Packs are one of the most valuable tools when it comes to DIY hunts. It is important for a pack to offer numerous functions in order for it to be a true asset in the field. I personally use the Badlands 2200 for spot and stalk hunting. Here are some of the features this pack offers and why I like it.
First and foremost, comfort. The 2200 is designed to fit anyone from Spudd Webb to Manute Bol. The packs waist band is designed to ride on the top portion of the waist rather than the side. This reduces lower back fatigue. The waist band itself is made of a firm yet comfortable foam that provides stability while not digging in and making it painful. The shoulder straps are the same and are adjustable in two ways. The first being the front straps that determine the load that is carried by the shoulders. Some people don’t realize a packs load should be distributed mainly on the hips to reduce fatigue and keep the weight lower to the ground. The second set of straps that are on the shoulder straps and easily reachable on top of the shoulder determine how close the weight of the pack is carried to the body.
The 2200 also has a water bladder (purchased seperately) that is a must when it comes to any type of trek. The 2200 does hold a bow or rifle very easily with its patented batwing design.My favorite feature of this pack is the specifically designed spotting scope and seperate tripod pocket. I use a Nikon EDG 65mm and it fits in the pocket just fine even with the protective jacket on.
The 2200 also has a meatshelf that doubles as a blaze orange flag and hides nicely in a pocket on the bottom of the pack when not in use. With removeable secondary waist straps, it was very simple for me to incorporate a sidearm holster in the pack without any alterations. The pack also has bottom straps that accomadate any thing too big to fit in the pack such as a sleeping bag or chairs when packing into a ground blind setup. Some independant testing was done on the 2200 for carrying weight capacity before failure and when loaded with 280 lbs, the small convenience strap on the top of the pack finally gave out but the shoulder straps were just fine. Who the heck is gonna carry 280lbs anyways???? Just goes to show the strength of the pack.
There are plenty of other features that make this pack a must have for the DIY hunter. At right around $220 bucks it is affordable as well. ALL Badlands packs carry an unconditional lifetime warranty. That means if you get mad becasue you just missed a trophy and decide to take a knife to the pack, no worries, send it back and it will either be fixed or replaced! Cant beat that!
See post at DIYBowhunter.com