Backpack + frame/Backpacking pup tent

[TheObserver]

Hey guys,

First I just want to thank everyone that chimed in on my last post here about Boots, got really good recommendations and got some in mind i'll be trying on in the new year for next year.

There are 3 things I have to buy next year before scouting or hunting season, boots (+ cramp ons or microspikes), a new backpack+frame, and a good backpacking tent.

What would you guys recommend for backpack? It would be nice to have one that you can just attatch to the frame for a day, then one if you wanted to stay back there for a week and somewhere I could attatch my Bow/Gun to so I don't have to hold it the whole time. I was thinking of stone glacier, mystery ranch or kaifaru. I know this is something a guy can't afford to cheap out on.

Then hard core backpacking tents, I really haven't looked into this one much yet but don't mind paying for top quality, waterproof of course and really durable.

If you guys got any recommendations and first hand experience and can let me know I would appreciate it!!

[Treed]

Check out Durston Tents. He’s a Canadian. It’s a bit of a wait to get one but the reviews are fantastic. I run a Mystery ranch metcalf. It’s got a load shelf, which is nice. Means I can get a mulie out in one trip. Great pack and you can swap out the bag in five minutes and just go with a load shelf. Kifaru gun bearer is also great. Hands free and faster to get up to the shoulder than most of the others.

[Bustercluck]

On the bag.

I use a mystery ranch Marshall with guide lite frame. One thing I’ll say about this bag is it gets more comfortable with the more weight I put in it, up to a limit. but empty it seems to ride high and not very comfortable. It’s designed to pack heavy loads and that’s what it does best. They tend to be on sale quite often too and might be on sale at great west right now.

There’s more but I have to go to work for a brief bit.

[Ron.C]

I now use a mystery ranch 60L Selway, has the guide light MT frame. I went by MR guidlines for pack fit but have already switched to a shorter yoke and smaller waste belt. Fits great now and no issues with it when I packed out a blacktail. I also have the daypack lid, snaps on/off in seconds, adds another 10L if I need it.

I loaded all my gear in it for a 7 day backpack goat hunt and I have room to spare and everything secures down nice. It is however a (strappy) pack pag. But once your gear is in it and you adjust the strap keepers to suit your load, its not an issue.

All that said, I didn't have access to very many different packs. If you do, try them all.
I would of liked to try on a few different packs but at the end of the day, you don't know until you get weight it in and hit the trail.

I used a North Face Rock 22 Tent for years but have switched to an MSR Hubba Hubba. Definitely not top of the line or the lightest option but a good tent. I prefer freestanding and often leave the tent body home and just the fly/footprint when I want to really trim weight. Huge amount of room when running like this.

For rifle carry, I use a Slick Sling. Love it! https://greatnorthprecision.com/product/creative-outdoors-slik-sling-5/

[Harvest the Land]

For a pack SG all the way. You don't even have to think twice about it, it really is that easy of a decision. Lightest pack on the market. Low profile, but can definitely expand quite a bit (I've got the Sky 5900) and easy to load meat. Definitely the most comfortable I've ever worn and I think you hunt like I do (lots of hiking/walking up and down hills chasing blacktails), you might also appreciate something that's waterproof (or pretty close to it). No brainer

The only backpacking tent I have experience with is a Hilleberg. Very good tents but not the cheapest

[Elkaddict]

Add Seek Outside to your research list. Lightweight (3-45 lbs.,depending on pack) comfortable, waterproof, and versatile (daypack to meat hauler). Much prefer my SO over previous Mystery Ranch and Kifaru packs.

[Greenthumbed]

I have a Mystery Ranch NICE frame with the Crewcab bag for day hunting and the Metcalf for overnight trips. This pack is rock solid and performs very well under a load. The NICE frame is a fair bit heavier than the guidelite, but I think it is more robust. Most of my hunting partners have mystery ranch packs.
As far as tents goes, I’m a fan of Luxe tents. I have two of them and they both serve me very well.

[savage10]

Check out mindful hunter on YouTube. He’s done extensive reviews/comparisons on packs and tents.

[IslandWanderer]

Real men use the Bull Pac with the Lochsa bag- big $$$ though.

I have the MSR one person hubba hubba- a very nice tent.

[Bustercluck]

Tents, I own a few….

Depends on your needs. A free-standing 3 season tent will cover almost all of your needs, unless you want to run a stove. Depending on where you hunt the free-standing can be more or less important. Buy a 2 man for yourself or a 3 man for two guys. There’s lots of good brands out there, but top quality tents are lightweight and less durable. I’ve had both of my msr (3 man elixir and 2 man hubba) In pretty crummy weather and both stood up well. Most msr tents can be pitched in less than a few minutes and you can just use the fly and groundsheet to lighten the load, or pack the whole tent with bug screen. I find 3 season tents a bit warmer during the night, I’m guessing it’s because of the tub that probably blocks a bit of the breeze.

Tipi style. Not free-standing. You may have a problem pitching this if there’s no soft ground around to drive a stake into. I can think of a couple times I’ve been in the alpine and had to get the tent up fast and if I’d been packing my cimarron I would’ve been in trouble. Not a huge deal, but you do have to plan where youre sleeping before it’s dark. Ive used this tent quite a bit, but haven’t tested it in extreme wind yet. Lots of floor space and almost enough room to stand. If two guys need to get out of the weather you can hang out very comfortably in a Cimarron making coffee or lunch. Standing up to get changed is a game changer when you wake up with seized legs and can barely move. Tipis have problems with dew on the inside, but it’s not a big deal. Some guys can’t get over the idea of spiders and bugs climbing around in their tent while they’re sleeping either.

If you’re going to own one tent than I’d suggest a 3 season free-standing. Once you start backpack hunting you’ll figure out exactly what works and what doesn’t. I haven’t had the same experience as others with my luxe tent. Other guys seem to like them, but you should know they don’t honour any warranty so you’re stuck repairing it if anything goes wrong. I really don’t like fiddling with stuff and trying to tweak things when I’m in the backcountry, I just want my stuff to work and not fail me. The last thing you want to be dealing with is a shitty tent or backpack when you’re days away from your truck.

[Bustercluck]

If you want to have a day bag with load shelf to pack out meat and you want the same bag to go for a few nights than I’d go with the stone glacier or kuiu. Ten day expeditions than I’d look at mystery ranch or kifaru.

[Jarrett]

Be sure to check out the EXO packs. I bought one 4 years ago and don't leave home without it. It's awesome! I use the small (2200?) bag 90% of the time for day hunts and even a quick 1 or 2 nighter. I bought a bigger bag off a member here and it's great for longer trips. None of these are cheap - but I have found the EXO to be very well made and super comfortable.

[TheObserver]

On the bag.

I use a mystery ranch Marshall with guide lite frame. One thing I’ll say about this bag is it gets more comfortable with the more weight I put in it, up to a limit. but empty it seems to ride high and not very comfortable. It’s designed to pack heavy loads and that’s what it does best. They tend to be on sale quite often too and might be on sale at great west right now.

There’s more but I have to go to work for a brief bit.

Thanks man! Where is great west?

[TheObserver]

but at the end of the day, you don't know until you get weight it in and hit the trail.[/URL]

That's just it! Why I don't want to buy it online straight from the company.

Right now I usually use a safari sling, good for quick shots but it can be a pain on the shoulder if your on your feet all day

[TheObserver]

For a pack SG all the way. You don't even have to think twice about it, it really is that easy of a decision. Lightest pack on the market. Low profile, but can definitely expand quite a bit (I've got the Sky 5900) and easy to load meat. Definitely the most comfortable I've ever worn and I think you hunt like I do (lots of hiking/walking up and down hills chasing blacktails), you might also appreciate something that's waterproof (or pretty close to it). No brainer

The only backpacking tent I have experience with is a Hilleberg. Very good tents but not the cheapest

I definitely need waterproof, I see some of those bags to put over your pack. But if they got really good waterproof ones I shouldn't need to make the additional purchase and carry that extra bag to put over pack, but we hunt some pretty brutal rain so idk if the most waterproof packs out there can stand up to Blacktail torrential downpour?

[TheObserver]

Thanks guys for the replies i'll be looking into all of it!

[Greenthumbed]

Check out this site:
https://shop.rampartcorp.com/black-friday-deals/?_bc_fsnf=1&brand=39&sort=featured

[Fella]

Stone Glacier is what I would recommend for a pack, but I don’t have personal experience with MR, Kifaru or Exo but really I think when you get into that class of bag you wouldn’t go wrong with any of them.

For tent I have a Mountain Hardware 3 man tent. Can’t remember the name of it, but it’s discontinued now. I picked it up from a guy on this site brand new never used. You can set it up with just the footprint and fly or you can also use the body. Great tent!

[Bustercluck]

Thanks man! Where is great west?
Sorry, great north precision.

[RackStar]

I use the MR metcalf , not to big for a day pack, and I can load up and head out for a week -10 days. Super tough I’ve had it since 2018 and beat the hell out of it. Did some gnarly pack outs with mule deer and goat worked great. I’d look at Stone glacier also, that would be my pick if I was going for a new bag for extended hunts.

hilleberg would be your best tent but not the lightest. If your just doing elk and mule deer hunts any of the LW tents would work , Msr, big Agnes , nemo. If you plan on mountain hunting in the northern Rockies I’d grab a hilleberg.

[MZac]

Be sure to check out the EXO packs. I bought one 4 years ago and don't leave home without it. It's awesome! I use the small (2200?) bag 90% of the time for day hunts and even a quick 1 or 2 nighter. I bought a bigger bag off a member here and it's great for longer trips. None of these are cheap - but I have found the EXO to be very well made and super comfortable.

I second this. It's a great pack and super comfortable to carry. I have the K3 4800 (medium sized bag which is almost 80L), it rolls up and compacts great for day trips and can go long as well. I wanted just one bag that can pretty much do all that I'd need (up to about a week). I have found exo customer service to be amazing as well. I am in between medium and large belt size and they have swapped the belt for me twice in the last two years no issue, just cost me shipping one way.

Personally tried on mystery ranch and found the exo to be more comfortable, but everyone is different with packs. I'd also take a good look at stone glacier.

For tents I have a three season Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 (for one person). It's great for what it is and just under 3lbs.

If I was just backpacking and not hunting I'd go with a Durston pack and tent to save the weight.

All of it is expensive and you don't need to spend this kind of money to get out there. But if you are able why not spend money on your hobbies. Good luck with your decisions.