20 Best Pack Frames For Hunting (2022 Updated)

It’s a great pack. So far i’ve only taken it on a two day hike in the Black Hills and it was very comfortable. I enjoy the modularity of it. I use it with two batwings and their 110 liter J-sack. The design is nearly perfect, but there are a couple things they could improve on.

One, the j-sack or the batwings can zip to the frame but not both. It would be awesome if they designed either the frame or J-sack to allow for the batwings to zip on even with the j-sack zipped on. It’s not a huge deal since the j-sack can sit on the frame and use the provided attachment straps to hold it in place but for the price of the pack i expect perfection and it isn’t quite there.

Another thing I noticed, they provided this little black hook that keeps the zipper from falling down when something is zipped to the frame but only one was provided. There are two sides so why doesn’t the other side get one as well when it has the same problem of the zipper falling? It’s awesome but not perfect.

This is the last pack you will ever need to own. Like a lot of folks, in the early 80s, I made the switch to internal frame packs because they promised a lower profile, were less cumbersome and provided better balance.

At the time, external frame packs were rather large, bulky and awkward. While I bought into them, I was never totally satisfied with internal frame packs. In terms of weight distribution and comfort, they did not meet full muster, but the benefits of the “modern” internal frame packs, outweighed (no pun intended) their shortcomings.

I am in my 6th decade, so my days of packing a heavy load and not paying for it at the end of the day are pretty much done. I am not ready to throw in the towel for a long time yet, so I decided to re-visit the time-honoured external frame pack system.

I bought this frame pack with the idea of having more comfortable weight distribution on my aging carcass, and being able to carry a load without feeling like a monkey was on my back. I paired up this mainframe pack with an Eberlestock A2LS side scabbard (which installs easily on the mainframe with the Molle system) and super spike duffle bag which can be zippered right onto the mainframe pack and in front of the firearm scabbard.

So far, I’ve done two 10 km trips over some rough and hilly bush country and with a respectable (for an old geezer) 45-pound load (including firearm). I can honestly say that this is THE most rugged and THE most comfortable pack that I have ever worn.

I mean I love this rig! It is nicely balanced, does not shift around on my back and actually feels good on the back. It is not at all like the bulky, flimsy and awkward frame packs of yesteryear. As soon as you take this out of the box, you immediately know that this is a rugged piece of gear and amazingly lightweight.

I cannot say enough good things about this rig. I have owned quite a few Eberlestock products and have come to trust this firm and view their gear as the best-available hunting and backpacking gear on the market today.

Having tried out dozens of brands of packs over decades of backpacking, I believe that Eberlestock packs are second to none. Up until they came out with this mainframe pack, I was of the belief that they would be hard-pressed to improve on their gear.

Well, I am pleasantly surprised that they have done just that with this mainframe pack. I do not work for Eberlestock. Do not own shares. Do not have buddies in the firm. I am just happy as all get out to find such an outstanding piece of gear and therefore have no reservations whatsoever of extolling the virtues of a good product.

Nothing really beats Eberlestock when it comes to quality. The frame is very light and as versatile as it gets. A packframe gives you unlimited options when it comes to how and what to carry. This is going to replace all my other backpacks (except my Osprey bag for camera runs) as it gives so many more uses, such as it can be used as a chair and a stepladder.

I often collect wood pieces, roots, and bark in the forest and this is just perfect for it. The only minus is that there isn’t an opening to insert a water bladder, but it´s something that I will just make myself.

Very well made. In the past I could never justify $150 to buy myself a pack frame until I saw the Walmart add. It is heavy duty which I did not expect. Great shoulder straps and it took me a few minutes to adjust the many straps to fit my body and now it fits like a glove.

It is rated at a 75 pound load, not sure I can lift that much and place it on my own back. I really like the fold down shelf and the many tie points for attaching the load. I have not officially used it yet but I can only imagine how comfortable it will be even with a heavy load.

It is made by Stansport so I will have it for many years. Thanks Walmart.

Exactly what I was looking for! Had purchased the same item for much more. I carry 40lbs on this one and it holds up perfectly

A great cargo pack… Glad I have it for carrying water…

Hello. All in all I would say I’m pretty happy with it. I love the frame this is my second frame from you guys are used a lot of different packs I don’t like them , I love the way this thing carries weight and I love how it carries it into me.

I made the mistake of ordering the 7500 not the 5000. I cant seem to find enough stuff to actually make it full and tight lol. Other than that the only two things that I would personally want different if I had the skills to make it myself is that would move the straps further back making it a little bit more adjustable size wise especially for the top portion.

The other thing that I did do is they used some para cord to make a fixture that holds my water bladder in the middle of the pack. Maybe its just me but i don’t like all that weight on one side. All in all i enjoy the system a lot more than my rmef one I got from you guys.

Its a lot more efficient.

Not going to lie here–After the first two hunts using this pack with the F1 mainframe I was disappointed. My pack felt sloppy and loose, especially so with my bow strapped to the back. With the hydration sleeve on the side and the mummy like shape of the bag, it was a feeling out process at first.

But when I figured out how to properly pack the bag, my experience changed drastically. Also adding the proper accessories such as the “Buttbucket” which I had no idea was for a bow when originally looking thru the website.

Why not call it a “Bowbucket” so it’s clear what it is? Anyways the moment my mind changed for good on this pack was when I had to haul out meat. It was so damn easy. Since I dialed in how to properly disperse weight in this pack it’s been a dream.

I bought this pack a few years ago and although I haven’t used it recently or often, those times I did use it, it hauled some heavy weight fairly comfortably. I once backpacked into camp with all my gear (about 70lbs of gear) and stripped the pack off the frame to haul a 5 gal bucket of water into camp.

It was awkward and a bulky haul, but the shelf and strapping held up well. This was my go to bug out pack a few years ago when the floods came to the South and I thought I might have to evacuate on my own.

With the rifle straps on the side and enough easy access pockets, it was an easy choice. My only complaint is that the shoulder straps aren’t built for a guy with broad shoulders like me. If you’re bigger than 6’2 and 230 lbs, you may have to look into a different pack or be prepared to slide into this pack and deal with right straps.

Otherwise, this is a decent pack.

Very poorly made bag and frame. Only used once and it’s already falling apart. Stitching is coming out. Seams are coming apart and breaking. Lower back support webbing is tearing and ripping in several places.

All this after one short trip with very minimal use. Do yourself a favor and look for a better quality product. Oh, and the pouch that holds the butt of my rifle is sewn too small to actually fit my Remington Model 700, so that feature is completely useless as well.

I am not one to ever write a review…. so this pack is unlike any other pack I have ever owned. As an avid hunter and traveler and having owned many backpacks. This is the most comfortable one ever! On top of comfort it shifts the weight so much of your shoulders it makes 100+lbs manageable without breaking your back or having to lean forward to an awkward position.

Furthermore the storage room is more that sufficient i only carry the bare essentials for a camping/ hunting trip and they took up 1/2 of the space. So if you want something with a lot of room I think this pack has plenty.

… so I read other reviews before buying and they talked about how quiet the material was “ I thought it was exaggerated” but I was wrong this material is almost dead silent even wen branches slide past the material.

The only thing I will add negatively is the rifle and bow pouch. —- it sits the rifle beautifully but the bow (depending on what model you have I’m sure) but with my Mathews bow I felt like it did not sit very well.

Take that with a grain of salt because it still gets the job done. Other than that the only thing I can say is what a great product! **** now I’m not sure if the owners will read my comment… guys love the pack but if I can throw and idea your way.

Having an attachable type of bags/packs/pouch to place on the carbon rails would be awesome or maybe some kind of arrow quiver attachment. Thanks for a fantastic product!.

I purchased this pack for mule deer and javelina hunting in Arizona. Dragging a deer back to your vehicle over mountains, ridges, and cactus lined ground is just not an option here. I’ve been wearing the OX since archery deer and javelina season opened twenty days ago.

The first two days I was getting used to all the straps and adjustments this pack has and there are several. Once I got it dialed in to my body size and shape I find the pack to be very comfortable during long stalks through the Sonoran Desert.

It is a stiff-ridged pack as to be expected in a framed pack. However, after many miles of wearing it I find the OX does not make my shoulders sore at the end of the day like some of my lighter soft packs do.

The padding and ventilation on the OX keeps my back cool and that is appreciated as it’s 70 degrees by noon here in January. There is more than enough room for anything you might pack for a day hunt.

I’m only using a fraction of the space it offers for my gear. My reason for using it is to fill it with game meat. I can draw and shoot my bow wearing the OX with no issues whatsoever. I’m 5’9″, 180 pounds and purchased the Medium OX.

It’s a great fit and the large would have been to big for me.

Positives: This can handle more than I can. I just took out both front quarters and back straps from an elk with my gear about two miles in some deadfall. I also have the 2200 pack, I’m glad I grabbed this one for this reason.

It just flat carries more weight easier. Con: It’s easier to carry a rifle with the 2200 as the external frame gets in the way when you sling it. I bought a universal carrier from a competitor and was very glad I had it on the pack out last week.

I’ll probably carry the 2200 yet in the mountains if the plan is anything smaller than an elk, for elk hunting this is my go to. My suggestion is that Badlands makes some sort of system to easily dismount a rifle to this pack.

Otherwise google it and it’s not hard to find.

I recently purchased the RMEF Team Elk M5 pack and to date, I am very glad I did. I ultimately went for the M5 and not competitors packs for several deciding factors. Eberlestock’s M5 was the only pack I found which was thoughtfully designed to carry a rifle, a bow, and/or quarters of meat.

The organizational pockets inside provide a secure space for everything I carry. The pack wears well and feel good even after miles hiked while weighted down. A bonus was the 10% donation to RMEF for purchasing the pack.

The only draw backs I’ve experienced have been #1- the pack seems to tip over easily when placed on the ground. This gets a bit frustrating at times. #2- in cold conditions the internal cinch sack material gets crinkly and is a bit loud.

#3- is the outside pouches are difficult to fill if the internal compartments are already maxed out. I found that filling all pockets first before filling the cinch sack with clothes seems to work best.

So far so good and when any friend is in need of a new pack, I won’t hesitate in pointing them towards an Eberlestock!.

My previous hunts included my old Alice Pakc (dates me) from military days. Okay, but not great. Then when planning how to haul meat out, Alice was of no use. This year, I am assistant on an Elk hunt and figured time to up my game.

When the pack arrived, I loved the video on how to wear it and adjustmets. Also, the recommended smaller dry bags were good recommendations. I would not have looked for them or thought about them, but they came in handy.

My first outing with the pack was scout week #1 and very happy. Scout week #2 is coming up, so anticipate a good outing. There are so many pockets, I almost had to make up reasons to use them. Appreciate the flexibility and the outer bags.

I am curious on carrying the meat out with design away from body rather than close as I usually keep heavy close to the body. I do love the pack. Thank you.

I wore this pack on a 24 hour 100 mile rucking competition with 50lbs. It was one of the most comfortable packs I’ve done the competition with. I had very few raw spots on my back, and the pack had minimal wear and tear.

My arms had good movement and my shoulders didn’t hurt at all. Putting water bottles/camel backs in was a little bit of a hassle but not bad. The over all layout of the pack and positioning of the pouches was excellent and easy to get to what I needed.

Weight carried very well and when we got rained on it dried out reasonably well. I’m happy with the pack as is and wouldn’t need or want to make any modifications. I’m looking forward to hunting with it this fall.

The Alps frame pack is definitely an upgrade. Since I tree-saddle hunt largely on public land which doesn’t allow atvs, this was a much needed change to my setup. For most people the bare frame is all you need.

I chose not to add a bag since you can easily use cam-jams or buckles to lash on most, if not all prices of your remaining gear. Although the pack does have a larger profile you can easily hoist it into your tree/hang it on your tree without it being too bug of a sillouette.

Whether you ground hunt or climb, this is a solid choice. I’m sure there are many other options but for the price this is one to consider.

Very sturdy and good fit. Very heavy load, two guy ended up using it as a travois. Scraped of some paint and some gouges in the frame but it’s ready for another deer The travois approach worked so well I’m thinking fabricating some aluminum tubing onto the sides of the frame that attach with longer clevis pins so the exemptions drag on the ground instead of the pack frame.

The only difficulty is getting the blood off.

I bought this packframe four years ago, used it twice to pack out a couple buddies elk, so one trip each since there were three of us. I went to use it this year on a cow elk hunt here in Nevada and found that every single strap had dry rotted and each one fell apart when I pulled on them, I had to use good pull rope to get it useable again so I could continue to hunt.

I contacted the warranty dept. as they have a limited “Lifetime” warrant, apparently limited is defined by them and really means one year. I was told that since it was four years old that it was considered normal wear and tear and not covered, they did offer to sell me another pack for the discount price but found the same pack on Amazon for the same price they were going to give me a discount for.

I think if your going to have a limited life time warranty you should at least make a attempt to repair or replace the item. Just my two cents. I have a old back pack frame from 35 years ago that still has strong straps after many heavy loads from hauling out big bucks.

I purchased this along with the vario 50. Had some had initial fit issues with the pack but Badlands resolved it by sending me a smaller frame no questions asked I usually wear a large pack but this wasn’t even close.

It’ll haul as much weight as your willing to carry comfortably (I’ve had 85 to 100 lbs in it) but the hip pockets are pretty useless if your trying to close them with the pack on also notice the scope of your rifle goes in them if your trying to dismount with the pack on and they’re open.

It has an on and off squeak from the shoulder straps. I find that it hauls weight well and a full bag but doesnt do both well tends to hurt my neck and shoulders but I have a massively separated shoulder which might be the culprit.

Its also 2lbs heavier than most other packs in the same price range. The frame is nice and sturdy I use it as a day pack and the top of the frame doubles as a rifle rest. Over all Im happy with the pack and would recommend it to others.

Solid and comfortable frame. Can carry heavy loads. Great for packing out elk. This frame is noisy and squeaks a lot when straps are tightened down, but is not the first noisy high end pack that I have owned.

I ended up shoving pine branches between the straps and pack to quiet it down, so I could stand it. I will try some felt in the off season and see if that works better than the pine branches.

I purchased a Buttbucket with my X2. Pro’s: the X2 and the Buttbucket appear to be sturdily constructed. I love how the base of the buttbucket threads through the bottom of the X2 Molle straps. It’s very snug.

Con’s: I was hoping that it would work as a shown in their ButtBucket video. I can not, by myself, reach my bow when my X2 is fully loaded. See the photo. The pack is too far (thick) away from my bow.

Unless you are built like an orangutan or you are a contortionist you won’t be able to execute a quick draw for you bow single handedly. I can, without problem, unclip the strap, but cannot reach the bow.

Therefore quickly deploying my bow single handed is a non starter. I must drop my X2 pack, then remove the bow from the pack. On the plus side, it holds the bow securely when I am hiking, but you must realize that there is no quick draw option with a full pack.

Additionally with a full pack, adding the bow to the buttbucket moves the center of gravity pretty far aft making it somewhat uncomfortable. If I stand comfortably erect, I feel like I’m likely to topple backwards.

Therefore I must bend forward from my hips which feels awkward. If your X2 is lightly loaded, meaning loaded with a very skinny load, then it would be both accessible and comfortably loaded. Also for several reasons I don’t care for the design you are using to attach the quick disconnect buckle to the shoulder straps.

Threading the quick disconnect buckle through the diagonal eberlestock logo strap makes now sense to me. That causes the strap to bunch up into the corner of the diagonal logo strap. I believe you should either use a smaller quick disconnect buckle that will fit through the current D-rings or replace the D-rings with larger D-rings that will accommodate the current quick disconnect buckle.

It appears to me that the quick disconnect strap was added as an afterthought rather than intentionally designed to work with the X2 pack. See the photo’s below. Also I had to call Eberlestock to figure how to attach the quick disconnect strap.

Instructions or photos would have been handy. I kept trying to fit the quick disconnect buckle through the D-ring like it did on the other side of the strap. It never occurred to me that it was to be attach through the diagonal eberlestock logo strap.

Also the quick disconnect strap is too short to reach from the shoulder straps through my bow when the pack is fully loaded. Therefore I had to lengthen my quick disconnect strap by attaching the “Lock Down” strap to the quick disconnect to reach around my fully loaded pack.

The buckles therefore cause a “kink” in the strap. They don’t smoothly slide around the bow’s riser. Lastly the mid span adjustable length buckle couldn’t be more inconvenient. I cannot reach the strap to shorten it because it is not accessible at all.

To fit my pack comfortably, I first buckle the waist strap and adjust the height and length of it. Then adjust at the shoulder straps, Then I adjust the load lifer straps. Finally then I must get another person to snug the quick disconnect strap because I can lot reach it by myself.

I don’t pre snug the quick disconnect strap because doing so prevents me from getting a pack optimally secured. May I suggest lengthening the strap at least an additional foot and you move the adjustable length buckle in either location in the strap as shown in the photo.

That way it may be adjusted by the wearer not an additional person. I frequently hunt alone. Eberlestock, please call if you have any questions. Additionally I would be happy to test the recommendations I have suggested here.

Be well.

I am very pleased with my new X2 pack in Loden. I use it as the base (ruck) of my pack-system that also includes a Multi-Accessory Pouch (for game calls) attached to the webbing on the bottom flap, then I place a Mini-Me (knife, orange vest, emergency rain poncho, phone, keys, wallet, etc.

) equipped with a Bolt-Action Scabbard that slides behind the pouch, also a Large Accessory Pouch placed on top of the lid all strapped down and held in place with straps and buckles that are in just the right places.

This system allows me to remove the Mini-Me with scabbard for a short hunt or hike from the truck/camp leaving other bulky, heavier equipment (rain gear, spotting scope, tripod, extra batteries) or simply remove my rifle and a call if I do not want to carry extra unnecessary gear.

If I am going to a glassing location, in deep overnight or for several days I take it all and the deployable bird bag on the Mini-Me allows me to carry additional gear for camping since it is another extension of my entire pack system that is also in the right place.

I like this personalized pack system of packs and accessories stacked together better than stacking together the Modular system pieces that you offer because I have every piece/pack/item of my hunting gear ready for every situation I encounter while hunting.

When it comes time to haul meat I simply remove the other pieces from the X2 taking only essentials for meat hauling then put it all back together again for my next harvest. Try it, its fantastic!.

I original purchased the X2 for saddle hunting and it has since become my go-to pack for all of my whitetail needs, whether I’m in a pre-hung stand or a run-and-gun saddle setup. Like all Eberlestock products it’s extremely well built and thought out.

I love the deep pocket on the top of the pack – it works great for my headlamp, spare batteries, snacks, SD cards for my trail cameras, and even my sunglasses when needed. The main compartment typically holds additional clothing and all of my camera/filming equipment.

I store extra hats, gloves and misc items in the two large side compartments, and small items that I may need on the hike in like a knife, wind checker and spare bow rope in the waist belt pockets. Then I lash my rattling antlers and other larger items using the vertical straps and bottom panel.

This pack is very easy to adjust and rides great on my hips and back, even with a full load.

I was on the fence a long time about getting one of these. I actually bought a used 2200 and ended up selling it. I just like the extra features that the new ones provided and went with a new one. I chose the small approach bag for my recent elk hunting trip here in northern NM.

Unfortunately, I did not get to try out the frame pack. The elk in our unit were tough to find, as me and my buddy were pretty certain the rut hadn’t started yet. My only complaint about this pack is that I wish the pistol holder section was a little bit more to the front.

It’s pretty awkward for me to get it out with the pack on. I did get the bino connect setup going, but after one day I ended up going back to having my pack and binos separate. I preferred leaving my binos on with the pack off if we were taking a break, driving and glassing, etc.

All in all, I highly recommend this pack.

“We don’t care what happened, or whose fault it was, we will fix it for free forever. We could care less if you bought it at a garage sale or a gear swap, as long as it says Badlands, it’s covered. All we ask is that you use and abuse your pack as much as possible so we can learn how to make our products even better.

” I don’t normally write reviews on products but I feel that I must express myself. I have bought over $800 worth of badlands gear, and I love every item. However, I had an experience that was so poor that it makes me question whether I can trust this company should I need any other assistance with warranty needs.

According to your first paragraph, first sentence of your warranty it states that you don’t care what happened it will be fixed FOREVER! I brought a 2200 pack into one of your brick and mortar stores in Utah where I live for repairs.

I did not buy this bag from a store I actually bought it from a family member. The damage to the pack included broken rippers and some stitching needs. In truth it has been through quite a bit, but it’s been a great bag.

When I brought the bag into the store they took one look at it and very quickly said it had already been repaired once (which I already new) and they wouldn’t repair it again but that I could buy a new bag if I wanted to.

I felt very dismissed as if I was a burden on their time. Why would an organization state one thing as a policy and then do the exact opposite when it counts? Like I mentioned before, I don’t usually write reviews, however I feel like people should know that the warranty policy is not living up to what is posted on the webpage.

I still like my Badlands gear, but I had a really poor experience when all I was doing was trying to use the service that is claimed to be provided. I hope this review is taken seriously and not just dismissed as a disgruntled customer.

I am trying to be honest and straightforward.

So I haven’t fully loaded the pack out yet but I’ve taken in on a few hikes just to get it broken in and so far it is the best pack that I have owned. That’s even comparing it to some of the higher price backpacking packs that I have owned.

I love how many adjustment features there are with all the straps so I can get it to fit perfectly. I have some back issues and I can get this pack to fit perfectly high up on my back and secured everywhere.

I’ve had some packs little rub in certain places and I haven’t had an issue at all with this. Once you secure the straps nothing loosens up and it feels like it’s attached to you directly. The built-in holster did not fit my pistol but the straps on the inside of the belt allowed me to secure my own holster and then I can cinch it down for even more security and protection of the firearm.

One feature I didn’t think I would use that I actually have grown very fond of is the ability to access the main storage area from the back pad. It gets chilly early morning here in Colorado and it’s awesome to be able to swing the pack around and store my sweatshirt or jacket without having to drop the whole pack.

I love the layout of the pack so far or so many of the pockets and storage areas are easily accessible. I am shocked by how much room is in all of the various compartments along with the main area. I’m excited to take it out and start packing out some meat!!.

Had no troubles and would recommend it for everyone

Buy this Gunslinger II pack. I don’t own many things, but the things I do own are all the best that I could find of their category and class because I only want to buy once and keep for as long as possible (who doesn’t?).

My 22″ barreled SA NM. 308 M1A and 12 ga Remington 870 Express fit perfectly in this pack together or separately. The M1A mags fit snugly in the dedicated magazine pockets even though they’re probably designed for AR mags.

There’s a place for everything I need at the range, hunting, camping, hiking, flying, road-tripping and getting away from civilization for a few days, whether back east or the in intermountain west and all sites in between.

The quality could not be better. The pack is extremely well-engineered and designed, and I have no doubt it will last a lifetime. The pack size is perfect for carrying what you need while remaining agile.

The fit is adjustable, perfect, and ultra-comfortable. The pack will not further compress those already bulging discs in your back because it rides mainly on your hip bones, not your shoulders and spine.

Center-of-gravity is balanced with the gun that close to your body, and you cannot feel the gun pressing into you back at all. There are two sleeves for the hydration bladders in the interior compartment.

There are also two adjustable exterior water bottle pockets because being dehydrated is no good. The I pack comes with a rugged yet lightweight frame, so you don’t need to order one of the other frames if you don’t want to.

The Dry Earth color is the color of that light brown/dark tan Iraqi clay sand that has the consistency of baby powder or malted Ovaltine, whichever you’re more familiar with, and there’s a reason it’s currently sold out.

it’s an awesome color for anywhere you might go. I’m not color-blind, and it doesn’t really look green, but you could easily convince yourself that one of its parents had olive green ancestors a few generations back.

The pack was made in Vietnam. I prefer things made in America, but considering how Vietnam is rapidly shifting to a capitalist society and finally shedding its Communist ideology, and the fact that bros are going back to Vietnam to heal their PTSD wounds, I am ok with this production location.

If it was made in China, no way would I have bought this. Thanks to Eberlestock for creating this perfect pack.

I don’t often leave reviews AND I wasn’t going to even mention this since I fixed and re-enforced the broke stitching. BUT y’all emailed me this review request So now im going to let whomever know that im pretty disappointed that A pack I paid 400 (hard-earned!) Bucks had ANY issues.

Maybe if it was American made there’d be better quality control? But who knows maybe not lol. On a positive note : It’s a beautifully designed pack and it was/is superior to my expectations. it’s extremely comfortable to wear and also has more room for stowage that I thought based on pictures I’ve seen.

another neat feature is that if you’re not carrying much it can be cinched down into just a minimal rifle scabbard , the website doesn’t show this but they should because I think it’s an awesome feature.

Thanks ~ Bryson.

This is the first pack from Eberlestock I’ve owned and now I know what the hype is about. This pack is built like a tank, I can tell a lot of thought went into the overall design and features, and it looks great in the multicam! I can’t wait to kit it out and put it to the test of time.

Nothing about the outdoors is forgiving and I have no doubt this will outlive many good pairs of boots! The Gunslinger has been great so far for range days, competitions, hikes, and hunts. I held off buying an Eberlestock pack for a good while because they come at a premium price, but I know now they’re a steal for how well they preform.

Nothing else I’ve used so far has come close to comparing to the quality in all aspects. Thanks guys; keep it up!.

Good-sized hunting backpack and comfortable to wear if heavily packed due to the hip strap. The only critique I have was that thr aluminum frame pieces in it quietly squeak inside the holders as you move, and that bugged me while trying to stalk deer as quietly as possible.

All else was good, and fortunately it wasn’t a loud squeak. might try swapping those out for a different material to provide structure.

Just received, and loaded with 75lbs of gear for testing. Fits my 6’2″ build comfortably, adjustment straps are sturdy, seams well sown, rifle pouch is okay does move around a bit more than I like. Have not checked the water-sheading of the material as of yet.

Overall for the price and my use should be a good pack.

Bought this a couple of seasons ago for deer hunting. It has a lot of nice features, with plenty of room for gear, and lots of pockets to keeps things separated. The rifle sling was a neat idea, but everything goes downhill from there.

The rifle sling: Neat idea, but puts the butt of the rifle on a perfect level to slam into your knee with every step, and no easy access to rifle if you happen upon deer unexpectedly. Lots of pockets, but, they are tough on the outside, but the inside is a VERY lightweight nylon that started tearing loose at the seams for me before using it a full season.

Considering that is about three months of weekend use, that is mighty poor performance. Will not purchase this pack again.

I’ve taken this pack on several trips now – cold, heat, wet, lots of elevation – and it never ceases to impress. The back length is easily adjustable to get the perfect fit, the hip belt really grabs on and stays there, and it’s got thick, comfortable padding that’s lasted me all day without discomfort.

I’ll typically carry 35-40lbs for 2-4hr stretches between breaks and have yet to feel any hotspots or soreness from the pack weight. The pack’s organization and access hit a sweet spot for me, just enough pockets and options to cover most situations.

The main compartment can be loaded top-down or back-to-front (zipped open like a suitcase) and imo works better back-to-front because the closer you can pack heavy weight to the frame the better with this pack.

The long pockets are great for raingear / sanitary stuff / warm clothing, and the side stretch pockets are tougher than most and will fit a 1L nalgene with enough room left for tent poles, bugspray, etc.

The lid completely detaches and is convertible to a daypack, though this is more involved that with other packs since you need to split apart the yoke and disconnect the shoulder straps from the hip belt.

It’s not hard, just an extra step. Great for summit treks though since you can leave the rest of the pack at base camp. The overload feature is very cool, though admittedly I haven’t used it on trail yet just tested at home.

I will say that being able to disconnect the frame from the pack entirely (which you can do) makes packing this up for air travel easy – I detach the frame and flip it so hip belt is gripping the bag then drop the whole thing in a suitcase.

Note the pack does not come with its own raincover so you’ll need to get one separately, recommend a “medium” for the S/M pack. The pack also does not have hip belt pockets but the hip belt does have MOLLE webbing to attach your own.

I just picked up a couple cheap saddlebags from an army/navy store and they work great. Overall: this pack is an all-season modular workhorse that carries 35+lbs very well. It’s probably overkill for the occasional backpacker, but if you need a pack you can rely on a lot, this is a great option.

Literally the Dopest dope! This bag is more than I expected. I’ve been rocking 40L AG osprey bag which has treated me extremely well, made weight weightless, so to be honest nothing against the brand just the gear I need to carry grew and you can really over load the bag much then what it’s meant to do.

So Been kind of putting off writing a review for a minute because yeah I don’t. Lol but in my heart it wouldn’t be right not to on this bag. I really didn’t have an expectations going in, I just new I needed something multifunctional and can carry what I needed with ruining the integrity of the bag.

So the bag search began I looked on the civilian side first of course(more Osprey, Gregory) no shoe really fit, so wondered if there is a company that makes bag with the same concept of functionality and durability as military rucks/packs but better? Then bam I’m he internet is like “Hey you ever heard of “Mystery Ranch?” And ever since my life has been changed, immediately took the bag out the the Gila wilderness.

So first off let’s talk about things on this bag: – I read a comment negative comment about the tube pockets because they try to put shoes in them. SoJust like don’t put shoes in them? Like this bag has plenty of external straps literally that can accommodate this.

I strapped extra shoes to the bottom of the bag with my sleeping pad. -detachable day pack, to be honest I laughed at this completely hating on it. So was way wrong DAYPACK is so legit, so legit. No organization inside the pocket but like who cares daypack portion will fit everything you need.

Just in case that wasn’t read correctly EVERYTHING YOU NEED it’s an abyss of a pocket. I will use it on day hikes, correction I have used it on all and any hiking/outdoor activity I even attach a camelback to the outside of it with a full daypack.

So yeah super surprised about that feature. -super adjustable, though I haven’t figured out if the waist is adjustable maybe it’s not, but not a huge deal because everything fit perfectly which leads into pack as a whole.

– Bag distribution was flawless, frame is what they say, it’s magical(pretty sure I may have been the only one that used the word “magical”) but my old Osprey AG was put to shame. I could do anything with the bag fully loaded.

-the detachable and adjustable shoulder straps so cool, super useful it is perfection -overload feature works too, that’s really all I need to say to that this reviews wicked long. But Yeah to sum things up, you should get the bag.

I completed an AT thru-hike this year (2021), and once off-trail have just taken a Wilderness Field Instructor position with an outdoor education and treatment company. As a Field Instructor I am expected to carry a lot of safety and crew gear, which is way more weight than I am used to and much more than my thru-hiker ultralight rig could easily handle.

Always wanted a MR pack, due to their reputation for quality and durability, but never until now could justify the weight. But due to the new position needed a real workhorse. This pack has so far met my need in spades.

I am very comfortable carrying loads up to 150 with it, but it also will cinch down and compress well in situations where I am only carrying my personal gear. Versatility is awesome. The overload feature is a game changer, and MUCH more useful than I dreamed it would be.

I often have to carry bulky or odd sized gear like dun-buckets, crew tarps, rope bags, and bags of tree-pads. With the overload these can be easily secured between the pack and the frame, instead of lashed to the outside of the pack or crammed into the interior taking up room.

This is really awesome, and makes these odd and bulky gear pieces easy to carry comfortably and securely, particularly in rough terrain and brush. I also am very satisfied with the build and durability of the pack.

Everything is bombproof, and built for extended use in the field. I have a lot of confidence in all the fittings on the pack to handle even the largest loads for extended time, and really feel like I can crank the compression and lifter straps without fear they will rip.

Zippers are all very robust and solid. The weight is more than I have carried in a pack for a while, but given the suspension system it still carries like a dream. Given the versatility the overload gives me, and the durability the weight is an acceptable trade off.

Realistically 50 pound loads in this pack carry almost like a 30 pound load in a pack with a lighter suspension. This pack lives up to its reputation for its purpose, handling large loads well in the field.

Well worth the premium price.

I got this a few years ago, but held off on writing a review until I’d had a chance to put it to the test. I wanted a pack with enough volume to carry the necessary items for a day-long hunt, and was tired of trying to squeeze elk quarters into my lightweight backpacking pack.

I was excited about the idea of having a day pack that could convert for hauling quarters. There’s plenty of room in this for everything you need for a day of mountain hunting. This year I put it to the test with quarters from a nice bull elk, covering 2.

5 miles of fairly rough country. I was hoping it would be adequate for getting that first quarter out, after which I’d switch over to my pack frame for the other quarters. I have to say, though, this pack, with the pop-up feature, was just as comfortable and stable as my pack frame, and it gives me the ability to carry water, a small survival kit, etc.

I also used the pop out feature to hold a dry bag with camping gear, allowing me to use the pack for a 2-night deer hunting trip, in the mountains. It was tight, but it worked. Seems to be of very good quality, overall.

I hope the plastic buckles will hang in there — they seem like a potential weak point.

I’ve used the pop up 28 for a year or so and used it for day hunting. I just recently got the 38 so I wanted to compare the two. My biggest complaint about the 28 was that it was on the smaller side.

I don’t think that’s really a complaint, but it’s a feature because it was designed as the smallest option. The 28 fills up really fast. I found that it would fit a hydration pack, kill kit, jacket, and lunch, but not much more than that.

The 28 is great if you’re a minimalist and not expecting to carry much. However, I think that most people would like the 38 better. I love that it has the external compressible pocket for quick stowage of a jacket.

That’s a game changer when you spot a deer and need to get ready to move quickly. The size seems to be much better suited to what I need for day hunts. Hopefully at some point I’ll be able to test it for meat hauling.

I bought this pack a awhile back and unfortunately due to the extra wet spring we’ve had in the PNW I just barely got to take it out for a spin. I am absolutely thrilled with this pack. When I got it I read the article and watched the video on how to adjust it to my body.

I couldn’t imagine an easier system on a pack this size. After I took it out on a hike it took a little time to fine tune the adjustments with the straps and stays but once I did I barely noticed it was there.

I had it loaded with about 50lbs of gear and water just to test it out. The hike was about 6mi. long and about 2,000ft. of gain. I could easily see myself carrying 75lbs. On that same hike with no issues.

This pack is a game changer. I do see what people are complaining about with the bag pulling away from the frame but it’s really a nonissue. I used a couple of Velcro cable ties and got it to sit against the frame very securely, never had a problem.

I’ve been using a borrowed men’s pack and it has worked, but I constantly felt like I was fussing with the adjustments and always had back pain after packing out any weight. So, I decided to try a women’s fit and am very pleased.

I’m 5’8″ and 150 lbs and the XS/S fit perfectly. It took me a little bit to get it adjusted by myself; I would recommend having someone help you to save time. It’s not difficult to adjust, you just have to keep taking in off and putting it back on if you don’t have help.

I took it on two short hunts as soon as I received it. I packed everything I would need for a long day hunt: hydration pack (which fits great), range finder, binos, animal processing supplies, survival kit, snacks, etc and had room if I wanted some extra warm clothes or accessories.

It wouldn’t be big enough for me if I was planning on an overnight AND packing out an animal, but it was plenty big enough for a day hunt with room on the overload shelf for a harvest. The pack was comfortable enough that I barely noticed it after a few hours of hiking.

I then took it on a longer day hunt and was able to harvest a doe. I was able to pack the meat on the overload shelf with no problem and hiked a little over two miles out. I noticed the extra weight, but wasn’t constantly stopping to adjust and fuss with the pack like I did with the old men’s one.

The best part is I woke up the next morning with no back pain, so it must’ve been a good fit. The only drawback is that with the pack adjusted properly it prevents you from getting a good view through a scope in the prone position.

(You can’t tilt your head back far enough with the pack on). It makes for an uncomfortable shot, but that is a problem with any load bearing pack that I have worn and not specific to this pack. As long as you are aware of it and able to adjust, it’s not a huge issue.

The quality of the pack is excellent and I can’t wait to use it in the field for many years to come. Most of all, it is phenomenal to have a pack that actually fits!.

I have had the pop-up 38 out on about half a dozen hikes now and am developing some opinions. Out Of The Box: construction, design, and quality seemed to be what I expected of Mystery Ranch, top notch, but would be nice with hip pockets (that you didn’t have to buy after), and somewhere to lash my bow to.

Lastly, as many other reviews note, the main compartment has a bit of slack between it and the frame. I wrapped the top staps around the pop-up bar and this helped a bit. I think one other adjustment that may help would be to make the material on the back pouch a bit narrower thus giving more webbing to cinch down.

Loading Up With Day Hike Gear: every day hike item fits easily into this roomy pack (and I pack heavy) with room to spare and enough compartments to keep organized (other than lack of hip pockets) but without adding too much weight.

First Few Hikes: loaded up to 25 pounds and so comfortable, carried like an empty pack. Waist belt did seem to slack off a little though, hopefully just a break in thing. Most Recent Hikes: loaded up to 45 lbs and tested overload compartment.

Still rode very comfortably and I think another 15 lbs would not be an issue at all. Overload shelf carries weight well but I dont like that items (trekking poles) in side pockets can somewhat adjust into overload area, not by any means detrimental, just a little clumsy.

Also waist belt still requiring periodic retensioning. Overall: I tend to point out flaws but really this is going to be a great day-hunt pack this fall and I could easily see pulling off a couple of early season overnighters with it.

I ordered hip pockets so that should help my overall function. Great job Mystery Ranch, keep it up.

I have used this pack over two hunting seasons now and several summer backpacking trips in CO. I like the pack, it is durable, works well for hauling meat. Although I have the same issue as another reviewer.

The waist belt gradually slips down my hips under heavy load and requires readjustment. But my working assumption is this is due to my body type, slender without prominent hips, as I have this issue with other packs as well.

Something to consider but your mileage may vary. Overall, I find the top pocket useful but a little strange, with the very long straps running from near the bottom of the pack holding it in place. Any loose items can also slide around in it, making noise, and need to be combined into separate smaller pouches anyway.

I would appreciate an optional flap to replace it for keeping off precip when I want to go without the lid, which is frequent, especially on early season bow backpacking hunts or day hunts. Overall the biggest issue I am running into, apart from the hip belt not staying in place, is that the fabric of the pack is EXTREMELY loud going through brush.

I have managed to make this work in CO, but I would not hunt with the pack back in AR where I used to deer hunt, and no telling how many deer and elk in CO have heard me from a long way off and slipped away.

This is also generally problematic for the frame, even if a separate pack were attached, as the shoulder straps and hip belt are made from the same material. For this reason, I am giving this pack 3 stars, because this is supposed to be a pack specifically designed for hunters and hunters need to be quiet in the woods.

Perhaps this could be resolved to some extent by offering a separate pack of quieter material and covers for the straps? Its not a bad pack for western hunting, but I would not hesitate to tell folks to look around for other options.

First off, I LOVE Mystery Ranch bags. I have a 2-Day Assault, 3-Day Assault, and Beartooth 80. I bought a Pintler to fill the niche between the 3DAP and BT80, for long day hike/hunts with gear–including a tree platform between the bag and frame for saddle hunting.

I bought the Pintler because it combines the Guide Light frame and 3-Zip design, the two features for which I keep coming back to Mystery Ranch. However, the Pintler misses its niche in a few key ways.

First, the lid is blocked from easily opening by the top of the frame when there’s anything filling the lid pockets, making less than full use of the genius 3-zip design. It would be much better if either the frame was smaller to accommodate the shorter pack, or the depth of the pack was increased to fit the frame.

Either a deeper pack or a shorter frame would be ideal. Second, I miss some of the really nice pocket features of the 3-Day Assault. These are: (1) the internal organization of the top lid pocket (which fit my flashlight and extra battery perfectly for finding in the dark); (2) the external side stow pockets; (3) and the laptop sleeve.

I miss the external stow pockets, where I used to stash my gloves and hat during long, dawn-to-dusk days afield, most of all. In sum, this is a decent pack that seems to slip between the cracks of the 3-Day Assault and Beartooth 80 packs.

(The Terraframe 50 also has the Guide Light frame and 3-Zip design, but practically no internal organization. ) I would happily slap down my money and 5 full stars for a pack that fills the niche perfectly.

I received this backpack as a gift from a relative that passed away. I have been wanting a Mystery Ranch Metcalf for a long time, so I was so disappointed when I received this pack. It is so uncomfortable and difficult to use.

I was miserable this entire hunting season and just wanted to light it on fire to be rid of it! This pack was not at all what it was described to be. It does not matter how many videos I watch or how much I adjust this pack, it just is not comfortable and was terrible to work with.

I hate trying to get anything out of this pack and it does not matter how much I try to adjust the weight in the pack it just will not secure so when you are walking anywhere it just wants to move around on you.

You are supposed to be able to compress this pack down for a day hunt or expand it for a week hunt. When doing both this year, the straps would not work properly so your pack was either to big or to small for your equipment.

You also better be sure that you have 20 minutes to get anything out or put anything back into this pack as well. It is just not user friendly at all. Not only was this pack terrible but working with Mystery Ranch customer service was just as bad.

After explaining how terrible this pack is and how I can not get it to fit right. They told me since I bought if from a third party there was nothing I could do and they were not willing to help out at all.

I will never recommend a Mystery Ranch pack after my experience with the Metcalf. So disappointed!.

I am extremely impressed by this backpack. They thought through all the details and this is really the ultimate day pack. First off there are numerous interior pockets to organize things like your survival kit, first aid kit and water purification.

There is a separate internal pocket for keys and a wallet which is a nice feature as well. The hip pockets are actually big enough to store things bigger than chapstick which was a good call by Kuiu.

I use mine to hold a map and compass. The main interior is large enough for extra water and layering clothes for the day. The vertical zip pocket is just the right size for a lightweight rain shell and you can stuff a pack rain cover in the top part.

What really makes this pack unique however is the exterior strap system. I was actually disappointed when I first got the pack because the straps were set up in a way were I could not easily open the pack without unclipping them.

Then I realized you can literally reconfigure every strap based on the chain loop design they have. I spent the next 20 min putting my stuff together and setting up the straps to work for my gear. I even had a moment on the trail when hiking with my family and had to hang my 5 year old daughter’s backpack on mine.

It took about 30 seconds to move some straps and I was able to easily hook it on. The lower loop straps are well designed and can be used for holding a pad for glassing etc. I called Kuiu and suggested an additional front type strap for bear mace and the rep actually said they have straps that hook onto the belt pads and shipped them for free.

All in all this is an extremely well thought out pack and the rip stop material is pretty much bombproof. Today there is a trend from other pack manufacturers to be fragile ‘minimalist’ designs which are lackluster at most so its good to see Kuiu step up and make some real burly outdoor gear.

This is the type of equipment that you take into the woods and even if you go through some gnarly stuff you know it will see you through.

I purchased this pack for mobile deer hunting with a lock-on stand and sticks. I attach the stand and sticks to the front of the pack using the provided compression straps. This method is not very comfortable and puts strain on the shoulders.

I believe it is because the weight of the stand and sticks is too far away from the body. I have come to understand that a true frame pack will handle heavy loads much better than a day pack and allows for placing the load closer to the body (between the suspension and the pack), so I have ordered a Kuiu frame pack to try.

As a day pack with no stand or sticks attached, the Venture 2300 is super comfortable and carries a moderate load very well. I have hiked for a few hours in the hills with it on my back and sometimes forgot it was there.

I have read that a frame pack will allow more ventilation between the body and the pack than a day pack will. I can say that in warmer weather (October in the south) it can get very hot on my back with this pack on.

If I could make a change it would be to add some small to medium size pockets around the top and/or sides of the pack. The one grab pocket at the top of the pack is nice, but I find that I have too many items in it and the pocket gets too full where I have to fish around for things and they want to fall out of it.

I would recommend the Venture 2300 for a day pack in mild to cooler weather. I would not recommend it for carrying a lock on stand and sticks. My pack full is around 18-20 lbs. My stand and sticks are around 18-20 lbs.

So that is a load of around 40 lbs with the stand and sticks positioned farthest away from the body. The Venture 2300 would probably be great for someone who saddle hunts and carries just lightweight sticks and a small lightweight platform.

I received my pro 6000 pack a couple weeks ago and i’ve used it quite a bit since. The first thing i did was look at their youtube video on fitting the bag correctly to suit my body; I found the process quite easy.

I’m preparing for a back country elk hunt so i’ve been using weights in the pack to simulate and train incline and decline hiking. The pack sits perfectly and i feel like the lumbar support pad is just enough without adding the extra pad that was included.

Perhaps that may change as i increase weight over the duration of my training. Also, a few days ago i used the pro pack to haul my Tethrd saddle hunting setup as well as lone wolf climbing sticks. I was able to easily fit and fasten the predator platform and phantom saddle inside the pack along with the climbing sticks attached outside where a bow or rifle would be.

I was able to comfortably carry my setup to the hunting area, and set up and repacking was quite easy and fast. The true test will be in September when i hike 50-80 miles over a week in elk country and hopefully pack out a bull elk.

So far though, i am satisfied and very happy with the pro 6000 pack. It is big enough to fit everything you need for a week or more of camping, but also it cinches down quite compactly to carry a smaller load.

I have yet to hear any squeaking that some people have complained about in the past, and i suspect that may be caused by not properly fitting the pack prior to usage. 5 stars from me so far.