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Saddle Hunting Backpack

deerfly said:
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.
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Thanks for sharing.
Nice set up.
 
The noise factor is definitely an issue with the durable, lightweight fabrics. Nothing compares to wool or fleece IMO when silence is the top priority.
Norkal
 
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I have modified an Alps Commander X so it has plenty of additional molle loops on both sides of the meat shelf and the internal "wings". It's still a bit heavy, but not as much as my surplus large ruck sack, and the frame height is adjustable.

I started this season off just ground hunting, and have since carried helium sticks and a predator platform in once, not using the pack. I used a modified turkey vest instead, which almost carries nicely - everything in a reachable pocket, predator in the back bag... except for the sticks. This weekend I'll be back to figuring out how to load the Alps pack with cold-weather layers, predator and sticks efficiently - I want to be able to climb without having to unpack everything before I start.

If I can figure out a system to carry sticks & platform in, convert them to hanging off the sides for easy access, and start climbing without having to take it all off to unpack, I'll be thrilled - and put up with a little extra weight happily.

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How far are you guys humping all this gear?

This year I’m trying to trim my weight including pack size. I have a big one when needed.


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I have been trying to find something to carry my Beast sticks and Predator platform easily along with my saddle since I don’t usually wear while walking in. Other pockets for storing smaller items would be nice too. Many of these packs posted so far look nice but Beast sticks pose a unique challenge since the double steps don’t fold so their not nearly as compact as other sticks.

Anybody use these packs with Beast sticks? Please post pics if you can. I hate to spend a bunch of money on a pack and then find out it won’t work out for me.
 
2 miles has been my farthest. That was with a LW loc on 4 sticks and the pack in the picture.
 
DaveT1963 said:
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.
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I have full intentions of designing a dream back pack to be made of all fleece!


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iamcorey said:
How far are you guys humping all this gear?

This year I’m trying to trim my weight including pack size. I have a big one when needed.


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Before the saddle my pack was strapped to my lock on and never really carried much weight in the bag itself....i now have the load right on the bag and i figured out pretty quick my pack sucks caring weight. Ill take a heavier pack that carries the load more comfortably over a lighter setup that hurts my shoulders and back. I don't need a bunch of storage cause i don't take much but i do want a solid base for my sticks and platform....
 
I use the Predator pack from Tethrd I put 4 small pouches on the mollie loops and one zipper bag . I'll get some pics tomorrow. Very compacked.
 
The X2 is a superb pack. I have two eberlestock packs the X2 and the Tailhook. The x2 can carry alot and the molle straps allow alot of stuff to be hauled in it I have the butt bucket and can hold a bow and all the other stuff. It could carry 4 long sticks with ease.

I prefer the tailhook for saddle hunting as it opens up better on the tree and the X2 is kind of large when it hangs off a tree.

The pack is expensive but is ofnthe highest quality. I carry 60lb bags of corn with ease.

Cant go wrong. Buy once cry once

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Anyone who had one an does not have the butt bucket is doing themselves a disservice

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Eberlestock tailhook the ultimate saddle pack.

Like most here I'm obsessed with gear. Since I started hunting I never liked carrying my bow in my hand. I lurked on here since 2014 before pulling the trigger in a saddle but always knew i would eventually just due to the fact that it could allow me to strap by bow to a pack and walk into the...
saddlehunter.com


my thread on the tail hook with pics
 
Unfortunately the soft quiet materials are also prone to stickers, thrones, cockleburs, and everything in between. I just don't have time to pick all that junk off after every hunt. It is impossible to walk through the woods where I hunt and not be covered in them. I use a MR sawtooth pack and love it. It is heavier then some packs that have been talked about but I can walk all day and not be worn out.

I have actually switched from wearing camo pants to Duluth trading company firehose flex pants. Comfortable, rugged and bur free.
 
Jimmy Wallhanger said:
The X2 is a superb pack. I have two eberlestock packs the X2 and the Tailhook. The x2 can carry alot and the molle straps allow alot of stuff to be hauled in it I have the butt bucket and can hold a bow and all the other stuff. It could carry 4 long sticks with ease.

I prefer the tailhook for saddle hunting as it opens up better on the tree and the X2 is kind of large when it hangs off a tree.

The pack is expensive but is ofnthe highest quality. I carry 60lb bags of corn with ease.

Cant go wrong. Buy once cry once

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Click to expand...

have a pic of how you carry everything in with the tailhook?
 
DanielB89 said:
have a pic of how you carry everything in with the tailhook?
Click to expand...

Eberlestock tailhook the ultimate saddle pack.

Like most here I'm obsessed with gear. Since I started hunting I never liked carrying my bow in my hand. I lurked on here since 2014 before pulling the trigger in a saddle but always knew i would eventually just due to the fact that it could allow me to strap by bow to a pack and walk into the...
saddlehunter.com



you can also bungie ball the predator to one of the side waistband molle loops. the tail hook is discontinued I got lucky and got this brand new with the tags on it two years ago

You could probably find one on archery talk, im obsessed with going in hand free into the deep thick stuff and holding a bow it keeps getting snagged and maybe the slight gets nocked and miss a monster
 
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