Thread: Newbie hunter. Which backpack?? Size?? Brand?? Other gear?

Bush hunting in a 60 odd litre pack is a pain in the arse, anything that will carry a load well will stick up above the shoulders and get caught up at the most annoying times. And anything of that pack size that doesnt stick up wont carry a load well.

Personally I would add a cheap pikau to the main pack and use that while hunting. Takes up fuck all rooms and is way better to hunt in. Open country then just use the big pack.

If you want a cheap shelter, build creeds polycryo tarp. Cheap, light and fine in the bush.
For a sleeping pad cheap CC foam isnt very comfortable but it keeps you warm enough and is cheap as chips. If you want to step up for an inflatable Exped is probably the next best for the $ here, similar quality to thermarest but about half the price

Econ Quilts These are the best value (weight price and warmth) bags on the market at the moment IMO. They are quilts though so do a little research and see if that is something that suits you.

MACpacs are good, and there seems to be a heap of em around second hand.
Dont buy anything from katmandu. Their gear is overpriced shite, and they wont stand by it. I learned this the expensive way.

I would go with some basic gear that will get you by for now as if you are anything like me you will want to change all your shit anyway once you actually start hunting and work out what suits your needs. Also as its coming into winter, maybe look at staying in huts a bit as winter in the hills can be pretty unforgiving on the under prepared. Ive spent a few shivering nights in the kaimanawas in a 30 deg bag because I didn't respect the conditions.

Originally Posted by Nick-D

Bush hunting in a 60 odd litre pack is a pain in the arse, anything that will carry a load well will stick up above the shoulders and get caught up at the most annoying times. And anything of that pack size that doesnt stick up wont carry a load well.

Personally I would add a cheap pikau to the main pack and use that while hunting. Takes up fuck all rooms and is way better to hunt in. Open country then just use the big pack.

If you want a cheap shelter, build creeds polycryo tarp. Cheap, light and fine in the bush.
For a sleeping pad cheap CC foam isnt very comfortable but it keeps you warm enough and is cheap as chips. If you want to step up for an inflatable Exped is probably the next best for the $ here, similar quality to thermarest but about half the price

Econ Quilts These are the best value (weight price and warmth) bags on the market at the moment IMO. They are quilts though so do a little research and see if that is something that suits you.

MACpacs are good, and there seems to be a heap of em around second hand.
Dont buy anything from katmandu. Their gear is overpriced shite, and they wont stand by it. I learned this the expensive way.

I would go with some basic gear that will get you by for now as if you are anything like me you will want to change all your shit anyway once you actually start hunting and work out what suits your needs. Also as its coming into winter, maybe look at staying in huts a bit as winter in the hills can be pretty unforgiving on the under prepared. Ive spent a few shivering nights in the kaimanawas in a 30 deg bag because I didn't respect the conditions.

okay so youre saying to get a 60l pack but then chuck a smaller pack into it and hunt in that? so leave your gear in your main pack at the hut/camp site and then go hunt with your smaller pack?? so not hunt as you go, but hunt from a base?

i see i see, i was thinking of getting a cheap 2 man ultralight tent. probably a naturehike 1.25 kg one on trademe or whatever, they actually get some decent reviews... Ive come to the conclusion that an expensive sleeping bag is probably the better option to spend money on. a good 650+ loft around 1kg or under in weight. sea to summit trek II or macpac express etc.. what do you think of this approach?

havent heard about the quilts, do they zip into like a sleeping bag? are they warm and compact?

thanks for the awesome advice man! really appreciate it

Originally Posted by TheJanitar

okay so youre saying to get a 60l pack but then chuck a smaller pack into it and hunt in that? so leave your gear in your main pack at the hut/camp site and then go hunt with your smaller pack?? so not hunt as you go, but hunt from a base?

i see i see, i was thinking of getting a cheap 2 man ultralight tent. probably a naturehike 1.25 kg one on trademe or whatever, they actually get some decent reviews... Ive come to the conclusion that an expensive sleeping bag is probably the better option to spend money on. a good 650+ loft around 1kg or under in weight. sea to summit trek II or macpac express etc.. what do you think of this approach?

havent heard about the quilts, do they zip into like a sleeping bag? are they warm and compact?

thanks for the awesome advice man! really appreciate it

A hunt as you go setup is IMO a little more specialised and requires so.e good thought and gear to do effectively, especially in the bush. I personally find it very hard to bush stalk with a full load of gear in my 60l pack. Not impossible but I definitely prefer stalking with a low profile quiet pack. As most of your hunting option closer to auckland are bush I would look to set yourself up with that in mind first.

The most common setup would be to take a small pack or pikauri in your big pack and setup a Basecamp at a hut/biv or campsite and hunt from there. It's probably a good place to start, then you can add gear and go from there as you learn.

sleeping bags are the one real buy once cry once item for me. You never regret a good bag. I would try buy a 800 plus down nag from a reputable brand. And don't forget ground insulation the most expensive bag in the world won't insulate you from the ground. You must have a warm enough pad.

Quilts are like a sleeping bag with the bottom cut off. They are lighter, compress smaller and are cheaper than the similar spec bag (my -7deg quilt weighs 550 grams).
Downsides are they can be drafty and as you don't have a good you need to wear a beanie when it's cold. I like them, but it is really personal preference.

The tent will probably be fine in a bush setting. A tarp of the huntech bivy is a good option too.

Originally Posted by Nick-D

A hunt as you go setup is IMO a little more specialised and requires so.e good thought and gear to do effectively, especially in the bush. I personally find it very hard to bush stalk with a full load of gear in my 60l pack. Not impossible but I definitely prefer stalking with a low profile quiet pack. As most of your hunting option closer to auckland are bush I would look to set yourself up with that in mind first.

The most common setup would be to take a small pack or pikauri in your big pack and setup a Basecamp at a hut/biv or campsite and hunt from there. It's probably a good place to start, then you can add gear and go from there as you learn.

sleeping bags are the one real buy once cry once item for me. You never regret a good bag. I would try buy a 800 plus down nag from a reputable brand. And don't forget ground insulation the most expensive bag in the world won't insulate you from the ground. You must have a warm enough pad.

Quilts are like a sleeping bag with the bottom cut off. They are lighter, compress smaller and are cheaper than the similar spec bag (my -7deg quilt weighs 550 grams).
Downsides are they can be drafty and as you don't have a good you need to wear a beanie when it's cold. I like them, but it is really personal preference.

The tent will probably be fine in a bush setting. A tarp of the huntech bivy is a good option too.

okay awesome, only thing im worried about is someone stealing my 60l pack filled with gear if i leave it alone when i go out with the lighter pack!! esp in a hut environment. am i being paranoid?

Yep totally get you. ill definitely just bite the bullet and spend the extra cash on a sleeping bag. It makes complete sense to me now, it is probably the single most important thing to have a good sleep!

GF has a nemo 20r sleeping mat that shes giving to me so sorted for insulation and a soft surface to sleep on hopefully?

As for the bivvy/tent, ive been doing some research, and this looks pretty good 2Man Bivvy will just need to get a ground tarp/sheet for it. thoughts?

again, really appreciate your detailed advice, helps me so much!