Thread: Show Us Your Bumbag

Originally Posted by MB

What puts me off bumbags with fixed pockets is that they don't work well with a slung rifle. It's not clear from my photos, but I leave a space on the right side of the belt for shoulder slinging. Maybe you guys don't use a sling?

Thats one benefit of the HE bag, the "side" pockets are rear biased which gives me space on my hip for my slung rifle, that being said, my rifles usually slung across my back on the walk in until I see sign, then it gets moved to my shoulder or in my hands

Originally Posted by Basenjiboy

Good idea using the shotgun case to hold the battery!!

It was one of those happy coincidences, I could see the issue and just happened to have an empty couple of cases floating around whilst sorting my gear out one day

More random bumbag thoughts...

1. I try to avoid zips. However good they are, they will break or jam at some point.

2. Those of us with a smaller waist are disadvantaged, we have less real estate!

3. Not sure about harnesses, part of the benefit for me is not having anything on my back and I want the weight to be carried on my hips rather than my shoulders. That said, I can see that they would be good in stabilising the belt.


As it stands, I have everything I need for bush hunting in the bumbag. If I ever manage to get out the bush, I have a chest pouch for binos and rangefinder. For trips south, I have a pikau with extra clothes. It annoys me that I can't get it all on the belt, but it's a nice modular system, even if I do look like an army surplus reject rather than a big brand model!

It strikes me that there is a gap in the market for a truly modular hunting system, that could be configured to suit each mission, as it is I end up with at least two lots of straps over my shoulders/chest if I'm travelling with bumbak/hydration bag and bino harness....which is a REAL PITA, what I would like to see is maybe a hydration bag over the shoulders, that I could clip my bino rig too..then the bumbag could be separate or maybe have attachment points to the hydro harness if it was getting a bit weighty?

Originally Posted by Zedrex

It strikes me that there is a gap in the market for a truly modular hunting system, that could be configured to suit each mission, as it is I end up with at least two lots of straps over my shoulders/chest if I'm travelling with bumbak/hydration bag and bino harness....which is a REAL PITA, what I would like to see is maybe a hydration bag over the shoulders, that I could clip my bino rig too..then the bumbag could be separate or maybe have attachment points to the hydro harness if it was getting a bit weighty?

That would be a winner.

This is the current bumbag I run, heaps of pockets, a few external straps for jackets etc, a pouch between the shoulders for a 1L hydration bladder.
I also plan to put some snap buckles on the front to take my bino bivy so I don't have to have multiple shoulder straps.
I was also thinking of having a piku pack inside for meat, the top of the bum bag is very flat so would support alot of the weight onto the very sturdy padded belt.

the one i posted earlier is still up for sale, no longer required

@Dan88 does that Badlands bumbag have a wire ring around the main bag for structure. My mates use them, couldn't believe how big they were when I tried one on. You could hide a cat in there.

@Zedrex I think where bumbags fall down (excuse the pun), is the carrying out of a load of meat. I've tried the Hunters Element Bluff packable bag, until I had to carry out a boned out stag. The shoulder straps were like tooth floss, very painful. The Swazi Buffalo looks like a great day option as the main bag can be zipped away until needed.

Originally Posted by Snoppernator

@Dan88 does that Badlands bumbag have a wire ring around the main bag for structure. My mates use them, couldn't believe how big they were when I tried one on. You could hide a cat in there.

Not sure if it's wire but it does have some kind of internal frame. Easily fit 2 cats in it.
It would easily take back steaks and at least one boned out back leg.

Yeah, it's very Team America. Made my Twin Needle capsule feel like a capsule.

Originally Posted by Snoppernator

@Zedrex I think where bumbags fall down (excuse the pun), is the carrying out of a load of meat. I've tried the Hunters Element Bluff packable bag, until I had to carry out a boned out stag. The shoulder straps were like tooth floss, very painful. The Swazi Buffalo looks like a great day option as the main bag can be zipped away until needed.

You are correct. My usual solution is not to shoot anything or only small animals

Agree about the Hunters Element meat bag and I use it most of the time. I carried two back legs, one shoulder and backstraps from a medium size pig and it was painful after a short distance. I guess the answer depends on where you are and what you are planning to shoot. Whatever works for you, although I think a big daypack without proper load support on the hips is the worst of all worlds. I was crippled after a big day carrying too much gear in a daypack plus said pig. Those frame backpacks look good, but damn, there's some weight to them.

Great points @MB. I overnight most of the time, so take the main pack with meat shelf for the walk in. Had a more luxurious experience last trip, Kai and I were hit with a big whiff of "deer" walking up the track at the start of the first day. Fast forward 10 minutes and he put me onto a spiker which I dropped. Able to hang it and pick it up two days later on the walk out. That's my approach, hang the quartered animal in a cool place, cover it in fern, and pick it up end of play. I'm planning a day trip next week, so am gonna take the Macpac Weka with a homemade fleece cover for the walk in and out.

@Snoppernator yep, I've not used the HE pikau on it's own to carry out, it's more of a meat bag to go into something else to take the weight, all of my successful hunts have been with my day bag or big pack, I think that outside of their packs, HE straps generally have more in common with the bit of string going up many ladies arse cracks than anything remotely comfortable to carry weight with

[QUOTE=Dan88;This is the current bumbag I run, heaps of pockets, a few external straps for jackets etc, a pouch between the shoulders for a 1L hydration bladder.
I also plan to put some snap buckles on the front to take my bino bivy so I don't have to have multiple shoulder straps.
I was also thinking of having a piku pack inside for meat, the top of the bum bag is very flat so would support alot of the weight onto the very sturdy padded belt.[/QUOTE]

That looks the business, which one is that?