Climbing, Pack On or Off?

[tmhaz1]

Climb with pack on
2TC
Predator platform hanging off saddle
Rappell rope, clothes , ring of steps just in case in pack. Everything else in pack
Only want to pull up bow or gun during gun season
Early season pack is probably 8 pounds total, gets a little heavier as season progresses

 

[bowhuntr09]

I’m 265lb and my pack weighs a lot as well. I leave it on the ground and pull it up later

 

[Thetrueredneck]

If you climb with your pack on tell us:
1. Why? - I hate pulling everything up, especially during early season when lots of limbs and leaves are there to get in the way.
2. Climbing methods that apply? - 1Stick , Multiple sticks
3. Approximate weight of pack during climb? -Not sure 20ish
4. What big items do you haul in your pack when climbing up I.e. rappel rope, bow, clothes, stand, etc.- Ropes clothes snacks bow video gear, it changes with the weather and season.

 

[TFNC]

I do both, late season when my pack is heavy or if it's difficult tree I may climb without my pack. I have a Doyle's gear hoist that lives in a side pouch of my pack. If I climb with it, I just hook my bow to the hoist. If I decide to climb without it, I hook the Doyle's to my bow and take paracord that i always keep in my saddle and hook to my pack. Once I'm at height. (I climb with sticks or 1 stick most of the time) I just pull up my pack. Once the pack is up and stored, I grab the string of the Doyle's and pull up my bow. The only extra gear i have is the paracord and i like having it as a backup

 

[krub6b]

If you climb with your pack on tell us:
1. Why? less to haul up after climb
2. Climbing methods that apply? 2tc
3. Approximate weight of pack during climb? too much, I'm gonna say 15# early season goes up to 20ish late season
4. What big items do you haul in your pack when climbing up I.e. rappel rope, bow, clothes, stand, etc. camera arm, camera, hydration bladder, bow on morning sits, extra layers, snacks, kill kit, platform

 

[Bowtie747]

So I’ll start with in using a treestand rn with a saddle.
Why? I’m a one trip up guy.
Why not? I have a treestand on my back, so I’m trying to use a Fanny pack.
Climbing method = sticks
Pack weight. With 32oz of water maybe 5lbs

 

[boyne bowhunter]

if you climb with your pack on tell us:
1. Why?
Three reasons. First, I hate pulling the pack up. Second, my platform is in the pouch of the turkey vest I use as a pack. Its a quiet/convenient place to carry it up the tree. Third, my rappel rope (and any other backup gear) is in there where I can access it if I have to for some reason during the climb.
2. Climbing methods that apply?
One sticking.
3. Approximate weight of pack during climb?
20-25 lbs
4. What big items do you haul in your pack when climbing up I.e. rappel rope, bow, clothes, stand, etc.
Rappel rope, platform, upper clothes layers, camera and camera arm and kill kit. I can neither confirm or deny another possible item. I do pull up my bow after I get set up at height.

 

[deerfly]

I climb via SRT, so only essential climbing and rappelling gear is on my saddle or person during ascent. Once I'm safely connected to my tether at hunting height I haul my pack up using my climbing rope and hang it on the opposite side of the tree. My bow is pulled up using my rope retrieval cord. My pack is a badlands superday pack, which I think is 3.5lbs empty plus what ever my extra clothing, water, snack, etc weigh is probably 6-8lbs or so.

 

[Aeds151]

No pack during climb. Tie rappel rope to pack that has a bow holder. Bring it all up at one time or with jx3 and pnuma pants with cargo pockets, no pack needed at all.


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[WannaBMonkey]

I climb with my pack on because once my climbing method is out of it, it weighs next to nothing. Also, my bow retriever is clipped to it. Plus if I have snacks along, that's where they'll be!

 

[Jtaylor]

I do both but prefer to climb with my pack on.
If you climb with your pack on tell us:
1. Why? I'll hang my pack then deal with my bow, dealing with my pack and bow dangling off a line seems hectic.
2. Climbing methods that apply? Sticks, 1-stick, bolts, some SRT, some Stepps.
3. Approximate weight of pack during climb? 15 lbs maybe?
4. What big items do you haul in your pack when climbing up I.e. rappel rope, bow, clothes, stand, etc.
Headlamp, knife, permit, wallet, extra light, binos, rangefinder, sweatshirt, compass, t.p., gear hoist, keys, Nalgene with water.

If you do not climb with your pack tell us:
1. Why not? Tree I'm climbing up has too tight of limbs to climb with a pack on
2. Approximate weight of pack? Same as above
3. Pack pull up method of choice? I carry a flag clip and girth hitch it to the Doyle's above my bow.
4. How you configure your bow and pack for pull up.
Pack goes on the flag clip, bow goes on the Doyle's clip.
Like this:

 

[Bdwilliams]

1. Why?
I don't like pulling up my pack after I'm up the tree, and I keep my platform in my pack for the climb.

2. Climbing methods that apply?
Three to four XOP mini double sticks with a Versa aider.

3. Approximate weight of pack during climb?
Less than 10 lbs for sure, maybe 7 to 8lbs.

4. What big items do you haul in your pack when climbing up?
Platform and puffy jacket during winter. Platform for early- and mid-season hunts.

 

[woodsdog2]

Pack on
1. Why?
Tether, gear hanger, etc. are all kept in dump pouches on my pack waist belt. I hate things on my saddle.
2. Climbing methods that apply?
All of them I have ever tried which has been most of them.
3. Approximate weight of pack during climb?
10-15lbs depending on climbing method and season
4. What big items do you haul in your pack when climbing up I.e. rappel rope, bow, clothes, stand, etc.
Everything except my bow. I connect a Doyles hoist and leave bow on the ground until set up.

DITTO this for my entire answer!!!!

 

[woodsdog2]

My only addition is that I one stick or use climbing sticks.

 

[phatkaw]

No pack while climbing for me.

I keep a separate 6mm rope in my pack to hoist it.
I pull up my bow with paracord in my saddle pouches.

 

[Hunter260]

I used to be a one trip up the tree guy, but anymore since I’m using only 3 sticks I’ll just put 2 on from the ground then step up and hang the third real quick. I need a better way to attach platform to pack though. Kinda clumbsy

 

[trailblazer75]

Well. Mine is long. I climb with it on.
So I took all the pouches off my saddles. So my rappel rope goes in by backpack. As well as gear hanger and pull down/up rope for my bow. So for my I can get up the tree and rappel down carrying 3 sticks and a platform, without anything on my saddle by carrying my pack on my back, which I’m gonna do anyway.
I do this regardless of climbing method because whether I one stick, 3 stick, K/S with wild edge steps, I always rappel. So nothing changes. My X2 unloaded weighs maybe 8-10 lbs max. I don’t really carry any big items at that point because the ground has the weight of everything.

 

[ericabbott]

I ditched my backpack for a battle belt with a few pouches and my Doyle’s hoist for my bow/gun. That and a predator pack and WE Stepps all go up the tree with me.

 

[katiesmom]

No I don't climb with it on.
1 Why? Cause I'm not 20something anymore. Safety while climbing is the first for me. I have enough to do putting up sticks. I have two 25 ft lengths of paracord with knots every 18 inches. Tie one to my pack. The other tied to my bow. Pack on left side, bow on right. They come up after my equipment strap is on the tree, which is kept in my left side pouch.
2 with what? My Skeletor sticks.
3 NA
4 probably 15 lbs after all my sticks and saddle come off my pack.

 

[Off Topic Guy]

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?
2. Climbing methods that apply?
3. Approximate weight of pack during climb?
4. What big items do you haul in your pack when climbing up I.e. rappel rope, bow, clothes, stand, etc.

If you do not climb with your pack tell us:
1. Why not?
2. Approximate weight of pack?
3. Pack pull up method of choice?
4. How you configure your bow and pack for pull up.

And GO!

If you climb with your pack on tell us:
1. Why? Too heavy for pull up rope (comfortably), less noise just leaving it on, spare straps on my persons for a 'just in case' scenario
2. Climbing methods that apply? Hawk Helium sticks with amsteel aiders
3. Approximate weight of pack during climb? Too much, probably 15 lbs
4. What big items do you haul in your pack when climbing up I.e. rappel rope, bow, clothes, stand, etc. Clothes, binos, calls, cleaning knife, gloves, flashlight, headlamp, water bottle, etc (anything I would probably ever want for a hunt - more than I need for sure)