What I have been investing in is a way to cut down on gear and get an ideal, low-weight, streamlined package to maximise my on-foot hunting potential. Sounds all very good, doesn't it?
With the addition of a new .308 Gunsite Scout Rifle into the mix, giving me the potential to take some game that I simply wouldn't dare or be comfortable with with the Ruger Hawkeye in .223rem, I've decided to update my gear somewhat. My usual rig when varminting on foot or even in a vehicle is a BlackWolf Titanium 35L daypack.
Mine is in a dark green, but you can read more about the pack here.
Essentially it is about as big as you'd ever want to go in a daypack for most purposes, but the beauty is the air suspension harness that keeps the bulk of the pack off your back, meaning that it is much cooler and more comfortable than a regular pack. I cannot recommend this setup enough.
For my purpoes though, it is no longer suitable as a day rig. The issue I have is that I tend to pack too much stuff in it and for a quick day trip all I need is water, food, navigation gear, first aid, and bits and pieces such as a rifle pullthrough and not much more. While this pack is obviously capable of carrying all that I would prefer to have an option of having something more streamlined. That, and the BlackWolf bladder I had inside packed it out after around 12 months due to the use it was getting.
Take it from someone in the industry - all bladders are not made the same and you want one made from Nalgene or a similar plastic that is BPA and therefore taste and smell free. The easiest way to tell is price and to stick your nose in the bag it comes in. Smells plasticky? That's how it will taste and it won't last the test of time. While BlackWolf make such a bladder Camelbak are by far the most durable in every department and the various valves and whatnot are easily replaceable. In the long run, they are a much better option and not that much more expensive.
A backpack like the Titanium can have a bladder put in it, of basically any kind, but I prefer a bigger one as you can always simply put less water in a bigger bladder but can't put more in a smaller one.
So, I decided to foray into something I have wanted for a while but only recently gotten around to buying - a Camelbak dedicated bladder.
This Thermobak 3L bladder has an exceptionally rugged plastic construction, with a shutoff valve, dust cover, high-flow hose, insulated outer and absolutely no storage whatsoever, something I didn't really realise when I got it. Oh well, never mind. It can be attached to most hiking packs via the retractable straps, you can choose what side you want the hose to hang (not your shooting shoulder... trust me...) and it has a great warranty. I can also use it when fitness training outdoors, or with the straps retracted sling it in the car/ute/kayak/whatever.
So, the water issue is sorted. What about the gear? I will need to take gear.
Inspired by Dagga Boy's setup, I've bought something similar to this (but older and apparently discontinued...)
The idea behind it is that I can put an extra bottle of water to top up in should 3L not be enough, or jam any old junk in there. There is also a mobile phone pouch (used to jam stuff in) and enough storage to put a days worth of snacks and food in there.
It also has a good belt I can sling a first aid kit on, ammunition bandolier/magazine pouches, and any other junk I might carry along. I will of course have pockets for everything else as well.
Binoculars go around the neck, maybe in a harness if I get that advanced, and I still have to figure out where the map case goes... maybe slung off the back or attached to the bladder? We will see.
At either rate I've cut down on bulk and weight, while still having everything I may need.
Another time I'll write about my new first aid kit, but it's fairly comprehensive and should cover me in almost any situation I come across while still being considerably smaller than a box of tissues.
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