New pack recommendations

[WVmike]

Currently have a Mystery Ranch Metcalf that I purchased in 2019. Has been a wonderful pack and have only had one waist belt buckle fail on me while hunting in Colorado 2 years ago that I fixed with electrical tape. They sent me a kit with extra pieces following the hunt when I emailed them. I am looking into getting another pack that would be used for hiking, rucking with weight to train for elk hunts out west and my hunts would be anywhere in the 3-5 maybe 7 day range just for reference. The metcalf that I have serves me well but my oldest will be at a good age for elk hunting in the next 2 years and I want to either get him a new bag or give him mine since we can wear basically the same sized clothing. I like Mystery Ranch but wouldn't be opposed to something like a Stone Glacier Col 4800 or something from Eberlestock (don't know how I feel about the aluminum frame that they use in their main pack). Anyone have experience with the new MR metcalf/beartooth, Col 4800 or something equivalent?

 

[MT Super Puncher]

Get an Exo K4. Having used a Mystery Ranch Sawtooth for several years, I made the switch to Exo and the difference when hauling weight is night and day. Importantly, Exo customer service is second to none.

 

[TX Trophy Hunter]

I have the mainframe pack and like it. Probably not as nice as the other ones you mentioned but it handles heavy loads very well. Only thing I don’t love about it is if you zipper one of their bags to it, the zippers want to unzip. I use a mini carabiner to keep them in place.

 

[WVmike]

I have the mainframe pack and like it. Probably not as nice as the other ones you mentioned but it handles heavy loads very well. Only thing I don’t love about it is if you zipper one of their bags to it, the zippers want to unzip. I use a mini carabiner to keep them in place.

Is this the EMOD pack? Or the new model they released?

 

[The_Jim]

Another vote for the K4. Superior pack and the founder is still the owner.

 

[TX Trophy Hunter]

Is this the EMOD pack? Or the new model they released?

It’s the original version, I bought it in 2019. One thing I can say is it is tough. I have packed 5 deer, 4 elk, and an aoudad and it’s still running strong.

 

[WVmike]

Get an Exo K4. Having used a Mystery Ranch Sawtooth for several years, I made the switch to Exo and the difference when hauling weight is night and day. Importantly, Exo customer service is second to none.

I don't think I've ever heard anything bad about anything from exo, haven't researched them much.

 

[brymoore]

I’d look at Stone Glacier or Exo.