Climbing, Pack On or Off?

[Dsabhunt]

Climb with my pack off.
I don't like the extra weight on my back. Makes me extra top heavy and I don't want it on my back while I climb making me sweaty. I also try to set up with cover around me so I don't want to be hitting my pack on other tree braches as I'm climbing. Skeletor sticks with an aider. Maybe 8-10 lbs. I have a doyles gear hoist in an ewo pouch for my bow and some paracord for my pack.

 

[Spartan]

I always climb with my pack on. And about half the time I will attach my weapon of choice for that hunt to the back of the pack so that I have nothing to pull up.

 

[sdonx]

I added another rope to my system so I can drop my pack down. I think it will be safer when coming down in the dark.
I will still wear it on the way up.

 

[2Sloe]

If you climb with your pack on tell us:
1. Why? - I don’t like stinking up the area under my tree by putting stuff on the ground and it’s just something I can skip.
2. Climbing methods that apply? - 1Stick…walk up to the tree, put my one stick on and go up.
3. Approximate weight of pack during climb? - 10-15 depending on the temps
4. What big items do you haul in your pack when climbing up: Backband, hys strap, light, 20 oz coffee thermos, 16 oz Gatorade, snacks, mainly clothes layers. Run two dump pouches on my saddle for rap rope, tether, madrock etc. Also carry my 7lb xbow up on my back. I go up and come down with everything on my back.

 

[Chrighton]

Usually on
Bolts, one stick, multiple sticks
10 lbs.
I try to keep all my ropes and rapel setup on my person (in saddle dump pouches) in case I drop something.
Limb saw, snips, vice grips, binos, extra cam buckle straps, platform if it fits, CAYG, range finder, knife, tags, milkweed, grunt tube

 

[Jimdude]

I need an option that says “it depends”.
I 1stick and if my pack is light that day, I climb with it. If it’s heavy, I climb without it.

 

[Iron_llama]

This season I wore a turkey vest, carried a pack with extra layers, and a rifle. I wore the turkey vest up the tree and 1-sticked up on my rappel line. I tied the end of my rappel line to my pack to pull it up the tree, and used a dog leash as both a rifle haul line and rappel rope pulldown line. I don't want a pack to make me topheavy. As an experiment, I climbed one tree with my rifle slung and honestly didn't even notice it was there, it wasn't in the way. Single-shot H&R with the hammer down so no chance of an AD; muzzle pointed away from me anyway, so I felt safe there.

 

[thedutchtouch]

If you haven’t noticed I’m wearing out this poor poll button. Humor me one more again as I approach opening day Saturday.

If’n you’re still inclined to climb a tree at all, like so many of us saddle hunters are. Do you do it with the pack on or off?

If you climb with your pack on tell us:
1. Why? Because I've tried pulling it up with a rope and find that to be less comfortable than climbing with it
2. Climbing methods that apply? Sticks, one stick, and the occasional 2tc dabble
3. Approximate weight of pack during climb? Too heavy. I dunno, 20 lbs.
4. What big items do you haul in your pack when climbing up I.e. rappel rope, bow, clothes, stand, etc. Everything (not involved in the actual climb so no sticks, ropes, or LB, they live in pouches on my saddle or hang from saddle while climbing) except my bow is in there. ROS is in pack all the time as well as top platform (mission) if not one sticking.