Military Pack for Elk Hunt

Its always interesting to see varying opinions on things like this , from 'works fine' to 'they are terrible!' I realize they are cheap for a reason, what is another frame pack out there that you can haul elk quarters in that you can get for $40? I'm certainly open to other options but $50 is about my ceiling on what I'm going to spend.
I see this pack situation similar to what I experienced with treestands in the midwest- for 20 years I hauled around a 20lb steel stand on my back and it worked just fine, then I finally spent 10x more and bought a tree saddle and 3lb platform and it was amazing but in the end they both worked and achieved the desired end result. Comes down to how much money you want to spend for quality, comfort, wt reduction, etc. My guess is if i end up shooting an elk Im going to be so freaking happy that i wont give a rip what is on my back, could well be a once in a lifetime thing for me
 
tbowers said:
Its always interesting to see varying opinions on things like this , from 'works fine' to 'they are terrible!' I realize they are cheap for a reason, what is another frame pack out there that you can haul elk quarters in that you can get for $40? I'm certainly open to other options but $50 is about my ceiling on what I'm going to spend.
I see this pack situation similar to what I experienced with treestands in the midwest- for 20 years I hauled around a 20lb steel stand on my back and it worked just fine, then I finally spent 10x more and bought a tree saddle and 3lb platform and it was amazing but in the end they both worked and achieved the desired end result. Comes down to how much money you want to spend for quality, comfort, wt reduction, etc. My guess is if i end up shooting an elk Im going to be so freaking happy that i wont give a rip what is on my back, could well be a once in a lifetime thing for me
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You have the right attitude about this for sure.

Gear is just gear (take this in context. Good gear and technology is worth every penny). Hunters of yester- year had nothing like this and did just fine. I remember when it was vogue to haul animals out of the woods whole or on game carts (nothing wrong with game carts or hauling animals out whole. They work). You can spend all your money on gear and have the best of the best but if you don't have anything left over to go hunt what does it matter? A Mollie pack is a fine tool for hauling meat/gear/salt/bait or whatever needs to go in an out of a hunting area. Going on 3 decades of big game hunting I have spent a lot of time in the woods and getting meat back to camp has always been the "hard work" part of the hunt and that has never changed. Whatever you can do to make it easier at a price point you can afford that will allow you to get out and enjoy a passion we all share is the key. I own a few nice Haul packs $$$$$ along with a few Mollie II packs. Comfort, fancy colors and everything else aside I honestly don't think you can beat (Bang for the $$) a Mollie pack. You can find them cheap in price and most of all they do exactly what you need them to do. It's the age old question of do your really need a Porche 911 to commute to work every day or will a Nissan Sentra do the trick. When you can afford to upgrade do so. For now go get yourself an Elk and enjoy every moment of the hunt including the sweat, pains and hard work of hauling it out of the woods. Someday you will be sitting around a campfire telling a story about "remember when". Thats what it's about.
 
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tbowers said:
My guess is if i end up shooting an elk Im going to be so freaking happy that i wont give a rip what is on my back, could well be a once in a lifetime thing for me
Click to expand...
Once in a lifetime I would rock the ruck. The pain might make it more memorable. I use this ruck about three times a week carrying about 45 pounds, it works just fine for that type of load. That being said I also watch about 50 students pack about 90 pounds into it and get on a struggle bus going up and down the North GA mountains. Before you buy inspect the frame for cracks make sure the load lifters work and are not frayed, and that all the buckles work.
RLTW
 
tbowers said:
My brother is military and said essentially the same thing. Even if I hunted out West once a year for 5 days I have a really tough time spending $4-500 on a pack that i wont utilize anytime outside of that. I have packed out a number of whitetails however if you debone the meat i can fit it all in one load in my smaller 2500 cu in. pack. I'd be way easier persuaded to drop some coin and upgrade some of my base layers, glass, etc that I would also be able to use here in the whitetail woods.
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I completely understand your rationale. I'm in NC and had the same thought a couple years ago before my first western hunt. I ended up picking up a Badlands 2200 for around $150. I also asked questions and had a lot of folks tell me to go with more expensive packs than my budget was comfortable with. I got the Badlands anyway based on the reviews and cost and haven't regretted it one bit. Ive found uses for it a couple times here on the east coast but for the most part it sits in the closet. I will say a lot of the other packs have warranties which you won't get with the Molly. Also I'd be curious about that category of condition. I didn't read enough to figure out what makes it a category 3 but if the frame is damaged or straps are breaking it could quickly make that pack useless.
 
tbowers said:
Its always interesting to see varying opinions on things like this , from 'works fine' to 'they are terrible!' I realize they are cheap for a reason, what is another frame pack out there that you can haul elk quarters in that you can get for $40? I'm certainly open to other options but $50 is about my ceiling on what I'm going to spend.
I see this pack situation similar to what I experienced with treestands in the midwest- for 20 years I hauled around a 20lb steel stand on my back and it worked just fine, then I finally spent 10x more and bought a tree saddle and 3lb platform and it was amazing but in the end they both worked and achieved the desired end result. Comes down to how much money you want to spend for quality, comfort, wt reduction, etc. My guess is if i end up shooting an elk Im going to be so freaking happy that i wont give a rip what is on my back, could well be a once in a lifetime thing for me
Click to expand...

I have a kelty super tioga I bought used for around 40 bucks that’s works great. Really gets the weight on your hips.
 
Try Goodwill or other Discount store for a used pack.You might be suprised at what you find.:cool:
 
I have a Molle frame set up to hunt. Hauled full gutless method antelope with it last fall, three miles. Twice. Not horrible in any way.

Kifaru made cargo panels for them with straps that integrate to the frame. I'm sure the new ones would work as well. I put a small pack on the outside of the cargo panel that cinches tight to the frame for my kill kit and water/food. The newer model frames are very tough from what I can tell by doing research, it was the older style that had frame cracking issues.

What I really like about it is how low profile it is. Those recommending using an external frame backpacking rig have a point. They are available, and often inexpensive, but they are also huge and won't carry 100# worth a hoot. Same thing though, they would do it in a pinch.

Pack was $30, cargo panel was $75. For $105 I have a low profile pack that is quiet and capable of carrying weight. I think it's a great low cost option.
 
Does anybody make a better belt that can be fit to a MOLLIE? I’ve got an old Janssen Hard Core pack that I’d love to swap the belt out. Only thing I’m not crazy about.
 
I looked for replacement belt options. There wasn't an obvious option so I let it go.
 
Take a look at "Wilderness Packs Specialists" I believe they build their packs using a MOLLE style frame system??? I believe they sell the belt system separate??? Don't know anything else about them and have no experience with them. Ive seen them at a trade show a few times.
 
I bought two of the USMC surplus ILBE packs on Ebay for about $80/pack. They're basically a burly internal frame pack designed by Arcteryx. It's definitely a step up from the MOLLE ruck but you have to spend some time washing the "Devil Dog" sweat out of it.
 
Estimator86 said:
Mind sharing where these are? Been looking for weeks. I want a USED one, not one somebody bought in New York and doesn't like the color so they are selling it for $495...
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I don't recall exactly, I think camofire had some. It was mentioned on here. I could be wrong, but I remember thinking they were "half price" in my head.
 
Estimator86 said:
Mind sharing where these are? Been looking for weeks. I want a USED one, not one somebody bought in New York and doesn't like the color so they are selling it for $495...
Click to expand...
you might also want to try calling them directly. They are in Bozeman, and may have some used/return. IDK that for sure though.
 
Use what you can afford and have fun! If you end up making this an annual or more frequent trip then you can start to upgrade pieces of equipment as needed and are able...
 
I have a Cabelas Alaskan Frame pack I've been using for years. Fits OK and works well. Cost is less than a good pair of boots. About $139.00...
 
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