8 Best Hunting Packs
We take a look at some of the best hunting backpacks to analyze their features and see which ones might fit your needs the best.
Career outdoor writer. Avid outdoorswoman. Lifelong hunter
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Having the right hunting gear is one way to turn the odds of success in your favor.
Although the amount of gear you need depends on your hunting style, the terrain you’re hunting, and the animals you’re pursuing, a quality hunting pack will help you get that gear to wherever you’re going.
But with so many options on the market, finding the right pack to meet your hunting needs can be confusing.
Don’t worry. We’re here to help you navigate the options, cut through the marketing hype, and find the perfect pack to help you take your hunting game to the next level.
The Quick List
- Best for Deer Hunting: Sitka Elevated II Fanatic PackJump to details ↓
- Best for Duck Hunting: Breakwater Supply Fogland 25L Waterproof BackpackJump to details ↓
- Most Versatile: 5.11 Tactical RUSH72 2.0 PackJump to details ↓
- Best for Multi-Day Hunts: Vertx Overlander Tactical BackpackJump to details ↓
- Best for Big Game: Stone Glacier Sky Archer 6400 PackJump to details ↓
- Best Daypack: Mystery Ranch Rip Ruck 24 BackpackJump to details ↓
- Best for Bowhunting: First Lite Transfer PackJump to details ↓
- Best Minimalist Hunting Pack: KUIU Stalker 500 PRO BackpackJump to details ↓
Table of Contents
Why You Should Trust Us
Alice is a lifelong hunter and experienced shooter who grew up flinging arrows and bullets at Virginia whitetails, turkeys, and game birds. Her hunting experience has grown to include other game, such as Elk, wild hog, and more.
She leverages this knowledge to bring her readers tips, tricks, and recommendations on what works (and doesn’t) in the field.
Best Hunting Packs
I’ve had years of experience as a hunter. Some seasons have been successful, and others have been nothing but frustrating. The same applies to the hunting packs I’ve used to carry gear.
The packs on this list have been run through their paces in several different hunting scenarios, proving their mettle from murky North Carolina river bottoms to the Colorado High Country.
1. Sitka Fanatic Pack
Pros
Cons
Quiet is the name of the game when you’re hunting whitetails.
Research from the University of Toledo shows that deer can hear upwards of 54,000 Hertz. For comparison, humans can only hear up to 20,000 Hertz. That means a deer can hear noises you didn’t even know you were making.
Sitka understands that the sound of canvas moving through brush, the swish of zippers, and the metallic punch of a snap fastener sound like sirens to a deer’s ears.
The Fanatic Pack employs high-loft jacquard Berber fleece, ultra-quiet YKK Vislon zippers, and their trademark Silent Secure fasteners to reduce audible engagement.
I can move through the woods to my treestand and then rummage for the all-important Little Debbie snacks without ruining my hunt.
For a soft pack, this one comfortably supports a surprising amount of weight, and the main compartment is incredibly roomy. I can fit a 25-pound bag of deer corn and tote it to my super-secret honey hole with no problems.
The pack also features winged compression straps, which are perfect for securing an extra jacket, bow, rifle, or rattling antlers on the outside of the pack.
2. Breakwater Supply Fogland 25L Waterproof Backpack
Pros
Cons
Waterfowl hunting is usually a wet affair.
A waterproof backpack will go a long way in keeping your gear dry, whether hunting from a Jon boat, hiking through flooded timber, or stomping through muddy fields to spend hours in a coffin blind.
And when it comes to waterproof backpacks, it doesn’t get any better than the Fogland backpack from Breakwater Supply.
It is fully submersible, so it’s guaranteed to keep your shotgun shells, extra socks, and beef jerky bone dry, even if it takes a plunge in a cold, icy marsh. It also floats, making it a whole heckuva lot easier to retrieve if it goes overboard.
The Fogland has a spacious interior, dry suit-grade air and water-tight zippers, and well-thought-out compartments for easy organization.
On top of being completely waterproof, the exterior material (Hydrowall 420D Nylon TPU) is everything an outdoor textile should be: rugged, tear-proof, abrasion-resistant, lightweight, and easy to wipe clean.
3. 5.11 Tactical RUSH 72 2.0
Pros
Cons
Although the 5.11 RUSH series backpacks were designed for tactical applications, they are also fantastic options for multi-day outdoor excursions.
I collect backpacks like most girls collect shoes. That means I’ve gathered quite an impressive collection, and of all the bags in my closet, the 5.11 RUSH 72 is probably my all-time favorite.
I carried this one on a DIY archery elk hunt to Colorado’s Flat Tops Wilderness Area. I’ve also taken it through bustling airports as a travel carry-on. It excelled in both environments.
Featuring 55 liters of storage space, the RUSH 72 has plenty of room for all your gear and enough compartments to keep it totally organized. There are designated compartments perfect for camping and survival gear, eyewear, paper maps, electronics, water bottles, and a hydration bladder.
It also integrates with other RUSH series bags, like the MOAB 6 sling pack via the RUSH Tier System, in case you need extra storage space.
The pack is also built to handle rugged environments thanks to its high strength and water-repellant 1050D nylon construction.
4. Vertx Overlander Tactical Backpack
Pros
Cons
Hunting in the backcountry can be exhausting, but your backpack shouldn’t add to the burden.
The Vertx Overlander backpack has plenty of comfort features to ensure you can handle the load. The bag’s low-profile 3D molded foam back panel, adjustable padded shoulder straps, and load lifter straps are perfect for toting larger loads.
The Overlander also has tons of hidden features to make you feel like a ninja, including laser-cut MOLLE behind the front panel. This VELCRO-lined main compartment offers limitless interior customization, a roomy CCW compartment, and a hot pull design for rapid access to your gear.
Vertx built the Overlander to stand up to rough use in harsh environments. It is made with bonded nylon thread, reinforced seams, and bar-tacked attachment points for extra durability.
5. Stone Glacier Sky Archer 6400 Pack
Pros
Cons
Ideal for hunting Western big game, the Sky Archer 6400 from Stone Glacier features 6,400 cubic inches of volume and 2,500 cubic inches of load shelf expansion.
That means there’s plenty of room to tote your gear and your meat with this pack/frame combo. It is also convertible to a 4,000-cubic-inch bivy mode that is perfect as a daypack.
Big game hunters will appreciate the internal spotting scope compartment and the left side pocket, perfect for toting a tripod or arrow tube.
The pack is hydration compatible, features a plethora of interior pockets, and comes with a handy side zipper for easy access to the main compartment without having to remove your bow strapped to the pack.
6. Mystery Ranch Rip Ruck 24
Pros
Cons
Based out of Bozeman, Montana, Mystery Ranch has been a heavy hitter in the tactical and outdoor backpack sphere.
The company’s 24-liter Rip Ruck backpack is a fine example of why the brand has a solid reputation for quality and durability.
Initially inspired by the U.S. military’s ALICE ruck, it features nicely padded contoured shoulder straps, an ergonomic back panel, plenty of PALS webbing, and a daisy chain for attaching extra accessories.
The pack gets its name from its uber-cool rip-zip access. You can grab the bag's top flap and pull upward with a ripping motion to gain instant access to the interior contents.
This isn’t a hunting backpack for hiking deep into the backcountry for a days-long big game hunt. But it is the perfect size for a daypack and offers plenty of space for calls, cover scents, rain gear, ammo, a limbing saw, and a hearty lunch.
7. First Lite Transfer Pack
Pros
Cons
The First Lite Transfer Pack is designed for anyone who hunts from a saddle or treestand. It has a bucket-style main compartment that prevents the contents from spilling out when you’re 15 feet up a tree.
It also has a low-profile design that makes getting into and out of your stand while you’re wearing the pack a whole lot easier. The design also prevents the pack from looking like a big ol’ eye-catching blob when it’s hanging in the tree.
It even converts to a treestand carry mode by removing the back panel so you can easily move your stand to and from your favorite honey hole.
Other features treestand hunters will love include the integrated bow-hauling rope, cam loops and straps for attaching your bow or rifle, and eight external gear pockets.
8. KUIU Stalker 500 PRO
Pros
Cons
If you like to keep your hunting gear streamlined and straightforward, the KUIU Stalker 500 is about as minimalist as a pack can get.
This low-profile hunting pack weighs a mere 8.8 ounces. Its 500 cubic-inch carrying capacity is just enough for the essentials. The Stalker 500 easily clips in and stows inside KUIU’s larger PRO or PRO LT backpacks.
It can also double as a three-liter hydration holder to help stave off thirst on the final stalk of a high-action hunt. My husband also used it to prevent dehydration when we hiked the Rim Trail at Grand Canyon National Park this past summer.
What to Consider When Choosing a Hunting Pack
Hunting is an incredibly diverse sport. Spring turkey hunting in Louisiana looks much different from hunting rutting high-country bull elk.
A hunter’s gear needs, including their pack, differ greatly depending on where, what, and how they are hunting.
Matching the pack to the pursuit is crucial, so here are a few key things to consider to make sure you choose the right hunting pack to meet your needs.
Capacity
The amount of storage space is usually measured in either liters or cubic inches. Packs with larger capacities are generally more expensive, but that doesn’t mean bigger is necessarily better.
You want to make sure your pack has enough room to fit all the essentials. However, too much space can be just as detrimental as too little.
A pack with too much storage capacity adds bulk and weight to your hunt that you don’t need. The trick is finding a hunting pack with the perfect Goldilocks fit for everything you carry.
Weight
The weight of your hunting gear can add up quickly, which is why the starting weight of your hunting pack is so important.
For big game hunters venturing into remote locations, the end weight of your pack and your gear could be up to 100 pounds, especially if you add a giant hindquarter to the mix on the way back out.
If you start with a lightweight pack and stuff all the ammo, extra layers, survival gear, and snacks you can inside, the result will be much more manageable.
Pockets
Pockets are a great way to organize all the odds and ends you need to take with you on a hunt. However, too many pockets can make locating where you put that extra pocket knife difficult.
More pockets also mean more weight, so before you invest in a pack with piles of pockets, make sure each pocket serves a specific purpose.
Price
Like with most gear, when it comes to hunting packs, you usually get what you pay for.
While a budget-priced backpack might work for a quick hunt in a box blind on the back forty, a multi-day hunt in the backcountry would eat a cheap backpack before the end of the first day.
Prepare to invest some cold, hard cash on a quality backpack for those tougher hunts in harsher, more demanding environments. It’s far better to shed a few tears at the cash register over a price tag than to shed tears of pain when you’re miles from the nearest blacktop.
Final Thoughts
A quality hunting pack isn’t just a vehicle for getting your gear into the woods. It also offers a way to keep that gear organized and protected when roaming through wild spaces.
Since hunting gear isn’t cheap, choosing a top-notch hunting pack should be high on your list of priorities.
Thankfully, there are a slew of first-rate bags to choose from. I’ve covered a few of my favorites, but this is not an exhaustive list. If I left off your favorite, I promise it’s not a slight, but you should totally tell me all about it in the comments section.
If you want to see our complete list of recommended hunting gear, check out our article on Must-Have Hunting Gear for New Hunters.