Gentlemen,

I am researching 'expedition' size backpacks, the type for 7 - 10 day hunts.

Having looked here and on the Alaska Outdoors Directory, I found many positive comments about Mystery Ranch, McHale and Barney's Sports Chalet own brand' back packs.

No doubt, there are others which are good too, but I like the 'look' of the MS and McHale backpacks. I think, for balance reasons, and the fact that I am just not able / fit enough to 'pack' 80- 100lbs, nor likely to ever be able, the internal frames are preferable.

What are people's opinions on these, and other packs I have not mentioned? The Mystery Ranch always gets good reviews on hunting forums, while the McHale packs seem to have the edge on backpacking sites. The construction and adjustability of the McHales: the ability to change the capacity of the bag using the telescoping bars / 'poles' looks good to me.

Then again, if you get the correct sized bag, Mystery Ranch, in the first place.... Maybe this is just a hypothetical advantage and the adjustability just gives one more thing to go wrong....

When Jim Remsa was in charge of testing and development for Johnson worldwide he used to hunt every year with a good friend of mine in the same area that I guide.
He took a lot of input from us and came up with some real good stuff.
He designed a pack called the camp trails outfitter voyager. It was a great pack and for a reasonable price.
They would'nt take the abuse that some of the packs you mentioned here will but after more than 30 years of useing these things it will take anything I can throw at them.
Unfortunantly this pack was discontinued a few years ago but one of the only times in my life that I had any foresight and I bought a lifetime supply.
You can't go wrong with barney's packs. There a bit pricey but they stand up to the toughest young sheep guides out there. Bob Hodson keeps a personal repor with these guides and kind of challenges them to destroy his equipment.

Sorry I'm not familar with the MS and McHale packs. Are they the British ones designed by some ex SAS guys?

One thing I would consider is that the barneys packs use standard freighter frames. This will be easaly replaced for under a hundred dollers when the need arrises. I don't know how availble any of the others would be

Akshooter,

McHale backpacks are designed and made by an American in America, according to their webpages. Ditto Mystery Ranch.

Maybe because American has a great, big outdoors, or maybe it is because American shoppers are 'so particular': know what they want and will look around until they find it, that the USA has some really good 'stuff'.

Wiggys sleeping bags come to mind. And there are legions of other specialist companies making other top stuff.

Unfortunately, in Europe, and especially in the UK,it is often the case of the Henry Ford response - any colour you like as long as it is black. Or you would have to sell your children's kidneys to afford it - Golmatic/Prechtl and Ritterbusch left hand Mauser action rifles.

I suggest logging onto 24hrcampfire.com and going to the backpacking forum. It is very active with quite a number of experienced guys and several own/use Mystery Ranch and McHale packs. You can get "hands on" info. there.

I would avoid mentioning "Wiggy's" totally, this causes major kerfuffles and rants. I had a Wiggy's bag and it was quite inferior to several others I have.

I'm the guy that commissioned the Green Dyed Dyneema MB CMII on McHale's Website.
I couldn't be happier! I've also carried quite a load on both a sheep hunt and caribou hunt on the MR Crew Cab, and it's a great system also.
Don

Check out Kifaru too. They have some amazing pack systems and gear. Look in both the hunting section as well as the military section.