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Best Hunting Backpacks 2023 - Forbes Vetted

A solid backpack can make or break a hunting trip. The ideal pack needs to fit your body well, carry gear and game with ease and go the distance for long treks into the backcountry. If a backpack isn’t comfortable enough to seamlessly carry the odds and ends you need for a hunt (from a dedicated hunting knife to food supplies), then it becomes a problem rather than a solution. That’s why the best hunting backpack blends into the background of a trip—you don’t even realize it’s there, which allows you to focus on what matters—bagging game.

The best hunting backpacks make it easy to carry equipment and meat. Laptop Bag

Best Hunting Backpacks 2023 - Forbes Vetted

From bird hunting to big game hunting, there are a number of different backpacks available these days for specific situations. I tested several packs on this list and reviewed others online, considering those designed to carry meat and gear lengthy distances. While traditional daypacks are durable and ergonomic, hunting-specific backpacks—such as elk hunting backpacks and bow hunting backpacks—are built with heavy-duty, camouflaged materials and dedicated space for meat storage. Rest assured, you can find the best hunting backpacks below.

If you need help breaking down different packs as we discuss storage capacity, durability and design, skip to the bottom of the article, where you’ll find additional information and answers to frequently asked questions.

Bozeman, Montana-based Stone Glacier makes some of the lightest carrying packs around, all of which blend functionality, durability and performance to aid backcountry hunters.

The Avail 2200 is an extremely versatile hunting pack that performs from one side of the country to the other. From bird hunting to big game hunting and even the daily commute, the Avail is known as the ultimate “utility” hunting pack. Weighing just a shade over three pounds, it’s designed to be used as either a stand-alone pack, or with an Avail suspension system and internal frame. You can remove the shoulder straps, hip belt and frame to mount the Avail directly to Stone Glacier’s Xcurve or EVO Frame for improved load-hauling capability.

This pack is so versatile that hunters can switch from external frame mode to daypack stand-alone mode in the field. With 36 liters of space and a load rating of 150 pounds, it’s sure to accommodate your gear and game without breaking a sweat. 

From base layers to blades to compound bows, hunting can take a toll on your full grain leather wallet. Realistically, you can’t pinch pennies and acquire quality gear at the same time, but certain essentials—like a backpack—don’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. The Meralian Hunting Backpack, for example, can save you a little money and offer a comfortable experience.

For around $30, this backpack will get you off the couch and on the hunt in no time. The pack features a large main compartment along with two mesh side pockets for water bottles and gear. It caters to bow or rifle hunting and includes an orange rain cover to keep your gear dry, paying mind to visibility. And it’s made with waterproof 600D Nylon material to ensure it holds strong on the trail.

The Meralian is also compatible with a hydration bladder, and padded shoulder straps help manage the weight. Granted, this pack doesn’t sport a lot of bells and whistles, but if you want a hunting pack that’s ready to get the job done without breaking the bank, this is it.

Mystery Ranch is well-known in different circles for different reasons, but if you’re into the Bozeman brand’s hunting packs, odds are you like them for their sheer durability. With a background in building tactical backpacks used by the military, Mystery Ranch packs stand the test of time.

The new Pop Up 30 is a low-profile hunting pack that’s sleek and simple when you’re hunting, but as soon as the time comes to haul meat, it expands and supports up to 80 pounds. In fact, the Overload feature positions the bulk of the pack’s weight closest to your back, which makes it easier to haul game and gear over longer distances. Weighing in at 4.9 pounds, the Pop Up 30 features—you guessed it—30 liters of storage.

A vast majority o f hunters identify as deer hunters, and while that may make deer hunting sound like a simple pursuit, there’s a lot more to this discipline than meets the eye. Among the many hunting packs on the market designed for deer hunting, the KUIU Venture Divide 1500 stands out as one of the few day packs to contain the specific features you need when hunting deer.

The Venture Divide’s storage system uses zippered pockets to keep essentials within reach, and it supports a hydration bladder should you get thirsty. The expandable pocket about the front sets this pack apart with a V-style quick-release compression strap that’s great for extra gear or clothing as it’s lined with abrasion- and water-resistant fabric.

The bottom of the pack features a zipper opening, making it easy to access items such as a spotting scope or tripod in seconds. It also offers convenient access to its main compartment via the horseshoe zipper that’s easy to zip and unzip—you’ll never fumble with it in the field. To keep your equipment protected, the pack relies on 330D Cordura fabric for durability, and webbing loops attach a gun or bow along with expandable side stuff pockets that offer additional storage.

Whether you’re hunting from a boat, wading through a marsh or facing the elements on a remote Alaskan expedition, you may need the best waterproof hunting backpack to keep your gear dry. If moisture ruins your equipment, it could spell the difference between a solid haul and going home empty handed.

For the ultimate in waterproof packs, KUIU’s DeltaStorm 2200 boasts submersible and float-ready characteristics that make it perfect for wet adventures. Made with TPU-coated waterproof fabric, a welded construction and watertight zippers, it also includes a removable shell and accessory holder for smaller items that need to remain dry. The DeltaStorm employs external compression straps that multiply carry options, and at 4.4 pounds (with a 36-liter volume), you can float this pack down the river to camp and rest easy knowing your gear won’t get wet. I tried submerging this pack and soaking it with a hose in the hopes of penetrating its seams, but no dice—the construction stands up to torrential downpours.

The best bow-hunting backpack is as unique as bow hunters themselves. They’re a different breed, and as such, they have specific needs when it comes to a hunting pack.

Insights Hunting—a label owned by Frogg Toggs—created the Vision Bow Pack to help organize, transport and store bow hunting gear, which makes the hunt more enjoyable. The bow pack will carry long, parallel limb bows, quivers, arrows, optics and electronics with ease, and it can fit shotguns and rifles to boot. There’s a quiver pouch for arrows on each side and a large front compartment on the pack to store additional gear in a protected zippered pocket. A special feature that sets this pack apart is the TS3 Tree Shelf Stand, which adapts to make a shelf, storage or basket for tree hunting in a pinch. 

To find the best hunting backpacks for this list, I searched high and low for the leading options from established labels. After gathering my first round of picks, I looked at each pack’s overall value, carrying capacity, weight and design. Then, once I narrowed down the top selections, I sorted through customer reviews and ratings, eliminating any packs with concerning or inconsistent reviews. I also tested a handful of these packs in the field to ensure they could meet the demands of the modern hunter.

When creating this finalized list, I made an effort to include styles that could suit the needs of different hunters. For those who like to hunt deer, I included packs like the KUIU Venture Divide 1500, which features plenty of organized storage space. I also included models like the Insights Hunting Vision Bow Pack for those who prefer bow hunting over rifle hunting.

While the size of a hunting backpack will be influenced by what you’re hunting, where you’re hunting and how long you’re hunting, a medium-sized backpack—typically in the range of 30 to 40 liters—is ideal for hunting. It provides sufficient space to carry essential gear, including ammunition, water (and a water filter), snacks, first-aid supplies and extra layers, striking a balance between storage capacity and mobility.

The best hunting backpack is personal to you, but any well-equipped pack should include essentials like extra clothing, camping gear and hunting gear along with food and water. This includes equipment you might think of, like extra ammo, binoculars, a spotting scope and a tripod, but it should also include a first aid kit, a hunting knife, a backpacking tent and a sleeping bag if you intend to days or weeks in the field.

I am an accomplished author, journalist, and photographer who specializes in consumer technologies. Please visit my website at www.JasonRich.com and check out my eBook, \"iPhone 14 Pro Max Digital Photography\" (www.iPhoneBookShop.com). I am also the author of The Remote Worker's Handbook (Entrepreneur Books) that'll be published in March 2023.

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I’m the Forbes Vetted deputy editor, currently living near Detroit. After serving in the Air Force where I operated satellites and planned space launches, I have had a varied career as a tech journalist, wildlife photographer, scuba instructor and podcaster (including co-hosting the popular Battlestar Recaptica).

I am the author of nearly three dozen books about photography, mobile tech, and more; I’ve even authored a digital interactive storybook for kids. I spent eight years as a content lead at Microsoft where I helped to develop Windows Vista and Windows 7. And before joining Forbes Vetted, I contributed to many popular websites including CNET, PC World, How-To Geek and Business Insider. 

I'm a writer specializing in the outdoors and travel. I splits my time between Alaska and Colorado, where when I'm not writing, I spend my time camping, hiking, fishing, and snowboarding (often with dogs in tow). My byline can also be found in The New York Times, National Geographic, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and beyond. Connect with me on Instagram (@byebaileyberg) and Twitter (@baileybergs).

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I’m the Forbes Vetted deputy editor, currently living near Detroit. After serving in the Air Force where I operated satellites and planned space launches, I have had a varied career as a tech journalist, wildlife photographer, scuba instructor and podcaster (including co-hosting the popular Battlestar Recaptica).

I am the author of nearly three dozen books about photography, mobile tech, and more; I’ve even authored a digital interactive storybook for kids. I spent eight years as a content lead at Microsoft where I helped to develop Windows Vista and Windows 7. And before joining Forbes Vetted, I contributed to many popular websites including CNET, PC World, How-To Geek and Business Insider. 

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I'm the executive strategy editor at Forbes Vetted and a functional nutritionist. In between geeking out over SEO and obsessing over products, from mattresses to treadmills to every kitchen gadget I can get my hands on, I've written more than a dozen books and cookbooks and created over 1,000 original recipes.

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Alison is a Philadelphia-based writer and editor who has been sharing buying advice and product reviews for over a decade. She likes martial arts, cats, good food, and saving money. She dislikes writing about herself.

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Best Hunting Backpacks 2023 - Forbes Vetted

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