Big Badass Back Packs... Whats the Go.

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Originally Posted by ebf

Osprey Aether AG 85lt, best pack I ever owned.

Seriously does not feel like you are carrying large loads. And Osprey have one of the best guarantees out.

Do a search on here for Osprey Aether, there is a reason guys rave about it...

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Does anyone know where you can actually get an 85ltr one of these at the moment? They seem to be nationally out of stock!

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Originally Posted by LMcNab

Does anyone know where you can actually get an 85ltr one of these at the moment? They seem to be nationally out of stock!

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Says in stock but the price is way up from what I recall less than a year ago https://www.bivouac.co.nz/gear/campi...r-plus-85.html

Never skimp when buying the basics, you will never regret it. Me: Macpac Wilderness equipment 90L backpack. Been around the world many times. Walked to 21,500 ft with it. Bought when I turned 18. Hauled 3 x sika out of the Kaimanawas last weekend in it. The carryer of the pack is now 61. Same with the sleeping bag. Bought my Everest mummy for a birthday treat at the tender age of 14 for the grand total of $62 if I remember rightly. A small fortune in 1974. Still get too hot in it! Got my first goretex jacket from Wilderness Equipment in Freemantle, back in 1983. Still have it, though its more a wind jacket now, than a rain coat.

Quality will long be remembered well after the pain of purchase has been forgotten...goes the saying???

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Originally Posted by uk_exile

Says in stock but the price is way up from what I recall less than a year ago https://www.bivouac.co.nz/gear/campi...r-plus-85.html

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I think thats a slightly different pack, the one I was looking for was this one
https://www.bivouac.co.nz/gear/ospre...ping-pack.html

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Originally Posted by LMcNab

I think thats a slightly different pack, the one I was looking for was this one
https://www.bivouac.co.nz/gear/ospre...ping-pack.html

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Oops, my mistake. You've got the correct link. Shame they're out of stock. Bloody good packs = out of stock!

2-3 days I use my 50L Macpac Torlesse. Love this pack.

Any longer and I'll take my 75+10L Tatonka Bison. I like it, but it is big and bulky.

I see lots of people rate the osprey 85L, looks like has some good features and very comfy, but how do these go with a lot of weight? I see they say max 27kg has anyone put more in them? I just feel like with a full pack and meat and antlers ect it gets heavy, will these hold up?

I use a Cactus hunaway for most of my work, can get a couple nights out of it, any more and i recently purchased a Cactus foray, had a Tatonka and couldnt get it short enough in the harness to suit me,

Had 34kg of boned out meat in the Huntaway last weekend on a meat mission, walked several kms through tussock up and down dips and it handled it no worries, i too had concerns about the weight in an Osprey so went for the cactus for its warranty/ ability to be repaired locally

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Originally Posted by Southerner223

I use a Cactus hunaway for most of my work, can get a couple nights out of it, any more and i recently purchased a Cactus foray, had a Tatonka and couldnt get it short enough in the harness to suit me,

Had 34kg of boned out meat in the Huntaway last weekend on a meat mission, walked several kms through tussock up and down dips and it handled it no worries, i too had concerns about the weight in an Osprey so went for the cactus for its warranty/ ability to be repaired locally

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Yep i also have the hunterway excellent pack has carried some big loads also, yes am tossing up between the foray and the hector, i like the front pocket on the hector but it is only 65L where the foray is 75. Already having a 45L i would prob be better getting the 75. Do you like the foray? Cheers

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Originally Posted by H.M

Yep i also have the hunterway excellent pack has carried some big loads also, yes am tossing up between the foray and the hector, i like the front pocket on the hector but it is only 65L where the foray is 75. Already having a 45L i would prob be better getting the 75. Do you like the foray? Cheers

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Foray is awesome aswell, has slightly more padding etc so even more comfy, has a flap/pocket and side pockets, being bigger can also compress it down smaller was my thoughts

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Originally Posted by uk_exile

Oops, my mistake. You've got the correct link. Shame they're out of stock. Bloody good packs = out of stock!

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I have a question please for the users of Cactus Outdoor packs. Having looked back through all the forum threads that discuss these packs there seems to be a common trend in terms of pack sizing in litres, either reported or sometimes implied, and I'd like to understand this better.

In a nutshell the Cactus packs appear to have more space in them for a given published capacity than competing brands.

So for example the Huntaway at 55litres might be "good for an overnight meat trip" whereas with packs from other makers, members here might feel they need to take in a 75 litre pack for that sort of thing. This might be an extreme example, but in every case I see at least the next model down in the Cactus range being used for a given purpose over packs from other brands. Is it just that Cactus understate the capacities?

I'm looking to buy a Cactus pack, but I can't get a handle on the actual capabilities of the Huntaway (55l), Hector (65l), or Foray(75l).

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Originally Posted by Puffin

I have a question please for the users of Cactus Outdoor packs. Having looked back through all the forum threads that discuss these packs there seems to be a common trend in terms of pack sizing in litres, either reported or sometimes implied, and I'd like to understand this better.

In a nutshell the Cactus packs appear to have more space in them for a given published capacity than competing brands.

So for example the Huntaway at 55litres might be "good for an overnight meat trip" whereas with packs from other makers, members here might feel they need to take in a 75 litre pack for that sort of thing. This might be an extreme example, but in every case I see at least the next model down in the Cactus range being used for a given purpose over packs from other brands. Is it just that Cactus understate the capacities?

I'm looking to buy a Cactus pack, but I can't get a handle on the actual capabilities of the Huntaway (55l), Hector (65l), or Foray(75l).

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Certainly the case comparing my Foray with my Macpac Ascent, the Foray is a truckload bigger.

I think it might be that Cactus quote capacity plus overflow extension, while most others quote capacity including extension.

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Originally Posted by Puffin

I have a question please for the users of Cactus Outdoor packs. Having looked back through all the forum threads that discuss these packs there seems to be a common trend in terms of pack sizing in litres, either reported or sometimes implied, and I'd like to understand this better.

In a nutshell the Cactus packs appear to have more space in them for a given published capacity than competing brands.

So for example the Huntaway at 55litres might be "good for an overnight meat trip" whereas with packs from other makers, members here might feel they need to take in a 75 litre pack for that sort of thing. This might be an extreme example, but in every case I see at least the next model down in the Cactus range being used for a given purpose over packs from other brands. Is it just that Cactus understate the capacities?

I'm looking to buy a Cactus pack, but I can't get a handle on the actual capabilities of the Huntaway (55l), Hector (65l), or Foray(75l).

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I now have both the huntaway and the Foray, not used the Foray as yet but can say it is A LOT bigger than the huntaway, which i use as a day/overnight pack. The Foray will be for mulitday trips and my boy is starting to come along now so will be able to carry some of his gear also. They may not have all the features of other packs on the market but ifya want a pack that will see you out and still go again then ya can not beat the cactus packs. I also like how they do not use heaps of padding on the harness so its not bulky at all and still very comfy. Simple and effective.

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Originally Posted by Puffin

I have a question please for the users of Cactus Outdoor packs. Having looked back through all the forum threads that discuss these packs there seems to be a common trend in terms of pack sizing in litres, either reported or sometimes implied, and I'd like to understand this better.

In a nutshell the Cactus packs appear to have more space in them for a given published capacity than competing brands.

So for example the Huntaway at 55litres might be "good for an overnight meat trip" whereas with packs from other makers, members here might feel they need to take in a 75 litre pack for that sort of thing. This might be an extreme example, but in every case I see at least the next model down in the Cactus range being used for a given purpose over packs from other brands. Is it just that Cactus understate the capacities?

I'm looking to buy a Cactus pack, but I can't get a handle on the actual capabilities of the Huntaway (55l), Hector (65l), or Foray(75l).

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Mines pictured above as the Huntaway, id say its pretty big for 55litres, in that as its picture off the top of my head would have,

Sleeping bag, thermarest, fly, bivy bag, spare thermals, food, cooker, jacket, polerfleece, another top, binos in a badlands pouch, camelback bladder, rangefinder, spotting scope, tripod, knife etc. Depending on where your going you could probably get rind of abit of that and have room for meat, with all of that as you can see it was full.

Hey guys,

I'm reviving an old thread as I may be in the market for a pack. I have inherited a macpac from the early 90s it seems to have aged okay but its not comfortable with an excess of 25kg in it. That may be my setup though. Any guide on how to setup their quanturn harness?

Alternatively I'm looking at a kelty coyote, wilderness equipment prion 85, bison 75l or bigger or the bushbuck 85.

It would seem tatonka have the market in nz and most people swear by their macpac.

Cheers

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Originally Posted by paddygonebush

Just picked up at Wilderness Equipment Prion 85 from Further Faster in Christchurch. Aussie made. No frills, bombproof. It is 85L+, bigger than my previous Macpac Cascade 90L. https://www.wildernessequipment.com....on-85-m-olive/.

Will do a bit of a review after it gets a bit more bush time.

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Hey,
, any update on the prion? They look good on their spec and I liked their gear when I lived in aussie.

I have a K2 Contractor on the sell section if any one chasing one basically brand new

Mystery Ranch - They are expensive but totally worth it!

Frame size makes a big difference on the Macpac packs. I had a size 2 for a while, had a love hate relationship with it. Some bad advice from a sale person led to this purchase. Brought a size 3 and what a difference.

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Originally Posted by 300wsm for life

Frame size makes a big difference on the Macpac packs. I had a size 2 for a while, had a love hate relationship with it. Some bad advice from a sale person led to this purchase. Brought a size 3 and what a difference.

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How tall are you. I'm not sure what size frame this pack is but I'm a fair bit taller than the last guy with this pack.

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Originally Posted by Rn-85

Hey guys,

I'm reviving an old thread as I may be in the market for a pack. I have inherited a macpac from the early 90s it seems to have aged okay but its not comfortable with an excess of 25kg in it. That may be my setup though. Any guide on how to setup their quanturn harness?

Alternatively I'm looking at a kelty coyote, wilderness equipment prion 85, bison 75l or bigger or the bushbuck 85.

It would seem tatonka have the market in nz and most people swear by their macpac.

Cheers

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get someone else to help you.... you want harness long enough on frame so the curve of shoulder strap and fattest padded part is actually over curve of shoulder and not still down your back.... put some weight in pack snug up hip belt then adjust shoulder straps till they take some of the weight but still leave some on hips... a small gap between top of pack and back/shoulders is good but too much and it tends to pull you backwards,move COG backwards...... how you actually LOAD THE PACK makes huge difference too... the majority of weight should be as near to your kidneys as possible,EG down low and close to your back..... nothing worse than out at front or up on top..both affect your COG drastically.

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Originally Posted by Rn-85

How tall are you. I'm not sure what size frame this pack is but I'm a fair bit taller than the last guy with this pack.

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I am 195cm.

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

get someone else to help you.... you want harness long enough on frame so the curve of shoulder strap and fattest padded part is actually over curve of shoulder and not still down your back.... put some weight in pack snug up hip belt then adjust shoulder straps till they take some of the weight but still leave some on hips... a small gap between top of pack and back/shoulders is good but too much and it tends to pull you backwards,move COG backwards...... how you actually LOAD THE PACK makes huge difference too... the majority of weight should be as near to your kidneys as possible,EG down low and close to your back..... nothing worse than out at front or up on top..both affect your COG drastically.

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hmmm kidneys Mickey Duck many years ago from Barwicks in Gisborne as a young hunter I bought an ex army A frame pack - soon learnt why they were nicknamed a kidney crusher - but that is what one had - so painfully carried it up hill and down dale - went to a trapper Nelson - not a lot better - then a mountain mule - no real improvement - these modern hunters just dont know how lucky they are

Have the Prion, love it. Bulletproof.

I have a Macpac Pursuit size 2 30 years old and still going strong, I had a Macpac Ascent size 2 20 years old never fitted me properly so out the door it went. Same harness supposedly same back length but some thing changed in those intervening 10 years.

I now has a Spika Drover and now I have it all adjusted its a great fit, yes it has a lumber pad but with a stuffed back that helps immensely. I like the simple basically one bag packs, I tried the Osprey everyone raves about but the multiple pockets and compartments are not my thing.

300wsm, your a tall man. A size 3 should fit a 183 cm plus. Might be adjustment or you might need a bigger harness.


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