Frame packs
- Thread starter Riley7/08
- Start date
heartshot
Very Active Member
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LAST EDITED ON Oct-15-19 AT 01:37PM (MST)[p]Sorry, I can't help you with external frame packs. I don't know why anybody would want one. I used my first internal frame pack in 1989 and have never looked back to an external frame. I don't miss them at all and I can't think of a situation where one would be better. I know some have said that they are easier to haul bone in elk quarters. For me, if the elk is close enough to a road to not debone, tying it to a frame back does not seem easier than just sliding it into an internal frame and cinching the straps tight.
Maybe they are more comfortable these days....but man not for me....no way. Internal frames were heaven sent. Thank you Lowe Alpine!
Sorry for the highjack and sidebar rant. There has to be a good use for them somewhere I guess.
Maybe they are more comfortable these days....but man not for me....no way. Internal frames were heaven sent. Thank you Lowe Alpine!
Sorry for the highjack and sidebar rant. There has to be a good use for them somewhere I guess.
Riley7/08
Active Member
- Messages
- 164
>LAST EDITED ON Oct-15-19
>AT 01:37?PM (MST)
>
>Sorry, I can't help you with
>external frame packs. I don't
>know why anybody would want
>one. I used my
>first internal frame pack in
>1989 and have never looked
>back to an external frame.
> I don't miss them
>at all and I can't
>think of a situation where
>one would be better.
>I know some have said
>that they are easier to
>haul bone in elk quarters.
> For me, if the
>elk is close enough to
>a road to not debone,
>tying it to a frame
>back does not seem easier
>than just sliding it into
>an internal frame and cinching
>the straps tight.
>
>Maybe they are more comfortable these
>days....but man not for me....no
>way. Internal frames were
>heaven sent. Thank you
>Lowe Alpine!
>
>Sorry for the highjack and sidebar
>rant. There has to
>be a good use for
>them somewhere I guess.
What brand do you have? I'm open to either type
>AT 01:37?PM (MST)
>
>Sorry, I can't help you with
>external frame packs. I don't
>know why anybody would want
>one. I used my
>first internal frame pack in
>1989 and have never looked
>back to an external frame.
> I don't miss them
>at all and I can't
>think of a situation where
>one would be better.
>I know some have said
>that they are easier to
>haul bone in elk quarters.
> For me, if the
>elk is close enough to
>a road to not debone,
>tying it to a frame
>back does not seem easier
>than just sliding it into
>an internal frame and cinching
>the straps tight.
>
>Maybe they are more comfortable these
>days....but man not for me....no
>way. Internal frames were
>heaven sent. Thank you
>Lowe Alpine!
>
>Sorry for the highjack and sidebar
>rant. There has to
>be a good use for
>them somewhere I guess.
What brand do you have? I'm open to either type
BeanMan
Long Time Member
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- 7,059
I felt that way about internal frame packs too. I tried a Seek Outside because my Lowe Alpine Sundowner weighed almost 8 pounds empty and the SO Peregrine weighed 3.7 pounds less than the Lowe Alpine Specialist Cloudwalker I've carried for years. I also wanted a pack that could be sucked down and used as a day pack and still pack out a load on the first trip back to the vehicle as well as having the breakaway bag option. SO are as comfortable and more versatile than any of the internal frame packs I've owned. And more expensive too.
Hasbean
Hasbean
callsalot
Active Member
- Messages
- 740
I can't really help with this because I'm still using an old external Cabela's frame pack and I know many will disagree with me on this. However, I have packs by Kuiu, Badlands, etc. They are very comfortable and great for medium size loads or smaller but when I called in a large six point bull in Idaho this year for my buddy and three of us took the bull out in one trip I wish I had the external frame pack. I still don't think you can beat them when carrying 100lbs plus. Good luck and interested in what you decide.
Riley7/08
Active Member
- Messages
- 164
>I can't really help with this
>because I'm still using an
>old external Cabela's frame pack
>and I know many will
>disagree with me on this.
>However, I have packs by
>Kuiu, Badlands, etc. They are
>very comfortable and great for
>medium size loads or smaller
>but when I called in
>a large six point bull
>in Idaho this year for
>my buddy and three of
>us took the bull out
>in one trip I wish
>I had the external frame
>pack. I still don't think
>you can beat them when
>carrying 100lbs plus. Good luck
>and interested in what you
>decide. Thanks for your input!
>because I'm still using an
>old external Cabela's frame pack
>and I know many will
>disagree with me on this.
>However, I have packs by
>Kuiu, Badlands, etc. They are
>very comfortable and great for
>medium size loads or smaller
>but when I called in
>a large six point bull
>in Idaho this year for
>my buddy and three of
>us took the bull out
>in one trip I wish
>I had the external frame
>pack. I still don't think
>you can beat them when
>carrying 100lbs plus. Good luck
>and interested in what you
>decide. Thanks for your input!
I'd say the top 4 pack companies are Mystery Ranch, Exo, Kifaru and Stone Glacier. Personally I run the Mystery Ranch Metcalf for everything longer than day trips and even for some of my day trips I'll use it. The meat shelf is a must and most have stuck it right between the pack and the frame, which is a great place for it. Get the word out on social media that you are looking for a Kifaru and see who comes out of the woodwork to let you try theirs. Same with the other brands. Try on as many as you can, with weight, and you'll have your answer.
BeanMan
Long Time Member
- Messages
- 7,059
>I'd say the top 4 pack
>companies are Mystery Ranch, Exo,
>Kifaru and Stone Glacier. Personally
>I run the Mystery Ranch
>Metcalf for everything longer than
>day trips and even for
>some of my day trips
>I'll use it. The meat
>shelf is a must and
>most have stuck it right
>between the pack and the
>frame, which is a great
>place for it. Get the
>word out on social media
>that you are looking for
>a Kifaru and see who
>comes out of the woodwork
>to let you try theirs.
>Same with the other brands.
>Try on as many as
>you can, with weight, and
>you'll have your answer.
You?ve left out Seek Outside, made in Grand Junction, Colorado, from your list of top packs. SO belongs on this list. I've carried two elk out on mine in the last three months. It is lighter than any of your top 4 and has a better harness system than the MR Metcalf I have carried elk out with. Another feature of SO packs that is great is that they are made of waterproof material, you won't need a pack cover and blood washes out easily with soap and water.
Hasbean
>companies are Mystery Ranch, Exo,
>Kifaru and Stone Glacier. Personally
>I run the Mystery Ranch
>Metcalf for everything longer than
>day trips and even for
>some of my day trips
>I'll use it. The meat
>shelf is a must and
>most have stuck it right
>between the pack and the
>frame, which is a great
>place for it. Get the
>word out on social media
>that you are looking for
>a Kifaru and see who
>comes out of the woodwork
>to let you try theirs.
>Same with the other brands.
>Try on as many as
>you can, with weight, and
>you'll have your answer.
You?ve left out Seek Outside, made in Grand Junction, Colorado, from your list of top packs. SO belongs on this list. I've carried two elk out on mine in the last three months. It is lighter than any of your top 4 and has a better harness system than the MR Metcalf I have carried elk out with. Another feature of SO packs that is great is that they are made of waterproof material, you won't need a pack cover and blood washes out easily with soap and water.
Hasbean
I agree with BeanMan, Seek Outside makes a great pack. I love mine. I have 5 bad disks and spinal arthritis so it is extremely important that all the weight rides on my hips and not on my back, this pack does that for me. It has a very different belt that just fits me well, no slipping or hot spots. They are worth checking out.
heartshot
Very Active Member
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- 2,530
My current pack is a Lowe Alpine Netherworld 90. I bought it around 1998. I'm 6'6" and it fits me like a glove. I'll get a pack that is a more earthly color when and IF this one ever dies. It is a bigger pack but I just cinch it down skinny when using as a day pack. Straps and buckles have never broken despite heavy torque and abuse. 100 plus pounds is nothing for this pack and all the weight transfers flawlessly to the hip belt. When I pack out elk solo in two loads, it weighs a lot but is comfortable. (fits me like a glove.
I always feel bad for friends hauling out elk in small 2200 CuIn packs. Those appear very uncomfortable to haul out big loads.
Maybe I'm bias because the small packs do not fit my torso.
I always feel bad for friends hauling out elk in small 2200 CuIn packs. Those appear very uncomfortable to haul out big loads.
Maybe I'm bias because the small packs do not fit my torso.
BeanMan
Long Time Member
- Messages
- 7,059
That's a nice kickstand for your pack. I carried, and will still use, a Lowe Specialist Cloudwalker for 28 years. It's a great pack and it does fit like a glove. Now that I am 60 I am more conscious about going lighter, that's one of the reasons I bought my SO Peregrine. I really like this pack.
Hasbean
Hasbean
