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Help on a pack!

aspade17

Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2019
Messages
40
I’m torn between so many packs and just looking for some honest input on some (yes I have browsed the backpack thread, as well as others).

Will be carrying saddle gear, 1-3 sticks, normal gear, occasionally snacks, and late season will be a fanatic set.

The main ones I’m torn between are the MR pop up 28, MR Pintler, Kifaru 22 mag, eberlestock X2. I am open to any pack or criticism on the ones I’ve listed. Looking somewhere around 1700-2500 CI.

Thanks in advance,

Austin


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I’m in the same boat. Really been eyeing the Eberlestock X2. Just worried it may be a little too big in the tree. Maybe someone can chime in


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I’m torn between so many packs and just looking for some honest input on some (yes I have browsed the backpack thread, as well as others).

Will be carrying saddle gear, 1-3 sticks, normal gear, occasionally snacks, and late season will be a fanatic set.

The main ones I’m torn between are the MR pop up 28, MR Pintler, Kifaru 22 mag, eberlestock X2. I am open to any pack or criticism on the ones I’ve listed. Looking somewhere around 1700-2500 CI.

Thanks in advance,

Austin


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I have owned many many packs. ;) Of the packs you listed, I have owned the X2 and currently own the Pintler. This will be my first season hunts with the Pinter, but so far I love it. I have only used it for trail cam work but it carries great.
 
As for the X2, way too many straps and flaps and it does not carry well for taller people. I’m 6’1” and it really wasn’t for me.
 
I guess I also should chime in with stats I am 6’4” 200 lbs. pretty active with weightlifting so I’m an athletic build. I will also be using the pack for pre season scouting and trail cameras.

I did read that the X2 isn’t great for bigger guys but that also wasn’t everyone’s opinion


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5.11 Rush 24. Might not be the lightest pack but it's very reasonable and super durable. Five thousand pockets and strong MOLLE webbing. Strapped 3-4 sticks and a predator platform for a few years. Have since cut the sticks down to Beast Stick size. Pack has basically zero signs of wear. Not a single zipper issue and I stuff that that pack full in the colder months. Not a single tear either. Molle webbing all holding super strong. Perfect size for saddle hunting in my opinion. Kind of want one in camo, but I do like the brown/tan too. https://www.google.com/amp/s/taskandpurpose.com/reviews/5-11-tactical-rush-24-backpack-review/?amp

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5.11 Rush 24. Might not be the lightest pack but it's very reasonable and super durable. Five thousand pockets and strong MOLLE webbing. Strapped 3-4 sticks and a predator platform for a few years. Have since cut the sticks down to Beast Stick size. Pack has basically zero signs of wear. Not a single zipper issue and I stuff that that pack full in the colder months. Not a single tear either. Molle webbing all holding super strong. Perfect size for saddle hunting in my opinion. Kind of want one in camo, but I do like the brown/tan too. https://www.google.com/amp/s/taskandpurpose.com/reviews/5-11-tactical-rush-24-backpack-review/?amp

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I have the Rush 72 and it’s a great bag for saddle hunting, but it doesn’t come close to the way a MR pack carries.
 
I guess I also should chime in with stats I am 6’4” 200 lbs. pretty active with weightlifting so I’m an athletic build. I will also be using the pack for pre season scouting and trail cameras.

I did read that the X2 isn’t great for bigger guys but that also wasn’t everyone’s opinion


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The X2 will give you zero lift with your torso length. Your shoulders will feel everything in your bag. If you want a frame - 26" kifaru with the 22 mag from your list.
 
I have the Pintler and the Pop-Up. For dayhunts or weekends in the whitetail woods, I find the Pop-Up to be the one I always take with me. It is definitely easier to deal with in the tree.
 
I'm a stone glacier guy. I have a solo on an xcurve for backpack hunts and an avail 2200 for all day sits in the saddle or if I need to take multiple sticks for some reason. If I'm one sticking and only going to be out for a few hours I will just carry my stick and use a lumbar pack for my ropes.
 
if u can, go look at them in person... the pintler is HUGE but maybe it works for u if u need to pack a lot of layers or camera gear... i hunt in southern MN but i don't film so something like the pop up 28 works great for me... ill actually be getting a smaller pack for sept and early oct. where i dont need my heavy duty cold gear
 
if u can, go look at them in person... the pintler is HUGE but maybe it works for u if u need to pack a lot of layers or camera gear... i hunt in southern MN but i don't film so something like the pop up 28 works great for me... ill actually be getting a smaller pack for sept and early oct. where i dont need my heavy duty cold gear

This is the kind of stuff I wasn’t sure about, because unfortunately I have no way of checking any of these out. I’m not wanting a giant bag, so maybe 1700-2200 is about the extent of my size. I do have a badlands tree hugger that I can use up until I need more layers, or if I don’t need to carry much scouting.


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I'm a stone glacier guy. I have a solo on an xcurve for backpack hunts and an avail 2200 for all day sits in the saddle or if I need to take multiple sticks for some reason. If I'm one sticking and only going to be out for a few hours I will just carry my stick and use a lumbar pack for my ropes.

I completely forgot stone glacier somehow. I’ll check out their lineup as well


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This is the kind of stuff I wasn’t sure about, because unfortunately I have no way of checking any of these out. I’m not wanting a giant bag, so maybe 1700-2200 is about the extent of my size. I do have a badlands tree hugger that I can use up until I need more layers, or if I don’t need to carry much scouting.


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While the bag on the kifaru won't be giant the physical size of the frame plus bag will be large if the overall size is important to you. I have a MR Mule bag on a kifaru bikini frame that I like a good bit but I haven't hung it from a tree beside me yet either.
 
For minimal day pack, I can make nearly any cheap pack work, but my favorite has been the Hill People Gear Connor.
My all time favorite pack which I plan to use as a day pack this year is the F-1 mainframe by Eberlestock.
 
This is the kind of stuff I wasn’t sure about, because unfortunately I have no way of checking any of these out. I’m not wanting a giant bag, so maybe 1700-2200 is about the extent of my size. I do have a badlands tree hugger that I can use up until I need more layers, or if I don’t need to carry much scouting.


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I was between the pintler and pop up. I ended up with a pop up 28 and am glad I did. Its still a little bit big for south Alabama especially early season but I really like how it carries a load and how easy it is to strap stuff to the outside or in the load shelf or whatever you call it.
 
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Being a similar sized guy (6'5" 230lbs) I've been a big fan of the eberlestock f1 mainframe tall. I'm also of the mindset that I don't want some huge pack hanging off the tree in front of me. To avoid that I use two of their batwing pouches that zip together, so when I get to the tree I just unzip those from the frame, leave the frame on the ground and pull up the two batwings once I'm set. You have the benefit of a beast of a frame pack for packing in gear (or packing meat out), but you only have to strap a couple large pouches to the tree. Just a thought!

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I ended up with a pop up 28 and am glad I did. Its still a little bit big for south Alabama especially early season but I really like how it carries a load and how easy it is to strap stuff to the outside or in the load shelf or whatever you call it.

I read that it was floppy when unloaded - is that accurate?
 
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