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Need Pack Advice!

TonyGreenway

TonyGreenway

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2018
Messages
556
Location
Cartersville, Georgia
Alright folks, I need some advice, please. I'm (hopefully) going to be packing out deer this season. I need a pack that can handle the weight of a North Georgia deer. With all of my gear and the deer, I don't expect to be carrying more than 80 lbs., but I'm new to this and may be wrong about that. I've never owned a quality pack, so I really don't know what to look for in one. I like the idea of Badlands' warranty, but others may have a similar warranty, I haven't done a lot of research yet. I would rather get the advice of the people on this forum than a sales pitch elsewhere. So... what should I do?
 
I really liked my Horn Hunter Full Curl pack last December. Hauled well over 100# of elk off a mountain in the pack - the pack handled it better than I could. I used the base frame pack with the meat bag.
 
I use an eberlestock carrier frame , and added their batwing bags to it. For my western hunts I zip in a drybag that carries all my clothes , food, shelter and sleep system, drop it at camp but the frame and beatings make a great day hunt pack plus can carry out game. I've been strapping in my climbing sticks onto the carrier frame and will also put my Predator onto this when it arrives.
 
What's your budget, and what is the average distance you'll hike, and longest distance you plan to hike, with 80lbs on your back?
 
That’s a tough one. Truth be known you will likely spend a lot more time wearing the pack than hauling meat with it. I’ve got a badlands 2200. I am y’all and the pack fits me well. There are packs in that size category that don’t weigh 6lbs. People have been known to carry 100 pounds in the 2200. It’s not comfortable with that much weight. You could probably get away with less pack. @WHW has a video with I believe a medium Alice pack he is loading deer quarters in. You either sacrifice a little comfort every time you hunt or a lot of comfort on the way out when you are successful. I would rather be comfortable on the days I don’t kill something since there are a LOT of them.
 
I really like Kifaru, but they are not cheap. Most of the higher end packs will compress down really well for day hunting, but have the frame and suspension to carry heavy loads. I will be running a Kifaru 22mag on a 22" frame this year. Seems about perfect for my uses.
 
Take a look at the tenzing carbon fiber legend, the frame is carbon fiber so it's not a heavy pack but it's capable of handling 400 lbs,I just bought mine on sale at camofire for way less than original price

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
 
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