The Best Elk Hunting Packs, Tested and Reviewed
[html]We tested everything from lightweight day packs to 7,000 cubic inch expedition bags for their ability haul light or heavy loads
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Elk hunting is hard. They’re big animals that cover a lot of ground in steep country, and elk hunters need to carry a lot of gear to aid in the pursuit, like clothing for unpredictable weather, food, high-power optics, and a weapon. All of that has to go with the elk hunter somehow, and the “somehow” is usually on the hunter’s back.
That’s why I spent a month testing the best elk hunting packs by hiking 19 miles with 64 and 34 pound loads, as well as taking them on actual elk hunts. I got a great work out from the testing, and you’ll get something out of it too. Below are detailed reviews on how well each pack executed the critical elements I look for in a great elk hunting pack.
How I Tested the Best Elk Hunting Packs
The author carried his typical day hunting load and a simulated elk quarter over a 1.2 mile loop. Photo by Matt Cashell
Day Hunt Simulation
- Pack weight: 34 pounds
- Distance covered with each pack: 1.2 miles
- Elevation change: 510 vertical feet
I put my standard elk hunting gear in each pack, along with a day’s worth of food and my rifle. My day hunt gear weighs 23.8 pounds, and my rifle adds 10.2 pounds. I walked a 1.2-mile loop with 510 vertical feet of elevation change near my home in Montana. Halfway through the hike, I simulated getting ready for a shot opportunity. As I hiked, I took notes on how well each pack performed.
The author’s day hunting gear. Photo by Matt Cashell
The simulated elk quarter. Photo by Matt Cashell
Heavy Pack Out Simulation
- Weight: 64 pounds
- Distance covered with each pack: 1.2 miles
- Elevation change: 510 vertical feet
I used a simulated 64-pound “elk quarter” consisting of blasting abrasive stuffed into game bags and put either into the packs or in their meat shelf feature. I then walked the 1.2-mile loop. I took notes on each pack’s load-hauling capabilities and co*fort.
NOTE: I quickly discovered repeating these heavy load laps is a pretty useful elk hunt preparation workout if you are looking for one.
Overnight Hunt
I took each pack that was designed for backpacks hunts into the field for an overnight trip. Also, several packs went on an actual overnight (or multi-night) archery elk hunt in Montana to get an idea of how the packs performed in the field.
How I Graded the Backpacks
I graded each pack from 5 to 1 in each of the following categories:
- Day Hunting Performance/co*fort (How did the pack handle the normal day hunting load?)
- Pack Out Performance/co*fort (How did the pack hold up under heavy load? How co*fortable was it?)
- Ease of Loading for Pack Out (What was the experience getting the heavy load situated on the pack for transport?)
- Value (What is the performance-to-cost ratio for the pack?)
A 5 was given to packs that topped the others in a category, and a 1 denoted a failure.
Best Elk Hunting Packs: Reviews & Reco*mendations
Score Card
- Day Hunting: 5
- Pack Out: 5
- Loading Ease: 4
- Price/Value: 4.5
Key Features
- Heavy-duty YKK #10 zipper
- Cordura 500 and Xpac fabric
- 1-inch Duraflex military approved buckles and webbing
- Measured Base Weight (Frame, Bag, and Lid): 5.6 pounds
- Frame has carbon co*posite stays (4 total)
- 26-inch frame height
- 5,400 cubic inch main bag
- More than 2,500 cubic inch expandable load shelf
- Lifetime warranty
- Price: $695 with Xcurve Frame
Pros
- Great all-around performance
- Very Good Heavy Load co*fort
- Excellent Day Hunting co*fort
- Quality build
- Lightweight
- Includes Lid
- Made in USA
Cons
Stone Glacier offers two frames for the Sky 5900: the traditional flat-backed Krux frame or the more anatomically shaped Xcurve. The Xcurve was the obvious choice for my curvy lumbar. Stone Glacier has a wide, padded hip belt that tightens co*fortably around the iliac crest (hip bone) and holds secure. The Velcro-attached shoulder straps are easily adjusted and customized to the hunter’s back. I also found the Cordura 500d and Xpac fabrics to be tough and durable.
The Sky 5900 with the author’s rifle strapped to the side. Photo by Matt Cashell
The Xcurve Frame handled the day hunt and heavy pack test with similar ease. The suspension is great at transferring weight to the hip belt with effective load lifters on the shoulder straps. The hip belt was my second favorite in the test, just a hair behind the Kifaru. There is some disassembly needed to get the bag away from the frame to haul meat in the load shelf. The process is fairly straightforward and gets easier with practice. Watch the below video to see how it’s done.
The Sky 5900 bag has a minimalist design with just a large vertical pocket on the back panel to go with the lid and side pockets. The 5400 cubic inch main co*partment can be accessed either from the top with the bag upright, or the full panel zip when laid down. Organization with the Sky 5900 is best with the use of separate internal organizing pockets like dry bags or, Stone Glacier’s Swing Out Pockets or Camp Pockets. I used the vertical exterior pocket for my rain gear, but it is also big enough for a full-size spotting scope. I like the Sky Lid, especially for my lunch, but I wish the zipper was on the frame side of the lid, so I could get into it without everything falling out when the pack was upright.
The Sky 5900 was in a tight race with the Kifaru Bedlam for my best overall pick, but ended up getting the top honor due to its price and weight savings over the Bedlam.
Score Card
- Day Hunting: 5
- Pack Out: 5
- Loading Ease: 4
- Price/Value: 4
Key Features
- Carbon Fiber Frame
- 3 to 4-day pack
- Made from 500d Cordura
- #8 YKK zippers
- Measured Base Weight: 6.0 pounds (advertised 5.9 pounds)
- 22 and 25 inch frames
- Made in USA
- Base Price: $850
Pros
- Best hip belt in the test
- Most co*fortable with Heavy Load
- Very Good Day Hunting co*fort
- Excellent Workmanship and Stitching
- Heavy-Duty Materials
- Wide Variety of Accessories
Cons
- Most Expensive Pack Tested
Kifaru has an enviable reputation for top-quality, made-in-USA backpacks and shelters. Backcountry hunters and military operators alike appreciate their overbuilt designs.
Kifaru’s venerable Duplex and Duplex-Lite frames have excellent heavy load capability, but can be a bit much for day-hunting loads. The ARK frame was designed to improve light-load co*fort while maintaining that heavy hauling performance.
In my simulated elk quarter haul, the ARK frame met that design intent in spades. The Kifaru ARK was up against some tough co*petition, and still took the top spot for heavy-load co*fort. To its credit I had zero chafing or soreness after hauling the 64-pound load and it was one of the most co*fortable frames with my day-hunt gear.
The Bedalm loaded with the author’s hunting gear. Photo by Matt Cashell
The frame co*es in two sizes, a 22 inch and a 25 inch. Most hunters will get the most out of the larger 25-inch frame I tested, as the extra length allows the load lifters to work more effectively to transfer the load to the excellent hip belt. The wide, foam belt bear hugs the iliac crest of the pelvis, providing a secure and co*fortable fit that doesn’t shift or rub.
The Bedlam bag has that just-right amount of organization for the elk hunter that likes to organize their gear with separate internal pieces like dry bags, or Kifaru’s own zippered sil-nylon “pull-outs.” Durable 500D Cordura construction is ready for whatever the elk woods can throw at it, while stretch fabric on the versatile “Hellbender style” external pocket and waterbottle pocket keep things secure. A single zippered vertical side pocket holds a full-size spotter. A rifle can either be strapped to the side of the pack, or elk hunters can have the rifle hands-free and at the ready with Kifaru’s gun bearer system.
The Bedlam is co*patible with an impressive list of Kifaru accessories like the Guide Lid and Grabit, which add functionality and capacity. Speaking of capacity, the Bedlam’s 4900 cubic-inch base capacity is more than enough for a three-day backcountry hunt. The main co*partment is easy to access either through the top access or the full side zip that opens all the way to the top for wide-open access. In a very co*petitive test, the Kifaru Bedlam and ARK frame very nearly took the top honors overall with excellent load hauling performance and functionality, but at a higher cost of entry to the similarly performing Stone Glacier. Still, even the Stone Glacier couldn’t quite match the ARK frame’s awesome heavy-load co*fort.
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Score Card
- Day Hunting: 4
- Pack Out: 4
- Loading Ease: 5
- Price/Value: 4
Key Features
- Integrated Gun Scabbard
- Adjustable Torso
- Volume Lid: 392 cubic inches
- Volume Bag: 2,175 cubic inches
- Soft Fleece-Faced Fabric
- Measured Base Weight: 6.4 pounds (advertised 6.5 pounds)
- Price: $399
Pros
- Easy Rifle Carry in Scabbard
- Good Day Hunting co*fort
- Easy Loading to Meat Shelf
- Quietest Pack in Test
- Wide Variety of Accessories
- Each Pack Sale Includes a Donation to RMEF
- Good Value
Cons
- Less co*fortable on Long, Heavy Pack Outs.
- Heavy Empty Weight
One of my first “real” elk hunting packs was an Eberlestock Just One pack. It was an awesome pack with some handy features, most notably an integrated rifle scabbard, which made me appreciate negotiating elk hunting terrain hands free. So I was happy to find that signature feature in Eberlestock’s Team Elk Pack.
The 2,175 cubic-inch bag is separated into a main co*partment and two vertical side pockets. The two-pocket, 392 cubic-inch lid provides additional organization. The main co*partment can be accessed through the top or the U-shaped back panel zipper. An additional stretch pocket on the back panel provides even more integrated organization. A hunter could stretch the Team Elk Pack into a multi-day hunt pack by using the load shelf for additional camp gear and food, but I preferred it as a daypack with meat-hauling capability.
The hip belt and shoulder straps are cushioned by open-cell foam padding and covered by breathable mesh fabric. Torso adjustments are made with the shoulder harness. A tubular aluminum internal frame provides support. While the rest of the packs in the test use some version of Cordura’s durable fabrics, the Team Elk Pack uses a soft, fleece-faced material that was by far the quietest fabric in the test.
The author testing the Team Elk Pack with his day hunting load out. Photo by Matt Cashell
In the day hunt test, the Team Elk pack’s co*fort level was co*petitive with more expensive packs. When it came time for the pack-out test, it was the fastest and easiest to get loaded. It was just a matter of unclipping four buckles, laying the quarter on the frame, re-clipping the buckles, and tightening the straps. The suspension and frame were up to the task for sure, but the load lifters didn’t have sufficient angle to put the load fully on the waist belt. Consequently, I did get some shoulder disco*fort and fatigue toward the end of the pack-out lap. The pack is certainly capable of hauling the weight, and I wouldn’t say it was particularly unco*fortable under heavy load but it didn’t have the heavy load co*fort of the top-performing designs.
Still, this demerit doesn’t take away too much from what is a great elk hunting daypack. Most elk hunters spend much more of their time hunting and carrying their rifle than they do hauling quarters, which is where the Team Elk Pack is at its very best.
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Score Card
- Day Hunting: 4
- Pack Out: 4
- Loading Ease: 4
- Price/Value: 5
Key Features
- Adjustable suspension
- Main co*partment expands for additional capacity
- Meat shelf inside main co*partment
- Coated, polyester, weather-resistant Fabric
- Aluminum frame
- Volume: 3500 cubic inches (co*pressed); 4500 cubic inches fully expanded
- Measured Base Weight (Frame, Bag, and Lid): 6.6 pounds (Advertised 5.75 pounds)
- Price: $529
Pros
- Good Weather Resistance
- Good co*pressibility
- Interior Meat Shelf Holds Meat Well
- Lots of Organization
- Includes Lid
- Excellent Value
Cons
- Narrower Hip Belt.
- Noisy Material
- Heavier than Advertised
The Mountain Hauler has a lot of organization. There are the two vertical back panel pockets that cradle a mesh clamshell pocket. A large U-shaped zipper opens to the main co*partment but also reveals another mesh pocket on the inside of the panel. The included large lid has an interior mesh pocket as well. Inside the main co*partment, there is the water bladder sleeve, and the interior meat shelf/co*pression system. Additional straps are included for tying on antlers, and all of these features are color-coded on attachment points to reduce confusion in the field.
The Mountain Hauler’s fabric is a bit of give-and-take. On one hand, the fabric is really water resistant. I was in a significant downpour for over 30 minutes, and nothing in the main co*partment got wet, although a couple items in the exterior pockets had a bit of dampness. While most packs in this test would need a rain cover in wet conditions, the Mountain Hauler would do well in anything but a monsoon. The downside is the fabric is kind of stiff and loud, especially with branches dragging across it.
The interior of the Mountain Hauler’s main co*partment.Note the orange straps for securing game bags. Photo by Matt Cashell
So, how does the Mountain Hauler feel with a load? The pack was pretty co*fortable during the day hunt test, without any hotspots or disco*fort of note, although the narrower hip belt didn’t quite provide the co*fort of the best in the test.
The pack-out test brought some real insight into the Mountain Hauler 4000. First, the internal meat shelf did an admirable job holding the simulated elk quarter in the correct position on the frame. However, the back panel access was a narrow for loading. Larger quarters may need to be put in the bag from the top access. Once secured with the shelf panel, the quarter was tight and stable against the frame. However, this configuration significantly reduces the internal capacity of the bag, so backpack hunters that pushed the limits of the Mountain Hauler’s capacity will struggle to get meat and gear loaded at the same time. There are side zips that allow the main co*partment to expand for an additional 1000 cubic inches of capacity, but even expanded it is still a bit tight to get a full overnight camp inside with the quarter.
Heavy load co*fort was good, although the narrower belt allowed a little bit of rubbing near the end of the hike. Weight transfer to the hip belt was very good, though not quite up to the level of the Stone Glacier and Kifaru.
The Mountain Hauler 4000 brings mountaineering pack technology to hunters with some great added features for elk hunting, like the meat shelf and color-coded straps for attaching capes and antlers. The Mountain Hauler co*presses into a haul-capable daypack, but also has enough capacity for overnights and up to a few days of backcountry elk hunting. The Sitka Mountain Hunter is easily the most weather-resistant bag in the test because of its coated polyester fabric. At $529, it was the least expensive of the multi-day ready packs, and with its full list of features, it gets the best value title.
Score Card
- Day Hunting: 5
- Pack Out: 2
- Loading Ease: 2
- Price/Value: 5
Key Features
- 330D Cordura DWR face coating with 2XPU backside coating
- 330D Cordura with abrasion resistant and waterproof coating at bottom and in divide pocket
- YKK Zippers
- Volume: 2000 cubic inches
- Frame Height: 20.5 inches
- Divide pocket for securing a tripod or rifle to the pack
- Adjustable torso
- Removable hip belt
- Measured Weight: 4.1 pounds (advertised 4.3 pounds)
- Price: $219
Pros
- Divide Pocket adds versatility
- Best day hunt co*fort in the test
- Lots of Pockets/ Organizational Options
- Works well for non-hunting uses like travel, co*muting, and day hiking
- Very light
- Good value
Cons
- Not intended for hauling meat
- Not capable of overnighting
Some of the low scores for this pack aren’t really fair. It was never designed as a hauler, but I ran it through the pack-out test anyway. I could barely stuff the simulated elk quarter into the pack’s main co*partment and put the rest of my gear in the back panel pocket and Divide Pocket. It was not ideal. I was able to co*plete the test without failure, but I wouldn’t reco*mend the pack for hauling quarters.
The Venture Divide packed for a hunt. Photo by Matt Cashell
The Kuiu Venture Divide 2000 is a dedicated daypack, and it excels in that role. The suspension fit my anatomy well, and I found the pack super co*fortable with my day-hunting supplies included. Organization is ample, with mesh pockets inside the main co*partment and a secondary co*partment on the outside of the Divide pocket. There’s also a fleece-lined pocket and integrated belt pockets on each side of the hip belt.
The Divide Pocket is a reinforced sleeve pocket that loads from the top, but also unzips at the bottom to acco*modate longer items like a rifle or spotting scope mounted to a tripod. The belt is smaller and thinner but sucks up tight and provides good support for day-pack loads. I found the breathability on my back excellent. The 330D Cordura has a softer feel than the 500D used in some of the other packs, but still feels durable.
This pack would be a great match for horseback elk hunters or guided elk hunters that know they have a method for getting meat out of the woods without putting it on their back. The co*pact dimension will slide easily in and out of saddle panniers. The pack also fills a lot of other roles for the hunter, including scouting, checking cameras, fitness training, and even travel. It earns a place on this list because it excels at its intent: co*fortable performance for fast and light day hunts.
Best Long Trip, Expedition Pack: Kuiu PRO LT 7000
Score Card
- Day Hunting: 4
- Pack Out: 4
- Loading Ease: 4
- Price/Value: 4
Key Features
- 7000 cubic inch capacity
- 330D cordura fabric
- Velcro shoulder strap adjustment
- Meat shelf
- Internal meat hauling option
- Measured Base Weight (Frame, Bag, and Lid): 4.6 Pounds (Advertised 4.5 Pounds)
- Price: $676 for Frame and Bag
Pros
- Impressively lightweight for its capacity
- Quality construction
- Great co*pressibility
- Quality materials and construction
- Good organizing options
- Includes lid, hip belt pockets, and gatekeeper co*pression straps
Cons
- Not as co*fortable with heavy pack outs as some co*petitors
- Lighter duty material and buckles
This pack performed well in both the day hunting test, pack out test, and a multi-night bow hunt for elk in Montana. The suspension is adjustable for torso length and angle. I found the best fit is when the belt rests on top of my iliac crest and the the shoulder straps angle outwards ever so slightly. The result is a co*fortable fit that handled the day hunt test with ease. With the straps tensioned down firmly, there was still a little bag sway with the load on the narrow Kuiu PRO frame.
I successfully attached the simulated quarter firmly between the frame and the bag with the co*pression straps. In this haul mode I found quite a bit of movement from the exterior bag while I walked. So, I tried putting the quarter inside the pack and used the supplied co*pression to pull it tight to the frame. I preferred attaching the quarter internally, and the entire load definitely felt more secure.
The author took the PRO LT on an archery elk hunt this year. Photo by Matt Cashell
The ample internal volume acco*modated this configuration pretty well. I found it easier to load the simulated quarter from the top rather than through the side zip. Pack out co*fort was pretty good, although I got a little neck soreness near the end of the test that I didn’t get with the Stone Glacier, Kifaru, or Eberlestock Mainframe.
Even though the Kuiu PRO LT is so light, it offers more organization than its co*petitors. The frame co*es with two hip belt pockets that can be removed to mount other belt accessories like a pistol holster. The LT 7000 bag has two tall side pockets sized for spotting scopes, a large vertical back panel pocket, top back panel pocket with interior mesh pocket, and two mesh pockets inside the main co*partment to go along with the large 850 cubic inch co*pression lid. The main co*partment is accessed both from the top snow collar and a convenient side zip.
Long-term durability remains to be seen, but elk hunters should be aware the PRO LT utilizes lighter-duty Cordura 330D fabric, narrower straps, and smaller buckles co*pared to the other multi-day packs to save on weight. But, I didn’t have any failures during testing.
While the Kuiu PRO LT 7000 didn’t haul the heaviest weights quite as co*fortably as some of the other packs in the test, it still did pretty well. With its large capacity, ample organization, and impressive low base weight, it makes this list as the best option for an expedition-style hunt where capacity and weight are top priorities.
Score Card
- Day Hunting: 4
- Pack Out: 5
- Loading Ease: 5
- Price/Value: 4
Key Features
- External aluminum frame
- Adjustable torso
- Tall length option available
- Tested by Eberlestock to hold more than 1300 pounds
- co*patible with All EMOD Accessories
- Measured Base Weight (Frame, Bag, Lid): 7 pounds (Advertised 7.25 pounds)
- Price: $299 for Mainframe, $259 for Vapor 5000, $59 for Batwing V2, $59 for EMOD lid, $70 for Bolt Action Scabbard
Pros
- Ultra Durable construction
- Simple and fast meat shelf loading
- co*pact for full external frame
- Amazing versatility
- Great accessory options
- Essentially no weight limit (manufacturer tested to 1300 pounds)
Cons
- Heaviest Pack in Test
- A-La-Cart pricing can get expensive
I suppose if a superhuman elk hunter wanted to get an entire elk out in one load, they could use the Eberlestock Mainframe. Eberlestock claims they’ve tested the frame under a whopping 1300-pound load without failure. After using this pack, I believe it.
Elk Hunters can set up the Mainframe as a daypack, dedicated hauler, overnighter, or expedition pack. Zip on two batwing pockets to make a simple daypack that’s ready to haul, or swap it out for the Vapor 5000 bag for general use and overnight trips. Or co*bine them and add the EMOD lid for a weeklong expedition. The possibilities are almost endless when it co*es to customization and versatile functionality. Add in Eberlestock’s bolt action scabbard, and you have hands-free rifle carry.
I tested the pack in two configurations: The Vapor 5000 plus EMOD Lid, and with two batwings. The first configuration was great for both day hunting and overnighting, while the batwing setup worked for day hunting, but I really liked the idea of that configuration for dedicated meat-hauling and off season shed hunting.
The author testing the Eberlestock Mainframe. Photo by Matt Cashell
When I first looked over the mainframe, the low angle of the load lifters had me a little concerned. But the Mainframe’s aluminum frame construction did a good job of putting most of the load on the wide hip belt. This led to one of the best performances in the pack-out test, co*ing in just behind the Stone Glacier and Kifaru packs for heavy load co*fort.
The best feature of the EMOD Mainframe was just how easy it was to get loaded for pack out. Just throw the pack down on the suspension, unclip the co*pression buckles, unzip the bag (if zipped on), slap the quarter down on the frame, clip the buckles, and cinch the straps. The frame shelf at the bottom provides a hard stop for any load that settles.
The Mainframe’s downsides are that the cost steadily creeps up with a-la-carte pricing and the base weight of the frame and bags starts out pretty high. For the hunter looking to maximize versatility for varying elk hunts it is hard to beat the Eberlestock EMOD system bags and Mainframe.
Score Card
- Day Hunting: 4
- Pack Out: 4
- Loading Ease: 4
- Price/Value: 5
Key Features
- 4575 cubic inch capacity
- Velcro yoke harness adjustment
- Integrated meat shelf
- Measured Weight (Frame, Bag, Lid): 5.2 pounds (Advertised 5.3 pounds)
- Measured Minimalist Weight (Frame, Bag): 4.6 pounds
- Price: $549 for Frame, bag, and lid
Pros
- Great co*pression
- Quality Construction
- Best lid in the test
- Includes lid
- Lightweight
- Also Available in Women’s Specific Model
Cons
- Not quite as co*fortable as more expensive co*petitors.
- Frame squeaks.
The Metcalf is an entire series of bags consisting of 50, 75, and 100-liter options that mount to Mystery Ranch’s Ultra Light MT Frame. The bags are a simple, roll-top duffle design with top access and a side zip. The lid is a removable, floating, co*pressing design with two horizontal pockets. I love this lid design because it co*presses the bag from the top and allows access to the top lid pocket when the pack is upright or laid on the back panel.
The frame was easy to adjust for my torso using the yoke adjuster/support. Once sized correctly and loaded with day gear, the pack performed well during the day hunt test, although it didn’t ride as effortlessly as some of the other top packs.
During the pack-out test, The Metcalf 75 performed admirably. There was some necessary disassembly to get the bag away from the frame, but once that process was done, the quarter settled into the integrated meat shelf, and everything came back together pretty quickly. co*fort was good, but I did get some hip belt disco*fort toward the end of the test. During the pack out test, I also noticed some annoying squeaking from the frame.
The author used a Metcalf on this Utah elk hunt. Photo by Matt Cashell
The Metcalf is aimed at minimalist hunters, so if they want to go really light, they can leave the lid and even the two removable co*pression straps at home. This brings the weight down to 4.6 pounds, which equals the Kuiu PRO LT’s weight. However, the Metcalf uses heavier-duty Cordura 500D fabric, wider 1-inch webbing straps, and more durable auto-lock buckles.
Hunter’s orange color-coded loops inside the bag and along the frame make it obvious where accessories like Mystery Ranch’s Quick Attach Bags or Stick-It accessories attach. Another accessory I got to try was the Backstrap Hydro, which is a hunter’s orange hydration-co*patible co*pression panel. The elk hunter can just leave it in the truck until needed and then replace the full Metcalf bag for the Backstrap Hydro for subsequent meat-hauling trips.
The Mystery Ranch Metcalf and the Backstrap Hydro loaded with the full game bag. Photo by Matt Cashell
At $549, the Metcalf offers some of the best value in the test. The pack co*es with everything the elk hunter needs, including the excellent lid. For hunters looking for a minimalist, ultralight bag design, they will find it with the Mystery Ranch Metcalf.
Tips for Selecting an Elk Hunting Pack
There are a ton of great elk hunting pack options, but one that fits you is what’s most important. Photo by Matt Cashell
Try Before You Buy
Even though the top packs in this test are well regarded for their co*fort, bodies vary, and the ones I like best may not be a match for you. Check with a retailer’s return policy and make sure you can return a pack that doesn’t fit you well. Even better, get to a store that has multiple options and see if they will let you load some weight in each one to get a feel.
Size Correctly
Most manufacturers have detailed information on how to get the optimum fit out of their pack system. Many of the negative reviews out there on packs are the result of improper sizing and fit. Contact the customer service for the pack you are looking for and pick their brain on sizing.
Learn the System
Many of these packs have a lot of features that elk hunters will get the most out of with a little instruction. Most of the pack manufacturers have good YouTube video support for their products. Check out the How-To’s and contact Customer Support for any questions.
Beware of the Strap Monster
Elk Hunting Packs have to contract and expand often. That means some of the co*pression straps have to be pretty long to get full functionality. Most of these packs co*e with strap keeper tabs of Velcro to keep the extra strap length from snagging limbs while you move through the elk woods. Keep those straps wrapped up when you don’t need the length. If you’re brave enough, you can even cut off excess strap length you don’t use after some field experience with the pack.
Final Thoughts on the Best Elk Hunting Packs
These are premium packs from premium pack makers. They are all good options for elk hunters, and as the grades show: co*petition was tough. This wasn’t an exhaustive list of all elk hunting packs available, either. This article provides a good starting point for finding the right elk hunting pack for you. Anatomical differences can play a big role in end co*fort when it co*es to hauling the kinds of loads necessary for an elk pack out. Finalize your priorities in an elk hunting pack and use the tips above to start your journey to find the right elk hunting backpack match for you and your budget.
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