I'm considering upgrading my pack with some recent overtime money. I spent my first few years with a daypack from HornHunter. It was a good daypack until I shot something. Then I would have to hike from the backside of the mountain, back to the cabin, get my dads heavy blue internal frame REI pack and hike back and begin the haul. I was wasting an entire trip burning too much time and energy.
I archery hunt from a family cabin in Colorado from 8500-9100 feet. 90% of the places I can find an elk are tough packs out. My goal is a pack that can handle a hind quarter and double as a functional daypack. Last year I tried a 1603 molle frame with a Kuiu ultra 3000. I also tried a kifaru load panel that would work to pack elk with.
The frame is a little heavy, but not bad for comfort. Straps could be more padded. I don't think I would want to go for long hikes under heavy loads. The frame has lots of flexibility for attachment points of straps. I didn't get to test this setup under a real pack load. It did meet my daypack needs, but I need to spend more time setting it up before season.
Where I'm hunting my heavy hauls will be steep, but short .5-1 mile.
I'm considering the following this year.
1. No changes
2. Kifaru and ultralight frame (haven't read many reviews, curious if it addresses comments I've read on the bikini)
3. mystery ranch guide light frame - no reviews, not available
4. mystery ranch wolf alpha - great closeout price, heavy, maybe more pack than I will use
5. Used options (stone glacier, exo, kifaru)
I'm in Florida during the year, not any real options to test these out.
Some pieces I've compiled to go with a frame (but can sell if I go with option 4 or 5)
- kifaru grab it
- kifaru load panel
- Kuiu ultra 3000
- kifaru rendezvous (likely will sell, no need for a bag this big)
- kifaru long hunter lid
- misc med pockets and pull outs.
I archery hunt from a family cabin in Colorado from 8500-9100 feet. 90% of the places I can find an elk are tough packs out. My goal is a pack that can handle a hind quarter and double as a functional daypack. Last year I tried a 1603 molle frame with a Kuiu ultra 3000. I also tried a kifaru load panel that would work to pack elk with.
The frame is a little heavy, but not bad for comfort. Straps could be more padded. I don't think I would want to go for long hikes under heavy loads. The frame has lots of flexibility for attachment points of straps. I didn't get to test this setup under a real pack load. It did meet my daypack needs, but I need to spend more time setting it up before season.
Where I'm hunting my heavy hauls will be steep, but short .5-1 mile.
I'm considering the following this year.
1. No changes
2. Kifaru and ultralight frame (haven't read many reviews, curious if it addresses comments I've read on the bikini)
3. mystery ranch guide light frame - no reviews, not available
4. mystery ranch wolf alpha - great closeout price, heavy, maybe more pack than I will use
5. Used options (stone glacier, exo, kifaru)
I'm in Florida during the year, not any real options to test these out.
Some pieces I've compiled to go with a frame (but can sell if I go with option 4 or 5)
- kifaru grab it
- kifaru load panel
- Kuiu ultra 3000
- kifaru rendezvous (likely will sell, no need for a bag this big)
- kifaru long hunter lid
- misc med pockets and pull outs.