The Eternal Backpack Dilemma

How to carry all your crap? It’s a seemingly eternal dilemma for many hunters. I have frequent conversations with hunters about the best systems for different types of hunts. Many hunters will admit to having a pile of different bags at home that they’ve tried over the years. Daypacks, expedition packs, ultralight packs, meat haulers…the options can be dizzying.

Unfortunately there’s no easy answer to the hunting pack dilemma. Especially when you tend to hunt widely varying locations throughout the year. For example, when embarking on day hunts close to home, I pack very differently than when I’m on a multi-day backpack hunt. Or if I find myself hunting from a base camp or with an outfitter, I’m looking at a different situation altogether.

The right answer is the one that works best for the locations you hunt most often. And for some hunters, that might mean having multiple setups.

I like to break down backpack options into three big categories.

1. The Classic Daypack

When hunting close to the truck or a base camp, a classic daypack is an easy choice. Daypacks tend to be between 1,500 and 3,000 cubic inches. A lightweight daypack tends to be very comfortable and lightweight. It will typically allow a wide range of motion for scrambling up steep slopes or drawing your bow.

Whenever possible, I’ll opt to go this route. It’s simply more comfortable, and I feel like I can move more easily with a small pack on my back.

The shortcomings of a daypack become clear when an animal is on the ground. It’s never going to be your best option for hauling a heavy load back to the truck. By their nature, the lightweight shoulder straps and waist belt on a daypack aren’t going to be the most comfortable. In these situations I’ll haul what I can back to camp and then switch packs to haul the rest. It may not be ideal for hauling loads, but on day hunts, that’s a small percentage of my total time in the field.

2. The Classic Backpacker

The uses for this type of bag are obvious. These bags are usually 4,000 to 6,000 cubic inches or more. Size depends on how many days you’ll be in the field at a time and the time of year (colder weather usually means more gear).

The downside of any large backpacking bag is that after you’ve set camp and are out hunting for the day, you have a giant bag on your back. Some backpacking bags cinch down pretty snug for day hunting, but I find that they still feel somewhat unwieldy as daypacks, the extra webbing is hanging everywhere, and keeping your day hunting gear organized is not as easy as in a classic daypack.

However, for long backcountry trips, this downside can be overlooked. When you need capacity and hauling ability, this is the way to go.

3. Convertible Options

There are a few companies now that offer bags that can convert from daypacks to load haulers with relative smoothness. Some packs achieve this by being able to switch bags on a single frame and suspension. Others accomplish it by allowing the bag to separate from the frame, allowing you to compress an extra load between the bag and the frame.

These convertible options are nice for those who tend to pack in and then hunt out of a spike camp, or those who want a daypack with the ability to haul meat out when necessary.

While it may sound like the perfect balance between the two, these packs do have downsides. Typically, these features come at the expense of more complexity and weight. Additionally, I’ve found that if all you really need is a daypack, a classic daypack is always going to be more comfortable and offer better maneuverability and pocket organization for those style of hunts. And if all you really need is load-hauling ability, a true load hauler will do a better job. While a convertible option may allow both, it may not be the best at one or the other.

Making A Decision

When it comes to the right pack for you, the most important thing is to be honest with yourself about your needs. Don’t make a decision based on what looks cool or based on features that are attractive but unnecessary. I once saw a hunter show up for a guided hunt with a new, 6,000 cubic inch pack. It was a cool pack. And I’m sure it could haul some serious loads. But for day trips from our base camp, it made very little sense.

So think through each day of your hunt and be honest about the needs you’ll have. In the end, you might decide that there’s not one pack that can do it all. You may end up needing multiple setups for multiple situations. And that’s fine. Sometimes, I think having a couple of specialized packs is better than having one that claims to do it all.