Topic: The Best Hunting Backpacks of 2023 (Read 53 times)
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For deer hunters who care about staying quiet in the stand, ripping open a noisy zipper (or worse, velcro) on a backpack feels like a sin. Sitka designed its Fanatic Pack for hunters like us. The backpack is made of berber fleece and it utilizes a clever strap/latch system instead of noisy buckles or zippers. There are three zippers on the pack, but they’re for optional secondary pockets, not the main ones. The backpack is also designed so that there’s a handle loop inside the pack, meaning that you can hang it with the top open. So when you need to reach for a rangefinder (or sandwich) there’s no fussing with straps or lids. There are a ton of little pockets on the inside and within the lid so that each of your gear items has its own spot (no rattling against other items while you’re hiking in). It is, by far, the quietest hunting backpack I’ve ever used.
The only downside to the pack is that its body is a little flimsy. There is no frame and the berber fleece material easily collapses on itself. Because of this, the lid doesn’t co*pletely secure (there are little gaps in the side). This isn’t a problem for treestand hunters, because we’re not typically laying the pack on the ground in the field. However, I wouldn’t use the Fanatic as a daypack for hunting from the ground. –Alex Robinson
For mountain hunters who spend a week or two at a time in pursuit of sheep, goats, or high-country deer, the backpack is a central piece of gear. It needs to be reasonably light, very durable, and big enough to haul hunting and camping gear and food for extended trips. Equally important, the pack needs to carry standard loads and heavy loads of meat co*fortably. You get all of that with the Kifaru Dall.
Paired with the Duplex Lite frame, the Dall is an excellent and versatile bag that can be packed with 14 days-worth of gear and food, but can be cinched down for use as a day pack in the field. The Dall’s design is simple, with a fold-over lid. It’s co*patible with Kifaru’s guide lids and additional pouches on the back and belt—something I highly reco*mend. There are two open-top pouches on either side, and side co*pression straps for holding a rifle. It’s got an integral load shelf for hauling extra meat or gear between the bag and the frame, too. I’ve been using the predecessor to this pack on the duplex frame for years in the mountains of Alaska, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a pack that’s as durable and co*fortable under heavy loads. –Tyler Freel
I’ve been hunting with Stone Glacier packs for years and haven’t found a system that does a better job balancing light weight with load-hauling capability. A few seasons back I upgraded my old Stone Glacier pack, which was actually a prototype made by Stone Glacier founder Kurt Racicot, to the Solo. I’ve used it to haul deer, elk, and moose out of the mountains and it has been with me everywhere from Africa to Mongolia. (It fits in overhead bins as a carry-on, which is a nice bonus.)
As with all Stone Glacier packs built on either the XFrame or Krux Evo—you can read about the differences here—it includes an integral load shelf that allows you to strap meat between the frame and 3,600-cubic-inch bag. There are plenty of co*pression straps on the pack so that you can get a tight fit that snugs the load against you back—where you want it—and prevents it from moving around. The frame is easy to fit to different body sizes and you can purchase the Solo with a variety of belt lengths.
One of the smart design features on the Solo is how the zipper to the main co*partment makes an upside down U-shape. This gives good access to the main bag, but in case the zipper fails the bag can still be used by cinching the co*pression straps across the bag. The way the straps are configured allows the user to easily secure a rifle, tripod, or trekking poles to the outside (I’ve done all three) where they are secure and easy to access.
The Solo has a decent sized pocket on the top of the bag that you can stuff your lunch and an extra layer of clothing in for easy access. The interior of the main co*partment has a sleeve where you can stow a spotting scope or water bottle. Stone Glacier also sell lightweight pockets and sleeves that can be hung on the inside of the main co*partment to help keep gear organized.
I’m sure that someday someone might invent a better ultralight pack for mountain hunting, but right now the Stone Glacier Solo is the best hunting backpack for mountain hunts. —John B. Snow
This is my go-to pack for a preset stand. I can carry my food, water, bow hanger, camera gear, layers, and archery equipment in this pack. That load rides co*fortably on the padded shoulder straps and waist belt. You could also use this pack for saddle hunting if you wore your saddle in and used the passthrough slot to carry your sticks. But, that passthrough is meant for carrying a rifle or crossbow. It works really well for co*pact crossbows, but large and heavy crossbows you’re better off carrying in your hand.
My favorite thing about this Shift is the gear organization. The front of the pack has a lid that flips out, for you to keep all the stuff you need in the stand. I use it for binos, an extra release aid, snacks, wind checker, and a grunt tube. The fold out panel makes it easy to have those items quick at hand so you don’t have to dig through the pack to find them. –Scott Einsmann
Most of my hunting requires a daypack for carrying layers, water, food, and gear. Within the daypack category you’ll find everything from tiny hip packs to backs around 2,500 cubic inches. I find myself reaching for packs around the 2,000 cubic inch range most often because they allow me to carry a day’s worth of gear. In my embarrassingly large collection of daypacks the Shape Charge is the clear winner and I use it almost excessively for nearly everything. Here are the roles it fills for me:
The pack is easy to organize with just the right amount of pockets for quick access items and mesh internal pockets that make it easy for you to find what you need in the large main chamber. I’ve added exterior pouches to the molle for more storage when necessary as well as Kifaru’s Grab-IT for strapping down treestands and saddle platforms. The Grab-IT also works well as a meat shelf. As you can see, it’s easy to configure the Shape Charge from streamlined to a fully-kitted gear hauler.
The ultralight crowd will say 500d is overkill for a daypack, but I say this is daypack that will last a lifetime of hard use. Ultimately, it’s up to you decide if a 4-pound daypack is too heavy or if the heavy-duty construction is what you’re looking for. The main con is the price. It’s not a cheap pack, but if you are investing in it as a tool you’ll have for many seasons, rather than buying a cheaper bag every other year, the price beco*es a little more reasonable. It’s also made in the USA from US-made materials, which adds to the price and the value. –Scott Einsmann
I tested the Avail 2200 on a Wyoming deer hunt where I stayed in a cabin and took a truck to my hunting spot, so all I needed was enough supplies for the day. I wasn’t carrying any camping gear or concerned about a long-distance packout, but extreme climate variations demanded a lot of extra layers. Pre-dawn temperatures started in the teens but by lunch it was 60 degrees. On the way out I carried a full 3-liter hydration bladder and I hiked back with most of my morning layers in my backpack.
Sometimes daypacks can be overwhelming with pockets and features that crowd the small carrying capacity. The Avail 2200 is not guilty of this. The internal pockets are simple and useful, if a little easy to overstuff. I loved the external co*pression panel for a jacket. The straps seem excessive at first, especially for a smaller pack, but once I was dialed with the pack, I found myself grateful for the ability to quietly lash down gear without having to open a zipper.
What stood out to me the most about the Avail 2200 is how easy it was to get a perfect fit. With other unise* packs, I end up with a little room between my shoulders and the straps, even after tightening them as much as possible. With the Avail, you can adjust the straps’ attachment points, so it properly acco*modated for my short torso. This goes a long way once the bag is loaded up. Usually daypacks are built with a more standardized fit that lacks customization. After all, if you’re only carrying a single day’s worth of gear, does fit really matter? My answer is a resounding yes, and the Avail 2200 is the best hunting backpack for day trips that I’ve tried. –Katie Hill
As a northeasterner, most of my days afield are spent sitting in a treestand for hours on end. I’ve had plenty of packs that were fine, but when I began hunting deep into public-land and had to pack out my first deer, I realized just how important a quality frame pack can be. Putting on miles hunting mule deer out west finally convinced me to invest in the Beartooth 80, built on the Guide Light MT Frame. For day trips, I switch out the massive 80-liter Beartooth for the 23-liter Mule.
The Mule easily attaches to the Guide Light MT Frame and is perfect for packing everything I need for the treestand or hunting from the ground. I can put knives, game bags, tags, and a butchering kit in the main pocket while reserving the smaller front pocket for grunt tubes, doe bleats, dude wipes, bow hangers, and snacks. The side or bottom co*pression straps allow you to carry a bow or rifle on your back. The side pockets are also great for a water bottle or tripod.
When I took this pack to South Dakota last fall on a mule deer hunt, I had everything I needed to fill my tag. Thanks to the load-hauling Overload sling, packing out the meat was a breeze co*pared to years past. You’re able to wedge your stand, game bags full of meat, or overnight kit in between the frame and the pack thanks to generous straps and the ability to add length if necessary. The 500D Lite Plus Cordura fabric and heavy-duty hardware is durable and water resistant to increase this bag’s reliability and lifespan. —Derek Horner
The main draw of this backpack is that it is almost a dry bag. The side zippered access into the spacious main co*partment is the only reason it isn’t technically waterproof when submerged. But aside from a prolonged full dip, your gear is going to stay dry in this bag. The Serac has a weatherproof front zippered pocket for quick access to essential gear and. Its minimalist design features two daisy chains on the back for any equipment you might need. I took this bag duck hunting where it sat in wet, muddy, and freezing conditions with no consequences.
The material is durable and I thoroughly abused it scouting for deer and traveling. This bag can also acco*modate technical gear for mountaineering, climbing, or skiing thanks to its weatherproofing, slim profile, and lightly padded back. There is a removable hip belt with no padding or pockets that connects via two sleek metal “buckles” that don’t actually engage but simply slip through each other. This decreases the risk of snow or ice freezing into a plastic buckle and causing issues. –Ashley Thess
First, your pack has to carry all the gear you need. Figure 1,800 to 2,000 cubic inches is enough for a daypack, 3,000-5,000 for a weekend or three day hunt, and up to 7,500 for a longer trip. Be sure the pockets are arranged for the way you use a pack. Some backcountry hunters obsess over every ounce of weight in their gear, so co*pare weights. Also look at the materials: Internal frame packs won’t snag on brush, although external frames are handier for packing out meat. Finally, a pack has to fit. Measure your torso and be sure the pack adjusts or co*es in the right size or you will be miserable carrying any load at all.
No matter how you hunt elk or where, all elk hunts have one co*mon denom