Thread: Bum Bags

Keeping with the questions about gear..

What bum bags do you guys use, or do you use any?

I have got my hands on some webbing (not my original stuff) and fitted it nicely, cleaned it up a bit. But I am not sure I want to risk looking like a complete army tool just yet. I'm also still a bit noob about what stuff I should carry with me on a day hunt. I have a nice back pack (20L) but also can just sport the lighter load of my camelback (3L, only enough storage for the car keys). I usually have my knife on my belt but what else do I neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed? Being lazy and weak I'd rather go towards the light side of things. But what do you guys take with you on your day adventures?

As I found out over the weekend, Binos would be a good start.

after playing with day packs (too hot on my back, bulky strap when shouldering rifle for a quick shot) I tried the old heavy belt with a canvas 'belt'bag' or two. worked OK but not enough for all the kit Ilike to carry.

finally invested in a Badlands monster Fanny bag - and love it. Lots of pockets, and the straps take some of the weight of your shoulders, and are very low profile - easy to shoulder a rifle etc.

I'm totally happy with mine - currently re-doing my knife sheaf so it will easily attach.
I recomend it!

Yes - start saving your $ - mine was $250 new

Hi Dougie

I have used a Bumbag, mostly for day hunts when I am confident it wont rain. I have used a Ridgeline blaze, probobaly about 8l.

When I first started out I used to carry water, now I just drink out of creeks, water too heavy to cart around. Sometimes when hunting the tops I will carry water, normally the dog will find some wee creek somewhere.

Problem with Bumbags is they are a bit small if you want to carry a parka, I have heard of people modding them with a couple of straps, also not really possible to put meat in them. I used to just tie parka around my waist, got over that pretty quick. Some people also complain that they can slip down, I have had this problem when trying to cart too much in them, especially weight, hence I stopped carrying water. Apart from that they good.

For a day hunt I carry

Binos
Lens Pen
Knife
Diamond steel
Map
Compass
Small length cord, 2m
Spare Boot lace
Gloves
hat
head torch
Emergency kit, contains batteries, spare small torch, Basic first aid, emergency blanket, whistle, 5 rounds spare ammo, 1/3 candle.

These days I use a fleece Pikau, love it, very comfy, can fit my parka, and more food for lunch Also folds down real small so fits in my pack for multiday trips.

Downside with the Pikau, the tape to tie the top is getting dodgy, I will just replace with parracord or similar. Might be just cos I am a neanderthal, but sometimes I have to have a couple of goes at closing it, as I get the straps twisted.

Cheers

Dino

Sweet deal Dino,that is the pack I have been looking at on the ridgeline site Neckshot was that the wee pack you had?

Dougie my day pack is 15L and I tend to use it during the daytime for all hunts (not just day hunts). I like to be prepared for all eventualites as across the years there have been some things occur that have proven the old adage that "shit happens". Whilst the content of each hunters day pack is a subjective thing and will come down to their personal preferences (and budget as well), I have the following in mine:
First aid kit (have carried it for years and have only needed it once)
Personal Locater Beacon (because I hunt solo and the wife insists as I am an old bugger now)
Compass (not in my pack but on my belt)
GPS (mine is an aging Garmin 60CSX but has survived a lot of knocks and still works well)
Knife
Torch
A means of starting fire (lighter)
Some old inner tube
String
Rope
An old army colapsable mug
Hexamine stove and tablets
Map of the area I am hunting in
Spare ammo.
And just recently now my new Stoney Creek light weight jacket

I know that this sounds like a lot but it gives me the confidence that if I get caught short for what ever reason I can build a decent shelter and cot, scratch together a warm drink / meal, and get help if necessary.

Not a fan of bumbags, get sweaty around my hips which is annoying, and I find they cut the circulation off to my legs which is a prick on steep climbs. I use a hunter element daypack, with proper frame and ventilation, enough to get a few essentials in and a warm jacket. Plus all the meat I have to carry out

I'm at the stage now where some day hunts I'll cover big kms, so I like to know that I can carry everything I need to spend a unexpected night out comfortably. Carrying it on your back is the most efficient way in my experience.

Gun (with magazine full) and knife, I travel light,sometimes a bit of a sandwich

I Got a swazi bum pack that folds out to a back pack i think its great

Ridgeline rata bumbag $40 (olive, not a fan of blaze or cammo) + camelback hydration bladder. Enough space in the large bumbag pocket to fold a soft shell rain top, but if I take a fleece bush shirt that gets tucked into the stretch cord on the back of the hydro pack.

Plan on sewing straps and buckles to bumbag and bladder to stop the bumbag from slipping down.

Ridgeline has a hydro pack with storage, butit lookalike it has a hip belt, so not sure how that would work with a bumbag.

Binos in chest harness

Bumbag contents:
Soft shell rain top & pants
Gps
PLB (solo outdoors passport)
Rangefinder
Compass
Map
Headlamp
Survival kit (space blanket, fire starter, lighter, inner tube patches, candle, tampon, fishing hooks & line, whistle)
Sunblock
Bogroll
Knife

Originally Posted by SiB

after playing with day packs (too hot on my back, bulky strap when shouldering rifle for a quick shot) I tried the old heavy belt with a canvas 'belt'bag' or two. worked OK but not enough for all the kit Ilike to carry.

finally invested in a Badlands monster Fanny bag - and love it. Lots of pockets, and the straps take some of the weight of your shoulders, and are very low profile - easy to shoulder a rifle etc.

I'm totally happy with mine - currently re-doing my knife sheaf so it will easily attach.
I recomend it!

Yes - start saving your $ - mine was $250 new

Yeah badlands are very nice - we sell ours for 235

I use this and a bino case for my day pack; has a hydro pocket as well

Yep was indeed its god but can be a pain in the beehind two in getting shit out in a hurry but mostly its good,the beuty of the pikau is stalking in the bush it sits below ya shoulders so its not getting tangeld up in the scrub.Plenty of good advice in this thread for gear in ya bumbag to mate!mines got compas knife saw hi vis vest and headlamp.as well as some hochie cord.I should have an emergency blakee but im slow smetimes.Binos are getting cheeper your welcome to use my harty flash ones that i gave youivbe spotted deer wif em!unless they will cramp your stytle ha ha

And sunblock dougie lol fuck we neede that last sat!

#9...So what's with the tampon?...and no condom.

Originally Posted by Spook

#9...So what's with the tampon?

Combined wound dressing (GSW plug) and bloody awesome fire starter in micro sized package.

My bum bag would be 3 maybe 4 liters max.
Items that stay in it permanently.
compass
new bic taped up
Fire lighting thing same as was given away on here a while back.
Bit of innertube.
Survival blanket.
Chocolate bar.
"Good" folding pocket knife.
Actual knife I use on the strap.
They stay in/on it permanently.
Can fit enough food for a full day+range finder+gps.....both left behind on short(IE Handy) bush stalks.
Ideal for bush but nowhere for clothing or meat.

Further afeild day trips in open country the bum bag and its contents go into the day pack. A stony creek? would be 15l maxed out with the binos, gps, range finder and drink bottle in it. It has provision for a bladder but haven't got round to getting one yet.
Gives me room to put a top layer in it when the gravy starts to run
Iv just about stuffed it from dropping everything out(to recover later) and cramming it full of meat plus head and skin held on top.
Straps cut like hell but its not designed for that sort of load.

Overnights the bum bag is in the day pack and the day pack is in the actual pack, If there is no room on the way out(hopefully) the day pack is strapped on the outside of the main pack.


Iv made no mention of a map here. Poor form I know. If im going somewhere iv never been before I get a map of the area and take it with me. Generally I dont bother just the compass.

Take a map!