Saddle Hunting Backpack

[mattfish]

It does fit similar to the Pop up 28. However FOR ME I found it easier to get to my saddle pouches with the X2 on.

I love the concept of the 28. However the X2 just packs so much quicker and simpler. Keep in mind I have been using the X2 for several years now. So there is some familiarity bringing me comfort there.

It’s hard to beat this pack. I added small tarp bungees on the insides of the wings to secure my sticks.

My main compartment has my Doyle’s and extra clothing in it.

I put a grommet in the bottom flap and then another in the bottom main pocket so my Doyle’s never leaves the pack.

 

[mattfish]

BTW I’m 5’8” 162. Got the Pop Up in medium.

 

[SemperFlightMedic]

Another very nice detail of the pack.
Thank you.
Picture is fantastic.
I get it..so many pockets allow for so many things.

If you’re on the fence about the pack, and you think it might be helpful in making your decision I’d be glad to FaceTime / WhatsApp video chat with you and show you mine. Would kind of suck to go spend a bunch on a bag that you come to find out doesn’t work, or even so to pass up a great deal due to uncertainty.

Or if you’re in Virginia, I’d be glad to let your try it out


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[MVictory]

Im 5’6” 157lbs. I bought one second hand for $125 with the bow bucket. I think it fits like a medium pack. Here’s the thing ... if you’re looking for light weight, the pack itself is just under 5lbs. There is a good amount of storage room and if you’re not careful you can end up packing a lot of weight in it. Here’s a pic of mine with 4 helium sticks and too much stuff packed inside. I walked about a mile and some change in, and a mile and some change back out yesterday. I was happy with how it carried the weight. All in all, I think I carried somewhere around 24lbs with weight of the pack included. I’ve since turned the sticks upside down and use a loop at the bottom of the inside of the side “wings” to secure the sticks by the versa button. This keeps them from sliding at all.

Overall very happy with the pack, but again it’s too easy to pack too much in this bag.

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This looks a lot like my setup.
How do you like your Hawk Heliums?
So far so good for me..
What are you using to attach the sticks?
..the straps that they came with?
(This is what I have used so far.)
If no, why and can you comment on your satisfaction with what you replaced them with?

 

[SemperFlightMedic]

This looks a lot like my setup.
How do you like your Hawk Heliums?
So far so good for me..
What are you using to attach the sticks?
..the straps that they came with?
(This is what I have used so far.)
If no, why and can you comment on your satisfaction with what you replaced them with?

Like the sticks very much. I bought some 1/4” Amsteel and made tethers. Lighter, faster, quieter.


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[MVictory]

If you’re on the fence about the pack, and you think it might be helpful in making your decision I’d be glad to FaceTime / WhatsApp video chat with you and show you mine. Would kind of suck to go spend a bunch on a bag that you come to find out doesn’t work, or even so to pass up a great deal due to uncertainty.

Or if you’re in Virginia, I’d be glad to let your try it out


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"Or if you’re in Virginia, I’d be glad to let your try it out"
I'm in Pensylvania, but will take you up on this.
Could you send it to me to use through December?
I will send it back with my thoughts..

Only kidding.
A very nice offer though.
Many thanks.

You were lucky to find this used, it seems like a hot pack at the moment.

 

[Stolencopy]

I was getting extremely frustrated with trying to pick out a pack for my style of hunting. What I kept finding was that the pack was either too large or too expensive until I went into my local bow show and they had a spec ops edc on sale for like 90$ and honestly this bag has checked every box I wanted.

Amazon.com : SpecOps SO100280919 T.H.E. E.D.C. Pack, Multi-Cam : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : SpecOps SO100280919 T.H.E. E.D.C. Pack, Multi-Cam : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

Is the exact one I got.

 

[MVictory]

I was getting extremely frustrated with trying to pick out a pack for my style of hunting. What I kept finding was that the pack was either too large or too expensive until I went into my local bow show and they had a spec ops edc on sale for like 90$ and honestly this bag has checked every box I wanted.

Amazon.com : SpecOps SO100280919 T.H.E. E.D.C. Pack, Multi-Cam : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : SpecOps SO100280919 T.H.E. E.D.C. Pack, Multi-Cam : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

Is the exact one I got.

How do you carry your sticks?
Strapped on the sides?

In efforts to save I bought a pack at Walmart but it's just not cutting it.
It's a bit loud and organization could be greatly improved.
What did I expect for $30, I guess.

NIce job finding the deal and taking it.
Beautiful pack.

 

[Dewayne]

That’s a nice pack

 

[DaveT1963]

I prefer a 100% fleece or wool pack as these new packs are, IMO, way too noisy in brush. I am returning a badlands Dash pack (which was heavily promoted) as is sounds like cellophane out in the woods. Badlands was quick to respond and offered to refund so I am taking them up on it. people are forgetting one of the basics we used to teach years ago - hunting gear should be quiet and natural sounding in the woods. way too many zippers, pockets, straps to make way too much noise for me. I have been using Kathy Kelly fleece packs for years - but they are slowing down production and not taking custom orders anymore.

 

[mattfish]

I prefer a 100% fleece or wool pack as these new packs are, IMO, way too noisy in brush. I am returning a badlands Dash pack (which was heavily promoted) as is sounds like cellophane out in the woods. Badlands was quick to respond and offered to refund so I am taking them up on it. people are forgetting one of the basics we used to teach years ago - hunting gear should be quiet and natural sounding in the woods. way too many zippers, pockets, straps to make way too much noise for me. I have been using Kathy Kelly fleece packs for years - but they are slowing down production and not taking custom orders anymore.

DanO you seeing this? Hint hint

 

[SemperFlightMedic]

I prefer a 100% fleece or wool pack as these new packs are, IMO, way too noisy in brush. I am returning a badlands Dash pack (which was heavily promoted) as is sounds like cellophane out in the woods. Badlands was quick to respond and offered to refund so I am taking them up on it. people are forgetting one of the basics we used to teach years ago - hunting gear should be quiet and natural sounding in the woods. way too many zippers, pockets, straps to make way too much noise for me. I have been using Kathy Kelly fleece packs for years - but they are slowing down production and not taking custom orders anymore.

Not sure what the material is, but mine is in the western slope camo pattern, and the material is soft and plush. Very quiet. I’m happy with it, anyway.


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[deerfly]

I agree finding the right size can be a PIA. I've gone through several iterations over the years. Lately been real happy with a badlands super day pack. The material is pretty quiet, its some kind of brushed material. Its holding up really well into its second season of hard use. Need to catch them on sale though, their retail price is spendy. Think I paid around $140 when I got mine a couple years ago.

I load it up with everything you see on the tailgate. This is an older pic so some things have changed, but its basically my harness, a collapsable throw line bag with 100' of zip line adn 12oz weight. Tether and lineman belt, knee pads, 40' of sterling 9mm HTP, 60' of 1/4 paracord for pulling my rope down and hauling gear up, Predator platform, gear strap with two hooks. Hand ascender, foot loop, madrock belay, rope climbing gloves and a pouch or two.

What you can't see so well are the misc carabiners, autoblock and hitch cords, a sawyer water filter, small tarp and paracord hanks, skinning knife, 4" ceramic honing stone, spare bow string, 4 - 2gal zip lock bags, gerber multi-tool, Silky pocket boy folding saw, small first aid kit, ferro cerium rod, compass, GPS, head lamp, spare flash light, spare batteries and a cliff bar.

My bow is 2pc take down. So when doing long hikes, mountain biking and canoeing or bottom of an airboat, I can break it down and lash it on the back with the arrow tube. Very safe stowage for the bow, almost impossible to break. Only takes a minute or two to put back together and string.

Its seems like a lot of stuff, but most of it is small easily packed items and I have literally everything I need to climb and hunt, stay out all day or even over night in an unplanned emergency. Other than the bow and arrow tube, everything is inside the pack too. Without 2L of water its right around 22lbs or so. Its a really comfortable, even loaded. I like the grab one thing concept. It stays in my truck all season, everything I need is in one place, very portable and always ready to go.

 

[Shuwb]

I struggled with a good pack/stick and platform carrier. No pack in my collection was working. Last night I bought a mollie military pack frame for $5. It is molded to fit your back and has mollie holes everywhere! I attached some old rifle sling/pack straps and a military hip belt. Then I laid my $5 wally world foam seat cushion (used to put my knees on the tree, and came with its own strap!) onto the frame and strapped on my 3 sticks side by side. My platform straps to that. It is sooo much better than what I had before. Quiet, comfy, and light. No storage, yet. There are several options of compartments with mollies that you can customize it to fit your needs. For a a few bucks you could really deck it out! I'll try to send pictures soon.

 

[melocal]

I have been happy with the LL Bean Maine Warden Daypack so far. $120 I think.

Maine Warden Day Pack | Packs, Bags & Vest Packs at L.L.Bean

Find the best Maine Warden Day Pack at L.L.Bean. Our high quality hunting & fishing gear is made for the shared joy of the outdoors.

www.llbean.com

Here are a few pics with a predator platform and single stick. A pack of 10 WE steps also fits comfortably inside. This is the size large pack. One year no questions asked guarantee / return policy too, so if you don’t like it you can send it back. I actually had the small/medium and returned it for the medium/large a few weeks after use. I am gonna 6ft and 230lbs, comfortable for me.

 

[Brian6594]

Horn hunter tree stand pack. Around $100. Use compression straps to hold two sticks L & R.
will post pictures later today.

 

[Weldabeast]

I've been pack hunting and was looking at the superday but this 1 looks way more suited to my needs. If your a sportsmans guide member, and use discount code ''groupondd'' you'll get this pack for $160. It'll take a couple hunts but this pack looks about right for me.... Thanks for posting this video

 

[NORKALNIMROD]

Over the past few years I have played with four different systems. The USMC ILBE which I have logged well over 2000 documented miles, the US Army large ruck, an Alps Commander and the newly redesigned KUIU PRO 6000 since its debut a couple months back.
I am 188lbs at just under 6’2”. My wife and I for the past 5, going on 6 years have hiked an average of 30 miles a week year round. These packs have all seen extensive use.
Both of the military packs are heavy but bomb proof tough. Of the two the ILBE is a better fit for me. Neither of these packs are comfortable for me with loads of 50lbs or more.
I was not impressed with the Alps pack.
Though very expensive the KUIU is by far the most comfortable pack I have ever used. I now have close to 400 miles on this pack with loads ranging from under 20lbs when I was breaking it in to just under 105lbs packing out elk quarters. This pack has been nothing less than amazing to me.
Norkal

 

[DanielB89]

I have been using this pack for 2 years. It is not the exact pack i'm looking for, but it has served me VERY well up until this point.

Striker 1700CC Pack

Description Features Specifications All your whitetail gear in one backpack! Even a place to carry your rattling antlers in a silent organized pack. • Sturdy #10 Zippers • PVC-lined scent free pocket • Reinforced stitching throughout • MOLLE attachment system • Internal hydration pocket and...

xopoutdoors.com

 

[Nutterbuster]

I prefer a 100% fleece or wool pack as these new packs are, IMO, way too noisy in brush. I am returning a badlands Dash pack (which was heavily promoted) as is sounds like cellophane out in the woods. Badlands was quick to respond and offered to refund so I am taking them up on it. people are forgetting one of the basics we used to teach years ago - hunting gear should be quiet and natural sounding in the woods. way too many zippers, pockets, straps to make way too much noise for me. I have been using Kathy Kelly fleece packs for years - but they are slowing down production and not taking custom orders anymore.

Dave, if you can get your hands on it, the Badlands Silent series are very quiet. They're kinda a fleece with an interior foam layer, and they don't have external zippers. They have a little structure, but are still a soft pack.

I'd love to get a day one or kathy kelly, but they are kinda hard to put hands on.