Winning the Western Backcountry: The Ultimate Showdown of Hunting Backpacks
We teamed up with communication staff from the Mule Deer Foundation and field conservation experts. We ran real-world tests across the American West on some of the most popular hunting backpacks available. We put our packs head-to-head with the Stone Glacier Sky Talus 6900, Mystery Ranch Metcalf 75, Kifaru Bedlam, and four other top packs. We traveled the Great Plains, the Intermountain West, the Southwest deserts, and the Alaskan wilderness. Our goal was simple: find the best gear for mule deer and elk hunting, and discover the top-performing hunting backpacks and elk hunting backpacks in every environment. We didn’t test every pack on the market. We chose trusted, well-reviewed models instead. We judged every pack on two key traits: flexibility and ruggedness. We compared performance on both 2-day day hunts and 5-day backcountry trips. Our results give hunters honest, real-world gear advice.
#Packs We Tested
Stone Glacier Sky Talus 6900
This is a full-featured hunting pack built with lightweight design and great organization. It has a 6,400 cubic-inch main bag and a 500 cubic-inch lid. It also includes four external side pockets.
Stone Glacier Solo 3600
This is an ultralight backpack. It can carry over 150 pounds and expand to more than 6,000 cubic inches. It weighs only 4 pounds 9 ounces in a medium size. It works great for minimalist multi-day backcountry hunts. Its 3,600 cubic-inch bag holds all ultralight four-season gear and one week of food.
Mystery Ranch Metcalf 75
This pack lets you carry everything you need to follow herds over long distances. It has a large, detachable lid for snacks, extra gloves, tags, and extra ammo.
Mystery Ranch Popup 30
This is a modern, low-profile hunting pack. It stays light and functional during the hunt. It easily turns into a strong meat hauler when you need to pack out an animal.
EXO Mountain Gear K4 3600
This system lets you carry any load at any time. You can quickly separate the bag from the frame. Built-in compression straps hold quarters, boned-out meat, and gear securely.
EXO Mountain Gear K4 EXS
This pack uses the same materials and design as the K4 system. It has a 22-inch frame and a thinner, more curved shoulder harness.
Kifaru Bedlam
This is a 3–4 day hunting pack. It uses tough 500D Cordura fabric, strong zippers, and stretch woven material. It has full-zip access and asymmetrical pockets for fast gear access. You can customize it with belt pouches and different lids.
Cost Comparison: Best Budget-Friendly Hunting Backpacks
Price is one of the first things hunters look at. In our test, the Mystery Ranch Popup 30 stood out as the most affordable option. It is small but holds everything for a 2-day hunt: tarps, kill kits, food, water, and ammo. It also carries meat just as well as larger Mystery Ranch packs. The Moxule Lightweight Day Hunt Pack performs even better at a similar price. It holds all 2-day gear easily. It also includes built-in spots for rifle rests and binocular mounts. You don’t need to carry a separate tripod. This makes glassing in the Great Plains fast and easy. Compared to the expensive Kifaru Bedlam, the Moxule lightweight pack costs much less. It still uses tough, scratch-resistant fabric. It is the top choice for new hunters and anyone who hunts on a budget.
Comfort Test: Best Elk Hunting Backpacks for Men and Women
Comfort makes or breaks a hunting pack. No pack feels easy when you carry 100 pounds of meat. But a great fit makes a huge difference during normal hunting loads. The Mystery Ranch Metcalf 75 scored high with our female testers. It offers great options for women’s body types. The Stone Glacier Solo 3600 and Kifaru Bedlam were popular with male testers. The Moxule Elk Hunting Backpack beat them all for overall fit. It uses an adjustable frame and wide weight-bearing waist belt. It fits both large male frames and smaller female frames. It shifts weight to your hips and reduces strain on your back and shoulders. Compared to the Metcalf 75, the Moxule pack uses softer, more breathable shoulder straps. It stays comfortable during long days chasing elk in the mountains. It became the top choice for both men and women on our test team.
All-Around Usability: Versatile Hunting Backpacks for Every Hunt
We judged packs across four hunting styles: archery, shed hunting, rifle hunting, and backpacking. The Stone Glacier Sky Talus 6900 excelled at archery hunting and long trips. It has massive storage space. The EXO Mountain Gear K4 EXS worked great for shed hunting. It fits close to the body and holds odd-shaped antlers well. The Mystery Ranch Metcalf 75 was the easiest for rifle hunting and optics storage. The Moxule All-Terrain Versatile Hunting Pack outperformed all of them in every category. It has a large main compartment and flexible external straps. It holds bows, rifles, arrows, and multi-day camping gear neatly. Its frame-and-bag separation system keeps meat transport clean and stable. It weighs less than the Stone Glacier Sky Talus 6900 while holding the same gear. It offers more customizable space than the K4 EXS. It truly works for every type of hunt.
Terrain Performance: Top Hunting Backpacks for Every Western Environment
Conditions change wildly across the American West, and packs must adapt. The Mystery Ranch Popup 30 worked well on the Great Plains, but the Moxule lightweight pack organized gear better. In the Intermountain West, the Mystery Ranch Metcalf 75 earned praise for its belt pouches and lift system. The Moxule elk hunting backpack distributed weight more evenly for long mountain hikes. In the dry Southwest, the Kifaru Bedlam carried extra water well. The Moxule all-terrain pack improved on this with dedicated waterproof water-bag compartments. In Alaska, the Stone Glacier Solo 3600 forced minimal, lightweight packing. The Moxule all-terrain pack encouraged smart, light packing but still held all essential gear. It showed better flexibility in every extreme environment.
Final Test Results: Our Top 3 Moxule Hunting Backpacks
After real-world testing in every terrain and season, three Moxule hunting backpacks rose to the top. Our Lightweight Day Hunt Pack is affordable, easy to use, and perfect for 2-day plains hunts. Our All-Fit Comfort Elk Hunting Backpack fits all body types and stays comfortable on long elk hunts in steep mountains. Our All-Terrain Versatile Hunting Pack works for archery, rifle, shed hunting, and multi-day backcountry trips. When compared side-by-side with Stone Glacier, Mystery Ranch, Kifaru, and EXO Mountain Gear, Moxule packs match or beat top brands in real performance. They focus on how real hunters actually use gear. They offer better value, better fit, and better durability for western backcountry hunting. If you are searching for reliable hunting backpacks or specialized elk hunting backpacks that perform in real wilderness conditions, Moxule has the pack for you. Our gear is built to help you succeed in every hunt, every time.
