Thread: Packs for heavy loads

Originally Posted by Tahr

I will ask him. Nelson area somewhere.

Well there is currently culling going on in the Maitai catchment

Originally Posted by Tahr

Not that much. $1260NZD landed for the Initial Ascent I have bought. I haven't included GST - have never been hit with it before.

Were you @BRADS or @199p?

Yeah mine 1500 shipped but that's including extras not a true pack only price.
But I got taxed but was sorted buy shipping costs.

Sent from my SM-S916B using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by Tahr

Im spending too much time on this forum. But I'm batching in the country with no TV and these are long nights...

I'm really over carting deer out of places like this (from the circled clearing to where I took the pic, and then beyond). Ive done that haul several times recently , and off the face above it. It really does piss me off. It might not look far to you, but for my old bod it is.

Attachment 250344

So the other day I started researching load carrying packs. It's not that I don't have a couple of good packs - but Im a bit of a gear freak - and am always on the look out for something better. After all of my researching my heart (not my brain) told me to go straight to the Exo 4 like Brads has but I nearly died when I saw the price. Something like $1,800 NZD landed. Nah. (But if I was in Brads shoes -years in front of him -I certainly would have).

So then after some more feretting around I came across the Initial Accent. Not the very best across the board but universally (it seems) recognised as one of the best for load carrying. An advantage for me ('cos Im mostly a day hunter) is that the bag can be stripped off and the hood and pannier left on to make a light day hunting rig that will carry heavy shit. Still real spendy but not Exo spendy.

Here 'tis. https://initialascent.com/products/i...ck-system-2024
Ive bought the pannier too. This is how it looks set up for a day hunt. https://initialascent.com/products/ia-day-pack-2024

I dont anticipate carrying loads like this, but it shows what these Initial Accent and other modern packs can do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kvjb7gfg1p0

When I went to the cart I found that the freight was something like $400NZD. Holly shit. I contacted IA and they adjusted the freight down. Nice move. But then I found that Black Ovis sell their packs and their freight was another $100 cheaper still. So I put one in their cart and went off to think about it. Next day Black Ovis emailed me and said "hey dude you left something in the cart - buy it and we will give you a 10% discount". So I bought it.

I know it wont fix my body, but Im hoping it might ease my pain. We will see.

I just hope I get some good use out of it before my boys inherit it.

I bought a Weka off you. Can take boned out back legs and back steaks of a stag. Full load but it is an impressive pack.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Not that much. $1260NZD landed for the Initial Ascent I have bought. I haven't included GST - have never been hit with it before.

Were you @BRADS or @199p?

Mine was i think just over $1400 all up but i stuffed up, paid for it in 2 lots and paid them in nzd not usd so got a terrable rate and double exchange fees was trying to skip gst but they put both invoices on the shipment so still ha to pay it.

Got the drink bottle holder would also recommend that, fits a kiwiblue in it

Shipping was horrendous

Pack is awesome have had 50 kg of water in it wasn't a massive walk but carried it great

Originally Posted by TeRei

I bought a Weka off you. Can take boned out back legs and back steaks of a stag. Full load but it is an impressive pack.

Yes. Great little packs and Ive still got one. But Im ready for a Rolls Royce.

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

Cinch up the hip strap so the weight is mostly on your hips, and not your shoulders

Originally Posted by Happy Jack

Some of us don't have protruding hips, pack fit for me has always been a problem.

Originally Posted by Parky

I agree, after a lot of weighted pack walking with the huntaway at 28-30kg the difference in a larger pack for carrying weight is night and day. I have a macpac 80l and was way nicer. Huntaway awesome for overnight trips and tighter scrub walking and can handle carrying the load that other packs in my experience can’t handle, but comfort wise once u really load them up they cut in on ya.
Still really enjoy my huntaway due to how it pulls down to day pack as well but I don’t rekon it fits his brief here.

Originally Posted by H.M

Used a huntaway for a few years loved it, until i got a good load in it and hurt the shoulders was hard to transfer the weight to hips.
Now have a stone galcier, game changer didn't know a pack could be so comfy. Use for day pack and multiday packs down tiny. Load shelf is great, takes wee bit of practice to get it right but its pretty fast once ya got it sorted. Landed in NZ from 1 shot gear in the states for $1150 i waited for a %20 sale. Still few hundy cheaper than buying here. Its the sky 5900

A small consolation it's not just me. I guess the Huntaway onesizefitsall doesn't fit all, especially when loaded up.

Sounds like you have to spend a fair bit of coin to get a well fitting pack for heavy weight.

This is not a bad pack. An Outdoorsman. Both Brian and I have them. Meat sling, and I have 2 bags for it. This small one and a big full one. Takes a hell of a weight but it slips off my hips under a big load and I have to constantly adjust it. There isn't enough pull up in the load lifters (the straps over the top of the shoulder straps). When I first put it on it's great and comfy, but it doesn't stay like that. The best Ive had up to now though.

can you reconfigure those problimatic load lifter straps???
amazing what a seemingly small change can make to things
MAYBE work out what you need it to do differently and go visit your friendly local saddlery person??? or get out the speedy stitcher and DIY.
shifting the attachment points of my K2Hunter outwards by 2" made huge difference to my comfort level under a heavy load.

After persevering with an army alice pack for years and upgrading to a Tatonka 90 + 10, I realized I had been behind the times for quite some time in heavy pack comfort.

Originally Posted by Tahr

This is not a bad pack. An Outdoorsman. Both Brian and I have them. Meat sling, and I have 2 bags for it. This small one and a big full one. Takes a hell of a weight but it slips off my hips under a big load and I have to constantly adjust it. There isn't enough pull up in the load lifters (the straps over the top of the shoulder straps). When I first put it on it's great and comfy, but it doesn't stay like that. The best Ive had up to now though.

Attachment 250450

Did you fall down the side of the hill Bruce?

Got a Tatonka Lastenkraxe frame here if you want to take it out for a test drive anytime

PM me

It squeaks like a mouse chewing bubblegum

In Wairarapa

Originally Posted by kiwijames

Did you fall down the side of the hill Bruce?

@kiwijames While crossing the creek to retrieve that head I got badly stuck up to my waist in the toe of a slip from the cyclone. It was quite tricky to extract myself.

Originally Posted by Tahr

@kiwijames While crossing the creek to retrieve that head I got badly stuck up to my waist in the toe of a slip from the cyclone. It was quite tricky to extract myself.

Attachment 250483

Attachment 250484

Attachment 250485

You need mud grips boots there Bruce.Just hope you dont have a bad full with no help near by one day.

Always got a plb on my belt Trout. Not infallible but good security.

Originally Posted by Tahr

@kiwijames While crossing the creek to retrieve that head I got badly stuck up to my waist in the toe of a slip from the cyclone. It was quite tricky to extract myself.

Attachment 250483

Attachment 250484

Attachment 250485

Ha! You can’t beat that Wairarapa muddy for stickiness 😆😆