Beginner Looking for Day Pack

JimP · Jan 13, 2017

My best suggestion to you is to not buy one on line until you have checked it out in person.

I have a Eberlestock X1A1 that is a couple of years old and while it does a good job there are problems with it. The side pockets are next to worthless if you have anything inside of the main body of it. They expand into the main pocket and if you have items in there there is no way for them to expand. If you have the water bladder in it then space is going to be even more limited. Also the rifle scabbard on it is not too bad and does work but if you have a bi pod on your rifle then you are back to packing your rifle in your arms. Other than that it really isn't a bad pack and is fairly comfortable.

I also have a Badlands that I should of sent back. I purchased it for a bear hunt in British Colombia and the main reason that I bought it was that they claimed that it was "water proofed". Nothing could of been further from the truth. When you are hunting in a area that rains for 20 hours out of a 24 hour day you need a place to keep thing dry, this pack wasn't it. I ended up lining the inside of it with a heavy plastic garbage bag to keep my things dry.

So in all reality in over 40 years of hunting I haven't found a day pack that I really like. I put up with what I buy because I need them but I don't expect them to do what their claims are. I have actually found fanny packs that do work a lot better than the traditional packs and while they don't hold as much they come close if you pay attention to what you are putting into them.

Buckslayer1561 · Jan 13, 2017

Good philosophy and I agree. I personally like the Tenzing and Kuiu packs but Kafaru make an awesome one but their costly. You can get the Tenzing 6000 for like $279 at Fieldsupply.com

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JimP · Jan 13, 2017

You'll never find a pack that is right for everything.

On my deer and elk hunts I use my fanny pack or Badlands day pack and then if I shoot something about all I pack back to camp is just what I can carry in it, which is usually just the heart and liver. I'll then return with a solid pack frame and game bags to pack out the rest of the animal.

CoHiCntry · Jan 13, 2017

I've got an Eberlestock X1 that I'd sell at a reasonable price. I actually think it's a great daypack, I've just moved on and it isn't being used anymore. Shoot me a PM if you're interested.

I've used a lot of packs over the years but currently use Kifaru. They are ridiculously priced so they aren't for everyone. Most can't justify a $1K pack and I don't blame them.

JimP · Jan 13, 2017

If the store that you are looking at them at will let you, stuff some weight into the main body of the pack and walk around the store a little and see just how the pack feels.

CoHiCntry · Jan 13, 2017

NDguy said:
This is my plan, I have learned my lesson buying shit online before trying it in person. My fear with the X1 is when I take an animal I would have a long uncomfortable walk back to camp vs using a M5, J34 or larger pack.

None of the packs you've mentioned so far really shine when it comes to carrying heavy loads. You really have to jump up from the typical Eberlestock, Badlands etc to get a good pack for heavy loads. Not that they won't do it, just that's not their strong point. Sometimes you have to go through a few to see what works for you & your needs.

NDHunter · Jan 13, 2017

I'd steer away from the J34. I've got one and there just isn't much of a frame to it and so it really digs into my shoulders when I have a load in it. I'd sell it to you though if you would like! Haha. I've got a Kuiu 3200 that I'm looking to sell but it's a tall frame and at 5'7", that probably wouldn't work for you. I'd definitely recommend the Kuiu Icon series though. Very good pack for the price and if you're patient, you can get them on sale for 25-35% off.

badgerbob · Jan 14, 2017

Check out Blacks Creek "Cure" pack. I just got one and am impressed. A buddy has one and says it easily will handle an elk hind quarter. It's a lumbar pack with a meat shelf. Google Dusty Bourasa demonstrates Blacks Creeks Cure pack. It's a short video explaining the theory. Like I said, I just got it and haven't had a chance to give it a try.

missjordan · Jan 15, 2017

I'd also recommend the Kuiu Icon Pro series. For the money they are comfortable and the load shelf is added space for carrying out meat if you didn't want to use the bag

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Bearlodge10 · Jan 16, 2017

NDguy,
Lots of good information here and everyone will have an opinion on packs. You had mentioned in an earlier post "mid-Line" packs and those for shorter torsos. I am 5'6" and 180 lbs and like you couldn't justify the more expensive packs for what I needed. For years I ran a Blacks Creek Westerner and loved it. carries Rifle and Bow, has spotter pouch, rain/warmer gear and kill kit and has light internal frame and I have packed out antelope/deer quarters as well as elk backstraps and antlers with it. The pack is adjustable for the torso fit (yoke) and it fit me very well. Food for thought and my own plug... if interested I have this pack for sale as I recently was gifted a Mystery Ranch. PM if you want even if you just want pics of the westerner so that you have a refernce in mind.
Cheers

Bearlodge10 · Jan 17, 2017

I have a Metcalf (Gen 2 with the meat shelf). It fits me well it has medium yoke and small waist belt. I do like it a lot. I have used it to pack out an elk and done all of quartered deer and antelope. Works very well even without using the meat shelf. One thing I don't like is that it doesn't seem to collapse down to a day pack as well as I would like but that is probably just not organizing right.
Hope this helps

Catahoula12 · Jan 18, 2017

I use Tenzing 2220 or Tenzing 1500 have both. Same as others mentioned. If I'm lucky enough to drop an elk or deer I'll return with my frame pack.

gonhunting247 · Jan 18, 2017

I still use a Eberlestock X1A and it is super comfortable. It is not however, set up the with the best pocket design. The gun scabbard works the best of any I've used though and protects your gun well. I use it a lot when I'm trapping, so I can have both hands free, but still have my gun available as needed. I still use a Cabelas Alaska 2 frame pack for the major meat hauling duties though, because the Eberlestock isn't good for more than about 1 quarter of a deer IMO.
My son has a Kuiu Icon 1850 and we used it to carry out, bone in back halves of two different bucks this season and it worked really well. I wouldn't hesitate to carry a 1/4 of an elk (bone in) on it. The nice thing about it is that when lashed all back down, it carries as a day pack very well and it is narrow enough to stay out of the way. Most packs that are designed to carry meat, are to wide to carry through the brush while hunting, again IMO.
I must have made it known I was pretty impressed with how it carried a load and shrunk back down nicely, because he bought me one for Christmas! I haven't used it in the field yet, so time will tell if I go with it, or just stay with what has worked for so many years.
Good Luck, packs aren't cheap and it's a tough decision for sure.

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