I use my gear pack to pack out meat. I used to use a frame but then I would have to go back to camp and get it. I carry my gear pack rather I have a 5 day camp in it or if I?m using it as a day pack so that?s why I use my gear pack now.
If you are using a small day pack and have a frame to pack out your meat I used to strap my small day pack onto my frame that way I have it when I get a animal down.
I used to just pack a small daypack, a Camelback Stryker. Then I got a spotter and tripod and needed more room, so I figured I should get a pack that could handle taking meat out the first trip. I got an Eberlestock J34. It worked pretty well for that but it wasn't the most comfortable with an elk hind quarter and was on the heavy side for a daypack. The lay-out and scabbard were nice. I'd take the first load out with it and then go back in with the Cabelas Alaskan Guide frame I had in the truck.
Later I went to the Eberlestock Mainframe and it was better. I went without the scabbard and used the Transformer bag for most stuff but had the Little Big Top bag for when I needed more room. I had the scabbard too for when I wanted to unzip the pack from the frame and just use the buckles, that gave me room for my scabbard between the bag and frame. For whitetail rifle hunting I'd zip the super spike camp duffle to the Mainframe and use it to pack all my warm stuff into my hunting area so I didn't sweat walking in, but also didn't freeze when sitting there for 3-4 hours in December. The single zipper that gave me access to everything was quiet and easy to pack up in the dark when I was ready to head out. It's really a pretty nice set-up, the guy I hunt with all the time was always envious and is buying it from me to replace his J34 for future seasons. I think the scabbard with the new bat wings might be an excellent set-up for day hunting, and when camping a dry bag with camp gear could be sandwiched between, kinda like a Kifaru Nomad with a scabbard. The big Cabelas frame was still more comfortable with a heavy load, but this one was way nicer to hunt while wearing and did the job just fine. Being used to the shooters harness Eberlestock uses for shoulder straps makes it hard to get used to shooting a rifle while wearing a pack with thick padded shoulder straps like the Cabelas or Exo.
The reason I'm selling him the Mainframe set-up is the Exo 3500 I tried. I already posted about it, but it just fits me better and holds my gear in a way I like. The way it is rigid vertically while flexing side to side makes it so much more comfortable to me wearing it while hunting and navigating nasty terrain. The comfort is worth more to me than the modularity and scabbard I loved on the Mainframe.
With the packs available today I don't think it makes near as much sense to run a simple daypack as it used to if packing meat might be involved. There are a lot of packs under 5lbs that have a good frame and are comfortable to get the first load out to the truck with. Even if the one you pick isn't as comfortable as the bigger frames they can sure get the first load out and save a trip, then you can go back with the bigger frame.
