Welcome to the New Antler Canyon Outfitters Website
January 29, 2018
3 Things You Should Know About Arizona Deer Hunting
March 23, 2018
How to do choose the best backpack amid a myriad of options? It’s a dilemma that most hunters wrestle with. Many of us will admit to having a stack of different packs that we’ve tried over the years. There are daypacks, backpacking packs, ultralight backpacks and load haulers. The wide range of options can be intimidating.
We wish we could tell you there was an easy answer to this hunting backpack riddle. When you hunt varying locations throughout the year, your needs can change from location to location.
On a day hunt close to the truck for antelope, you’d pack very differently than you would on a multi-day backpack hunt for elk. In other situations, you may be hunting from a wall tent camp or even a local motel. During the course of a Coues deer hunt or a mule deer hunt, you might even get a little of both.
The right answer is the one that works best for the locations you hunt most often. And for some hunters, that might mean having multiple setups.
To help simplify the answer, you can divide most backpack options into three main categories:
The Daypack
When hunting from town or a base camp, a standard daypack is an obvious choice. This is a great option for in-and-out day hunts. Most daypacks are between 1,500 and 3,000 cubic inches. They tend to be very comfortable and lightweight. It will typically allow a wide range of motion for maneuvering steep slopes or drawing your bow.
Whenever possible, opt to go this route. It’s simply more comfortable, and you can move more easily with a small pack on your back.
The weaknesses of a standard daypack become clear when that elk or Coues deer is on the ground. It’s never going to be your best option for hauling a load of meat. By their nature, the lightweight shoulder harness and waist belt on a daypack aren’t designed to be comfortable under heavy loads. In these situations you might haul a small load back to camp and then switch packs to retrieve the rest.
The Backpacker
The uses for this type of bag are obvious. Backpacking bags are usually 4,000 to 7,000 cubic inches. The required size depends on how many days you’ll be in the field. It also depends on the time of year. The cooler the weather, the more gear you’ll carry.
The downside of any large backpacking bag is that you have a giant bag and frame on your back when you’re hunting. Some backpacking bags cinch down pretty snug for day hunting, but they will always feel somewhat clumsy as daypacks. Extra webbing will be hanging off the bag, and keeping your day hunting gear organized in a large volume pack is not as easy as it is in a small daypack.
However, for long backcountry trips, this downside can be overlooked. When you need capacity and hauling ability, this is the way to go.
Convertible Options
Hunters now have many options in frame packs that can convert from overnight load haulers to daypacks with relative ease. Some manufacturers achieve this by creating multiple pack bags that can be used on a single frame and suspension. And many of these packs allow the bag to separate from the frame, creating space to drop an extra load between the bag and the frame.
These convertible options are nice for those who tend to pack in and then hunt out of a spike camp, or those who want a daypack with the ability to haul meat out when necessary. These are great options for our Arizona Coues deer hunts and elk hunting trips. The versatility of these systems allows you to be nimble in a wide range of hunting situations.
While it may sound like the perfect balance between the two, these packs do have downsides. These convertible features add complexity and more weight to a pack. If all you truly need is a daypack, then a standard daypack is going to be much more comfortable, it will be easier to organize your day hunting gear, and you’ll be able to maneuver more easily in the mountains. Likewise, if your primary need is load-hauling ability, an internal frame load hauler will do a better job. The convertible option may be the jack-of-all-trades, but master of none.
The Final Conclusion
When deciding on the best pack for your needs, it’s important to be honest with yourself about the features you truly require. Don’t make a decision based on what looks cool or based on features that are attractive but unnecessary.
Mentally walk through each day of your hunt. Consider the needs you’re most likely to have. When it comes down to it, you might realize there isn’t a single pack that can do it all. You might decide that you need multiple setups for different situations. And that’s fine. In some situations, having a couple of specialized packs is better than one pack that claims to do it all.
At Antler Canyon Outfitters, we offer outstanding Arizona hunts for Coues deer, mule deer, elk, antelope and more. For details, please call us at (928) 205-8911 or you can contact us online.
