Day pack for NL moose hunt

[Tim Pierce]

Hey all. I have booked a moose hunt with A1 Hunts in NL for the 3rd week of Sept 2020. I currently have a Badlands Superday pack which I have used for whitetail hunting in the hills of southern Ohio. I have never used a pack with a frame. I know in NL we will be hiking for miles through bogs and climbing hills during the hunt, so I'm wondering if I wouldn't be better served by going with pack and frame. I will be carrying rain gear, extra socks, gloves, midlayer clothing, water, rifle, ammo, binoculars, headlamp and food for snacks and lunch.
My typical whitetail hunts are typically shorter than a mile in our out. If you recommend a pack and frame, which one? I do plan to do an elk hunt in the future, and then bear.

 

[7mmremmag]

The extra support and capability of a frame pack is nice, even as a day pack. I use a Stone Glacier Avail that I put their X-Curve Frame as a day pack. I also use that frame with a large myog pack for longer backpack hunts.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Welcome. No experience in that area or moose hunting, sadly but I will offer a general thought. For a typical daypack load of 15-20# or less, I find a frameless pack o be fine. If I want to haul something - meat, stand, heavier gear - then I use a pack with a frame. My daypack / hauler of choice is a mystery ranch pop up. Currently the 38 liter version. It is a neat little “transformer” that is more or less daypack size but an expandable frame that can haul a decent load when needed. The downside is it is a bit more bulky and heavier than a frameless pack. It also costs +$300 so you pay for the added function.

Unless you are going to make a habit of hauling weight, I would stay with a light, frameless pack. It is cheaper, lighter and more comfortable.

 

[carmanusa]

Going to 2nd the mystery ranch pop up 38. I’ve run a pintler for a few years and some of their other packs and the 38 would replace my pintler if it needed replacing.

 

[Tim Pierce]

Yeah the MR Pop-Up 38 is a framed pack I'm considering. Just not sure I need it for this hunt, if I already have the BL superday.

 

[alexanderg23]

If it did that pack, I’d take my Kifaru Muskeg. I don’t care if it’s just 20#’s I’ll take that pack, it’s nice not having pressure on your shoulders. I’ve got a 5k & 7k would probably use the 5. But 7 wouldn’t bother me, it compresses to nothing.

 

[Trial153]

This year I used a MR pintler and may dad used a pop up 18, we hauled out Caribou and moose. Personally I would look at something about 2k-3k size with a frame. Even though I am forced to go guided in NL I always pack out my own kills, your guide will welcome the help for sure.

 

[TREE ‘EM]

If you’re not packing meat, you’re super day is perfectly fine for the task.

I’ve used mine everywhere from Alaska to Greenland over the past 20 years. For a pack with no frame, it handles moderate weight very well. I’ve done a couple of early-season three night hunts out of it with no complaints.

I’ve got a pop-up 28 and I Seek Outside Unaweep 4800 that I use if I need to pack meat. I’ve packed a couple of boned out deer in my badlands super day and didn’t find it impossible with 50 to 60 pounds in it but I wouldn’t want to make a regular habit of it.