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Fanny packs

oldsouth

Well-Known Member
Dec 9, 2019
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Apex, NC
Hope I don't get too much criticism with this one. Still new to saddle hunting, working on getting all my gear in order so when I start saddle hunting ill be ready. So my question is, anyone use a plain old basic fanny pack to hunt with? Would it get in the way if worn in the front? Just trying to be very minimal with my gear. I have one of those Cabela's backpack fanny packs, but its large and I think overkill for minimalist hunting. I have a smaller plain Jane one I'm looking to use for long walk, light weight days. Any fanny pack guys out there might be able to help with advice? The treebark one is the one I'm asking about, will it be in the way if I'm wearing it while in the saddle?
 

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Red Beard

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Mar 3, 2019
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in my skin
Bryan, that tree bark one is a terrible idea. It's totally going to get in the way and you probably should get rid of it. Send it to me and I'll dispose of it for you.

JK, I love the pattern bro.
 

ericabbott

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Sep 20, 2018
763
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Jonesborough TN
I switched over to a Kathy Kelly fleece Fannie pack (looks very similar to the first picture) this year and wear it throughout each hunt, no issues getting in the way of the saddle. I keep all my must haves in it, and can go out with just that, my saddle, climbing method and my weapon. I still throw on a backpack for all day hunts but the majority of the time don’t need it. Wish I would have done it a long time ago.
D80BC539-0A59-4834-A314-0BD1BF048EE3.jpeg
 

Gumbymedic

Well-Known Member
Jul 21, 2017
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Toledo, Ohio
We were just talking about this the other day

 

shwacker

Well-Known Member
Dec 10, 2018
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Don’t let anyone hate. All I ever use is a Fanny pack, even an all day sit, I don’t bring more than a few things in, never carried a big pack. That said, it didn’t work as well with saddle hunting. I would take it off and hook it on the tree, worked fine overall, just have years and years of habit of having things I need right at my waist and it being on the tree is just a little different.


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oldsouth

Well-Known Member
Dec 9, 2019
301
207
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38
Apex, NC
Thanks for the input guys! I'm gonna practice with the fanny pack and see how I can make it work. Just need to build some money back up after Christmas and get me a saddle. If only H2 had the treebark pattern!
 

oldsouth

Well-Known Member
Dec 9, 2019
301
207
43
38
Apex, NC
Thanks for the input guys! I'm gonna practice with the fanny pack and see how I can make it work. Just need to build some money back up after Christmas and get me a saddle. If only H2 had the treebark pattern!
Bryan, that tree bark one is a terrible idea. It's totally going to get in the way and you probably should get rid of it. Send it to me and I'll dispose of it for you.

JK, I love the pattern bro.
I have the matching gear with this fanny pack. The fanny pack, a back pack and hand warmer.
 

trailblazer75

Well-Known Member
Dec 24, 2018
1,455
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Springfield, MO
I ran one quite a bit this year and really enjoyed it. Water, snack, gloves, paint, headphone...Then I'd just wear my saddle and unclip my aider and move it to where I could sling my stick over one side of my shoulders and sling my podium over the other. Easily the lightest way I hunted all year. It certainly has a place in my arsenal! It was even better with a ROS.
 

dlist777

Well-Known Member
May 21, 2019
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Fanny pack is great. Plus when you get up in the tree, you can just attach it around the tree and it sits there open for you to get at your stuff.
 
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bj139

Well-Known Member
Jun 13, 2019
5,377
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SE PA
Doesn't brush hitting your slung stick(s) and platform make quite a racket?
 

trailblazer75

Well-Known Member
Dec 24, 2018
1,455
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Springfield, MO
Doesn't brush hitting your slung stick(s) and platform make quite a racket?

Do you mean me? If so, no. I'd just sling it across my body. It would just ride behind my basically, on my body's profile. I mainly did this when I was hiking in to one certain spot that was only accessible by going up a creek in waders and then changing to boots and climbing 500 yards up hill to hit the saddle I wanted. I'd tuck the platform under the shoulder straps of the fanny pack, and then the stick would just ride on the pack as I walked.
 

bj139

Well-Known Member
Jun 13, 2019
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I have the ALPS bigbear fanny pack which has an extendable top compartment which converts into a normal pack. Just folding it down into fanny pack configuration and hanging the rest of my gear to myself wouldn't save me any weight. My empty pack doesn't weigh a lot so I could just use it and remove things I don't use to achieve approximately the same result. A fanny pack with shoulder straps seems to me to just be a very small normal pack. I don't really see the advantage but maybe I am thinking about this wrong.
 

trailblazer75

Well-Known Member
Dec 24, 2018
1,455
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Springfield, MO
I have the ALPS bigbear fanny pack which has an extendable top compartment which converts into a normal pack. Just folding it down into fanny pack configuration and hanging the rest of my gear to myself wouldn't save me any weight. My empty pack doesn't weigh a lot so I could just use it and remove things I don't use to achieve approximately the same result. A fanny pack with shoulder straps seems to me to just be a very small normal pack. I don't really see the advantage but maybe I am thinking about this wrong.
I have a gander mountain fleece fanny pack. Its nice in the sense that its small enough to limit the crap I decide to bring with me. The shoulder straps are nice for sticking an extra jacket underneath so I don't sweat it up. I also like the shoulder straps because it 1) allows me to hang it on the hooks I use to hang my bow. 2) it holds the fanny pack up above my saddle and doesn't shove my saddle down my waist.
 

iamcorey

Well-Known Member
Oct 24, 2018
2,716
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I have a gander mountain fleece fanny pack. Its nice in the sense that its small enough to limit the crap I decide to bring with me. The shoulder straps are nice for sticking an extra jacket underneath so I don't sweat it up. I also like the shoulder straps because it 1) allows me to hang it on the hooks I use to hang my bow. 2) it holds the fanny pack up above my saddle and doesn't shove my saddle down my waist.

Positioning on my torso in relation to my saddle has been my main concern. Do the shoulder straps hold it a over your waist line? Mine kind of sits over the saddle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

trailblazer75

Well-Known Member
Dec 24, 2018
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Springfield, MO
Positioning on my torso in relation to my saddle has been my main concern. Do the shoulder straps hold it a over your waist line? Mine kind of sits over the saddle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yeah they do. I have it short enough that it rides about kidney height without being up in my armpits. Its easier to get on and off too, in my mind. If I need something out mid climb, I can unclip it or just shrug a shoulder out and spin it around front, too.
 

bj139

Well-Known Member
Jun 13, 2019
5,377
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SE PA
One nice thing about fanny packs is they must have a substantial waist belt to hold them up. The weight rides on your hips. Good normal packs also have a substantial waist belt for this reason. Weight on shoulders gets tiring after a lengthy hike.
 
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bj139

Well-Known Member
Jun 13, 2019
5,377
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SE PA
I stuffed the heart of the deer I shot in a grocery bag and placed it in my pack. I like a bit of spare room in my pack just in case I need it.
 

trailblazer75

Well-Known Member
Dec 24, 2018
1,455
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Springfield, MO
One nice thing about fanny packs is they must have a substantial waist belt to hold them up. The weight rides on your hips. Good normal packs also have a substantial waist belt for this reason. Weight on shoulders gets tiring after a lengthy hike.
One thing I've done to mitigate some of this was to build a pack that is basically just a frame with a meat shelf. I can clip on my stick(s), platform and I just throw the fanny pack on there with a kill kit. When I go WAYYYY in and use the single stick method, I like this because its the best of both worlds. The pack frame, kill kit and game bags just hang out at the base of the tree while the stick, fanny pack and platform go up the tree with me. Its worked well for me because it still eliminates bulk but gives me options.
 
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