Rifle Packs for All-Day Hunting?

Eberlestock gunrunner 2 is a good one if you want a scabbard. It’s small but has enough room. Think I saw one in the px earlier also for little over $100. I really like mine.

There’s the add with the gunrunner

i found using a quality frame is what really counts

if you think the bag is too big you can always swap out the bag or add accessories

but a comfortable frame and belt makes the difference

ive used mytery ranch and kifaru med or large frames and had a "little" pack attached, much more comfortable than a smaller pack with a smaller belt and frame

Something with a good pack frame. EXO, Mystery Ranch, Kifaru, Kuiu, etc, etc. I use a K3 EXO 1800 for all day hunts. And still able to haul 100+ lb load out if needed. Tailor your pack/frame to what you will be packing out. Gone are the days of needing a day pack and having to go back to camp to get a frame pack.

Exo k3 can handle bigger loads than Riley Reid

Kifaru Straightjacket with a Duplex light frame.

Do you need a frame? You didn't note that.

Do you need it to be light, is that why you want small?

Just to note that the smaller bags from X company may actually end up weighing what a framed larger bag does from another company, which may give you a far more versatile rig for the same weight.

For a quick example, that Eberlestock Gunrunner recommended above, it is a great example of a very small day pack with a scabbard. Only 1275 cubic inches, but it's 3.95lbs.
For comparison
The Seek outside internal frame Kenai 5400 is 5400 cubic inches not counting the 1000ci face pocket and is 3lbs 14oz in the very waterproof ultra400.

You're getting way way more pack for the same weight, way more capability. So, depending upon what you really need, there may be 10,000 ways to skin that cat
Seeks Flight Two Ultralight bag at 2.4lbs and 3700ci may be spot on for you, has a frame as well. I run their 6300 and I attached an Eberlestock scabbard for carrying the rifle, you could do the same, or run the kifaru gun bearer, or whatever.

And I'm not selling you on Seek, look elsewhere and you may find the same thing.

Point is, if you're looking for light weight and that's why you want "small," realize that "small" doesn't always mean light. If you're just looking for small, weight be damned, well, you can always compress down the main bag of bigger bags and run it as a smaller setup, but, if you hate that idea.
Eberlestock gunrunner would be great, I have their lodrag and used it for years coyote hunting, did great.

I use the Kifaru .22 mag with the Kifaru gunbearer system. Works great.

I want to add to my original suggestion. I overlooked the first time in your explanation the meat bags. Now after reading it correctly I will say my suggestion was just for a pack not for packing out meat. Definitely some of the other suggestions would be better for that.

For a setup intended for day trips with rifle carry capability and pack-frame; Eberlestock F1 Mainframe, Vapor2500 pack, and rifle scabbard.

I used this setup for a Montana trip last year. I mounted the scabbard to the mainframe’s face via MOLLE, mounted a Camelback insulated 2L bladder to the outside of the scabbard via GrimLoks, and then the Vapor2500 onto the Mainframe via the factory zippers/hooks on top of everything. Very comfortable to hike around with, I was able to get the pack to sit high enough to carry a handgun in a mid-ride SLS, and I was impressed with the build quality. The rifle scabbard was exceptionally convenient. The combo worked great for day-trip hunting, and the mainframe/included straps made packing meat out of the back corners of public land a breeze. I had never quartered and packed out before. All my previous Midwestern hunting on private land has always allowed for a truck or ATV retrieval with only short deer drags by hand.

My only complaint was the Vapor pack doesn’t have much in the way of interior organizational ability. I shouldn’t complain; it is clearly by design because the Vapor line is supposed to be a minimalist/lightweight pack with a priority on saved weight.

I'd set something up from Hill People Gear, bag dependent on if you need a frame for packing out meat or not.

I use a Kifaru and the discontinued Woodsman pack.
Amazing flexibility for me.
Day hunts or 3 day spike camp.

22 mag works great if you dont glass at 10,000 ft in 20F and wind.
Then I need more room for insulation!

My pack isnt overloaded. Has room to shed layers during the day. 18F at 0600 to 55 and sun at 1400 dictates that be possible.

Its all dependent on what you need room wise.

The meat shelf is awesome.
I like the Kifaru version better than the MR personally.

I am currently using a Kifaru Nomad on 26” tactical frame for the exact same thing. I put the rifle against the frame and hold the buttstock with a GrabIt. Then put other stuff in the wings and fold them over the rifle so it’s fully covered with the barrel sticking out the top.

It works really well and I can easily scale up to carry large items like a bag of corn in or meat out. I like carrying a rifle this way about 600% better than the Eberlestock packs I’ve had in the past. They just weren’t as comfortable, bad center of gravity, and the pack was always wobbling around loose behind the rifle.

I have a used Kifaru Stryker bag headed my way, should be a simpler way to do the exact same thing I’m doing now, but easier to load all my stuff in and out of a larger center bag instead of the two tube shaped wings.

I find all my uses Kifaru stuff on the FB page, for a lot less money than new. Have confidence in buying used, everything they make is bomb proof.

Crews said:

I am currently using a Kifaru Nomad on 26” tactical frame for the exact same thing. I put the rifle against the frame and hold the buttstock with a GrabIt. Then put other stuff in the wings and fold them over the rifle so it’s fully covered with the barrel sticking out the top.

It works really well and I can easily scale up to carry large items like a bag of corn in or meat out. I like carrying a rifle this way about 600% better than the Eberlestock packs I’ve had in the past. They just weren’t as comfortable, bad center of gravity, and the pack was always wobbling around loose behind the rifle.

I have a used Kifaru Stryker bag headed my way, should be a simpler way to do the exact same thing I’m doing now, but easier to load all my stuff in and out of a larger center bag instead of the two tube shaped wings.

I find all my uses Kifaru stuff on the FB page, for a lot less money than new. Have confidence in buying used, everything they make is bomb proof.

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Is the Straightjacket the replacement for the Nomad?

Another fan of Kifaru. I use the 22 mag on the tactical frame with a gun grabber.

carbonbased said:

Is the Straitjacket the replacement for the Nomad?

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Yeah I guess so… guess it takes the place of needing a GrabIt like I’m doing. I still think the Stryker is going to be a little bit easier way to skin the day hunting cat, but think the Nomad type wing design is better if you need to scale up for much larger items.

I like the stone glacier bags and frames. Im using the Sky Talus 6900. They have some other bags that are smaller. Also have a quick release rifle carrier for their packs as well.

Crews said:

I am currently using a Kifaru Nomad on 26” tactical frame for the exact same thing. I put the rifle against the frame and hold the buttstock with a GrabIt. Then put other stuff in the wings and fold them over the rifle so it’s fully covered with the barrel sticking out the top.

It works really well and I can easily scale up to carry large items like a bag of corn in or meat out. I like carrying a rifle this way about 600% better than the Eberlestock packs I’ve had in the past. They just weren’t as comfortable, bad center of gravity, and the pack was always wobbling around loose behind the rifle.

I have a used Kifaru Stryker bag headed my way, should be a simpler way to do the exact same thing I’m doing now, but easier to load all my stuff in and out of a larger center bag instead of the two tube shaped wings.

I find all my uses Kifaru stuff on the FB page, for a lot less money than new. Have confidence in buying used, everything they make is bomb proof.

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its a twin of one of my set ups

i have a gun bearer off the bottom though

I have a kuiu 2300 pro set up and I think it's a ok setup. I like the load hauler sling and the frame packs the weight awesome. I don't necessarily like the pocket layout, but it works.

carbonbased said:

Is the Straitjacket the replacement for the Nomad?

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Yeah I guess so… guess it takes the place of needing a GrabIt like I’m doing. I still think the Stryker is better for day use because it’s a pain getting all the small stuff in and out of tubular wing pockets.

My used OG Stryker gets here this Thursday, I will update when I get some field use.

Kifaru gunbearer. Try it. If you dont like it will buy it.

I run a kifaru 14'r with gun bearer,
It's a kickass day pack and the quality is top notch!

Vandoogle13 said:

I run a kifaru 14'r with gun bearer,
It's a kickass day pack and the quality is top notch!

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Yep!!!

Only benefit for me with frame/bag for hunting vs my Shape charge is the meat shelf.

Easy to find game 4+ miles into a wilderness area and have a long ways to pack quarters.
2-3 trips of 4 miles each way in a day with 70-100 lbs on the return leg make you very glad for the frame vs bag with Omni frame.


I save weight elsewhere. I got the tactical frame.

tsu45 said:

Are y’all running the lite or the tactical for the Kifaru frame.

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Lite. Kifaru is what I use but I've owned EXO K3 and have zero qualms about recommending them too. Stone Glacier packs are also made in the USA and worth a look.

tsu45 said:

Are y’all running the lite or the tactical for the Kifaru frame.

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Tactical for me, but only because I got a deal on a used one. Never tried the lite but I’d be willing to bet it also does the trick.

Got the OG Stryker mounted on my frame, definitely liking it for walk in hunting. My rifle has a folding stock and a 16” barrel, 5” suppressor. Putting that, my tripod (RRS 14), and an XL pullout with insulation layers on the load shelf. All the misc stuff goes in the bag. Works great!

Kifaru 22 Mag plus Gun Bearer for me.

(And I think that's the fourth vote on this thread ... so that might be telling you something. )

Kifaru 22 mag with Sherman pocket and gun bearer as well. Great set up!

tsu45 said:

I’ll call them Monday, but do you know if the frame size has anything to do with torso size? I see the sizing on the shoulder straps but no mention on frame size unless I’m missing it.

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It does but it isn't exact science it's more of a suggestion, for example, I'm 6'1 180lbs but I only have a 17" torso, I'd be recommended a 24" frame or 26" if gearing for really heavy loads.

With my Seek Outside pack it comes as 24, then extensions can be used to go up to 28.

I ended up liking 28" the best and that is what I run, I trained and ran this thing with 30-83.5lbs while figuring out all the adjustments and testing what I liked. Up and down steep stairs, and ran two stairs at a time to magnify that and stress hipbelt fit.

When I found that I liked the 28, I went back and re-tested with the 26 and 24, it still came out 28...

So I would be an example of someone who really didn't fit "the rule." Which is also why the Seek packs are nice, 26 or 24" is only a minute away for me if I decide I want to switch back. And of course I can cut the extensions and get anywhere between 24-28 that I want as well.

If you are cemented into a frame height, I wouldn't go below 26" frame height if you're a male above 5'6, but that's just me, get the 26, now if they have a 28 or 27, between those and the 26... well, that will be personal and I'd try them.

The difference in carrying weight comfortably can be night and day, I also found that true with the lumbar pad, and with the specific foam in the lumbar pad even. Lumbar sucked, I took out the high-density foam and just kept the puffy soft stuff, the difference was extreme, it was way way better.
I still bounce between no lumbar pad and that soft lumbar pad though.

Anyways, long story short, this stuff can be very personal and it can make an insane difference. But for frame height, go 26+ unless you'll always be below 30lbs and you want a short frame for some reason.

I have an Eberlestock X1 euro and also a X1A3. The A3 has the larger rifle scabbard so is great with my larger long range rifle - EH-1 stock, TBAC suppressor and 3-15x50 scope. They are about 5.5 lbs each but work great for carrying rifle centered on your back and having quick access to it.

I’m running a Exo k2 5500 for a day pack. Rain gear, extra layers, plenty of snacks, RRS tripod, water, kill kit, rifle, etc. Still have tons of room but ability to compress it way down if needed.

tsu45 said:

I’ll call them Monday, but do you know if the frame size has anything to do with torso size? I see the sizing on the shoulder straps but no mention on frame size unless I’m missing it.

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I'd call/email Kifaru and discuss if you have any questions - they know what they're doing.

tsu45 said:

I’ll call them Monday, but do you know if the frame size has anything to do with torso size? I see the sizing on the shoulder straps but no mention on frame size unless I’m missing it.

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Yes it does.

https://help.kifaru.net/kb/faq.php?id=16

tsu45 said:

Unfortunately neither the bag or frame made the BF sale.

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Yep. Kifaru stuff rarely goes on sale. What usually does are items that are about to be retired from the line.

Best option is just to either bite the bullet, or look on Rokslide or the Kifaru Insiders Facebook page for secondhand options.

A Ranger Green 22 Mag was on eBay a few weeks back, I think, but that's possibly the only one I've seen listed there in a couple of years ... Rokslide and Insiders are better options.