Tell me why I need your backpack
Elk
I was using a Kifaru pack for my elk hunting. I was very happy with it but had a minor issue and they told me to kick rocks and had no interest in fixing. So… I sold all my Kifaru stuff and will be using something else from this point forward. I want a pack that isn’t going to break in the back country and can easily handle 80-90 lbs. I don’t even like to pack that much but I have on my last two hunts. I typically would spike out for 2~3 nights before heading back to the truck or base camp. I’m thinking somewhere in the 4-5k CI range.
I rely on drawing tags so it won’t get used every year. I don’t care to pay a premium but would be comfortable spending less if a quality product that will fit my needs is available. I’m looking at Exo currently because they traditionally have a Black Friday sale and I know they offer a great product. Let me know your recommendations.
I've had a few and stone glacier has been the best by far and the customer service is top notch. Mine is probably going on 10 years old now lots of heavy loads zero issues. It's HD
Seek Outside makes a dandy if you can get by the owners politics. I didn’t know them when I bought it. Nor, would I have cared. But, I’m a deplorable ignorant conservative. That’s his deleted proclamation of everyone who didn’t agree with liberal policy.
I kept the pack since I’d already bought it and used it. I won’t ever sell it. It’s that good. But, I’ll never give them another dime until Kevin is history from that place.
Mark, I tell you that so you can make up your own mind. It may not matter to you. However, the way he talked may.
With all that, I packed an 83 pound load of deer and gear in it last year for 2.57 miles. It performed as well as any of the Kifaru’s I have/had. Stupid light too. Waterproof bag. Good layout of pockets on the peregrine 3500. Just a great pack
Stone Glacier x2! I have the Kiowa 3200 and my son has the Sky 5900. The 5900 comes on their X-Frame, which is phenomenal. They’re bombproof, lightweight, and comfortable. Lots of different sized pouches you can purchase separately for even more carrying capacity. They also offer a decent discount through GovX if you’re a veteran, which is a a nice bonus.
I got a Eberlestock F1 frame a few years ago and have been happy with it. I like the fact that I can run it as a bare bones pack frame or add packs or bags to suit the hunt I’m on. I’ve used it to pack in a blind and decoys for turkey hunting to hunting elk out west, both archery and rifle hunting. I know people say they’re heavy, but IMO, that means they’re bombproof. I’ve always had great CS with them. They even discounted a bag and shipped it to my son when he was in Afghanistan. That means a lot to me.
Anyone know the main difference between the X-Curve and the Krux frame and how to determine which you should order based on body type?
I’ve had several, eberlestock badlands, mystery ranch, and now kifaru and would likely never deviate, what issues did you exsperienve with your kifaru
Have used the SG sky 5100 with the crux frame for the past 8 years woth great luck. It handles heavy loads well. Typically I don't seperate the bag from the frame for hauling meat. I just throw meat into the main bag and synch it down. Hauled meat from my newfoundland moose hunt a mile up a creek bed to where the helicopter could get the meat picked up and was able to handle hauling a 48 inch rack back to camp 4.58 miles.
I picked up a K4 for my mountain goat hunt, the 5000 option. I’ve only packed out one mountain goat (brutal) and 3 elk with it so not a large sample. I I really like the layout of the pack and it goes from compact to big in a hurry.
Giant thread on it here..,
The x curve is for someone with a more curved spine the crux is a very straight frame for someone with straight spine. Personally I think the only way to know which is best is to try both on and see what feels better for you. I thought I liked the crux until I tried the x curve then bought the x curve then and there.
Eberlestock F1.
"I got me this here hot shot Mac Daddy hunter frame with all the bells and whistles." Regardless of Mac Daddy packs ad BS, if you are packing a 135lb. stupid heavy load down canyon three miles back to the ice chest you ARE gonna embrace the suck.
Tyler- I talked to the guys at SG about the 2 frames. I don’t remember the exact ratio they told me but seems like 3 to 1 they sell/recommend the x-curve.
I’ve been running a SG Sky Talus (6900?) for the last few years. Switched from Kifaru for a decent weight savings. It is a good pack, and if I was getting a new one it would be at the top of the list, but I would consider others too.
If hauling heavy is important I don’t think there is anything better for me personally than a Kifaru. But also hauling heavy weight isn’t the only consideration. Up to the mid 70’s I feel like the SG is just fine and good. After that I notice a significant edge to Kifaru TO ME.
I think your 2 best choices (excluding Kifaru) are stone glacier and exo for hunting pack brands. Kinda like bows, I think the top 3-4 manufactures are just a bit above the rest. I have not used the Seek Outside and it may be a fine pack, but there are plenty of excellent pack manufactures to support who support hunting. Kifaru, SG, Exo, MR, Kuiu, Sitka, etc.
—Jim
Stone Glacier. It’s been the best pack I’ve ever owned. It’s large enough for packing everything you need for a 4-5 day stay or just a day trip. Very lightweight and has a built in meat shelf.
Bob, I’ve never found a pack that makes a 135# load 3 miles back enjoyable!
I sold all my Kifaru stuff as well. I bought an EXO K4 5000. Love this pack! The layout is great and it is easily made compact or expanded to its full capacity. I packed my elk out with it in September and it blew my old Kifaru away easily. It just fits me so well. My other choice would definitely be Stone Glacier.
Hard to beat Badlands, and they stand behind their products. Personal expierence.
I have 2 Mystery Ranch pop ups, the EXO K4 and an Eberlestock F1 pack frame with the bat wings... So far, it's my favorite superlight weight and extremely Comfortable!
I once packed an entire mule deer (minus the spine) for a total pack weight of #110. Only about a mile, probably, and about 600’ of vertical. All down-hill, thankfully…. That was with my Dad’s 1970-ish Kelty external frame with a canvas waist belt. I think I was a little bigger then. I probably weighed #140 at that point.
Point being, you’ll live.
I have been doing better with my Osprey 65L, but if I were going to replace it, I’d look at the Exo; that’s what my brother and nephew both have, and they’re really well thought out. Most important feature (IMO) is a waist belt that FITS.
I also really like my Seek Outside, but again as Justin said above, you have to be ok with buying from a partisan. I don't look at the politics of everyone because I feel that my sanity requires that I avoid partisan politics in every facet of my life.
As far as bags go, a heavy pack only makes a heavy load heavier and I'm always on the lookout for weight savings wherever I can find them because they make a huge difference over miles and miles and especially on the uphill treks. People like Kifaru packs, but I would never buy a pack that weighs as much as they do.
My next pack within the next several months will be a Hyperlight Mountain Gear pack. I carry a plastic gun and I'll have a plastic backpack as well. I also like the option of a white pack as I'm trying to get a complete set of white gear for mountain goat/dall hunting.
EXO or SG would be my choices. I’m still using the K2 with no failures. At the time I went with EXO because of design and their customer service. That said, most of the guys I’ve hunted with went with SG.
I also run Eberlestock f1 frame as my base pack with bat wings. Love the pack and agree on the Kifaru sentiment… I was rubbed the wrong way myself in the past and won’t own any of their stuff.
How about no frame?
Short story. Back in July 1995 I was 41 and 22 years into my 50 year carpentry career. I did an 11 day Alaska backcountry float trip with two (worthless) 'friends'.
So, no packframe? What's that?
I packed an old school 13' Hypalon raft 5/8ths of a mile across the Alaska Tundra on my back. From the lake the float plane dropped us at, over to the Koktuli river. Water was low that year. The pilot couldn't get us any closer.
I guess that raft went 140 pounds. No raft frame with long oars for an easy Cleopatra carry. No trail. 100% squishy TUNDRA. And NO STOPS. I was a heartbeat short of death when I got to the river. lol
The outfitter -the only game in Illiamna- told us, "Sorry guys. All our frames and oars are out." Plus that got dam raft had a real leak. We had to pump it up twice a day. Effers. lol
The two candy ass wimps I went up there with were out of shape businessmen with girly soft hands. They could barely get that heavy bulky mofo raft up onto my back. I was hunched over, lookin at my feet thinking these two weenies are already totally worthless. lol
Yeah, I embraced the suck packin that sumbitch.
Then there's the part 10 days into the trip where I emptied the cylinder of my .44 Redhawk over a Grizzly pawing the salmon cooler in our camp. But that's another story.
Stone Glacier for me… I’ve packed out part or all of 43 bulls with my original frame and it’s still going strong. It’s had a ton of bags on it (not all SG) but the frame remains the same.
Stone Glacier for me… I’ve packed out part or all of 43 bulls with my original frame and it’s still going strong. It’s had a ton of bags on it (not all SG) but the frame remains the same.
I agree with the EXO and S.G. like everyone else, I pack with Kifaru and have no reason to change at this time.
If I was going to buy a new pack though, Initial Ascent is starting to make quite a bit of noise in the hunting world, I would definitely do some research on them If I was in the market.
EXO for me. No complaints. Have used it for elk, antelope and whitetails.
I have a Stone Glacier Sky Archer, and it is by far the best pack I have ever owned. It’s highly versatile with many accessories and incredibly lightweight. Its adaptability makes it perfect for use as both a day pack and a multi-day pack. The base capacity is 6,400 cubic inches, but with accessories, it can exceed 7,300 cubic inches. I have given away or sold all the other packs that I have accumulated over the years.
I’ve only ran kifaru or a Barney’s freighter frame for the last 15 years or so. Kifaru is stronger and more comfortable under extremely heavy packs than SG… SG is lighter and has some cool organization stuff to it if you are into that for your packs. I personally prefer one large bag without separate zippers and straps everywhere. I’ve also never found the need to downsize to a daypack to save size/weight. 95% of the time I carry a Kifaru Muskeg 7k pack. When cinched down it isn’t noticeable to me, the difference is I can carry out 100+ lbs first load back with fresh legs rather than a small load to go retrieve a different pack.
SG are amazing gear, and I’ve heard some other companies are great too now. I’ve just never had a complaint or reason to deviate from Kifaru durability for my uses.
My old McHale was awesome for packing very heavy loads, I literally wore it out.
I went to the EXO and it's very good and hauls the 70-80# loads well- BUT the shoulder straps that are perfect for most everything start to mush out with 80#-90# in it. It still works well but the dual density strap McHale built into my last pack made it a little better for the very heavy stuff.
FWIW, I really like the EXO.
I’ve used Mystery Ranch in the past, but love my SG! I have the Sky 5900 on an x-curve and really like how tight it packs for a day pack, but still expands to a full size pack to bring camp in. I’ve packed deer, elk, and bear with it and it rides well for me.
I have been running a SG for about 8 or 9 years now. I had a strap tear on the meat load sling and they replaced that part of the frame no questions asked. That frame was about 7 years old. Their packs have bee dependable, durable, and comfortable.
Went with SG 10 years ago. The most I've ever hauled at one time was 90 lbs.
Recently, I attempted 80 lbs on a boned out mule deer my daughter got. The load was not centered and distributed correctly and had to make it in two hauls; 50 and a 30.
If the load isn't situated properly, there isn't a pack available that can "fix" that LOL.
I own both a Krux ( 6900 ) and a xcurve (7900)… and a kifaru bikini and eberlestock mainframe with batwing. I love my mainframe but sure wish it handled the weight half as good as the stone glaciers. I pack train all summer for fun and the Krux frame is my favorite. Really not much difference between the Krux and xcurve for me. For me the comfort is all in the hipbelt and I can run that thing so tight it’ll cut my blood supply off if I let it. It simply doesn’t slip for me and both the kifaru and eberlestock do
Initial Ascent looks nice too. Does anyone have any feedback? Also, what is the deal with the bearded guy on their logo? Lol.
Just for reference on my above statement about SG… I had a Kifaru tactical frame and quality was second to none but for some reason with weight above 60# it absolutely killed my hip flexors. But there was nothing wrong with the quality of that frame. Just didn’t fit me. The mystery ranch guidelite I used was inferior to both kifaru and SG but was serviceable. The only pack I’ll carry 90# plus on is the SG.
“for some reason with weight above 60# it absolutely killed my hip flexors. ”
It wasn’t staying up on your hip bones. I had that problem a year ago with my Osprey when I lost a little too much weight and had the waist belt cinched down until the hip pads were butted hard up against each other. This year, I solved the problem by figuring out that there IS a waist-belt adjustment possibility on this pack after all. I also ate a lot more…. That’s what I was saying about getting the fit Right on that belt.
If your waist is larger than your circumference at the crest of your hips, you’re probably going to have to embrace the suck and take the weight mostly on your shoulders, which would ruin me in pretty short order. IOW, if you’re rocking a Gut, you’re gonna suffer.
Packs aren’t quite as bad as boots but it’s almost to that level of no way there’s a one size fits all answer for everyone. What are you packing, how far, overnight or day trips, how big are your hips/body frame, what kind of shape are you in, are you used to carrying heavy loads, are you soft as baby shit?
Sounds dumb but some of it boils down to mental toughness once you hit a certain weight point regardless what logo is sewn onto the pack. Ten years ago I was in far better physical shape than I am now but was brand new to western style of hunting and struggled with the heavy packs. Today it’s much easier because I’m either more used to it or I’m just dumber/tougher than I was then. Maybe both. I find sleeping/camping arrangements where I whine more now than how heavy my pack feels carrying out dead shit.
I like the Kuiu Ultra 3000, I wish it had more pockets (lots of digging). Light and "opens" to haul large loads.
You don't want mine. Has to be 20 years old, walmart cheap & still in good shape.
Kifaru Reckoning I bought from Patrick Smith (original owner of Kifaru) in 2017 is an excellent pack for me. Likely be the last heavy duty pack I'll ever need to buy.
I still have the Generation 1 Longhunter I bought from Patrick in 2000....use it for packing meat and it is hanging in there. It is a decent carrying pack despite being nearly 25 years old.
I have one of Patrick's Ultralight UL5400 packs (if I remember the numbers right) I bought in 2011. Under 4 pounds and great as a day pack or with weight up to about 40#s. I use it a lot yet for longer trips in to a tree stand or day hunting caribou, moose, etc. Like carrying the bow in the Gunbearer on it. Not so good for packing out part of a ram along with camp....though at that moment I was so happy I'd have crawled out with the Stone ram!
Not rocking a gut so it could be fit… however, I’ve packed out 50+ elk so I’m pretty familiar with how to make a pack work and fit and I simply couldn’t with the Kifaru for whatever reason. Not a knock on them. Fit and finish was exceptional but just didn’t work for me.
I’ve enjoyed my SG but am curious about these Initial Ascent packs. Hunted with a guy that had one in September and they look pretty nice.
How in the hell did I hump 20 miles with my 80#s of Gear + weapon when I was a Corpsman (medic) with my Marine line Co. (1959 thru 63). So many short 4-5 milers too. They were nothing like todays gear.
I have to shout a big heck yes to EXO all american made with American materials And its justvan all around great pack After lots of research and the pains they go to for fitment of each and every individual Service is over the top
I've seen Mystery Ranch mentioned. I read they were bought by Yeti and will phase out the hunting packs? Anyone know anything about that?
that would make no sense. Why buy to surrender the core asset bought. Not true.
Mystery Ranch Mule, absolutely waterproof, lightweight with a carbon fiber internal frame, great pack for a "minimalist" that still needs to move 100+ pound loads.
I see this thread has popped up again. I ended up buying a Exo K4 5000 on sale around Black Friday. So far I really like this pack. It seems to fit me better than my Kifaru and from what I have read Exo truly stands behind their packs. I need to do a hunt with it to determine how much I really like it but I am pretty sure it is going to be great.
@ Bowfreak, I have the same pack. The first thing I'd do is color code or number all the buckles male to female. When you're in the dark trying to determine which goes where, it can be a pain. I was on the side of a mounting trying to stuff a mountain goat in mine and I'm not going to say I was too thrilled with my pack experience at that time. It seems simple, but put some crappy weather, dark, well.... you get the picture.
Cazador, that is a good tip. Did you add any of the locking buckles to your pack? Other than buckle issue, have you been pleased?
For the Mojo it has absorbed :>)))
@Bowfreak, I added the one that came with it, and that was it. I like the pack for it's layout for sure. I'm not a person that tinkers, but that goat pack out hurt. The lumbar pad kind of presses into my back at a weird spot and I felt that for a long time. I've never experienced that with my Kelty, or Badlands with heavier loads. I've used the meat shelf one time, and all the rest of the elk quarters went inside. Overall, pretty happy with it, I just need to get that lumbar situation figured out.
Cazador,
It seems like I read or saw on video where they have an alternative pad that works better for a small percentage of people. I’ll see if I can dig that up.
Because I thought the skunk was dead...the one named Lazarus. Now you need it!
