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Camofire MR sale right now. Pop28 $197!!!
- Thread starter HuumanCreed
- Start date
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2020
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- 5,960
Sorry I missed all these posts. I was tied up hosting Thanksgiving, and then off grid hunting in PA.
Anyway...
I bought one with $17 ground shipping and still don't have shipping info.
The other I paid the $9 combined shipping rate and it shipped on Saturday 11/26. Ordered 11/18.
***?
I was hoping to have one of my brothers try mine during our PA hunt to see how they like their (potential) Christmas gifts, but my older brother had to stay home to remedy issues with his fam-van and my younger brother used my Kuiu Pro 3600 which fit his LW Sit and Climb in the shelf and all his gear and outerwear in the pack (he carried that sucker 3+ miles in). I used the Kifaru DL and Stryker XL with my climbing platform, outerwear and platform in shelf, and the bag was still maxed and I don't bring a lot of crap with me.
My point?
Personally, I'm finding the bigger bags a bit more accommodating, so theoretically I like the advantages of a 38. But, I don't really prefer the layout of the 38, again on paper, for various reasons some of which are covered by @Maverick1.
I think the new versions have potential, but it's hard to envision them exactly based on what little is circulating about them thus far.
I looked at the Pintler but it didn't make sense for me to spend that money as I'm likely to stick with my Kifaru for most setups.
I love the Popup 28 with the .5 though, and think they'll be mates for a long time.
How are you running the 28 with the .5? pictures please? is the seat folded? teeth down or up?
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- Sep 14, 2020
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Something like this...
If the sticks look a bit canted, it's because I didn't have my j-hooks (used them to connect 17" sticks to brother's M7 during MD hunt). The grommets are in position and they are bungeed in place. I have new j-hooks now.
Even with these 20" sticks, this is an extremely low profile package. It's my swamp set.
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Bought mine the 18th, shipped on the 26th and should be delivered today.
I have the 18 & 28 Gen 1. Tent style posts. Are there any advantages to the newer gens where the posts can lock in at different heights? And is there a demand for the gen 1s if I were to update? Thx
I prefer the new locks over the tent poles, but they both work & it’s just personal preference. Would love to run the kifaru duplex belt on my new ones but the design is enough different it doesn’t fit
With the way you tuck the seat between the straps. Any issues taking it out of the pack? Do you climb with everything? stand and pack separate?
I have the old 28. My dad just got the new 28. I was considering upgrading myself but IMO the upgrades just didn’t justify the additional cost. The frame is a little beefier and the sliding posts are plus on the new one but, I like that the lower buckles are inside the water bottle pockets on the old one, not outside like the new version. I alsolike The way the top of the bag attaches when in daypack mode much better on the old version. The new version you have to wrap the straps around the frame to keep it from being floppy.
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- Sep 14, 2020
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If you disconnect the meat shelf, the seat (normal sized .5 seat) actually fits between the two bottom straps without much fuss. Easy(enough) in and out. I was considering swapping hardware to buckles or hooks, but it's really not necessary so I probably won't. I may swap hardware on the meat shelf though, for easier connection in the field when it's really cold and finger acuity is poor.
I don't climb with everything. I separate the stand from the pack at the base of tree.
I like my 38 a lot. Some of the things other people see as cons are actually a pro for me.
The lid floppiness- makes it so I can leave it unbuckled in the tree and easily access the two two zippered compartments or the main one. I can fit tons more than I need in those two pockets. Not floppy at all when buckled down.
I hang my bag on the right side of the tree. Initially I thought "oh that's annoying, the zipper for the main compartment is on the opposite side of the bag from me". I've literally never needed to unzip it in the tree. The snow collar can roll up and gives the top just enough structure to stay open, let's me drop my water bottle or whatever right on top of my clothes and almost have a little fabric shelf. I'll try to take a pic next time I'm in a tree. The only things I retrieve from the main compartment are clothes that easily pull out the top, even if they are a lower layer or things where I don't need to be stealthy like a kill kit at the bottom of the bag. One pro tip-color coding and using feel. I can reach into my bag and within seconds know if I'm holding my puffy or Merino or sitka or whatever by feel, so I only pull that one out. If I've got similar things I've color coded- my lightweight merino is green, heavier is grey etc. And then if you pull out the wrong sleeve it's only about 2 wasted seconds anyway.
The lid is also a perfect size for throwing a EWO one stick on top of the bag and flip the lid over it, standoffs stick out either side and it's locked in place when the lid is buckled for the walk.
Water bottle pockets work great, my insulated rtic bottle and my nalgene both slide out just fine even with the compression strap cinched, I tuck it back in without the strap in the tree and using the strap when I walk so it doesn't squirt out.
The little pocket on the front is perfect for my ring of squirrel steps on an ocb, easy to drop them into and easy to retrieve one handed while climbing.
The bag size has never been an issue for me, it cinches down just fine and I like the collar, since I actually use it as a collar and not trying to overfill to pack more. If I do overfill I just loosen the straps on the lid, they still buckle and since the collar has two draw strings, I'm not worries about things falling out.
Ive also flown with it as a carry on, collapsing the popup frame makes it fit in the carry on space and then you just expand the frame back as soon as you're off the plane, works great.
The only reason I'd advocate against getting the 38 is if you never have cold temps and therefore won't ever need to bring extra clothes (though that's more of a "you don't need a bag" than an anti pop-up scenario or because they are coming out with some cool new designs (thanks again @4090Sharps for the Intel)
The lid floppiness- makes it so I can leave it unbuckled in the tree and easily access the two two zippered compartments or the main one. I can fit tons more than I need in those two pockets. Not floppy at all when buckled down.
I hang my bag on the right side of the tree. Initially I thought "oh that's annoying, the zipper for the main compartment is on the opposite side of the bag from me". I've literally never needed to unzip it in the tree. The snow collar can roll up and gives the top just enough structure to stay open, let's me drop my water bottle or whatever right on top of my clothes and almost have a little fabric shelf. I'll try to take a pic next time I'm in a tree. The only things I retrieve from the main compartment are clothes that easily pull out the top, even if they are a lower layer or things where I don't need to be stealthy like a kill kit at the bottom of the bag. One pro tip-color coding and using feel. I can reach into my bag and within seconds know if I'm holding my puffy or Merino or sitka or whatever by feel, so I only pull that one out. If I've got similar things I've color coded- my lightweight merino is green, heavier is grey etc. And then if you pull out the wrong sleeve it's only about 2 wasted seconds anyway.
The lid is also a perfect size for throwing a EWO one stick on top of the bag and flip the lid over it, standoffs stick out either side and it's locked in place when the lid is buckled for the walk.
Water bottle pockets work great, my insulated rtic bottle and my nalgene both slide out just fine even with the compression strap cinched, I tuck it back in without the strap in the tree and using the strap when I walk so it doesn't squirt out.
The little pocket on the front is perfect for my ring of squirrel steps on an ocb, easy to drop them into and easy to retrieve one handed while climbing.
The bag size has never been an issue for me, it cinches down just fine and I like the collar, since I actually use it as a collar and not trying to overfill to pack more. If I do overfill I just loosen the straps on the lid, they still buckle and since the collar has two draw strings, I'm not worries about things falling out.
Ive also flown with it as a carry on, collapsing the popup frame makes it fit in the carry on space and then you just expand the frame back as soon as you're off the plane, works great.
The only reason I'd advocate against getting the 38 is if you never have cold temps and therefore won't ever need to bring extra clothes (though that's more of a "you don't need a bag" than an anti pop-up scenario or because they are coming out with some cool new designs (thanks again @4090Sharps for the Intel)
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VAHunt
New Member
Ordered on the 18th, shipped 22nd, out for delivery today.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Just got mine a couple hours ago and finished checking it over. I echo all the good things that have been said from initial impressions. I have a few dislikes that may just take some time to get used to. For a $400 bag i feel like it could use a mesh pocket or two somewhere. It's a bit of a pain to adjust all the buckles and getting sticks and a platform set in place, but it carries nicely when set up. It will certainly serve it's purpose as a rifle/cold weather/load hauler pack but no way will this or any other pop up unseat my Venture 2300. I love that pack for everyday saddle/hunting purposes. The pockets, internal hangers, fit, straps, everything is perfect if you've got less than 30 lbs and/or don't need an excessive amount of stuff for an all day sub freezing hunt. For $209 I'm very excited to have this pack in my line up though.
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- Nov 1, 2018
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Dang, that’s good and bad news. The venture 2300 does everything I want, including cold weather, except can’t carry a deer. I’m looking for one do it all bag. I really don’t want to haul a frame and another bag like @kyler1945 suggests. 3 years I’ve stayed away from this non-sense but I’m finally here. In the perfect bag rabbit hole.
It's a great pack and may work well for you and it may grow on me. I just feel it's a little clunky in comparison. I can do cold weather in the venture but when I get bibs and a jacket and sticks and a platform it's imperfect. I just see more imperfections for regular use in the pop up and the venture will satisfy 95% of my needs, so I'll swap it out when I need to but I hear you on the one do it all pack. I was hoping that for the venture or a pop up to be that but I think a kifaru is truly the ultimate option and I just can't justify it when I can get two awesome packs that meet my needs for less than half that set up. Maybe one day but I'm happy for now.
I’ve swapped to the exo for reasons unrelated to whitetail hunting specifically. My pacseat, hangon, hybrid, and exo k3 all use the same belt and shoulder harness. I have two spare shoulder harnesses modified for this purpose, and need to get one more belt. Basically, I made a “do it all” kit.
Prior to this, for whitetail hunting, it’s popup and hybrid.
I can’t think of a better option for ALL whitetail hunting than the popup, besides the hybrid as I’ve got it set up. Maybe they could make a quieter bag.
What do you mean carry a frame and another bag like I’ve mentioned?
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Well good deal. Though a few didn’t recommend the 38, that doesn’t mean I won’t like it. I’ll just have to see before making any decisionsI. I may like it a lot. If it’s not too cumbersome it may be my do everything whitetail public land pack. Hopeful but won’t be upset either way. It is just a little heavier than my venture but with its capacity to haul meat I won’t fault it for that.
Could have sworn you talked about carrying a frame (to haul deer) along with a bag that detached. You said something like leave the frame and carry the bag to the tree. Go get the frame when you kill to haul the game out. Something to that extent. Maybe it was someone else.
@thedutchtouch Does the lid pouch fully disconnect? My wife’s backpacking bag has a detachable lid that has little back pack straps that you can remove for scouting or day use. My cabelas bag had the same and it was quite a nice feature.
No, that would be awesome, but unfortunately that feature is not built in, the lid is.
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The lid is removable?
Got it. Yes I advocated for that option. Mostly for people who thought having a frame pack is an issue in a tree(I don’t).
It’s a simple way to be comfortable walking, and then only take what you need up a tree.
It also highlights why the popup is such a good pack. Shot a pile of deer with it hanging next to me and they didn’t care. Nor did I.