard for me to justify that amount of money in a pack.


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[ssliger]

I keep going back and forth on the badlands 4500 and the eberlestock blue widow and sure both are great packs I'm sure. The one thing that keeps me coming back to badlands is the price. I seem to see more used ones for sale for a cheaper price than the widow pack. I'm on somewhat if a budget but have plenty of time to squire gear but to me going with the badlands at a cheaper price finding it used would give me more cash to get other gear such as optics is why I keep looking that route
I know a lot use the higher end gear like mystery ranch and kuiu packs but they are a little more than I want to spend. I know they are better but it's hard for me to justify that amount of money in a pack.


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You have to ask yourself will the extra money be worth it. How often will you use it? Is it only being used one trip per? I don't know where you are from but if I remember correctly it is somewhere back east, so can you use the pack for turkeys, and whitetail? I am the type of person that upgrades every few years, I buy what I can afford, and let the use justify upgrading. Good luck on your search.

 

[Luke Downing]

And that is important also. Most all of my hunting here in Missouri is whitetail and turkey and I really don't see me using "said" pack more than once a year on a hunt such as going out west. We don't have anything here in my state where I can see myself using it. If I was like some and lived out west where I could put it to use more I could totally see spending the money on something like a mystery ranch or even a kuiu pack. Or of I was able to go out west for 2 trips such as a archery hunt early in the year and then a rifle hunt late in the year. But time wise I just don't have it to be able to do that. And with a wife and 3 kids at home money is always really tight to be able to keep them happy as well. That is the part that I just can't see justifying the extra cost of the higher end packs

I know you do get what you pay for and good equipment is not cheap at all and I do understand that but for 1 trip that might be 5-6 days worth of packing I just cant see myself paying $500-600 or more for a pack I would use once a year

 

[CoHiCntry]

You have to ask yourself will the extra money be worth it. How often will you use it? Is it only being used one trip per? I don't know where you are from but if I remember correctly it is somewhere back east, so can you use the pack for turkeys, and whitetail? I am the type of person that upgrades every few years, I buy what I can afford, and let the use justify upgrading. Good luck on your search.

Good info right there ^^^. I personally would never go buy one of the upper end packs without trying cheaper ones first. I spend a considerable amount of time backpacking, climbing, etc etc and think some guys buy gear way over what they really need. Is a top end pack better than Badlands or Eberlestock??? Absolutely! Not everyone needs one though. Buy a mid-range pack like your looking at then decide over time if your needs justify a better pack. For reference I'll be using an Eberlestock J34 this year. Not really by choice but because I had to sell my new Kifaru pack to pay for my family's needs. Do I feel under packed or will I stay home more this year because I have to settle for the lesser pack? Not hardly...

 

[NDHunter]

One of the tough things about buying a pack is that the vast majority of us can't go to a store and try out a bunch of packs. One guy order the Badlands and have it fit great while the Eberlestock just doesn't feel right. Then the next guy does the same thing and have the Eberlestock fit great while the Badlands just doesn't work for them.

I bought the Eberlestock J34 and like it really well. To be fair though I haven't had a really heavy load in it. Good luck...

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