I am just starting to look at getting back into pack hunting and would like to find a quality backpack that could double as a pack frame.

I know the current trend is to use interior frame packs but I am looking for something that I can strap head and horns to like an old, exterior frame pack.

Does anyone make anything like this that is comparable in weight and quality to the better modern interior frame packs?

Thanks for any input.

First.....

Before I can answere......what is your budget?

I would go with this: http://www.eberlestock.com/store/mainframe-pack

There are many packs that can fit on these frames.

Take a look at Exo Mountain Gear.

I used the K2 frame with one of their packs with great success and comfort on my recent Barbary sheep hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
First.....

Before I can answere......what is your budget?

My budget is that I'll pay for what works but I'd say less than $1,000.

Jason and Desert Ram, those are great looking rigs and they seem to be exactly what I'm looking for.

Thanks for the help.

Then you are more than covered

The two posters other than myself have made good suggestions

Personaly I really like my Kuiu Gen3 Carbon frame

Quarters are secured between the frame and the pack via a dry bag.

I love my EXO K2. I would also look at stone glacier.

Barneys frontier gear packs are top notch. Worn by most Alaska guides and proven for thousands of miles and pounds. Custom suspension system will carry more weight than almost all other packs comfortably.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, I see that I have a lot of research ahead of me.

I don't necessarily need to pack out elk or moose quarters, 95% of my use will be 4-5 days of warm to cool weather hunting and then packing out 40 Lbs of boned meat along with 25-30 Lbs of gear.

Thanks again,

Check out some used gear. Maybe even on here. Fact is lots of folks get some badass gear for 1 trip and then it sets. My brother got an excellent pack like new at yard sale for $40.

Get on Rokslide to find used stuff like this.

And, if you look at an EXO be sure you are getting the K2 frame versus the gen 1. They widened the titanium skeleton and it makes a huge difference in the pack. I had an earlier one and upgraded day/night difference, although the first gen was excellent. good luck.

53+ years of backpacking, pack hunting and working with packs in the BC and AB mountains. Worked in the industry and have owned many state of the art packs.

Currently, aged 71, I am running Seek Outside packs and mine are a Divide MC and a new Exposure. I have a custom Dana frame for meat and if I were you I would buy a Seek Outside Brooks and call it done.

Most comfy packs I have ever used, light, strong and the best customer service I have experienced.

Try them, I bet you will like them.

quote:

Originally posted by tomahawker:
Check out some used gear. Maybe even on here. Fact is lots of folks get some badass gear for 1 trip and then it sets. My brother got an excellent pack like new at yard sale for $40.

A buddy of mine is interested in parting with a Mystery Ranch Longbow and an Eberlestock X2. He's not a member here, but if you're interested, send me a PM and I can put you in touch.

Just to throw in an alternative. I've been using the same Cabelas outfitter pack for 10 years or so. It's half the price of the above brands, light and has proven very durable. I've packed a pretty fair amount of game with it along with a lot of heavy, bulky loads.

It's a traditional exterior frame pack with a folding shelf that makes meat packing easy. They offer a choice of bags that fit the frame in camo or solid green. I personally don't like camo not that it matters.

Kifaru
They have a whole range of packs from day to long haulers. Tough, modular, made in Colorado, multiple accessories, etc.

I did not like how Kuiu fit me. Kuiu is also made for athletic to thin people.

Barney's are tough, big but have less capacity to accessorize.

I have 3 Kifaru frames- the duplex, bikini and the older light weight (forgot the name) and the Timberline 1, EMR2 and nomad packs.

For my sheep hunt I used the Nomad (1800cc) with the camp bag (adds 4800 cc) and the guide lid (1200 cc). The camp bag gets left at camp and you can cinch down the nomad for a 1-3 day pack. You can also use the guide lid as a scout pack.

Check out the website..... http://kifaru.net/

I also have some doubles of stuff.

The Barneys is the current standard of external frame packs. Strip it down a bit and you can get them to 7-8 pounds for the frame/bag/suspension. With all the bells and whistles attached, they are 10 pounds or so. On the heavy side, but lighter than the Cabelas, and better built.

I use a Seek Outside Revolution hybrid external frame pack. 5 pounds all in and it works well up to about 130lbs of gear meat. At that point, no waist belt on any pack will keep the weight off your shoulders. It fits me better than my Mystery Ranch Marshall.

Mystery Ranch makes the most bullet proof of the internals IMO, but they are on the heavy side at 8-9 pounds. Still, they do not rip, tear, or break. I have two, a Marshall, and a CrewCab. Both have hauled 100+ pounds without issue.

Stone Glacier is another that I have seen take big loads and work well. Well made, and I think even with MR for durability.

Exo is great, but they don't have a super big expedition bag for it. They are a great 5 day pack, though, and haul loads well.

I have no experience with Kuiu or Kifaru packs.

Alpz and Slumberjack make external frame packs that look decent. I have just handled them, though and don't have any experience with them.

Try the pack on, and pay close attention to how to fit each brand. Fit is HUGE. Some brands won't ever feel right. Others, will feel perfect. Some feel terrible with no load, and great with a lot of weight. Some, the opposite.

Packs are a bit like boots in that respect.

Also, decide if you are a multi pocket person, or a one big bag person. How will it carry a spotter? Rifle attachment? etc.

Jeremy

Very sound advice, I have had two Kifaru packs and they would not work for me.

As to external frames, I would put the original Dana Design Terraframe and it's options with bags ahead of ANY, Barney's, or the Euro. frames quite popular here in BC.

The toughest packs I ever used were/are Dana-Bozeman-built and Mystery Ranch. I used many from 1978-2017 and never had an issue.

I started packing my water to Rocky Mountain BCFS fire LOs, using a Trapper Nelson, NO 3, loaded with a full 10 gal. steel milk can and I bet that weighed 140 lbs, maybe more.....kept me in shape!!!

SO is so good for me that I cannot believe the comfort, but, I would look at a pack from Dan McHale in Seattle, as well.

quote:

Originally posted by Cougarz:
Just to throw in an alternative. I've been using the same Cabelas outfitter pack for 10 years or so. It's half the price of the above brands, light and has proven very durable. I've packed a pretty fair amount of game with it along with a lot of heavy, bulky loads.

It's a traditional exterior frame pack with a folding shelf that makes meat packing easy. They offer a choice of bags that fit the frame in camo or solid green. I personally don't like camo not that it matters.

+1

I would agree with JBrown. The Eberlestock Mainframe is a great place to start. There are so many different configurations that make this a really flexible backpack, especially based on what you indicate your need are. I used this pack on an CO elk hunt this year (not successful) but, it did pack out a quartered buck (minus the head) up a small OK mountain and to my truck in one trip with no problem. Although it is my pack, it wasn't my buck so, being the nice guy that I am, I carried the head.

I have several packs including an older Kifaru Longhunter (great pack by the way), but the Mainframe is perfect for my needs. A great day pack, multi-day pack and a hauler, depending on the accessories you choose.

quote:

Originally posted by Biggs300:
I would agree with JBrown. The Eberlestock Mainframe is a great place to start. There are so many different configurations that make this a really flexible backpack, especially based on what you indicate your need are.

One thing to mention about the Eberleestock Mainframe: it is much narrower that the traditional external packframes. In my mind this makes it much more suitable for hunting, IMO.

My gripe with Eberlystock is they are heavy

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
My gripe with Eberlystock is they are heavy

Yes.

I bought one a few years back, it's 10 pounds empty. Too much dead weight for my taste. I also didn't care for the design. It's about the dumbest system I've ever seen. OK I guess if your always hauling meat and a little gear.

quote:

Originally posted by Cougarz:

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
My gripe with Eberlystock is they are heavy

Yes.

I bought one a few years back, it's 10 pounds empty. Too much dead weight for my taste. I also didn't care for the design. It's about the dumbest system I've ever seen. OK I guess if your always hauling meat and a little gear.

I agree about the weight. IMO that is the tradeoff you get for a quiet and bulletproof backpack.

I have a very light REI pack that is great for backpacking but it would be too loud for a lot of hunting and not as durable.

quote:

Originally posted by JBrown:

quote:

Originally posted by Cougarz:

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
My gripe with Eberlystock is they are heavy

Yes.

I bought one a few years back, it's 10 pounds empty. Too much dead weight for my taste. I also didn't care for the design. It's about the dumbest system I've ever seen. OK I guess if your always hauling meat and a little gear.

I agree about the weight. IMO that is the tradeoff you get for a quiet and bulletproof backpack.

I have a very light REI pack that is great for backpacking but it would be too loud for a lot of hunting and not as durable.

Mine hasn't been any more bullet proof than the other packs I own, just heavier. I do like the quiet bit though. But there are better choices there too.