Thread: Medium size / overnight pack recommendations 2024

Hi team,

I am looking at purchasing another pack to bridge the gap between my large 75L pack and my 25L day pack. Primarily it will be used for overnight/weekend missions in the summer where I don't need to carry as much bulk but need that wee bit of space to fit both overnight gear and boned out meat. I am also aiming for something lighter than my 75L pack (2.4kg).

I am after recommendations if anyone has any. Please let me know any reasons why you would recommend a specific pack.

Cheers!

cheek out the Osprey packs man they have a few that fit in there and carry so very well.

Southern lite packs.

Exped lightning

Budget?
Light packs don't tend to be great for hunting. Most are made for hiking not hunting. To carry a decent load out I think theres a compromise you have to accept. I've found a good mid weight pack with better support carries as easy as a light pack without noticing anything. If you plan to come out heavy it's kind of defeating the purpose anyway.
The Exped Lightning above is just shit for heavy loads (I know as I just gave mine to my kids). Hot spots all over due to poor harness design and the fucking thing squeaks like a cheap motel bed.
Cactus make a reasonable pack for heavy loads but are not light or cheap.
I've not used an Osprey but they come up a bit so should have something decent to offer, as does Tatonka.
I've recently purchased an EXO K4 but that's not cheap. It will carry more than my body will allow and sits better than any pack I've ever owned.
The shelf type system is always going to be a better load hauler for hunting situations. Kuiu, Stone Glacier, Kifaru, Mystery Ranch all in the same market. @Tahr might chime in here. He goes through gear worse than @BRADS and has done a few reviews on packs.

Originally Posted by 199p

cheek out the Osprey packs man they have a few that fit in there and carry so very well.

I rate my Osprey Aether 70 AG or whatever it's called.

Originally Posted by kiwijames

Budget?
Light packs don't tend to be great for hunting. Most are made for hiking not hunting. To carry a decent load out I think theres a compromise you have to accept. I've found a good mid weight pack with better support carries as easy as a light pack without noticing anything. If you plan to come out heavy it's kind of defeating the purpose anyway.
The Exped Lightning above is just shit for heavy loads (I know as I just gave mine to my kids). Hot spots all over due to poor harness design and the fucking thing squeaks like a cheap motel bed.
Cactus make a reasonable pack for heavy loads but are not light or cheap.
I've not used an Osprey but they come up a bit so should have something decent to offer, as does Tatonka.
I've recently purchased an EXO K4 but that's not cheap. It will carry more than my body will allow and sits better than any pack I've ever owned.
The shelf type system is always going to be a better load hauler for hunting situations. Kuiu, Stone Glacier, Kifaru, Mystery Ranch all in the same market. @Tahr might chime in here. He goes through gear worse than @BRADS and has done a few reviews on packs.

I used to have a Sitka pack that was one of the first designs to come out with the "meat shelf" idea, have had a Stone Glacier also (first of the Evo frame system from memory). They may have improved but I found the bloody things terrible, all it seemed to achieve was to push the weight of your other gear outwards which makes them terrible for balance, I just ended up shoving everything inside the pack. Cactus Huntaway be my pick for a do it all day pack or overnighter

Osprey

I like my cactus huntaway for anything up to about 25kg load. Work out all the gear u take overnight, ev different, weigh it, get rough size and see what size u need. Then try some on.

Hi guys,

Thanks for the feedback. From the sounds of it I may be better of just sticking to my Macpac Cascade 75L for all overnight situations. It handles big meat pack outs really well, the only issue with it is the bulk and height of it when its empty makes it a pain for hunting in brush and scrub. Does anyone take a smaller pack for day hunting that they carry within their main pack on those big missions. I.e something that is lower profile and is a quiet material like a pikau?

Yeah I used to do that often and still do occasionally. Pikaus are handy because you can just chuck them in the wash as well.
Another small pack that is handy are the likes of the 25l huntech ones. Don't take up much room in your main pack, only about $100, lightweight, quiet, have a few pockets and you can easily chuck them in the washing machine as well. They are not super durable though so won't last forever but for the price not so much an issue.

My k2hunter has small zip off daybag.canvas so noisy in scrub UNTIL I put a polar fleece shirt over it.the straps go through the sleeves and neck hole is used to access bag.works great.

@flounderingAround You could try compressing down your Macpac Cascade. Another option, along the lines of what Micky Duck is suggesting, sew up a old fleece cover with elastic on, as a cover for the macpac. I did one up for my Exo with sleeve and backpack when hunting with it. I've gone back to my TwinNeedle Capsule 2 for hunting from - enjoy the freedom of movement, and will use the Exo to carry stuff in and out - enjoy the shoulder and back comfort.

Southern lite 65 litre

Eberlestock F1 main frame system will cover all your bases, one frame that fits various size bags.
Pm if you keen to see some pics