Contributors to this thread:
Witch backpack would you purchase Tenzing TZ5000 or Badlands Summit or Eberlestock Destroyer. Bivy hunt this fall in colorado. I would appreciate any. thankyou
Another ? Has anyone packed out a elk with one these style of packs????
None of them...sorry. I have had a couple of eberlestocks(J34 and X2) and they were ok, but just couldn't handle any kind of load.
Really kind of kidding on the "none of them", as I have no personal experience with the other two.
I know they sometimes get a bad rap, but I have a KUIU Icon 1850/5200. Super comfortable and I have hauled 70 lbs in training a bunch. Should be in the same price point. You can still get the original Icon on sale, i think there are a few left, but the ICON pro or Ultra series are supposed to have a greatly improved frame and other nuances
I wish I could afford one of the "premium" packs(Kifaru/MR/etc) but the KUIU served me well last year. I see no reason to change at this point.
They all work, some better than others, like everything else, how they fit you and adjustability is key. Badlands fit me very well, they don't fit my friend Danny at all, we are same height different build. There are some good body measurement threads on some of the brand specific forums. These are good sources if you don't have a local store to go and get fitted. Ive seen elk being packed out on everything from really old army surplus to Kifaru.
Oldgoat Im new at navigating this site. How do I search old threads? thanks for the help!!!
I would pick a Kifaru but that's me.
I honestly would look for a used exo mountain 3500. It will be in the price point you are looking at and its a great reviewed pack. If you can find a used Kifaru it would snag it up. Check out Rokslide classified, AT western classifieds, bowsite classifieds and Kifaru to name a few.
Not one of your choices but I'd seriously look at the Stone Glacier packs.
I have two of them and absolutely love them.
Just a thought, good luck!
Ace of Spades's Link
Check out this review from the all time gear King...KOTA-MAN! like he says near the end, if $ is a factor even though he ranked the Kuiu Icon Pro the last out of the 5 packs, the Kuiu was still light years ahead of any Badlands or Tenzing pack..
Another words you can see where these production packs fall in the pecking order.
Josh
Kota Man: "Michael, yes that is true however, if you put a KUIU pack up against another production pack like a Badlands, Tenzing, Eberlestock etc, IMO the KUIU blows these away."
Search rokslide, it's a backpacking forum similar to this one, all kinds of resources for the backpacking half of your hunt.
Thanks Josh. Yes, if $$$ is an issue and you want a "production pack", the KUIU Icon Pro is tough to beat for the money. The EXO packs aren't bad either. If you want to spend upwards of a Grand and never buy another pack as long as you live, buy a Kifaru. If you want ultra light in a VERY high quality pack, go Stone Glacier.
All of these packs are light years ahead of Tenzing, Eberle Stock and Badlands.
The top of my price range is 400 and i assumed that KUIU would be much more. Ive seen reveiws on the EXO but when you go to there website theres a waiting list to purchase. Where do you guys go to purchase packs like these. Is the internet the only way to purchase? thanks again for the help! LEO
The KUIU isn't much more than your budget. With most of these you are limited to Internet purchase unless you live near one of them. You can also buy lightly used if you keep your eyes open on places like Rokslide Classifieds. I might have an Exo 3500 available in brown. Pm me if interested.
You can actually get a kuiu for very close to that price and buy used for less than that. Kuiu has a website and a forum and between there and some of the other forums I've seen barely used packs go for less than your price point on a regular basis. With kuiu, I've read over a and over you want the Pro model. Learn to use Google
I drew a dall sheep tag this year so finally broke down and bought a couple Kifaru packs. I don't know anyone that has used a kifaru that complains about them.....other than the price! I searched around and found a great deals. The tough part is finding a deal on a Kifaru frame. Once you have a frame you can use it with several packs. They are a lot lighter weight than the Kifaru packs from years ago. I had also found rave reviews for Stone Glacier. Unfortunately SG didn't make them in camo and most guys that tried both said the Kifaru was a tad more comfortable. I considered Kuiu but read a gob of bad reviews when hauling super heavy loads.
With that said, I have used and abused Badlands 2200 for dayhunts and an Arcteryx Bora 95 for hauling camp and meat for the past 20ish years. They are a fraction of the price of Kifaru or others and withstood the test of time. Not quite as nice as Kifaru but they worked.
I pack in a lot both backcountry skiing in the winter but especially bowhunting the mountains. Hunted NV, Co, ID and Or on hunts just last year. I just don't get all these hunting backpacks. Bells and whistles everywhere which means weight which is a killer in the backcountry no matter what shape you are in but especially if you're a neophyte. Companies like Osprey have been making packs for a heck of a lot longer than these hunting companies and they are far superior in my opinion. Lots of people hike the PCT with an osprey, none with a hunting pack. I use an Osprey Atmos 50 for everything from day hunts up to about 4 day hunts. My sons like the Atmos 65 for multi day hunts. My son used a Badlands for years but finally got tired of the extra 3 pounds compared to my Osprey and switched over. The best thing is they are cheaper than most hunting packs.
Bison Gear and get the buttons sewn in so it can be attached to the Peak one frame...
This pack is the first trip explorer and it has a built in game bag that can be attached to the top of the frame. They also make custom shoulder straps and waist band.
Lastly,they also will customize their packs to be able to be attached to several other pack frames..good luck
I also use a hiking pack currently... a Gregory Z65 that I've used on 2 elk hunts and have hauled meat with twice. It's a very lightweight pack and costs under $300.
Kuiu is in your price range but beware of the weight. I cracked the carbon frame last year with a 100 pound load. They were more than accommodating and sent me a new frame at no cost, but the pack out was brutal.
To finish the pack out, I used a Kifaru with the bikini frame. That thing is like a Cadillac. If you plan on hunting with your pack for 3 years, buy a kuiu. If you plan on hunting with your pack for 10 or more, buy a kifaru.
I have no insight to Stone Glacier but in Schnees I looked at their frame and it brought flashbacks of my Kuiu debacle. That said, many people love them.
Point is, if you spend $600, you're investment will literally carry your return on any type of backpack hunt.
"Companies like Osprey have been making packs for a heck of a lot longer than these hunting companies and they are far superior in my opinion."
Dana started in 1975, Patrick around 1979, granted Mike started in 1974. Looking back to the 70's I would hardly say that a span of 5 years is a heck of a lot longer.
It is kind of difficult to compare a pack that is rated for carrying 40lbs to one that is rated for carrying 100lbs, or even 70lbs for that matter.
My brother loves his Osprey Atmos. Think it is less than $300. He does have a cabelas alaskan guide frame for loads after the first one.
Bonecarpenter is comparing a Badlands to an Osprey. If he had actually tried a Kifaru or MR, he might come to grips that Osprey will not match up well. Despite the pretty picture.
If you are on a budget take a look at the rei xt85. This pack has had great reviews from hunters who have used it. You can also check different classifieds for used kuiu packs very reasonable. archerytalk.com and rokslide.com
I've used an Osprey and while they are a nice pack, they are not a real comfortable load hauling pack. I would pick an Osprey every time over a Badlands, ES, or Tenzing, but to say they are in the class of Stone Glacier, Kifaru, or Mystery Ranch is ludicrous. For an inexpensive backpacking pack, they are fine, but don't put 90 lbs in one, you may be sorry.
Kota-man Did you get a PM from me? I`m having a hard time navigating this site!!
I would agree with those who want to carry above 70 lbs that osprey is not the choice. When I go in deep its for mule deer and and I typically have at least one hunting partner. Pack weighs about 35 going in. I don't carry 100 lbs ever even while elk hunting packing out.
1) What are the actual web addresses for the sites which may have pre-owned Kifaru gear for sale?
2) My wife and I are planning a long distance hike of 190 miles in June of next year, living out of our backpacks as much as possible...and as we're also planning a [belated honeymoon] trip to the Rockies, to include bowhunting for elk...I could just about justify a new pack
Is the comment about 90+lb loads in an Osprey pack saying that they can't handle that amount of weight, period? Or is it a case of they can handle the weight, but are uncomfortable?
Many thanks in advance
The web addresses are listed above.
The suspension systems on the Osprey's mentioned are just not built for that much weight, just as the fabrics used for the packs are lighter weight fabrics. Last I knew they still offered a lifetime warranty on their packs so someone with more experience with their customer service will have to speak up on that.
I'll second the REI XT 85 as an inexpensive option. I have carried out 1/2 of an elk each of the past 2 seasons (front quarter/back quarter/back straps) in each load using mine. While I wouldn't call it comfortable (nothing is with that kind of weight), it was certainly up to the task. I also packed a load of antlers and full pack (98 lbs on the scale once I got home) 10 miles out of the Absoraka range of Wyoming--some of the most rugged and steep stuff you'll ever find. I'm not a big guy either--5'10" and 190. The pack made such possible.
Construction is bombproof and it will swallow just about any load you throw at it. It also has ample straps and tie loops to be able to secure most anything to the outside of the pack, including tripods, antlers, bows, quivers, etc.
Hunters/outdoorsmen of an era used to use wood frames and rope.
There is a big difference between "will do it" and "built to do it".
Figure out exactly what your uses are and go from there WRT what is best built to do it. There are those that will both hunt well and carry all a person physically can, without damage to the pack or the owner. Several mentioned above.
For heavy work, look to the manufacturer and get a maximum weight for the pack. A couple mentioned are maybe 50 lbs or so. Keep in mind what happens to most things as you start to reach their maximum rated anything.
Lots of stuff gets fixed with a crescent wrench and channel locks. That is it the best choice of tools for the job is highly debatable.
Many thanks for the replies above and for the PM; much appreciated.
It's interesting reading the opinions. I hate to see comparisons of new age gear vice old. While the old stuff worked and will still work it does not make it any better. I work for the leading DOD research and development agency and get to see the development of lighter and stronger materials on a regular basis. It amazes me what we can do these days but there is a cost. For me it boils down to buying the lightest pack that can comfortably hold the weight I want it to carry at a price I am willing to pay. I used to always think a company that was in business for 20 years was better than one that was only around for two. I can tell you with the new design and manufacturing processes that is no longer the case.
There is very very little in the backpacking world that is new. A lot of ideas have been recycled, for whatever reason people forget. Materials used may be different, but designs not so much.
Here is my pack with the game bag all filled and attached to the top of the Peak 1