Thread: What size backpack for multi-day hunts?

Originally Posted by gimp

Stone Glacier Evo 3300. Load shelf is a game changer for carrying out meat.

You import yourself?
Been looking at there packs for a bit

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Use an Exo MTN Gear K3200. 58 litres. Designed for mountain hunting, it has a main body with sleeve on the front, side pockets and top lid. I've got the gear fairly dialed, so will normally pack around 12-13kg for a 2-3 trip (excluding binos, water, food and rifle). What I really like about this pack is the meat shelf. The main bag upclips from the pack and you can strap your meat bag to the frame. A couple of distinct advantages here over a main bag. First, the weight of the meat is spread evenly next to your spine, not at the bottom of a bag. Second, means you do not lose any of the bag space to meat. I use their big dry bag inside, means everything inside the main pack is water proof. Rides really well, and most importantly can carry a couple of boned out animals well for a few hours. Rate it. Use it in the mountains, and in the bush (without main lid, compressed down with fleece cover for quiet). The "ride" is really important for me under weight, otherwise I'd be into a Southern Lite pack tomorrow.

Originally Posted by 199p

You import yourself?
Been looking at there packs for a bit

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Yup bought it from a US website a few years back. Was the simplest of the loaf shelf style packs. I really like it. More comfortable to carry a load than anything else I've tried.

Originally Posted by gimp

54 litres for me. Can carry tent camping equipment and food for 7 days.

I would mind seeing a photo of the gear you take. Can you fit meat in your pack?

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Packs with meat shelves are game changers. Like someone said above once you’ve dropped the meat into a dry bag and it’s sandwiched between the main bag and the main bag away you go!
I also love that my Kuiu pack, just like the other great American brands, can be configured with different sized bags. I have a 7000 and a 3000 cubic inch bag. I can just do an over nighter with the 3000.

Originally Posted by Rn-85

I would mind seeing a photo of the gear you take. Can you fit meat in your pack?

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It has a load shelf to carry meat.

I will consider digging out all my crap and taking a picture

Got a mystery ranch frame with load shelf and two bags. A 45, and 80 litre bags. Frame and bag weighs 2 kg. I don’t worry about a little extra weight in the pack as they carry a heavy load well. A 75 -80 litre macpac works pretty well also and a lot cheaper.


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I always used a 65L Macpac for years, which was great until i needed to carry meat out!

Bought a Mystery Ranch Marshall which is bloody huge but super comfortable even with a heavy load of meat etc... expensive compared to the local brands but well worth it.

Last few years I've been using the eberlestock j34, not too bad a pack, compacts down super well. from memory its abut 75l

As a slightly tangential thread to this topic, I have a question for you guys who are alpine hunting down South.

What are you carrying in your packs when on a day hunt, away from base camp, returning each evening?
I notice those of you who post YouTube vids seem to carry a lot of gear, big packs which clearly have a lot of gear in them.

While I’ve done a bit of South Is hunting I’m pretty green up in the mountains, 99% has been in the Kaimanawa’s or Pureora.
Often in my younger days just a belt with a knife and a small pouch with a compass, cut down map and a bit of food….

85l Osprey Aether Plus it is.

Because you guys told me to go big or go home.

It's on you now.

Thanks all.

Good choice, I've got the same but 65L for tramping. Great pack but I wish I got bigger.
Mine does have an annoying squeak when walking though, Before you go bush load it up and do some walks to check for noise.

Originally Posted by No good names left

Good choice, I've got the same but 65L for tramping. Great pack but I wish I got bigger.
Mine does have an annoying squeak when walking though, Before you go bush load it up and do some walks to check for noise.

There is a damn good deal on this pack at the mo'. For a spendthrift like me it was hard to do the responsible thing...

Where did you find the good deals on Osprey packs atm? I’ve been eyeing up the Kestrel 68..

Originally Posted by StrikerNZ

Where did you find the good deals on Osprey packs atm? I’ve been eyeing up the Kestrel 68..

The only deal is on that 65l pack unfortunately. Bivouac.

https://www.bivouac.co.nz/osprey-men...ping-pack.html