Ultalight pack for 5'5" guy.

[Eric Bailey]

I am going on my first big game hunt this fall.

I live in Colorado. I'll be hunting one of the wilderness areas in second or third rifle season (Oct 20 - Nov 11). I plan on staying ~5 days. I have an ultralight pack about 3 liters that I love, but it is pretty light-duty and I have visions of everything being a bloody mess when I'm packing out mule deer or elk quarters.

I was thinking about buying a pack frame from a company like wilderness packs, then removing the pack and tying game bags on to carry it out. But, I also kind of hate this idea because I am really small and hate to carry a heavier pack than I need to. The badlands sacrifice looks awesome, but I've heard that it doesn't fit small people well.

Any other smaller guys out there that hunt backcountry alone? What do you use?

 

[Caseyu]

well check out some videos on youtube that show how to measure your torso height. it's from the c7 verteb... to the top of your hip bones. if your not planning on carrying a bunch of weight look at the kuiu packs. but if you plan on carrying some pounds i would save up and buy one pack that will last you a long time. kifaru or stone glacier(sold by schnees) I've heard of the eberlestock packs fitting quite well for sub 5'8 guys. best of luck!!! let us know what you decide

 

[Fink]

It probably doesn't qualify as ultralite, but I love my Eberlestock Blue Widow.. I'm about 5'6", and might weight 155 pounds, if I just fell in the pool, and the pack fits me great. The pack is a little wide, so you might have a slight trouble drawing your bow, or shouldering a rifle, but it's not nearly as tall as some of the other packs out there.

 

[Grantbvfd]

Kifaru only way to go. I have tried mystery ranch, badlands, blacks creek. The kifaru is by far the best pack I have ever used.

 

[buckbull]

I'm 5'8" and have an Eberlestock X1A and it fits me great. Its certainly more of a daypack than a meat hauler but I was able to get an antelope packed out last year with it.

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

The shoulder straps on the KUIU (2012 to present) and Stone Glacier are attached with velcro, so should be able to adjust well to your body. Kifaru also has a great reputation for fitting a pack to the customer.

I have had heavy loads over 80 pounds in a 2011 Kuiu Icon 6000 and it was quite comfortable. The Kuiu seems to get some bad press occasionally, but it has been a very nice pack for me.

 

[StanB]

I'm 5'6" and have had an early model Kifaru Long Hunter (5000 ci) for 8+ years. I was concerned about heavy load / pack fit as welll when I bought this. I talked with the Kifaru folks when ordering the pack, gave them my measurements, and they put the pack together. I've hauled all kinds of loads with it in all kinds of terrain, plus training/hiking during 6+months pre-season most years. NEVER had a hot spot, sore spot, etc., and never had to make any adjustments. You can't kill this thing. And other than a small puncture hole some damn inconsiderate pine tree managed to put in the bag, this pack basically looks like the day I bought it, except for some blood stains I haven't tried their new ultra-light bags yet, but they look interesting. I'm usually more worried about losing a couple pounds off my own hide pre-season than getting a lighter pack.

Can't go wrong with Kifaru. Pay once, cry once, smile for a long time!!

 

[ELR]

I am in the same boat. Was seriously thinking about the new Eberlestock Team Elk Pack, but dont have any place close to me that I can try one on for size. Also new to the backpacking style of hunting, what game bags do people use and do they slip right in these packs granted there is enough room around your gear?

 

[Drhorsepower]

I have been through quite a few packs. I have a kifaru on order now and wish I would have bought a quality pack right off the bat. It's hard to go wrong with a kifaru or stone glacier. Mystery ranch and eberlestock also make a quality pack but not that light.

 

[ELR]

Well, I pulled the trigger this past wknd on the Eberlestock Team Elk Pack, retailer that I purchased from fitted the pack to me, and added weight to the pack to made sure it stayed put...Also the reason I chose this pack was, yes, its smaller than some packs, but Im
5'7" and about 160 lbs, and I really dont think I can even if I wanted to or had to load a 6000 plus cu in pack...Im very satisfied with my purchase and the help I was given in my purchase.