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Since the Sacrifice is one of the packs that I have had the most PM's about, I will post some pics and info about this pack first.

Another pack that I get a bunch of questions on is the Blacks Creek Barbarian featherweight. I don't have a bunch of info on this pack, so I will contact Robert @ Blacks Creek and have him do a review of this pack.

Again, let's keep this as posative and informative of a thread as we can!

Please use the PM option for all pissing contests------ THANK YOU! :)

Badlands Sacrifice

Eberlestock X-2 (the new model)

Sitka flash 32 or the new Sitka bivy models

Badlands 2800/2200

If you don't mind paying the money and can get your hands on the Kifaru spike camp or the Mystery Ranch Longbow, those are great packs as well.

In the third post on this thread, you mentioned your wife. Did I miss something? I've only been gone for three days. WTH?

Henry

What a nice bull! I wish we could keep winter kills here in UT. If it is attached to a skull plate we have to leave it and contact the DWR to rule out poaching and then they might let us have it. It is kind of a pain and with a bull that nice I am sure they would find some reason to "need to hold on to it." I have found some pretty nice mule deer skulls that I have left because I did not have the time to contact the DWR and then wait for them to figure things out.

It is a beautiful thing to see mainbeams so long that they are almost dragging on the ground.

"Check out our how to video: (copy and past) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50KE-1LuBrk Bugs N Bullets pro-staff has this pack in the store. This is the lightest pack on the market, weighing only 3.8 pounds but capable of packing 35 pounds. The straps keep it tight to your back with a suspension frame. This pack has comfort and functionality of a great hunting pack."

The new X2 is a going to be a bad A$$ pack. I would not hesitate to use it for what you are talking about.

mnjen

I always put my sleeping bag inside my pack. If the sleeping bag will not fit inside, I would buy a bigger pack.

If you are thinking about doing this and are concerned about the pack not being in camo, I have talked with Gary at Dayonecamo.com and he said that he can make custom pack covers in his light weight material (Max-1,ASAT,Predator and a few others). This would be like a rain cover (not water proof) but used in the same fashion. these would weigh in the 2-3 oz range. I will post some pics when he gets finished up with mine. His # is 303-761-2070

The X2 will serve as my All Day Pack only! I can't wait to give this smaller pack a shot!

ElkNut1

What was that first pack? I didn't think the Sacrifice was out yet... The 2nd picture a Badlands 4500?

I'm looking at that sacrifice when I can get my hands on one... I have the BL 2800 and the 4500

Great thread!

I know some people, that know some people, that robb some people, and that is how I got a Sacrifice:)

ElkNut1

For the guys that are asking me about using the mountaineering packs, this pack should be on the top of the list. REI XT 85 is the name.

1) REI XT 85

2) arc'tyrex bora

3) Gregory Baltoro

4)Osprey Aether 85

All good packs that can handle heavy loads.

Can you post photos of the eberlestock blue widow load lifters up close? I'd love to see them.

Again, it would work, and for a multipurpose pack, the X-2 is great, but you can find a few other packs that are geared a little better for overnight trips. If you are going to use it for a day hunt pack/meat hauler/ overnighter, the X-2 would be a good choice (with ultralite gear).

Hope that makes sense;)

I don't have a Blue Widow anymore and I don't have any good picks of the lifters.

If anyone has pics of the load lifters on a Blue Widow, can you please post them!

Thanks in advance:)

Do you still have some packs for sale?

Sent you a PM.

I talked with Robert@ Blacks-Creek this morning. He is going to try and post some pics of the featherlight in the next few days. It sounds like I will be able to get my hands on one as well (soon I hope).

From talking with Robert and seeing the pictures of the pack, I am very excited to get this pack into the woods.

I will keep everyone posted.

It is a large in like new condition and is in AP. I also have an extra set of stays I got from Badlands that I will throw in. I love the pack, just need a medium.

$275 shipped. PM for pics or other info.

Bx3 Is in need of a multi day pack. Shoot him a PM.

This pack is very difficult to hunt with because there is way too much metal on metal and too many metal key-rings. It's awfully noisy when fully loaded. I use it as my main pack to get deep into the woods. Once I'm where I want to be, I use the Dwight Schuh for daily excursions. It's not traditional bivy style hunting I guess. If I could only take one pack I wouldn't take the Cabela's or the Dwight Schuh. I guess I'd have to re-read Aron's threads and find a different pack altogether. Maybe if Aaron hasn't sold the best pack for this application yet he can PM me with his best suggestion and the price of it?

My GF and I have lived together for 2 years, our names are on all the bills together, she is on my vehicle insurance and we have the same mailing address ( I'm on her medical insurance as well) Talking about it on Bowsite is the least of my worries:):) but thanks for thinking about me:). Women can be evil when they wanna be!

I could not find any pics of the longbow, sorry about that. Did you have spacific questions about it, or did you just wanna see it in action?

There seems to be some hard core MR guys on Bowsite, maybe they can post some pics of the pack in action. I think "zachbow" has been using the CC and now has the longbow. He has killed a ton of animals and prolly has some good pics of the longbow and CC in action.

Shoot him a PM and maybe he can post some pics.

Sorry I was not more help

Sent you a PM.

Obviously, it would be ideal to just get one of these awesome new packs, but right now I'm driving through a NO-SPEND zone.

if you do that have her seon pocket on the bottom it can fold into and the sew on some velcrow so when it's rolled up u can stick it togeather and will stay out of the way. That's what holds mine on my frame pack and it works great

I have the same Cabela's Outfitter frame and my aluminum pins bent too from carrying 100 pounds of elk.

I made new steel pins by taking a piece of steel rod and welding a washer to one end so it's like the head of a nail. I drilled a hole in the end for the split ring.

The grommet on the shoulder straps on mine is fraying too. I bought new shoulder straps from Campmor.

He said this first batch they are getting is only the real tree apg camo. I think he is only getting 5 packs in this shipment. The next shipment is sometime later in may and he will have max 1. I can live with having the apg if it gets me the pack faster :)

I really have been impressed with that pack. It has some issues that need repair, but considering what I've put it through and the loads and miles it's experienced, I can't complain.

Hypervent, is the sacrifice a hypervent model. Thats the word I was looking for earlier.

Could you show a pic of the outside of the hipbelt on the Sacrifice? I'd like to see if there are pockets and how I might attach rangefinder/GPS pouches etc.

Thanks again for your great info and hard work.

Tim

Thanks, Man!

I have load tested the hell out of the pack. I would say that I have about 150 miles on the packm with weights from 30-80 pounds.

0-40--- Great

40-50 --- Good

50-60---- It was OK but starting to feel like a duffle bag with shoulder straps.

60-80---- Duffle bag with shoulder straps/suspension was gone and I was praying all the stiching would not tear:):)

The pic I attached is with 46 lbs of gear ( bow weight not added) and it felt good. I did a 7 mile trip with it that day (no bow) and was very happy with it.

The Sacrifice is not a load hauler and is a desighned for the ultralite bivy hunter. The guy that is going in several miles (bonzi one nighter/UL 5 dayer). It will work for a first trip out pack, but was not made with that sort of use in mind.

The packs that are coming out this year like the Sacrifice,Barbarian featherweight,Bivy45 and 30) are going to hold up to a good amount of weight and abuse but are not a "load hauling" packs. They are packs that are being made with the Ultralight hunter in mind. They are not built like a Mystery Ranch grizz or Dana desighn overkill (many other could be named). Those packs are bullet proof and could haul just about anything, the problem was that they weigh 9-11 pounds and are stiff as woodpecker lips. The MR Crew Cab is a good example of a pack that can carry just about anything you can attach to it, with that said, there are down sides to load hauling packs like those, just like there will be down sides to the ultralight packs.

When I see people post that the Mystery Ranch Crew Cab or Badlands 2800 (put any other pack name along with these) is the only pack you will ever need, the first thing that comes to my mind is, FOR YOU, but not everyone. That is why I don't post that about ANY pack that I review. It will all boil down to fit and functionality for the person using it.

After all the packs I have used, I have found that having a few diff pack for all of my needs is best. I know that costs more money and I know you can get by just fine with 1 pack, but for me to be the most efeciant I can be, I need more then one pack.

The Sacrifice/Bivy 45/ barbarian featherweight are going to be the pack you want to have on your back when weight is a factor/when you have a packer coming in, or when you are only using it for your first trip out( or are going to be packing light loads of meat). If I was in a hunting party that had 4 guys, the barbarian or Sacrifice would be a great pack to have and would work for everything ( you can split up the loads).

A good way to look at packs is comparing them to vehicles.

4500/MR CC/Kifaru Longhunter/Blue Widow---------Deisel truck that can tow anything but don't try parking it at wal-mart.

Blacks-creek Canadian/2800/Eberlestock X2-------- My jacked up jeep, that I can beat the shit out of and will do anything I need, just won't always be the best at what it's doing and sucks on long road trips.

Sacrifice/Barbarian Featherweight/Bivy45------- The BMW SUV of packs, rides with comfort and makes you feel great, but nothing you wanna shovel cow shit in the back of or haul river rock in.

Hypervent/Ascent 14/Diablo/ -----------The "Ducati/R1" of packs. You can haul ass in them and stay in stealth mode , but don't expect to move your moms TV to your house with it.

I hope this explains things a little better and sorry about the spelling (or lack of spelling:)

My pack with 25 lbs is a far nicer carry than my same brand heavy hauler with the same load, the suspension and venting on these new designs is really an upgrade.

The only other comment I have is that 3500 cu in. is a lot of room if you have higher end light gear but it would be easy to run out of space otherwise.

thanks again Aron, If I didn't own the z55 I would most likely buy a sacrifice it's a good looking rig.

I have no idea about the new X-2. I have only been told about it, nothing first hand. I would think (from what I have been told) that the new X-2 should be in the same ball park as the 2200. They beef'd up the suspension/waist belt and that was the only bad thing about the old X-2.

The J34 is a great pack, but if you are going to bow hunt, I would ust the blu widow. The J34 has the gun holder and that keeps the pack away from your body. If you are not going to be carrying a gun, it is not really something you need as a bowhunter.

As far as the horn hunter packs, I have used the mainbeam and mainbeam Xl, but was not able to get much time with them,

Yesterday I walked 1.5 miles with 30 pounds including all 4 pieces. It was a cake walk!

I am still amazed how fast the pounds add up when filling the pack. I don't know what the average weight everyone is carrying on this thread. I am trying to keep it under 50 pounds.

80-lbs + sucks in any pack!

After all that-----I can't remeber if I liked it or not. I can tell you that I did not like the Panama jungle or the darien gap:)

In this pic, I have 10 days of food and gear. I would normally have my spotter and T pod on the outside of the pack, but I don't like doing my training with those attached, so I add a gallon of water on the inside of the pack to make up the missing weight.

I will post more pics of all the attachmants later.

I talked about the Blue Widow a few times, but I would say that it can carry as much as any person could handle, durability is never a issue with the EB packs. You could find a pack that is more comfortable, but the BW is very versatile and that goes a long way.

This year (when weight and altitude are a factor) I will use a SOTO OD-1R. It's new to the market and I have only used it a couple times, but is working well so far. I will use a JB from time to time, but only when weight and space are not a issue. As far as base layers, Smartwool and IceBreaker, you can't go wrong with either one of those. They are pricey, but well worth the money. IMO

That Hoodie I'm wearing is from a company called "Knotty Dreamz", the hat I am wearing is from them as well. 2 brothers own the company and they are based out of Colorado. The idea behind the logo is the Colorado "Big 8). It's something (the big 8) that they have been working at achieving for their entire lives. They make some other cool shirts and hats as well. I will try and post some other pics of their stuff, but it is what I am wearing in most of my pics anyway. They are good guys and they do the wilderness bowhunting thing like me. I will attach a link below.

http://www.knottydreamz.com/index.html

Good luck this season

When you getting the barbarian to put through its paces? Really excited at that bag.

Joe

That hat is da BOMB.....seen it up close when he got it new......color me green with envy.

The knotty dreams stuff is good quality. They have some synthetic and some cotton. The hoodie is synthetic and that is what I train in most of the time. The thing I like best about their clothing, is the fact that I can represent the hunting industry and train at the same time. I was wearing my EBJ hoodie when training, but the hoodie in the pic is synthetic, so it wicks and dry's alot faster.

Squeekslayer

Sent you a PM.

Aron, eight miles with 70 pounds. You are an animal!! LOL

Everyone is gifted with different abilities, I got the shaft in the running department:) At least I have strength on my side. I think the Army got all the running that I had to give.

BOWJO

Shoot me a PM when you get the pack, lett me know if you have any questions and give me the 411 on what you think about it.

I really like the concept of the oregon packworks, just wish it wasnt so expensive. Do you think there is any chance these packs may go down in price, looking at other trends of pack prices? I think it would probably boost sales for them. Great reviews!!

I would call OPW, and talk to Karl, maybe he can work with you on the price. As far as I know, the prices are not coming down.

When you want to get rid of your extra packs let me know what you got. I would like to play with some I have not had yet. I'll be in Denver alot this year, so could stop and look.

Calling them now:)

I try and keep things as close to hunting as I can. When I have 40 lbs in my pack, I do more interval training. I will try and do 100-200 yard runs and then walk for 300-400 yards and mix things up. This is what I do to prep for the day to day hunting type stuff.

When I train with heavy weight (65-80 lbs), I will do a long hike at a somewhat slow pace (2.5 miles per hour + or -). I try and do a 10-12 mile hike every 7-10 days. I would compare this to the hike in (with all my gear) to the area I'm hunting or the hike out with a elk quarter.

I have a couple gallon water jugs (full) with the lid taped shut. I have a bag that is sewn in the shape of a elk quarter and it's filled up with rice. I also have a stuff sack that is full of small bags of rice. I like rice better then anything, it will not get all over the place like sand.

i am not trying to be mean at all. I am hoping to set up a time to check it out after i graduate in may. i am going down to bend for a few days after that.

Joe

I received an e-mail from Gary at Eberlestock yesterday concerning questions I had about the new 2010 X2.

They will not be adjustable for torso length (same as the 2009 models), but will fit "a wide range" of people.

They will have a longer, sturdier hipbelt. I was told in a voice-mail last week the pockets on the hipbelt will be a bit larger than the 2009 model.

They will have a tubular aluminum frame (vs a sheet or stays) which will help with load-carrying.

Other than the changes to the hipbelt and frame, the pockets, straps, and general layout of the pack has not changed from the 2009 model.

Joe

Try and take some pictures of the pack and post some thoughts about it as well.

I called and spoke with John the owner I guess and he sadi they were working on updating their catalog. I emailed him as well to find a dealer, but have not heard back yet. He told me though he is 6' and the stays work for him. I want to look at the combo myself. Elkhunter when you going to get one? :)

Depending on who makes it for them and the quality / suspension that frame and a couple of silbags and a light daypack might be a pretty reasonable solution.

The rigs I made up when we hauled big bulky loads on a regular basis allowed us to clip a small but heavy bag on the front and it helped alot with balance. I don't know how much it would apply to hunting where the issue is weight more than bulk but for getting camp out with a load of meat I could see using it.

One of the benefits of using the frame/sil dry bags is being able to load the bags in the tent and get everything ready without bringing the pack frame inside as well.

If the suspension on this is good and the weight is right for $200 it looks like a pretty fair option. My frame weighs 4 1/4 lbs and with carbon fiber stays is heck for stout at load carrying.

Although I have a pretty neat camo bag that fits mine I usually use the sil bags as they are waterproof and much lighter, I have a few well placed small strings to tie my camo jacket over the load on the rare event I wanted it camo.

This Z-65 is one of my favorite packs of all time. I have been using the Z off and on for a several years with great luck. It is more of a scouting pack for me, but could be used for a 3 day bivy hunt (depending on the person). I would say the max load (for comfort) on this pack would be in the 50# area, but the pack itself can handle much more.

In this pic, I have 2 days of food along with T-pod and spotter. My spotting scope case attaches to the side of the pack and I have no issue with it flopping around.

I started looking for a 6 day pack that will fit my 22.5" Torso. Most covered on these threads do not cover that high.

Any advice? Either hunting or regular backpacking

Thanks

I have a long torso and have found that the badlands 4500 fits me well (with the large torso)I have a new one I dont use (extra pack)that Im going to sell. Ill shoot ya a pm telling you specks on the pack.

I'm doing a 2 night bivy into the high country this weekend, I was hoping to get some thoughts from everyone on what pack they would like me to bring and demo.

Badlands OX

Crooked Horn HCE

Please give me your thoughts and I will use the pack with the most votes.

I will also be testing out a few other products. The new pack cover from Day One Camouflage, Soto OD stove (at 11,000 feet) as well as a couple sets of bino's.

I would like to thank everyone for all the positive PM's, everyone has been a great help!

1. ox

On a side note... What Bino's are you testing?? I got the soto stove last week. sweet stove!

Zen ray ED2

I vote for the OX.

This is on the Gregory Z-65

What is the weight on the pack cover? I have often thought about using something like that on my mountianeering packs...

Sharpstick

I only use the cover after I have dropped all of my gear off at camp and then I just have day hunt stuff in my pack.

He can make them out of ASAT/Max-1/Predator evalution.

303-761-2070 is his #

For those who can't wait.

The pack did great! I was surprised at the comfort level with my longer torso it still fit pretty dang well. I packed it with loads from 25-45 lbs and it was great for that lbs range. Like Elkreaper said after that range it starts going downhill in performance. But I got it knowing that and planed on using it for very light weight trips anyways. This will be my new scouting pack for sure!

Thanks for the great reviews Aron I am very happy with my pack... like I need another one in the first place!

What do you think of the fabric as far as water repellency and noise? Do you think it may be noisy (compared to a 2200 or 2800, for instance) while slipping through the timber on a stalk?

What Aron said…

I have a few other rain covers I think will fit but I am considering getting a bucksuede one from DAY ONE seems like that would help with the noise and keep it dry. Still this is a sweet pack!