"The official saddle hunting backpack thread"

[Brendan]

I was leaning towards the 22 Mag for now and in the future go with the Hoodlum. But now you have me seriously thinking to just dive deep and go with the Hoodlum.

I research products to nauseum on purchases. This Backpack search has my head spinning .

Do you have any pictures of your Kifaru packs hanging in the tree, while you are in the saddle?

Thanks for the assistance!

These are all the original 22 Mag:

 

[Brendan]

I was leaning towards the 22 Mag for now and in the future go with the Hoodlum. But now you have me seriously thinking to just dive deep and go with the Hoodlum.

I research products to nauseum on purchases. This Backpack search has my head spinning .

Do you have any pictures of your Kifaru packs hanging in the tree, while you are in the saddle?

Thanks for the assistance!

Tough decision, if you're only looking for something lighter weight, I might lean towards the shape charge. But, a frame pack is much, much more versatile. Some things you're just not going to do with something too small!

 

[xZxCORE]

Do you have any pictures of your Kifaru packs hanging in the tree, while you are in the saddle? Thanks for all the help here.

I can get you some pictures. I just get out of work late so it may take me a while but I’ll post some up in here when I have the chance. If you would have caught me yesterday I was in the tree with the original Stryker.

Man I will say if you are for sure going out west for elk and mule deer get the Hoodlum. But the Stryker XL is for sure the one pack that checks all boxes for me. I can load the camp bag in the Stryker for multi day hunts in the mountains, or slim it down for day hunts. Then use it to carry blinds, sticks, stands and platforms in the whitetail woods. But honestly I would never bring the hoodlum in the deer woods. I would if I had to, but I just think there are better options that I already own. The 22 mag is sweet too but would be impossible to do a multi day hunt out of out west. Get the 44 mag if you like that pack design. The frame is the important part. You will buy additional packs for the frame to suit different uses if I had to put money on it lol.

 

[xZxCORE]

Do you have any pictures of your Kifaru packs hanging in the tree, while you are in the saddle? Thanks for all the help here.

Here is my helium 17” onestick and trophy line mission platform in the Stryker original. All my hunt gear is in it minus insulation. Next to it is the hoodlum. The hoodlum is not even close to being loaded to capacity. Both have a large belt pouch and medium belt pouch on them. Just threw these together real quick to give you a comparison.

 

[xZxCORE]

Tough decision, if you're only looking for something lighter weight, I might lean towards the shape charge. But, a frame pack is much, much more versatile. Some things you're just not going to do with something too small!

Nice bull!

 

[d2ma4c]

@xZxCORE & @Brendan. Thank you guys for the education. As well as, taking the time to assemble your gear to get me pictures.

 

[Maverick1]

I own a couple of Kifaru frames and would not like to have a Kifaru frame hanging in the tree with me because of the frame height and waist belt design. They’re great at what they do but the footprint hanging in a tree is more than I prefer. YMMV.

 

[xZxCORE]

@xZxCORE & @Brendan. Thank you guys for the education. As well as, taking the time to assemble your gear to get me pictures.

No problem dude. I’m testing out the Stryker XL and shapecharge with the saddle too. I will get those photos up when I have time. I’m green to saddle hunting so take my info with a grain of salt, but I have spent enough time with a backpack on to guide just about anyone the right direction on packs.

 

[Brendan]

Wanted to clarify my position on backpacks in the tree: I will always take the smallest and lightest I can get away with where I can comfortably carry what I need to. I am almost always carrying in at least one layer plus hunting gear because I always sweat on the way in, so something like a shape charge is probably ideal most of the time. I've been using the 22 Mag because I don't have the shape charge yet, but I do much prefer it to the Stryker XL. I really didn't see any advantages to the Stryker because the 22Mag has more bag capacity and has a meat/load shelf if you need it, I never have. Didn't take me long to sell it and go back to the 22.

With that said, occasionally the bigger bag does get used. A couple weeks ago I did a mile or so hike in with elevation gain in the mountains of NH where it was COLD, so I was carrying all my saddle gear, plus Bibs, plus heavy puffy, plus stratus jacket, coffee, snacks, all in the pack. In that case, the Hoodlum got the call.

No issue for me using a frame pack in the tree, but if you don't have any other trees around or any backdrop, you are going to stick out more. This 100% depends on where you're hunting, what time of year, etc.

 

[Rutman]

I’m the new guy here…. I’m just getting into saddle hunting. I found that the Sitka Tool bucket works pretty good. I have the Tethrd predator XL inside and 5 beast mini”s on the back. Almost like it was made for it.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[xZxCORE]

Here are a couple pictures of the Stryker in the tree as promised @d2ma4c

 

[TommyDee]

Took me all season to find a cold weather pack config with my 3 hawk heliums and predator XL, with the AlpZ Big Bear in Backpack mode. I finally got it down to be quiet, comfy, and a reasonably stealthy unpack at the tree. Key was a bungee to hold the sticks, Hook into the platform.

Figured I’d share pics if it helps people avoid all the trial and error I went through.

 

[dbeeler]

10 year old badlands Diablo works great. I've got an exo pack but this is better for saddle hunting.

I don't put my bibs and jacket until I'm on my platform. When I get to the tree I don't take my backpack off. Sticks are in my hand so I'm ready to climb. Bibs go on the bottom of the pack, jacket is strapped on with an extra strap. When I get ready for platform I take it off the pack and the extra strap keeps the jacket from falling to the ground. Can't figure out a way to make this setup any better.

 

[boxerdoc]

I'm looking for a pack that I can fit my platform (trophyline mission) and bow. I like the idea of the pack that you can pack out with because I could use that to put my platform in. I have looked at the kuiu, mystery ranch pintler, sitka cargo box, any suggestions?

 

[sojourner]

My beloved stone glacier pack maker has been sold to a national brand.

Stone Glacier outdoor company in Bozeman sells to national brand

A Bozeman-based outdoor gear company has sold to a national outdoor gear and shooting sports company.

www.bozemandailychronicle.com

I sure hope they don’t go the route of many other companies that get sold to big brands, only to increase profits by offshoring and lowering quality.

 

[Hunterben86]

Newbie here, next year will be my first year saddle hunting. With all the purchases that come along with it I am trying to avoid an additional cost of a new pack. I have an Alps Outdoorz Big Bear I am thinking about trying to make work. Anyone use this pack that could share their experience. I will run a bigger platform probably predator xl or mission. I plan on carrying 3 hawk helium sticks as carry overs from my previous set up.

 

[Bigterp]

Newbie here, next year will be my first year saddle hunting. With all the purchases that come along with it I am trying to avoid an additional cost of a new pack. I have an Alps Outdoorz Big Bear I am thinking about trying to make work. Anyone use this pack that could share their experience. I will run a bigger platform probably predator xl or mission. I plan on carrying 3 hawk helium sticks as carry overs from my previous set up.

Should work fine. Your dealing with a few thousand guys that love to mess with gear & have strong opinions about what’s best. If nothing else you might be able to snag a platform pouch to attach to that existing pack( backwoods mobile) if your heliums are full length then maybe figure out some kind of sling. Bottom line what you have should definitely work & if it’s too much of a struggle upgrade after next season when everyone here unloads stuff……..

 

[Brendan]

Newbie here, next year will be my first year saddle hunting. With all the purchases that come along with it I am trying to avoid an additional cost of a new pack. I have an Alps Outdoorz Big Bear I am thinking about trying to make work. Anyone use this pack that could share their experience. I will run a bigger platform probably predator xl or mission. I plan on carrying 3 hawk helium sticks as carry overs from my previous set up.

Don't buy until you try what you have. And, like everything else, try and pick up used gear where you can, because everyone has different preferences and there's a good chance you want to sell stuff and try something new. Even better if you can get some used stuff now, and start practicing in the offseason.

I've been using my current saddle, stick, backpack setup setup since 2018, and going into 2022 I finally made the decision to do a bigger upgrade on gear for next season.

 

[NimbleTimbo]

Newbie here, next year will be my first year saddle hunting. With all the purchases that come along with it I am trying to avoid an additional cost of a new pack. I have an Alps Outdoorz Big Bear I am thinking about trying to make work. Anyone use this pack that could share their experience. I will run a bigger platform probably predator xl or mission. I plan on carrying 3 hawk helium sticks as carry overs from my previous set up.

Don't know if you missed it, but @TommyDee is running this exact setup it looks like. See several posts up on this thread....

 

[hokiehunter373]

Newbie here, next year will be my first year saddle hunting. With all the purchases that come along with it I am trying to avoid an additional cost of a new pack. I have an Alps Outdoorz Big Bear I am thinking about trying to make work. Anyone use this pack that could share their experience. I will run a bigger platform probably predator xl or mission. I plan on carrying 3 hawk helium sticks as carry overs from my previous set up.

Godspeed, my friend lol. You have joined the wrong community