The Need For A Bow Hunting Backpack
Bow hunting is a gear-intensive sport. There’s no doubt about that, so having the right bow hunting backpack for your style of hunting is critical for success.
What exactly is a bow hunting backpack?
Do I really need a hunting pack?
Top 8 - Best Bow Hunting Backpack
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- Designed specifically for bow hunting
- Available in different patterns
- Extra-large main compartment
- Tree stand shelf
- Weatherproof construction
The Vision Bow Pack is the Mac Daddy – yes, I said it – of all bow hunting packs.
Being hands-free is a game changer. Having all your gear on your back allows you to focus on moving swiftly through the woods, scouting your way in.
For those who use climbing sticks and a saddle, it allows you to make one trip up the tree without the need for using a pull rope at the top.
Keeping your bow in the large main compartment keeps your sight and arrow rest from being knocked out of tune.
The Vision features a TS3 front panel system that allows for 3 different ways to use your front pocket: storage, shelf, or basket.
Its unibody chassis puts less strain on the body while providing a stable fit.
For the mobile hunter who caries a lot of gear in the timber, this is at the top of the Best Bow Hunting Backpack list.
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- Molded memory foam suspension
- Proprietary magnesium-alloy frame
- C6 durable water repellant
- Built-in meat shelf
- Hip belt pistol holster
- KXO-50 fabric
The Badlands 2200 is a bow hunting backpack that was designed with the serious hunter in mind.
You’re going to pay more for this pack, but what you get out of it is worth every penny.
The KXO-50 fabric is lighter weight than KXO-32, and it’s insanely tough, incredibly quiet, and absolutely waterproof – all necessary features for a dedicated bow hunter.
A detachable Rifle/Bow Boot and the batwing straps on the back of this pack can be used to securely carry your bow hands-free.
The 2200 is compatible with Badlands’ Bino Connect System, which lets you connect your bino case directly to your pack harness, for a more comfortable carry.
One of the greatest features of this pack is its built-in meat shelf, for packing out your harvest.
It also includes a hip belt pistol holster, and fits Badlands’ 2-liter hydration reservoir.
This pack may not be for the hunter with a low budget, but for those with a little more cash to spend, this pack should be a top candidate.
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- Multiple camo patterns available
- Front shelf pocket
- Padded waist belt
- 2,700 cubic inches
- Includes blaze orange rain cover
- Quiver holders included
The ALPS OutdoorZ Pursuit pack is offered in Realtree Edge, Mossy Oak Country and Coyote Brown.
Its front shelf pocket keeps all your most important, smaller items organized and at your fingertips.
The padded waist belt with reinforced webbing is equipped with two pockets and will accommodate clip-style holsters. The 2,700-cubic inch ALPS OutdoorZ Pursuit pack includes a blaze orange rain cover to keep you safe and your gear dry.
A drop-down pocket can be used to safely carry a gun or bow. Quiver holders are included on each side of this pack.
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- Snake proof
- Adjustable gusset for individual fit
- 100% Waterproof
- 5mm Densoprene
- 4-way stretch breathable lining
The Tidwe Hunting Pack is made of durable polyester and weighs in at 3.7 pounds. Its multi-pocket design helps keep gear separated and organized.
The channeled back provides support and breathability. This design distributes the weight of the pack to fit your back and eliminate pressure points.
The padded waist belt ensures chafe-free comfort. The Tidwe Hunting Pack includes a built-in rain cover.
It has a pocket designed for carrying a gun or bow and includes a quiver hook and loop. Staying hydrated is made easy with this pack’s hydration port.
The 2,200-cubic inch pack has a large front pocket and main compartment. The dimensions of the pack are 21″ by 12″ by 10″.
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- 2,500 cubic inches
- Expandable pocket
- Bartacked webbing
- Hydration port
- Front Lashing
- Blaze orange rain cover
The ALPS OutdoorZ Trail Blazer pack, patterned in Mossy Oak Country, weighs in at 2.9 pounds and sports a capacity of 2,500 cubic inches. This pack is great for light to moderates loads.
It has an expandable pocket for carrying a gun or bow and is equipped with a main compartment, front zipper pocket and side mesh pockets.
Bartacked webbing allows for multiple attachment points. The ALPS OutdoorZ Trail Blazer pack also includes a hydration pocket/port, front lashing system and blaze orange rain cover.
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- Designed to carry your bow
- Lightweight
- 3,400 cubic inches
- Hydration system compatible
- Framed hunting pack
- Soundless fabric
The Tidewe Silent Frame Hunting Pack is extremely spacious at 3,400 cubic inches.
Its framed construction allows for easy pack out of quartered game animals. This pack was made with soundless material, keeping you quiet as you pull gear.
It was made compatible with a hydration system, giving you the option of adding water and keeping yourself hydrated on long hunts.
Three main storage spaces to keep your gear organized and ready at all times.
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- Ultralight
- Ventilated
- Quiet KXO-32 fabric
- Hydration reservoir compatible
- Compression straps for gear
Weighing in under 2 pounds, the Badlands Pursuit won’t slow you down. It offers plenty of cargo room, water bottle pockets, and Hypalon reinforcements.
Its AirTrack Suspension utilizes a combination of air channeled foam and breathable mesh to help you stay cool, dry, and comfortable on long outings afield.
Bow hunting is a gear-intensive sport, so the Pursuit delivers a variety of compression straps, giving you lots of options for gear attachment.
It’s also compatible with a 3-liter hydration reservoir, which can help you stay in the field longer.
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- Ultra-quiet twill lining
- Pullout rain cover
- 3,400 cubic inches
- Includes hydration bladder
- Top and bottom lashing points
The Timber Hawk Killshot is a pack designed with enough capacity for multi-day hunts.
At 3,400 cubic inches, there is plenty of room for all your gear to be stored throughout multiple compartments.
The included 2-liter, reversible hydration bladder will allow you to stay afield longer, never having to end a hunt due to thirst.
This pack is manufactured with polyester brushed tricot with PVC backing, making it ultra-quiet.
It includes a pull-out orange blaze rain cover to protect your gear from the elements, while providing visibility when needed.
This pack is certainly a front runner in the search for the best bow hunting backpack.
What exactly is a "bow hunting backpack?"
A bow hunting backpack is really any backpack that suits your needs as a bow hunter. So, don’t feel like you need to choose from a specific, high-dollar list of bow hunting-only backpacks.
With that being said, consider this – sitting in a preset stand overlooking a feeder or food plot doesn’t require nearly as much gear as creeping through the timber looking for the right tree to climb, so the pack you choose should reflect that.
Be realistic about what it is that you need for your hunting preferences. If the only way you like to hunt is carrying your weapon to a preset tower stand, you may only need snacks (yes, snacks), binoculars and a range finder to be content.
However, if the rut is looming, a grunt tube, rattling antlers and doe scent may also be on your pack list.
But, if you’re planning to setup in the timber along a trail or near a scrape where you’ve never set before, pruning snips, a small saw, screw in steps (where permissible), and rope will likely be added to the list.
Do I really need a hunting backpack?
The need for a good bow hunting backpack cannot be overstated. Bow hunting is a gear-intensive sport.
To be effective in the woods, having the right gear is essential, and that gear has to be stored/carried somewhere. That’s why it’s crucial to choose a pack that will keep it all organized and safe from the elements.
Whether you’re backpacking in for a multi-day hunt, or going in for just a few hours after work, you must have a way of getting the essentials to your stand location. A bow hunting backpack is your best option.
How to choose the right bow hunting backpack
To know which bow hunting backpack would be best for you, make a list of everything that you take, or even want to take, into the woods that cannot easily fit in your pants pockets.
Then, as you look at pack options, imagine fitting your must-haves into them and where they would go.
Where would you put your optics? Your trimming tools? How about your bow accessories? How well would everything organize in each pack?
You don’t want to have to scramble and empty half of your pack to find one thing. Before making a purchase, you should know which bow hunting backpack will offer the best overall size and versatility for your needs.
And one more thing to think about is if you will ever be in a situation where you’ll be packing out your harvest. It’s not only about what you’ll be taking into the woods, but what you’ll be taking out as well.
