external packs

[TheTexan]

What kind of pack frames do you use for hunting? I want one that I can carry enough gear for 3-4 days and also use to pack out animals. I have seen the Bull Pacs and am leaning that direction, but would like some expert advice! What is your favorite and what would you buy if you could do it over again? If you use an internal frame, please let me know the advantages.

Thanks!

[Jeremy]

My 2 cents for what its worth, i have both an internal and external frame pack (standard hiking style not hunting). Although i have yet to pack any deer or elk out on them i would think that the external would work a lot better, with the external fram you can tie stuff on to the frame itself, with the internal frame you have to tie things on to the pack itsef therefore putting the weight at a more terminal point of the pack instead of on the frame which is supporting all of the weight...

[Old Coot]

Dana Design Longbed is probably the most comfortable framepack on the market. A little spendy, to about $350 if you shop the yuppie stores, try an outlet like Killerdeals and you can probably get last year's color for around a hundred dollars. A very stout and heavy pack, once you get everything adjusted to your specific fit you just tighten the straps, tweak the load lifers and 70% of the load just evaporates.

[Crayfin]

I have packed several animals over 5 miles in a pack and I can tell you without a doubt if you are going to PLAN on packing one that far, you do not want to do it with a external pack frame.

The Bull Packs you mentioned are great packs, you will never go wrong with one like that. Cabelas Outfitter Pack is another nice pack as well. You want to be able to put compressions straps on,around,over whatever you can to keep that meat close to your body. Personally I cannot take too much weight on my hips so I have to have a pack that allows me to get as much weight as I can high up (like mid back)and internal frames will not do that.

I will say I have also packed several deer with a nylon pack and I thought they were pretty decent. Has anyone packed an elk with one of these?

Crayfin

[Gus Orviston]

pack board discussion

here is some more information on the subject

gus

[Grantspastor]

The Camp Trails Freighter served me wonderfuly through several hunts in Alaska