The Complete Guide to Choosing a Hunting Backpack

When You’re Out In The Wilderness, It’s More Than a Bag

A hunting backpack is more than just a bag to carry your gear; it's your mobile base camp and a critical tool that directly impacts your efficiency, comfort, and success in the field. Choosing the right one can make the difference between an enjoyable, productive hunt and a frustrating experience that ends early. Whether you’re planning a quick morning deer hunt or a week-long elk expedition, having the right pack to carry your essentials—and potentially your harvest—is absolutely crucial.

The sheer variety of sizes, styles, and features can make the selection process feel overwhelming. But the secret to finding the perfect pack is simple: define your goals and plan your hunt, and what you need from your pack will be far clearer. The goal of this guide is to demystify the selection process by matching a pack's features to the specific demands of your hunt, featuring excellent options available right here at Broken Arrow Outfitters.

The Foundation of Comfort: How to Properly Fit Your Pack

Before you even consider pockets and features, the single most important factor is fit. A well-fitting pack can enable you to make the hunt of a lifetime, while a poorly-fitted one guarantees an experience that gets more miserable as the days drag on.

Measuring Your Torso Length

Most quality packs are adjustable, but you need to know your starting point. To find your torso length, you’ll need a soft tape measure and a friend.

1. Tilt your head forward to find the prominent bump at the base of your neck. This is your C7 vertebra, the top of your measurement.
2. Place your hands on your hips so that the top of your hands rests on the top of your hip bones (the iliac crest). Point your thumbs toward one another across your back.
3. Have your friend measure the distance from your C7 vertebra down to the imaginary line between your thumbs. This distance is your torso length.

Adjusting for the Perfect Fit

Once you have a pack that matches your torso length, you need to fine-tune the fit. Always do this with some weight in the pack—10 to 20 pounds is ideal—so it sits on your back as it will in the field.

1. Loosen All Straps: Start with all the straps loosened.
2. Fasten the Hip Belt: The padded portion of the hip belt should hug the top of your hip bones (iliac crest). Fasten the buckle and snug the belt. About 80% of the pack’s weight should be carried on your hips, not your shoulders.
3. Adjust Shoulder Straps: Pull down on the shoulder straps so they are snug, but not carrying the primary load. There should be no gap between the strap and the back of your shoulder.
4. Connect Load Lifters and Sternum Strap: Adjust the load lifters (the small straps that connect the top of the shoulder straps to the top of the pack) and fasten the sternum strap to a comfortable position across your chest.

The Day Hunt: For Whitetails, Turkeys, and All-Day Sits

This is the most common hunting scenario, where your needs are focused on stealth, organization, and carrying essentials somewhere between a few hours and a full day.

Key Features

• Capacity: A volume of 1,500-3,000 cubic inches is ideal for carrying extra layers, calls, food, water, and other daily gear.
• Quiet Materials: For close-quarters hunting, especially for whitetails, the pack’s material should be as silent as possible. Look for brushed polyester or fleece fabrics that won’t rustle or snag on brush.
• Smart Organization: Multiple compartments and easy-access pockets are important for keeping your gear organized and reachable without excessive movement and noise.
• Comfortable Suspension: Even without a heavy-duty frame, the pack needs a comfortable suspension system with padded shoulder straps and a supportive waist belt to remain comfortable during long sits and hikes to the stand.

Our Top Picks for Day Hunts

For the Treestand Specialist:

• Badlands Superday: This pack is a legend for a reason. While technically a daypack, it performs like a frame pack thanks to a contoured waist belt that effectively transfers weight to your hips. The comfortable molded memory foam back suspension keeps you comfortable on the walk in, and with 1,950 cubic inches of space, it’s perfectly sized for an all-day sit.
• Sitka Gear Tool Bucket: Designed specifically for dark-to-dark sits, this pack features a unique bucket-style design that’s easy to hang and access. With 17 storage compartments, you can keep your gear organized and within reach. It is smaller than the Superday at 800 inches, so this is for the hunter who likes to travel light while staying organized.

For the Mobile Whitetail Hunter:

• Tethrd Workhorse Pack: Built specifically with the whitetail hunter in mind, this pack is a mobile hunter’s dream. It features three wraparound compression straps designed to securely carry your climbing sticks or a lightweight stand. Its modular expandability and load lifters ensure you can customize your setup and carry it comfortably, whether you're hiking deep into public land or just setting up for a quick evening hunt.

The Backcountry Expedition: Hauling Gear and Game

When your hunt takes you miles from the nearest road for multiple days, your backpack transforms from a piece of gear into a lifeline. This is where durability, capacity, and the ability to haul heavy, awkward loads of meat are non-negotiable. Backcountry hunting packs are built with reinforced frames, superior weight distribution systems, and large storage capacities to ensure you can trek for miles without excessive strain.

Key Features: A true backcountry pack needs a robust frame capable of handling more extreme weights. Look for a capacity between 4,000-6,500+ cubic inches to hold your camp and gear. Most importantly, a dedicated integrated meat shelf and a load rating of at least 100-150 pounds are essential for a successful pack-out.

Our Top Picks for Backcountry Hunts:

• The All-Around Workhorse: Sitka Gear Mountain Hauler 4000 For the hunter who needs a pack that can do it all, the Mountain Hauler 4000 is an industry leader. It's built on a tubular, aircraft-grade aluminum frame engineered for comfort when loaded down. With a load rating of up to 150 pounds and an internal load shelf that connects directly to the frame, this pack is designed to haul full game bags and antlers comfortably and efficiently. Its 3,500 cubic inch volume can expand to 4,500, giving you the versatility you need for multi-day trips.
• The Heavy Hauler: Badlands MRK 6 When the hunt calls for big gear and the expectation of a massive pack-out, you need the MRK 6. This pack was designed to haul large amounts of weight without blowing out your back or otherwise ruining your return trip. Its massive 6,100 cubic inch volume can handle everything needed for an extended trip. The standout feature is its split-pack design with an integrated meat shelf system, built on a strong but light Allite® Super Magnesium™ frame. When you need to move serious amounts of meat, this is a pack you want on your back.

For Spot-and-Stalk and High Mobility

For the agile hunter who values speed and stealth above all else, a bulky pack is a liability. Spot-and-stalk hunting demands a pack that’s lightweight, streamlined, and won’t slow you down or snag on brush. This style is all about mobility, and your pack should feel like an extension of your body.

Key Features: The ideal pack for this scenario is a lightweight, frameless design that hugs your body to reduce noise and improve balance. Quick-access compartments are key for grabbing a rangefinder or call without fumbling around.

Our Top Pick for Mobility:

• Sitka Gear Apex Pack The Apex redefines the high-mobility day pack. Streamlined for absolute stealth, this frameless pack weighs a mere 36 ounces. Its low-profile, body-hugging design reduces noise and abrasion, while the 1,800 cubic inches of storage is ample for a disciplined day hunter. The most innovative feature is the
  deployable/retractable cam cables, which allow you to rest your bow and keep your arm steady.

The Right Pack Has Long-Term Consequences

Choosing the right hunting backpack is a critical decision that can significantly improve your experience. As we've covered, the perfect pack is the one that matches the unique demands of your specific hunt. A quiet, organized daypack is perfect for a whitetail stand but won't work for a backcountry elk hunt.

A well-made pack from a top-tier brand can change your hunting experience and save you from misery in the wilderness. Superior materials, thoughtful design, and robust construction mean your pack will perform reliably for years of adventure.

The final step is to find your perfect fit! We invite you to stop by Broken Arrow Outfitters, where our expert staff can help to measure your torso and help you adjust a pack until it feels just right. You can get a hands-on feel for the packs mentioned here and walk out with a complete system that’s ready for any challenge you are.