I was recently in the same exact position as you so on a whim I went outside the "Hunting Box" and went to a sporting goods store that catered more to hikers and climbers and learned a LOT. I had them measure me for one of their osprey packs and tried it around the store up and down the stairs with 50 lbs in it and really liked it. Ostrey is high end stuff. The one I chose was the Osprey Atmos AG 65 it has the new anti gravity suspension, and in the large sive ists a 68 liter (roughly 4100 cubic inches and only cost a fraction of that a kuiu or an eberlestock cost. $270 and to me the fit is light years ahead of any hunting pack on the market.
I was backpacking and climbing long before i started using a backpack for hunting purposes.
The "hunting" market, particularly for those who venture into the hills and mountains would serve themselves far better to shop at climbing and mountaineering venues than the relatively new backpack hunting gear providers.
For the hands-down, undisputed best, lightweight massive-load hauling back packs look to McHale custom packs.
Mountaineers have been using them since, well, since Dan started making 'em.
Other honorable mentions are Cold,Cold World packs, Wild Things gear (check out their "Mission" selections), Gregory Designs, Arcteryx (though i have never owned an Arcteryx pack old climbing friends love 'em), British "Karrimor" packs, etc. Heck, even "Mystery Ranch" packs (whose founder Dana Gleason) were designed initially for backpacking/mountaineering.
This non-hunting gear suppliers recommendation extends also to footwear. Boots.
Mountaineering, trekking and backpacking boot makers have decades and decades of experience making boots for the most rugged places on earth. We hunters should not have to settle for whatever crap Cabelas, Bass Pro Shops, Sportsmans Warehouse, Big 5, Gander Mountain pass off as top of the line - "best in the world". We do it to ourselves by not opening our eyes to other options.
Case in point. My "normal" hunting boots are by a company called Alpina, the "Peak" model. I bought them when i lived in Bosnia and they were made in Slovenia - a SERIOUSLY mountainous country. My "cold weather" hunting boots are my winter mountaineering boots - LaSportiva "Nepal Extreme" - Italian made and absolutely awesome.
We must think outside of the little box US retailers try to put us in.
I'll be looking for boots soon. Are there any boots that you suggest I look at? Looking for a 6-8" high boot
I was backpacking and climbing long before i started using a backpack for hunting purposes.
The "hunting" market, particularly for those who venture into the hills and mountains would serve themselves far better to shop at climbing and mountaineering venues than the relatively new backpack hunting gear providers.
For the hands-down, undisputed best, lightweight massive-load hauling back packs look to McHale custom packs.
Mountaineers have been using them since, well, since Dan started making 'em.
Other honorable mentions are Cold,Cold World packs, Wild Things gear (check out their "Mission" selections), Gregory Designs, Arcteryx (though i have never owned an Arcteryx pack old climbing friends love 'em), British "Karrimor" packs, etc. Heck, even "Mystery Ranch" packs (whose founder Dana Gleason) were designed initially for backpacking/mountaineering.
This non-hunting gear suppliers recommendation extends also to footwear. Boots.
Mountaineering, trekking and backpacking boot makers have decades and decades of experience making boots for the most rugged places on earth. We hunters should not have to settle for whatever crap Cabelas, Bass Pro Shops, Sportsmans Warehouse, Big 5, Gander Mountain pass off as top of the line - "best in the world". We do it to ourselves by not opening our eyes to other options.
Case in point. My "normal" hunting boots are by a company called Alpina, the "Peak" model. I bought them when i lived in Bosnia and they were made in Slovenia - a SERIOUSLY mountainous country. My "cold weather" hunting boots are my winter mountaineering boots - LaSportiva "Nepal Extreme" - Italian made and absolutely awesome.
We must think outside of the little box US retailers try to put us in.