Platow Pack Initial Thoughts

[Bassking]

I just got a new Platow Pack and thought I’d post my initial thoughts on it and see if anyone else had likes or dislikes they would share. Anytime I’m researching a product before buying, I’m hoping to find threads like this, so hopefully it’ll help someone in the future.

- My first thought is, this thing has a ton of adjustment points and LONG straps on everything to allow for big adjustments, which is great if you need them. I’m 6’2” 200lbs and I’ve got a lot of straps I’ll probably need to cut and burn so I don’t have them dangling everywhere. There are even some straps I can’t figure out how they impact comfort or fit.
- I think it has a good mix of small and large pockets for various sized items.
- It seems well built and should be able to handle a decent amount of weight since the waist belt is so wide.
- The neoprene(?) covers over all the buckles are a nice touch to help keep them quiet, but there’s no way I don’t lose most of them in the first 5 hunts. I might try to find a way to sew them into the straps near the buckles once I get it adjusted properly.
- the strap that runs from the top of the yoke to the bottom pack works well to keep your platform off your back and I can reach back and unclip the platform with the pack on, which is nice. This may be difficult for some people depending on their flexibility and how they wear the pack.

 

[HeyBoom32]

I wish they had used something other than a magnetic button on that one exterior pocket! I don't trust putting anything of value in that pocket. That's really my only complaint about the platow pack though.

 

[Black Titan]

I had similar thoughts as you. Its a good pack, has a lot of positives, but a few negatives. Lots of adjustments as noted, and I had plenty of leftover er strap as well at 6'1" long torsoed 280ish pounds.

Even with it being a lumbar pack, it actually fit almost all of my late season gear, with the exception of my hand muff and knee pads. It's very roomy.

The main issue for me was the yoke fit at my neck, and I didn't like how the ends of the shoulder straps on the front side went all the way around back to the pack, instead of coming down towards the front of the hip belt.

BT

 

[Exhumis]

The negatives I had with it are the ones pointed out:
-the magnetic snap drove me nuts, it never seemed to secure correctly and would snap at the most importune moments, like when an animal was close by. Other than that it was constantly open. I had it removed and a button sewn in its place.
-the neoprene covers disappear faster than free beer at the Marine Corps Ball, I sewed mine on which kept them secure but defeated the ability to move them.
-the straps were a blessing and a curse. The infinite adjustability was nice especially when you go from early to late season, but it’s also a curse at least for me as I kept feeling like I was fighting an octopus, I finally just taped some of the straps together.
-I would have liked thicker or stiffer waist straps given the large size of the pack, you can definitely load it up and a bit more support would have been to my liking.

 

[Bassking]

Yeah, the front magnetic pocket is pretty insecure. It’ll likely go unused for me, but there’s plenty of room elsewhere to store what I need I think.

 

[PoorMansWrangler]

I had one that I used for early season, ended up giving it to a buddy. Super quiet which was nice, but hated not having a sizable water bladder, and I broke every damn zipper pull on the thing. Not a huge issue, just replaced them with 550 cord

 

[Publiclandowner]

I also ran one on and off for a season and a half. I had all the same negatives mentioned above, plus one more…I hated that it sat over top of my saddl, it made it difficult to access my dump pouches without in buckling. But it’s a solid pack, and I could hunt from early season to late season if I wanted. However, because of my previously mentioned con, I have transitioned to suspenders to my saddle with a small day pack and ultralock pouches.

 

[Bassking]

It sounds like most of you have used it and have decided to move on. Maybe I should have done more research before buying one lol. I actually think I’ll like it though. I prefer a fanny pack over a backpack if I can get by with it because I hate having a sweaty back. The Platow is a good middle ground between having a fanny pack and being able to haul sticks and platform.

 

[Blacksmith]

Just bought one on E Bay. To Add to So many Others I've Tried Over the Yrs. Will Let You Know if it Goes By The Wayside Also.

 

[BTaylor]

It sounds like most of you have used it and have decided to move on. Maybe I should have done more research before buying one lol. I actually think I’ll like it though. I prefer a fanny pack over a backpack if I can get by with it because I hate having a sweaty back. The Platow is a good middle ground between having a fanny pack and being able to haul sticks and platform.

Most arent moving on from it because it is a bad pack. We just spotted some unicorn tracks and have to follow them.

 

[Alaska at Heart]

I tried a Cruzr Escape last fall and it was just too much pack/bulk for my typical hunts. So I resold it and got a barely used Platow in it's place in early December. Once I got it adusted, I find that I am liking it more every time I use it and can see hanging on to it for a while. Maybe because I hunted my first season with a saddle using a Game Plan Gear freighter type fanny pack that I modded into use, but the Platow seems better designed and much more intuitive for adding a platform and sticks. The magnetic outer pocket is OK.....not a deal breaker. The rest of the pockets are pretty well designed and I can get my Sitka Stratus vest or jacket in the main pouch with no problem. Overall, I like the Platow and the lack of initial bulk, so the weight only comes from saddle gear or necessities such as field dressing kit, knife, headlamp, hand warmers, etc.