I was wondering what type of backpacks any of you guys may be using. I've done numerous backpack hunts with my Kelty Super Tioga,it is an external frame and it has always served the purpose it was intended for.
Some of the its limitations were its weight, it weighs 6 lbs before I ever put anything in it. It also was too bulky to carry along on a daily hunt so I always carried a daypack for this (I don't think there is anyway around that). It did carry boned meat, quarters lashed to the frame, cape, head and horns very nice as well as alot of gear such as tent, clothes, bag etc. It was an excellent pack for carrying alot of weight.
So in my thinking there is always a better way to skin a cat, I got to wondering is there a better way to backpack? An external frame back has always worked for me in the past but would an internal pack do a better job, be more comfortable and weigh less? I guess I'm trying to find a way to be more comfortable with what I have to carry on my back.
This past hunting season my brother and I backpacked into a Colorado Wilderness area. It was an easy hike compared to some of the backpack hunts we have done into Wyomings Region G. But for some reason the pack felt extra heavy. I really didn't pack anything special and as we have always done only took what was absolutely necessary. My pack consisted of:
Freeze dried food for 7 days
Hot Chocolate Mix & Oatmeal
Sleeping Bag (synthetic 3.5 lbs)
Long Underwear (1 pair)
2 pair of wool socks
Hunting Pants, Shirt and 2 long sleeve T-Shirts, fleece vest
Down Jacket (which I bought new this year from Cabelas but it was to noisy, made a great pillow I sent it back when I returned home)
fly rod and vest
sleeping pad
Tent ( 2 person 4 season - 10.5 lbs)
Daypack
Rain Gear (Gore Tex, jacket and pants)
Tarp (2.5 lbs)
1 burner propane stove and 1 lb fuel bottle
misc. items
I figured with my gun strapped to my pack, binoc's spotting scope I probably had 50 lbs or more on my back.
Perhaps after I think about it I just have to get more streamlined and lighter. Perhaps a new tent (3 season) with a weight of about 3 lbs.(REI Quarter Done or Half Dome) or maybe just a bivy bag any of you have experience with one? Internal Frame Pack (unknown brand), Snow Peak Stove and fuel (stove 6 oz, perhaps some hunting clothes that are both quiet, warm when needed to be, lightweight and waterproof (pretty tall order on the clothes) this would eliminate the rain gear. I already have a Northface Down Bag that weighs only 1.5 lbs but I have never used it on a hunting trip because of the unknown weather conditions that you may encounter. I could probably scrap the tarp.
I realize this post is getting too long but I'm really interested in what you all are using for equipment. Especially when it comes to pack, stove, tent and hunting clothes . What do you guys haul in as far as weight? What do you think about Internal vs External Packs? I like wool but it's heavy for backpacking what type clothing do you wear. I hunt mostly in September and it can be warm (50's) of cold (30's), I find it extremely hard to find the right clothes for the range of temp.
Look forward to all of your posts.
Thanks,
300 wtby
Dave
Some of the its limitations were its weight, it weighs 6 lbs before I ever put anything in it. It also was too bulky to carry along on a daily hunt so I always carried a daypack for this (I don't think there is anyway around that). It did carry boned meat, quarters lashed to the frame, cape, head and horns very nice as well as alot of gear such as tent, clothes, bag etc. It was an excellent pack for carrying alot of weight.
So in my thinking there is always a better way to skin a cat, I got to wondering is there a better way to backpack? An external frame back has always worked for me in the past but would an internal pack do a better job, be more comfortable and weigh less? I guess I'm trying to find a way to be more comfortable with what I have to carry on my back.
This past hunting season my brother and I backpacked into a Colorado Wilderness area. It was an easy hike compared to some of the backpack hunts we have done into Wyomings Region G. But for some reason the pack felt extra heavy. I really didn't pack anything special and as we have always done only took what was absolutely necessary. My pack consisted of:
Freeze dried food for 7 days
Hot Chocolate Mix & Oatmeal
Sleeping Bag (synthetic 3.5 lbs)
Long Underwear (1 pair)
2 pair of wool socks
Hunting Pants, Shirt and 2 long sleeve T-Shirts, fleece vest
Down Jacket (which I bought new this year from Cabelas but it was to noisy, made a great pillow I sent it back when I returned home)
fly rod and vest
sleeping pad
Tent ( 2 person 4 season - 10.5 lbs)
Daypack
Rain Gear (Gore Tex, jacket and pants)
Tarp (2.5 lbs)
1 burner propane stove and 1 lb fuel bottle
misc. items
I figured with my gun strapped to my pack, binoc's spotting scope I probably had 50 lbs or more on my back.
Perhaps after I think about it I just have to get more streamlined and lighter. Perhaps a new tent (3 season) with a weight of about 3 lbs.(REI Quarter Done or Half Dome) or maybe just a bivy bag any of you have experience with one? Internal Frame Pack (unknown brand), Snow Peak Stove and fuel (stove 6 oz, perhaps some hunting clothes that are both quiet, warm when needed to be, lightweight and waterproof (pretty tall order on the clothes) this would eliminate the rain gear. I already have a Northface Down Bag that weighs only 1.5 lbs but I have never used it on a hunting trip because of the unknown weather conditions that you may encounter. I could probably scrap the tarp.
I realize this post is getting too long but I'm really interested in what you all are using for equipment. Especially when it comes to pack, stove, tent and hunting clothes . What do you guys haul in as far as weight? What do you think about Internal vs External Packs? I like wool but it's heavy for backpacking what type clothing do you wear. I hunt mostly in September and it can be warm (50's) of cold (30's), I find it extremely hard to find the right clothes for the range of temp.
Look forward to all of your posts.
Thanks,
300 wtby
Dave