20 Best Hunting Backpack Under 100 (2023 Updated)

I bought this pack in a pinch a couple of days before the spike elk hunt. I did a day or so worth of research and settled on the Badlands Superday. Trying it on in the store it seemed to mold to my body and the warranty is top notch.

I bought it and used it for my hunt and I am almost glad I didn’t get an elk that year. This pack would have been terrible to pack anything out on. The Good: -Warranty -Lots of pockets and separate storage compartments lets you organize your gear -Gun boot and carrying system is fantastic for those long hikes in or out -Built in pistol hip holster is a great idea -Quiet fabric and approach camo make this pack stealthy The bad -Hip pockets are to far back while wearing and inaccessible without removing the pack, kinda defeats the purpose of having IMHO -Built in pistol hip holster does not allow you to quickly access your firearm and places it in an awkward position.

It is also a bit on the short side and unless you are carrying anything other than a subcompact it puts your barrel in the dirt whenever set the pack down. -Foam back padding/rigidity is not as sturdy as I was expecting.

With minimal weight in it and well distributed it did not support as well as their description of it makes it sound like it should. I had a 2 L water bladder, rangefinder, knife, extra shirt/light jacket, game bags, pb&j sandwich, a couple granola bars, head lamp and a small first aid kit with me.

Should have carried fine. -Hip belt does not transfer the weight to your hips, it remains on your shoulders. Atleast in my experience it did. No matter how I adjusted the shoulders straps and hip belt I could not get the weight off of my shoulders unless I slung the bag uncomfortably low.

– It is not made in the USA, as Badlands suggests. Overall a good bag but not impressive, especially for the price.

The five star rating is heavily weighted by their exceptional customer service. I’ve had the superday pack for several years, and I agree with some of the post that suggest that the side pockets on the hip straps are too far back.

The pack is quality made with great storage. After owning the pack for several years, one if those hip strap side zippers failed. I contacted Badlands and mailed it to them for a free repair. They returned the pack (with a new zipper) in record time, and even included a free really nice hat.

First rate company.

Overall I am very pleased with the pack and it’s performance. How ever I must mention the side pockets almost become useless if the maine compartment is filled up. If they could incorporate some elastic and use buckles to tighten the pack like some other packs do it would make it even better.

Another thing to note is the lumbar padding wears very easily and if you plan on dropping the pack or placing it on rough terrain or the bed of your truck it can wear and cause a problem. If the could make the bottom of the lumbar the same rip stop material as the rest of the pack this could solve the problem.

A temporary fix is to use some male sided Velcro and cut it to shape to prevent premature wear. I have manage to fit a weeks worth of clothes and medical equipment in the pack exceeding the packs capabilities.

Another thing to mention is the pack is extremely versatile. For whatever your mission or camping goals or objectives are this pack can adhere to to that whether it be camping hiking rucking etc.

I’ve been a Triple Aught Design guy for years and the Halftrack is my first Eberlestock backpack. So far, I haven’t been disappointed. The quality is outstanding. It’s very comfortable on my back and has plenty of room to carryall of my hiking gear.

I’m now eyeing the Terminator so I can carry my AR while hiking.

So upon receiving my new pack I was bummed that the front was laser cut mole attachments. I guess I didn’t notice from the pictures and videos. I saw that it had the old style. But it wasn’t defined in the black pack.

Love the back padding, the way it supports is amazing. I bought this pack hastily, I should have done so more research. The side pouches are not working for my application. But that’s my fault. Like I said I should have done more research on all the packs you have to offer.

But overall it looks to made very well. Time will tell how it works for me.

Best day pack I’ve yet to ever own. Tried it out this weekend and the comfort of this bag on my back is incomparable. I felt like I was walking straighter and with more ease then with other packs I’ve worn.

They definitely got the ergonomics of this bag down pat. I go for all day romps in the woods, and wouldn’t change a thing about this bag. Held all my gear with a ton of room to spare. Had my nalgene, bino’s, gloves, tool kit, and a few other odds and ends and it felt light as a feather on my back.

Literally forgot I was wearing it for most of my hiking. Super happy with all the compartments, feels like it will last a lifetime. High quality bag. Pumped for sheds to start dropping, this will be my goto bag for the upcoming shed hunt days.

I picked up my Pack at Halifax NS store. store clerks were great help, Looks like a great pack lots of storage room nice material but silver Cabelas name stands out but can fix that up with a black permanent marker.

only gave it 4 star rating as I will not be using it for another 3 weeks when hunting season begins for me. Will up date my review at a later date.

I found this pack to be high quality, lightweight, and very comfortable to carry. I am able to get a medium weight coat or bibs in it along with my regular items like snacks, waters, binoculars, range finder, gloves, etc.

Quite often I have to walk a long way to my stand and I will have to use a larger pack when it gets cold enough for a heavy coat, bibs, and boot blankets but, this is a great pack for cool weather bow hunts.

I would highly recommend this pack to others. It has adequate compartments to sort items out but not so many that you have to hunt all over your pack to get what you want.

I recently purchased an Eberlestock J34 pack and, while I was impressed with the overall construction of the pack, several design shortcomings led me to ultimately reject and return it. I was willing to overlook the badly designed top flap, with zippers that seem placed to allow things to fall out when opened, and a single strap (rather than the standard two) that offers little in the way of torsional stability to the top as it sits on the main body of the pack.

I was also frustrated by the fact that the horizontal load compression straps go around the outside of the exterior pockets, rendering them inaccessible without undoing the compression straps. This also makes it impossible to tighten the straps without crushing what may be in those pockets.

The final straw for me came when I loaded it up with 47 pounds of gear in preparation for a summer scouting trip. The presence of the built-in (empty) scabbard, which in theory is a great idea, made it impossible to adequately tighten the load against the pack frame and suspension system.

The short fabric loops that are in place for this purpose do not allow the pack to tighten fully against your back, leaving you with an unsecured load. It was unacceptable to me with less than 50 pounds in it; I can’t imagine trying to haul out 85 pounds of meat with this suspension.

I’ve carried 100-pound packs on mountaineering expeditions, so I know it’s possible to design a pack that will carry that weight solidly. This, unfortunately, is not one of those, IMHO. Probably great for light loads, but for backcountry deer hunting, I opted for a MR Marshall.

I’m a pretty intense researcher, so I worried that the decision on a hunting pack could be a nightmare. My hunting partners both run the M5 RMEF Team Elk and love it, while I’ve hunted several seasons using my Osprey camping rig.

I wanted something lower profile than the M5 (internal frame and not camouflage) but that would still have the capacity to haul major weight and have the fantastic Eberlestock rifle scabbard (my previous pack could carry a lot but there wasn’t a great way to secure my rifle when packing out).

In the end the J34 fit the bill perfectly. I compared the weight, features, capacities and capabilities to every other manufacturer I could find; without exception the competitions’ offerings were all more expensive, less feature-rich and lacked Eberlestock’s proven history and tactical pedigree.

I hunt every season from spring turkey to late season elk in the high Rockies and look forward to using this pack for those chases. It hasn’t been out on a hunt yet but I’ve been rucking with it daily and so far it carries like a dream.

I’ve been loading 45# in it without issue and can tell it’s going to be harder to find the right weights to put in it than to max out this bad boy. The weight carries close in to your body and the adjustability of the pack is great, especially for someone with scoliosis who requires some wonky fitting to get the weight to ride correctly.

The only issue is that the hydration sleeve (as mentioned in several other reviews) doesn’t fit a 3L bladder. Fortunately I read that and bought the 2L, which fits perfectly and is honestly a good amount of water, especially when supplemented with a quart or two of hydration mix in bottles.

Overall it’s a killer pack; build quality and materials are top-notch and the fit and finish made it worth every penny.

I’ve only put about 5 miles on this pack so far so take this review with a grain of salt. The pack is very sturdy; I’d have absolutely no qualms about weighing it down with 100 pounds or more. I really love the fact that I can draw my gun from the pack without removing it.

You need to be a bit limber but it’s totally doable and I feel quite smooth with that motion already. Definitely don’t but a hydration pack that’s bigger than 2L as that’s all that that particular compartment will hold.

I haven’t found a good place to store the hydration hose when not in use so that’s a bit of a downside for now. The pack is quite heavy which is unfortunate knowing that I try to cut ounces on all of my gear including gun, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, camp stove, etc.

It feels a bit like taking a step backwards in that department. The large rain cover fits the pack well. I purchased the duffel along with this pack as per Eberlestock’s suggestion but I’m not quite sure how to combine these items in the most efficient way.

So far, I’m not sure how much I gain by having that piece to go with it. Lastly, know that if you’re buying a pack where there are 2 compartments between your back and the main pocket, anything you carry in that main pocket is going to put a bit more strain on your back than with another backpack where that weight can be pulled in closer to your back.

That said, I feel like it’s a fair trade-off to have your rifle protected and off of your shoulder while still within reach. I’m 6’1″ 175lbs and hardly had to adjust the pack at all.

Just received my Superday pack and bino Connect system and can already tell it’s gonna meet my needs. Used cheap packs in the past that have broke. You truly get what you pay for with this pack. Listed as a day pack, but honestly has more space than one should ever need for just a day pack and the bino connect system is awesome.

Unfortunately the waistband holster barely fit my full size glock 10mm. I could get it in and snapped down, but just barely. Also the holsters are a little far back to be super efficient. I didn’t let it bother me too much because this pack is so awesome and there are plenty of ways to connect another holster that will meet your needs so don’t let that stop you from purchasing this pack! This pack will last many, many years and Badlands has a lifetime warranty!.

This pack performed amazingly for me. I used it on a 9-day Idaho elk hunt, and I put this thing through the paces. I threw everything I had at it, and this pack simply laughed and wanted more. I just wish we would have killed an elk so I could comment on how well it packed out an elk quarter though.

Purchase this pack and see for yourself how amazing it is. Let’s start with my dislikes, which are merely my situational opinions. 1. Although very functional and comfortable I ended up not using the pistol holder while rifle hunting.

My pistol (S&W Shield) has a high back profile and scratched my rifle a lot. If I were bow hunting this trip this would have been a non-issue. This will be a great feature when hiking with the family though.

2. The included gun/bow boot was not 100% for me only because I own the regular gun boot and ended up using that instead. It is nice that I now have the combo boot as well as the gun boot. 3. I wish the loops for the cross straps were a little bigger so I could have easily pulled the straps/buckles through to cinch in larger items.

The GREAT: 1. More room than you will ever need in this pack with its 3 main compartments, and the 4 side pockets for quick access to large and small items. 2. Comfort on the back and waist was amazing.

Several days had me leaving at 5am and returning to camp well after dark. This pack has all the padding you need in all the right places. 3. The construction on this pack is second to none. I weigh over 250 pounds and spent several hours leaning COMFORTABLY back into this pack glassing ridges and bowls without having to worry if anything was going to rip or tear.

I have a Badlands 2200 that is much larger (and heavier) than I need as a day pack. It has some features that I didn’t really like and I was hoping the Superday pack that I just purchased would be the solution, but it fails the test.

I find it hard to believe that several short-comings were not identified in the development stage. My chief complaint is the waist belt pockets are IMPOSSIBLE to close with one hand due to the orientation and the radius of the zippers.

The handgun holsters are a complete joke! My S&W 45 Shield with 4″ barrel barely fits and the muzzle is exposed. They are too far back on the waist belt. The retention strap buckle is awkward to reach, requiring an inward rotation of your wrist, with thumb and finger pressure to release.

Good luck on drawing & presenting your weapon in a hurry in the field when faced with a four-legged critter that views you as a threat or a meal Lastly, the waist belt straps are twice as long as necessary.

Fully extended the will circle a girth of 70-inches! I’ll be returning it to the retail store where I bought it.

I was on the fence a long time about getting one of these. I actually bought a used 2200 and ended up selling it. I just like the extra features that the new ones provided and went with a new one. I chose the small approach bag for my recent elk hunting trip here in northern NM.

Unfortunately, I did not get to try out the frame pack. The elk in our unit were tough to find, as me and my buddy were pretty certain the rut hadn’t started yet. My only complaint about this pack is that I wish the pistol holder section was a little bit more to the front.

It’s pretty awkward for me to get it out with the pack on. I did get the bino connect setup going, but after one day I ended up going back to having my pack and binos separate. I preferred leaving my binos on with the pack off if we were taking a break, driving and glassing, etc.

All in all, I highly recommend this pack.

I was fortunate and had an opportunity to use a friend’s Badland 2200 pack earlier in the year to pack out an elk. This gave me a chance to check out the pack’s features and see how well it performed under field conditions before purchasing a pack of my own.

A “pretty” pack with lots of nice features isn’t worth a dime if the bag doesn’t function well in the field. In this case the Badland 2200 pack’s field performance met and exceeded my expectations. Loading and securing the hind quarter of an elk using the meat shelf and cinch straps was an easy task compared to pack boards I’ve used in the past.

Once the load was secured, the fully adjustable harness system and waist belt helped make the hike back to the vehicle quite comfortable. Every feature of the pack is top notch and well thought out. It’s great to know the pack comes with a lifetime guarantee, but I’d be surprised if they see many of these packs returned.

The only recommendation I have concerns the Hip-Belt Pistol Holsters. I wish the strap to secure the pistol in the holster was about an inch longer. While the holster accommodates most pistols I would carry into the field, the strap is not long enough to secure most revolvers meaning I cannot carry them using the holster.

That problem could be resolved if the strap was slightly longer. Fortunately, the holster and strap work with my Kimber 1911. 45 ACP pistol, however to do so the strap is fully extended. That recommendation aside, the Badlands 2200 pack is rock solid and I look forward to many years of use.

“We don’t care what happened, or whose fault it was, we will fix it for free forever. We could care less if you bought it at a garage sale or a gear swap, as long as it says Badlands, it’s covered. All we ask is that you use and abuse your pack as much as possible so we can learn how to make our products even better.

” I don’t normally write reviews on products but I feel that I must express myself. I have bought over $800 worth of badlands gear, and I love every item. However, I had an experience that was so poor that it makes me question whether I can trust this company should I need any other assistance with warranty needs.

According to your first paragraph, first sentence of your warranty it states that you don’t care what happened it will be fixed FOREVER! I brought a 2200 pack into one of your brick and mortar stores in Utah where I live for repairs.

I did not buy this bag from a store I actually bought it from a family member. The damage to the pack included broken rippers and some stitching needs. In truth it has been through quite a bit, but it’s been a great bag.

When I brought the bag into the store they took one look at it and very quickly said it had already been repaired once (which I already new) and they wouldn’t repair it again but that I could buy a new bag if I wanted to.

I felt very dismissed as if I was a burden on their time. Why would an organization state one thing as a policy and then do the exact opposite when it counts? Like I mentioned before, I don’t usually write reviews, however I feel like people should know that the warranty policy is not living up to what is posted on the webpage.

I still like my Badlands gear, but I had a really poor experience when all I was doing was trying to use the service that is claimed to be provided. I hope this review is taken seriously and not just dismissed as a disgruntled customer.

I am trying to be honest and straightforward.

This is our third ALPS pack and I’ve found them to be well made comfortable packs. They have good adjustment range and have held up in Appalachian mountain terrain. The pockets are sized right for hunting.

Usually have at a minimum 4 mile hike to one stand and have another about 5 miles. Early scouting walk 7 to 10 miles. Have had pleasant experience with them for comfort, durability, over all organization of items in packs.

The other 2 packs are framed commander and traverse eps. Wish they were American made. Good product for price and looking at the competitors these look and fill just as well. Wouldn’t be afraid to take them out west.

Ok pack if you really don’t want to take a lot along. But, if you have sticks and platform or anything of weight in the pack the shoulder straps slip down your back and you have to keep readjusting during hikes in and out.

Another thing to consider would be the quality of the stitching. Not on the pack itself. But where the pack straps attach to the straps. Sometimes the best part of having this pack is taking it off.

This is a great pack for the money. Plenty of space for a day pack of its size could be good as a 3 day pack. Material’s used to construct the product are fairly decent and durable for the price point.

The padding is plenty adequate for long treks so long as you take the time to properly fit it to your body. I think my only complaint about it is I wish it had a little more in the way of MOLLE attaching points, especially on the shoulder straps they are a little bare.

Overall, a great pack for the money.

I purchased a Buttbucket with my X2. Pro’s: the X2 and the Buttbucket appear to be sturdily constructed. I love how the base of the buttbucket threads through the bottom of the X2 Molle straps. It’s very snug.

Con’s: I was hoping that it would work as a shown in their ButtBucket video. I can not, by myself, reach my bow when my X2 is fully loaded. See the photo. The pack is too far (thick) away from my bow.

Unless you are built like an orangutan or you are a contortionist you won’t be able to execute a quick draw for you bow single handedly. I can, without problem, unclip the strap, but cannot reach the bow.

Therefore quickly deploying my bow single handed is a non starter. I must drop my X2 pack, then remove the bow from the pack. On the plus side, it holds the bow securely when I am hiking, but you must realize that there is no quick draw option with a full pack.

Additionally with a full pack, adding the bow to the buttbucket moves the center of gravity pretty far aft making it somewhat uncomfortable. If I stand comfortably erect, I feel like I’m likely to topple backwards.

Therefore I must bend forward from my hips which feels awkward. If your X2 is lightly loaded, meaning loaded with a very skinny load, then it would be both accessible and comfortably loaded. Also for several reasons I don’t care for the design you are using to attach the quick disconnect buckle to the shoulder straps.

Threading the quick disconnect buckle through the diagonal eberlestock logo strap makes now sense to me. That causes the strap to bunch up into the corner of the diagonal logo strap. I believe you should either use a smaller quick disconnect buckle that will fit through the current D-rings or replace the D-rings with larger D-rings that will accommodate the current quick disconnect buckle.

It appears to me that the quick disconnect strap was added as an afterthought rather than intentionally designed to work with the X2 pack. See the photo’s below. Also I had to call Eberlestock to figure how to attach the quick disconnect strap.

Instructions or photos would have been handy. I kept trying to fit the quick disconnect buckle through the D-ring like it did on the other side of the strap. It never occurred to me that it was to be attach through the diagonal eberlestock logo strap.

Also the quick disconnect strap is too short to reach from the shoulder straps through my bow when the pack is fully loaded. Therefore I had to lengthen my quick disconnect strap by attaching the “Lock Down” strap to the quick disconnect to reach around my fully loaded pack.

The buckles therefore cause a “kink” in the strap. They don’t smoothly slide around the bow’s riser. Lastly the mid span adjustable length buckle couldn’t be more inconvenient. I cannot reach the strap to shorten it because it is not accessible at all.

To fit my pack comfortably, I first buckle the waist strap and adjust the height and length of it. Then adjust at the shoulder straps, Then I adjust the load lifer straps. Finally then I must get another person to snug the quick disconnect strap because I can lot reach it by myself.

I don’t pre snug the quick disconnect strap because doing so prevents me from getting a pack optimally secured. May I suggest lengthening the strap at least an additional foot and you move the adjustable length buckle in either location in the strap as shown in the photo.

That way it may be adjusted by the wearer not an additional person. I frequently hunt alone. Eberlestock, please call if you have any questions. Additionally I would be happy to test the recommendations I have suggested here.

Be well.

I am very pleased with my new X2 pack in Loden. I use it as the base (ruck) of my pack-system that also includes a Multi-Accessory Pouch (for game calls) attached to the webbing on the bottom flap, then I place a Mini-Me (knife, orange vest, emergency rain poncho, phone, keys, wallet, etc.

) equipped with a Bolt-Action Scabbard that slides behind the pouch, also a Large Accessory Pouch placed on top of the lid all strapped down and held in place with straps and buckles that are in just the right places.

This system allows me to remove the Mini-Me with scabbard for a short hunt or hike from the truck/camp leaving other bulky, heavier equipment (rain gear, spotting scope, tripod, extra batteries) or simply remove my rifle and a call if I do not want to carry extra unnecessary gear.

If I am going to a glassing location, in deep overnight or for several days I take it all and the deployable bird bag on the Mini-Me allows me to carry additional gear for camping since it is another extension of my entire pack system that is also in the right place.

I like this personalized pack system of packs and accessories stacked together better than stacking together the Modular system pieces that you offer because I have every piece/pack/item of my hunting gear ready for every situation I encounter while hunting.

When it comes time to haul meat I simply remove the other pieces from the X2 taking only essentials for meat hauling then put it all back together again for my next harvest. Try it, its fantastic!.

I original purchased the X2 for saddle hunting and it has since become my go-to pack for all of my whitetail needs, whether I’m in a pre-hung stand or a run-and-gun saddle setup. Like all Eberlestock products it’s extremely well built and thought out.

I love the deep pocket on the top of the pack – it works great for my headlamp, spare batteries, snacks, SD cards for my trail cameras, and even my sunglasses when needed. The main compartment typically holds additional clothing and all of my camera/filming equipment.

I store extra hats, gloves and misc items in the two large side compartments, and small items that I may need on the hike in like a knife, wind checker and spare bow rope in the waist belt pockets. Then I lash my rattling antlers and other larger items using the vertical straps and bottom panel.

This pack is very easy to adjust and rides great on my hips and back, even with a full load.

Would help with the weight distribution if it had chest and waist straps otherwise a decent pack

Cracking sturdy piece of kit highly recommend.

very comfortable and roomy backpack.

I wanted something smaller than my 2200 that I could strap my crossbow to yet hold plenty of gear, mainly layers of heavy clothes for late season hunts in Iowa. Before my hunt on January 10th (last day in Iowa) I made sure all the stuff I needed would fit.

I had room left over. While it was packed I secured my crossbow in the gun boot and with the three straps across the back. This did prove a little difficult in that my crossbow wanted to twist which could have caused the limbs to smack me in the back of my head.

I solved this by double wrapping the straps around the crossbow. This held it firmly in place while I walked around in my yard. The day of the hunt arrived on the heals of an arctic blast. The forecast high was 4 above.

I packed yet another layer in the Superday but elected to use the crossbow sling instead of securing it to the pack. I was afraid my fingers would get very cold securing and unsecring the crossbow. When I got to the stand it had warmed up to 9 above.

A real man would have just climbed up in the stand and toughed it out but I put on every layer I had stuffed in the Superday. I’m sure I looked like a marshmallow man in all the layers but I was warm and didn’t have to tough anything out.

I shot a fatty doe just at sunset. The temp was back down to 3 above. When I climbed down to track her I took off my top layer and put them back in the Superday. I was taken a bit by surprise when I was putting the layer away as the material that separates the back compartment from the next was quite stiff and noisy.

It sounded like a piece of plastic that was way too cold and about to crack. The outside of the Superday was still pliable and quiet. I found the doe and gutted her. Just as I was finishing my friends came in the side by side.

We loaded her up and went back to the stand to get my gear. Since I was going to ride back to camp instead of walk I left all my remaining layers on so I didn’t try to put anything in any of the other compartments.

When we got back I just threw the Superday in my truck and piled all the extra layers in on top. The next day I unpacked all my gear and the material that separates the compartments was back to being pliable and quiet.

I looked it over very closely for cracks or tears but even though it sounded bad it didn’t break. I can’t fault the Superday for that, it was three degrees after all. As you may recall I tested the crossbow secured to the pack only while walking in my yard.

The true test will come this spring during turkey season when I’m actually going through the timber. The limbs may hang up on branches and end up twisting on the pack. Strapping a gun to the pack should be no problem as there are no limbs to twist.

I like the Superday. It will hold all I need for deer or turkey hunting. I will, however, still use the 2200 to pack my blinds and gear in before turkey season and out when season is over.

I bought this pack after our deer season closed so I didn’t get to actually use it in the field. I did put my usual pack items in it and had plenty of room for more if needed. I also put a 40 pound bag of concrete mix into the expandable compartment and walked around my neighborhood and was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable the load was.

I’m 6’5” tall and really appreciate the torso adjustment for a custom fit. The waist belt and straps offer even more options for load bearing fit and comfort. When empty this pack is a couple of pounds heavier than others but this isn’t an issue once you put it on.

I’m sure a quartered deer will fit when packing out. I like tree saddle hunting and can strap my climbing sticks on each side and secure my platform between the wings and still use the drop down bow/rifle pocket for hands free walking.

I have other Alps packs and trust the brand. I highly recommend them and am glad Sportsman’s Guide carries several models at great prices.

Decent pack for the price. The adjustability is great but with that large range of adjustability sacrifices fitment that comes from higher end packs. Overall its a great pack for quick three day hunts and the expandable space works well enough for a light meat pack or extra carrying capacity for longer hunts or trips.

Zippers are also a bit loud. The pack doesn’t transfer weight to hips as well as I hoped. (Shoulders carry alot of the weight) But again at this price you can’t expect it to be perfect and I would definitely recommend this pack for someone just getting iinto the sport.

Comes with a lot of extras for the price and none of the above are deal breaking problems at this price point. I would have given 5 stars if the fitment was better but overall a decent pack. I’ll update this review when I have the pack longer to see how it holds up over time and a few hunts.

Took this one my last trip and wasn’t too impressed. Has some decent features, but is heavier than they lead you to believe. I emptied my pack and weighed it with a hanging scale. Bag w/ hip straps and frame – 8.

00lbs Bag w/ hip straps and no frame – 7. 64lbs Bag only (no hip straps or frame) – 6. 17lbs.

Seems well made and functional for being so cheap, but there’s no way I’ll take this in the woods. It has a really strong odor, almost like a solvent. Game will notice you a mile away. Soaked it for 24 hours in a vinegar/water bath and that did nothing.

I needed a smaller sized day pack. I also needed it in Hunter’s Orange, which can be hard to find at times. Cabela’s Ridge Hunter pack is the perfect size for my needs. The pack has enough pockets and room to carry day hunting supplies without being to cumbersome.

It appears to be well made. I hope to get many years of service from it!.

I actually haven’t used it yet, but have checked it out. What more could you ask for for the price ? Get one, use it for hauling whatever. NOT EXTREME HIGH QUALITY, NOT THE ANSWER TO ALL OF YOUR NEEDS, but for the price, it’s a why not get this? Get one, or more.

What first drew me to the J34 was its modularity. I wasn’t disappointed. I can easily transition from using it as a daypack to a travel bag to a small field pack. And not just any field pack, but one where I can stow my scoped Remington 700 BDL or Mini-14 and still have them easily accessible.

That said, the J34’s rifle sleeve is too narrow to fully swallow an AR-15 with optic; I couldn’t get one into the sleeve past the pistol grip, even with just an Eotech mounted. And although I could just about squeeze a Rem 700 SPS with overmolded stock, sling and 44mm scope into the sleeve, I couldn’t get it back out without first taking the pack off.

Most traditionally stocked hunting rifles with a reasonably sized scope should fit perfectly. Still, I recommend Eberlestock do away with the hard to reach, small zippered pockets that sit opposite the sleeve and use the extra real estate to widen the top and middle portions of the sleeve to expand the universe of rifles that can be toted.

All in all, an almost perfect, cleverly modular pack that will see many years of use.

The pack is nice and has great storage. However, it fits nice and comfortable when it is new and gets worse as it breaks in. Pros Great storage options and accessibility Holds bow just fine when hiking Cons -Straps are terrible.

They are thin and the foam compresses after a few uses turning them into a solid strap that cuts into your shoulders. -The left side chest buckle broke off the first time, it is on a slide that clips onto fabric.

I would suggest a different day pack. There are many others in this price range that offer the same options with more comfort.

Great pack for the trees stand hunter because of the shelf feature. This provides a spot to set down range finder or call etc. while pack is hanging in the tree off to your side. The quality is as good are better then the last very expensive pack I bought that had less features and pockets bit was 80.

00 more. By far the best value in design and cost rolled into one. Other pack manufactures are slipping behind. Notice this is larger pack and a bit heavier with the aluminum bar insert. I doubt you could find a better pack for this use regardless of money spent.

I bought this pack a few years ago and although I haven’t used it recently or often, those times I did use it, it hauled some heavy weight fairly comfortably. I once backpacked into camp with all my gear (about 70lbs of gear) and stripped the pack off the frame to haul a 5 gal bucket of water into camp.

It was awkward and a bulky haul, but the shelf and strapping held up well. This was my go to bug out pack a few years ago when the floods came to the South and I thought I might have to evacuate on my own.

With the rifle straps on the side and enough easy access pockets, it was an easy choice. My only complaint is that the shoulder straps aren’t built for a guy with broad shoulders like me. If you’re bigger than 6’2 and 230 lbs, you may have to look into a different pack or be prepared to slide into this pack and deal with right straps.

Otherwise, this is a decent pack.

Very poorly made bag and frame. Only used once and it’s already falling apart. Stitching is coming out. Seams are coming apart and breaking. Lower back support webbing is tearing and ripping in several places.

All this after one short trip with very minimal use. Do yourself a favor and look for a better quality product. Oh, and the pouch that holds the butt of my rifle is sewn too small to actually fit my Remington Model 700, so that feature is completely useless as well.

I want to start off by saying this is a great backpack for kids for school! I chose this one after looking for hours for a great backpack for my son whom was starting middle school this year. I wanted to make sure I chose a backpack that would hold all of his school supplies which consisted of SEVERAL 3 ring binders, books, notebooks, etc.

This backpack held it ALL without crushing and bending the binders, folders and notebooks!!! It has a cushioned small pocket that is large enough to hold a cell phone but not a Chromebook or laptop but the backpack itself is big enough that you can easily fit a cushioned laptop case inside of it along with your other school supplies.

Another great plus about this backpack is the straps AND the back part of the backpack are cushioned making it more comfortable to carry. This backpack has the perfect amount of space for your things without being to big and bulky.

I was so pleased with this backpack that I decided to purchase several more so that my son’s and myself could each have our own to carry when we go hunting! :).

Great Backpack for the price. I bought this last minute for a hunting trip, wanting something I could pack my gear and and carry everything I needed. It has a large compartnent, a smaller compartment with lots little pockets inside.

A soft electronic pocket up top and a nice side pocket. It even has storage and access if you wanted to add a hydration bladder. The straps are really cushioned so very comfortable to wear. I actually strapped my treestand to the backpack to hike the mountain.

So far the straps and zippers seem really durable worth the $20.

Lasted 2 full seasons. Deer, duck, and spring Turkey. This thing got completely submerged with a 10L dry bag inside 3 days week during Duck. Didn’t use it much for Turkey outside of having extra shells etc and leave inside the truck.

But really got a ton of use for archery. Straps on top make it easy to strap up while in the climber onto tree.

Tried this pack in preparation for my first back country elk hunt, in hopes of getting a lot of features for a more affordable price point given the fact that best case I might get to go every 2-3 years, but still plan on a basic backpacking trip with the family annually.

I like detailed reviews with the good and bad when researching a product, so here goes. The good: This pack has a lot of desirable features standard that are accessories you have to purchase extra on higher price packs.

Just a couple examples are the built in rifle sling, the pockets on the waist straps, the added orange velcro on flag. The storage options are really good and I like the variety of exterior pockets. It packs a lot of features in a low priced framed pack.

The bad: The deal breaker for me was that having a 31″ waist – I could not get the waist strap tight enough under load to evenly distribute the load off my shoulders. The buckles were touching cinched all the way tight and it still was too loose when loaded with anything over about 40 lbs.

2nd is the buckles, they’re a different style with a little hoop you have to hook. The design seems like it would be adequately strong fully closed under load, but seems cheap and chincy when opening and closing – also is a real pain with cold fingers.

3rd is just the materials. This is likely the reason they hit the price point and it shows. The straps feel big and cushy, but also like after a few dozen uses under a heavy pack out they’ll be smashed down (further worsening the too big concern).

The pack is fairly heavy for its given volume, but the frame is the likely culprit – it’s bulkier than the competition. It took me a couple trial hikes with dumbbells loaded in there to fully realize it wasn’t going to work, but I ultimately returned the pack and purchased a Mystery Ranch Beartooth 80, and the quality of the materials and adjustability improvement is incredible over the Cabelas multi day.

It just feels way more robust, while still being lighter than the Cabelas pack and distributes the load so much more evenly. I can carry 50 lbs more comfortably on the Beartooth than I can 30 on the Multi-day TLDR: If you have a 34″+ waist and are only planning on using a framed pack very intermittently and don’t want to spend a ton, this may be a good option! If you’re skinnier and are looking to haul heavy regularly, it’s worth looking at higher end packs.

Lots of capability, rugged, and a bargain. However, I tried off and on for 60 days to get comfortable with this pack carrying 40 pounds. I could not get the weight to rest comfortably on my hips. The waist belt and padding are excessively long.

With a 37″ waist, there was about 1″ maybe 2″ of room between the tips of the waist belt padding leaving a mess of strapping to deal with. All that excess strapping for the waist but only an inch left on the chest cross strap.

No directions to be able to adjust the torso length/shoulder straps. Jury is out on the unique buckles with small steel wire latches. Even with gloves off, it often took 2 or 3 tries to get them to latch.

Cabela’s allowed its return for which I was thankful, a plus for being their customer. I subsequently tried other packs with weights and was amazed how comfortable the right pack could be.

I love this pack. It is very spacious and comfortable to wear. Plenty of compartments to organize your gear. The two compartments that I use the most which are the easiest to reach are a little tight but nothing I can’t manage.

The padding on the shoulder straps and waist line are nice if you’re carrying heavy loads and they are plenty adjustable for my size, I’m 5’9″ 200lbs. It works for carrying around a bow or rifle but it does not make them easy to access, however, I usually carry my weapon separate either way incase I chance upon game during my walk.

The main compartment is plenty big enough to pack out most deer if you debone in the field. The zippers are moderately loud but fine if you undo them slowly. Overall, this is a great pack if you carry lots of gear.

If you are a minimalist, I would get a smaller pack.

Background: I have & use the following packs: Mule, Pintler, Sawtooth 45, & Beartooth 80, so I’m somewhat familiar with MR packs. I prefer to hunt whitetails on the ground, & thought this pack would be good because it holds it’s shape-it definitely does that-set it on the ground, & as you remove items, is stays standing.

It’s also nice & quiet as I move-the “fuzzy” exterior picks up some debris, but not a problem for me. PROS: 1-good capacity for packing in extra layers & other items that I want 2- compression straps made it easy to attach my Waldrop PacSeat 3-Adjustable length of harness-definitely a plus with a “semi frame” pack! 4-Staying open & formed while sitting on the ground is a big plus-unlike my other packs that collapse as I remove items from them.

CONS: 1- Advertised weight is 4. 5 lb. Well, on my scale (which I triple-checked with a 10 lb weight) the empty pack weighs 5. 6 lb. Not a big deal for me, but your opinion may differ 😉 ! 2- Belt pockets-they can hold a REAL small range finder.

I hunt with recurves, & don’t use those. so again, not a big deal with me-bottom line-the pockets are very small. I put my spare bowstring/stringer & glove in one, & 2 extra protein bars in the other.

That pretty much fills them up. 3-Hydration pocket- I use “Hydra-pack” bladders, because I’ve found that they will not leak. When you look at the pocket inside of the pack, it looks like it’ll fit a 2L bladder with no problem.

NOT TRUE. A 2L Hydra Pack, filled to 1/4 inch below the “max fill” line WILL NOT FIT IN THE POCKET. I dumped out some water, & it barely fits with approx 1. 5L in the bladder. it might take more if I start with an empty bladder in the pocket, then fill it once it’s in there, but that’s kind of a pain in the neck.

Also, there’s no hole to feed the hydration tube thru the top of the pack to then attach to a shoulder strap. That sucks if you want to have a drink while moving with the pack on your back. 4-Inside top pocket-it’s sewn down both sides-a mistake IMO.

Going back to the water bladder, with that pocket sewn down each side, it’s very difficult to use the full capacity of that pocket because it’s stretched over the water bladder. If you use a 1L bladder, it probably won’t be an issue.

5- Bottom compression straps- they are very short. Again, not a big deal during early season hunts, but in late season, where the extra layers get more bulky, could be a problem. Fortunately, MR offers extra straps that can be clipped in to expand capacity.

6- Interior side pockets- They are relatively shallow. I get why that is-you don’t want to be digging into the bottom of a deep pocket to get an item. What I don’t understand is why 2 more pockets weren’t sewn below the 2 top pockets-those would be perfect locations for things you want to have but may not need-like a small 1st aid kit, small kill kit, fire starting kit, etc.

Just got back from 5 days hunting elk in the White River Wilderness near Meeker CO. We rode horses out most days and then hiked in to hunt. I bought this pack because it has one large compartment and I can find things in it because it stays open.

Also, unlike my old pack the fabric is silent. Finally I like how it holds it’s shape which makes it a good rest for the butt of a rifle when shooting off a bipod or crossed hiking poles – I use both.

The pack performed perfectly and I’m really glad I bought it. It was 27 to 30 degrees every morning and sunny and 70+ by 11 am. I was able to peel layers and store them and still had room for binoculars, a range finder, knife, lights, lunch, etc.

I use a sling to carry my rifle so the broad waist strap was much appreciated. Overall I love this pack and am selling my tactical pack that has so many compartments I can’t find anything! I highly recommend this pack if you are hiking the mountains from pre-dawn to 8 or 9 pm, five days in a row.

Great size, quiet, plenty of straps to secure things to the outside, and great side pockets for bipods and Nalgene bottles. Seriously, 10 out of 10 and very well built! Thank you Mystery Ranch!!!.

I purchased this pack to house my saddle hunting gear, steps, and platform for deep dives into remote areas. It far exceeded my expectations. This sucker is well thought out with easy access to multiple pockets for smaller item storage and with plenty of exterior tie-downs for my larger gear.

The tree strap makes getting hands free in the tree a breeze and still keeps all your accessories at your fingertips. It is plenty big enough for multiple extra layers and snacks for an all-day sit. You may want to go for the smaller size if you are just looking for an afternoon outing to the box stand, but when you are ready to put boots where no one else is willing the Treehouse 38 will get you there.

Needs to have bottom attachments, loops, on both front and back for attaching accessories such as small tent or hammock system. The existing bottom loops need to be bigger, current loops don’t even fit a caribbeaner and really serve no purpose.

The top handle needs to be beefed up, I tree hang the bag when I’m in the woods, a wider thicker handle would be better. The compartments need to be redesigned. The main compartment should open to the bottom and have interior straps to hold weight close to the body.

Mesh pouches are nice but should be solid material and tighter. The exterior, back of the pack should have attachment loops for hiking poles etc. The two small velcro straps in the small compartment are absolutely worthless, there should be four and on opposite sides with pull tight connections.

Please consider adding a small top pouch for quick stash sunglasses or wallet, keys etc. Consider adding two extra straps on the shoulder straps slightly lower that the existing two. Two side open compartments need to be deeper to properly fit a full nalgene bottle which is pretty much used by everyone now.

Also please make these side compartments with pull tight closures. Please add two molle straps to the front of the waist strap. It would be great to be able to hang my compass / gps while hiking in. Belt compartments should zip closed in the opposite direction, average person can’t reach back that far.

I want to love this pack, and I want it to be my “go to” day pack but it just misses the mark.

This bag is just outstanding when used in the right situation. This is not a bag for backpacking/overnight trips nor even for day hunts when you intend to haul out meat/carcass. It just isn’t designed for that.

But let me tell you where this bag WILL shine. 1) Scouting Trips 2) Guided hunts that travel out each day from a base/spike camp and the guide or horses will be hauling out the game. The “Divide” compartment between the bags is awesome for carrying a spotting scope mounted on the tripod without removing it from the tripod.

Just genius. The spotting scope is always ready to go. Perfect for scouting trips carrying your optics/tripod, lunch, water (can hold a 3 liter hydration bladder), rain gear, small first aid kit, moleskin, emergency bivy sack, paracord, waterproof rain fly for an emergency shelter, windproof lighter and firestarter.

This fall I will be going on a guided Elk hunt in Wyoming. We will pack into a base camp and hunt out from camp on horses. I will not be carrying a tent/sleeping bag each day. I will not be hauling meat/antlers.

My guide will have the spotting scope. I will have my binoculars on my chest in a bino caddy. I want to carry as little as possible in the mountains stalking game and riding on the horse but still carry what I need.

This bag will have rain gear, an extra fleece sweater to throw on when stationary (glassing), lunch, snacks, water, small first aid kit, moleskin, extra pair of dry socks, emergency bivy sack, emergency poncho/shelter, paracord, windproof lighter and fire starter material and of course my Hunting License/Elk Tag.

This bag will carry all that and more, yet carry like a feather. For the right situations it is a tremendous bag.

Bought this pack just for daily/weekend use carrying dog gear, smaller items, a day pack. It’s taken some getting used to though. Figuring out the harness system, where it feels comfortable on my back, etc.

The materials seem like they will last, and the pocket layout is precisely what I was looking for in a pack. If I need something between this and my EXO pack, I have my old Dana Design Bombpack. Back to this one – that semi-internal pocket, the one they show with a spotting scope? REALLY neat and the potential is really high for multiple uses! It gets the four stars because, well, nothing is ever perfect.

Would I buy again? YEP!.