Budget pack question?

[desertcj]

I used an ILBE last season and plan to use it this year as well. Overall, I like it. It's tough, fairly comfortable and the price is right! Mine still has a lot more straps on it then I ever use and I'm probably going to trim it up some now that I've used it a bit. My favorite features are the "source" water bladder integration, the radio pouch that clips into the top/inside of the bag and the assualt pack that piggy backs onto the back of the main bag. The water bladder integration is straight forward. It's a pouch that holds the water bladder on the outside of the bag. The assault pack also has a spot for the water bladder on the inside, it's only a slight annoyance pulling the bladder off of the main pack and putting it in the assault pack or "Day pack". I use the radio pouch to put my food in. It keeps it right on top so I don't have to dig through my pack for a snack. The assault pack is cool, because I can load it with stuff like my first aid kit, kill kit, bow repair kit, GPS, head lamp, etc. Basically anything that doesn't have to do with my sleep system/shelter, spare clothes food and cook system. I will take a few snacks in the assault pack though. This let's me get to where I want to camp and I can quickly unhook the day pack and continue on without having to setup camp and repack. I've never used the side zippers in the main bag. I suppose they might be nice, but if you pack the bag right you shouldn't need the stuff on the bottom untill you are setting up camp.

 

[2ski]

I just searched up this thread because of the ILBE's. I had a guy just ask me to look them up to let him know what I thought about them. He doesn't need a new pack and he doesn't hunt, but he's temped by the price he can get them off of ebay. I saw one in a second hand store a few months ago and thought it looked like a decent pack, a little heavy, but it had no label as to what it was. Now that I've looked them up online and see that's what I was looking at, I'm thinking it might be a decent option for my brother. He just got a dog and is going to be doing a lot more hiking in the summer, and I'd like to get him a pack that can do a little packing for hunting season as well. One thing I don't remember, how adjustable is it? He's probably at least 6 inches shorter than me so any pack that fits me, isn't going to fit him that great.

 

[rhendrix]

The older models aren't adjustable, I never used the newer ones though, I lugged around one in 2008 and it carried loads fairly easy, the Marines aren't very conscious of the whole light weight movement, I'm willing to bet that I had 60-70# worth of crap in mine in Iraq. Frame never broke on me. If I didn't have a Gregory pack I'd buy one.

 

[16Bore]

Used Bozeman MT Dana Designs are a steal...

 

[polandc]

Used Bozeman MT Dana Designs are a steal...

16Bore, which of the packs have you used? Looking on Ebay, quite a few out there for a good price

 

[16Bore]

Crap, posted on the wrong thread.

Astralplane, Teraplane, Alpine.

Even the post K2 stuff is good.

 

[polandc]

Crap, posted on the wrong thread.

Astralplane, Teraplane, Alpine.

Even the post K2 stuff is good.

Cool thanks.

 

[16Bore]

Dana Gleason is the Mystery Ranch dude now and it appears the Terraplane is coming back. I've got one of the post K2 "Redirects" and its tough as nails. Its a shade over 5 1/2#. These packs were high dollar back in the day. Don't know many 20 year old packs that are around and bringing pretty good value.

 

[Ruskin]

I sold my 1998 astraplane for $400 last year. It was in great condition. Just a data point.

 

[16Bore]

Bingo.......

7k CI bag you could carry a car in. Price is what you pay, value is what you get!