good backpack tent and pack

so ive been thinking about doin a couple day long pack trip for hunting season for a few years now and finally decided to go for it ive looked at lots of packs and tents but i would like to hear your thoughts on them and personal experience if possible thanks.
what tent and a good pack to haul all the gear is what im asking to clarify

LAST EDITED ON Jan-23-12 AT 02:02PM (MST)[p]I have two packs that I use hunting: The Badlands Sacrifice and a Gregory Z65. I like the camo of the Sacrifice, but in all honesty; the Z65 carries a load better and is a little more comfortable with its lower lumbar pad. The Z65 is more quiet than the Sacrifice as it squeaks at one of the points where the internal frame meets the connection point (a little "Athletic Tape" wrapped fixes this issue).

Also, the Sacrifice seems like it would fit someone with a little smaller stance (I'm 6'1" ). The Sacrifice does have a few more usefull pockets, but the Z65 packs a little better in my opinion. Though the Sacrice has the camo advantage, I have not had any issues with my Z65 as far as its Grey color, except to say; that maybe now another hunter could see me from a distance...but who cares, right?

Both packs have ventilated back panels and carry a bow easy. I do find that the load transfer straps on the Sacrifice are not not quite as good as the Z65, but both could stand to be a little higher (approx 45? to shoulders) for better transfer.







For tents, I use either a Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2 (2 person) or the SL1 version (1 person). Both are super light tents and I take the tent poles out and use a compressions sack to minimize the packing size of either (poles on side of pack). Which one I use just depends on how much room I want and if I plan on covering more or less miles. The SL2 could hold 2 people (if needed and you two were close), but I mainly use it as a 1 man tent and utilize the extra room for gear I want to store inside. The SL1 is nice to reduce weight.

Both have the rain fly with vestibule so you can cook and keep some gear outside the tents and out of the elements. These tents are pretty darn light and if you watch either Ebay or KSL.com, can be had for Under $200 easy.

These tents are 3 season and have great breathability. Both are super easy to set up with the "HUB" style -1 piece poles.

Hope this helps!


?-ERock-> ?

X2 on the Big Agnes Tents, I have a Fly Creek UL2 , it is super light, durable, and works well in wet weather.

Best of Luck,
Jeff
http://www.elkmtngear.com

I'm a Big Agnes fan. I own their bags, pads and a tent. I use a Big Agnes SL1 tent. Its a good tent. It is a pain exiting and entering the tent though. When it comes time to replace it, I'll be looking for one with a side entry.

Don P

I mix and match brands.
Backpack Mystery Ranch Crew Cab
Tent Hilleberg tents. Either the Nallo or Akto depending if solo trip or 2 people.
Sleepbag/pad Big Anges Pomer Hoit

I use the Eberlestock J34 and the Hilleberg Solo. Love them both. The Eberlestock allows my to carry what I need in and also carry out some meat if we get lucky!

Good luck and have fun.


Eric Santana
www.SantanaOutdoors.com
"Premium Hunting Gear"

>I'm a Big Agnes fan. I
>own their bags, pads and
>a tent. I use a
>Big Agnes SL1 tent. Its
>a good tent. It is
>a pain exiting and entering
>the tent though. When it
>comes time to replace it,
>I'll be looking for one
>with a side entry.
>
>Don P

+1

E-stock J104 pack,Marmot bag,Kelty tent, or OR bivy.

+3 on the Large Agnes Tents, Bags,
I like thermarest pads.
Eberlestock pack.
all good stuff

Lots of variables.
For winter hunting in high country VS early season or desert ?

I'm in your posision also and have narrowed my choices down to a Kifaru KU3700 with a few add-ons, a MSR carbon reflex 1 or a Hilleberg AKTO and a Western Mountaineering Versalite down bag.

Richard

A few tents to look at are the Hilleberg Nallo, Tarptent Scarp 2, and Exped Aries Mesh. A couple backpacks to look at are the Sitkas (for smaller packs) and Arcteryx Bora 95 for hauling camp and packing out game. You may want something over 4,500 cu in for packing camp and game.

Wide open question with tooooo many options.

Do you have anyone who can loan you a pack to try out? Trying a few on hikes is #1 best option [take that from a guy with 8 packs in the garage]

Second best is go to some place like REI, load em up with sandbags and spend 3 hours with them on in the store.

Search forums like this for gear threads- Bowsite is one of the best. 24hr campfire has a section dedicated to backpack hunting- search them.

Asking question like this will get you some good range responses- listing a few options- and many Fanboy recommendations of what "they" have- and it may or may not work for you. BA Flycreek is too short for me personally and wouldn't work. If you are a shorter guy you have hundreds of good options- very tall only a few.

If you are avg size most off the rack packs can be adjusted to fit you. I wouldn't get caught up in gimmicks- ultra light, ultra heavy with too many pockets, etc, etc. Some of the wire frames in Mountaineering style packs can develop a squeak that won't work for hunting. [Had a very comfortable Osprey Argon that did that- bummer, I liked that pack]

Take your time and buy good stuff. Something like that cheap Kelty down bag- I bought one of the originals about 15 yrs ago and its junk. Narrow it down and then do specific searches to see what guys are saying about it. Some guys love the Badlands Hypervent but my buddies sounded like a one man band going up the trail-do those other guys get these dirty? My bud dumped it in a Garbage can just below Wolf Creek Pass.

Plenty of good stuff if you search...good luck

Going to REI and getting fitted would be a lot better than borrowing someone's pack that does not fit you. Or you can get a Kifaru pack, which is custom made to your size. Not some off the shelf, one size fits all brand that you will regret. For a 3 hr hunt, or a 3 day bivy, I use a Kifaru Late Season. I have a Big Agness Fly Creek UL2, for backpacing, and a Cabelas Guide Series dome tent for truck camping.