Thread: Modern Packs

To me it dosnt feel like your wearing a backpack at all, the frame feels attached to your hips kinda like i imagine exoskeleton would, like its a part of you almost.
I havnt used the meat shelf in mine yet, i have always deboned the meat and it works much better when you leave it attached.

Will try it sometime tho

Originally Posted by 199p

The biggest difference for me going from, macpac, Tontoka, osprey, expeed and going to the exo was getting the weight off my shoulders' and back,
The weight sits on my hips and can feel it on my legs

I have only had mine up2 45kg but i was fine the next day.
I have major back issues ( was told i would never carry a backpack again) and would normally be crippled after carrying that much.

If you've got a heap of weight on your shoulders with a macpac or tatonka etc then its not fitted properly. To be honest I think a lot of guys think that if they buy the most expensive/exotic/unobtainable packs the placebo effect kicks in and you're telling yourself it's awesome (which it's maybe) but most modern packs from the more common manufacturers carry weight just fine

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

If you've got a heap of weight on your shoulders with a macpac or tatonka etc then its not fitted properly. To be honest I think a lot of guys think that if they buy the most expensive/exotic/unobtainable packs the placebo effect kicks in and you're telling yourself it's awesome (which it's maybe) but most modern packs from the more common manufacturers carry weight just fine

Bro its definitely awesome and the macpac was ok, Tatonk always felt like it was pulling me back ospray was way better but nothing like the exo and with my compressed vertebrae its not a placebo but i do know what you mean

My sciatic nerve plays up when i overdo things, my training pack is a sika and any more than 12 kg in that, and i know about it the next day.

Another thing is your body shape changes as you get older, and I'm not just talking about too much beer!. I carried decent loads with a Macpac Torres for many years but after I got to about 55 the waist belt wouldn't work anymore. At that stage I was pretty fit (was a masters rowing provincial rep) without much extra weight. But the bloody waist belt would just slide right down off my hips. I tried a new belt but same result.

I got a new lightweight pack and with light loads it's OK but I'd love to find something that fits properly and would allow a decent load . . .

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

If you've got a heap of weight on your shoulders with a macpac or tatonka etc then its not fitted properly. To be honest I think a lot of guys think that if they buy the most expensive/exotic/unobtainable packs the placebo effect kicks in and you're telling yourself it's awesome (which it's maybe) but most modern packs from the more common manufacturers carry weight just fine

You are correct. Most modern packs are thoroughly adequate, but do fall onto a continuum of "good enough" to "excellent". The older I get the more excellenter I require.
Like the difference between a high density foam mat and a thermarest neo air.

Originally Posted by Southern lite

Thanks for the reply. I've never used a big external framed pack. Was interested in hearing how they feel/carry, that's why I was asking. When I started making packs I honestly never thought hunters would be using them.
Would these bigger packs just give your shoulders and back an easier time or also the knees and hips with the better weight distribution do you think?

I went from an Osprey aether (nice pack), to a Tatonka bison (solid), to a pack from yourself. In my experience, the full frame of the first 2 did not offer me anything more in comfort, or weight distribution. In fact, the full frame with the pack sitting a bit further out I found lended itself to swinging a bit more. And a bit more unsteady when clambering up and down steep stuff. I've found that having a pack custom made to my sizing keeps it really snug and secure feeling. I guess this would be my only consideration of a 'down-side'. Being that custom sizing means if you were to ever want to move it on, there is immediately a limitation on who you could sell to, given that to get the best out of it, they'd be very similarly sized to yourself.

I use an outdoorsman frame. Nobody has mentioned how good they are to sit behind and shoot off in the tussock.

Originally Posted by Brian

I use an outdoorsman frame. Nobody has mentioned how good they are to sit behind and shoot off in the tussock.

Indeed.


Load carrying

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

If you've got a heap of weight on your shoulders with a macpac or tatonka etc then its not fitted properly. To be honest I think a lot of guys think that if they buy the most expensive/exotic/unobtainable packs the placebo effect kicks in and you're telling yourself it's awesome (which it's maybe) but most modern packs from the more common manufacturers carry weight just fine

I have used a few different packs, and i have had some fitted properly.
Yeah they can carry a load for sure, but like 199p said they just take so much of the weight off your shoulders, every little thing is thought about, frames are high enough that the load lifters pull the pack into your body, the lumbar pads are actually decent pads that keep the packs up and sitting on your hips, and hip belt designs made to wrap around your hips properly. My SG shits all over any of the other 6 or so packs iv brought in the past, and not just saying that because i had to re-mortgage the house to buy it

Exo arrived today. Filled it up with minimum 25lb as per instructions, chucked in 25kg and made some minor adjustments. First impressions, so much more comfortable than my current pack. Time will tell. Really easy to access meat shelf. Very impressed.