The Best Hunting Backpacks for Big Game

Backcountry hunting always presents the dilemma of needing plenty of gear while keeping weight to a minimum. This conundrum has created an arms race to make larger capacity bags at a lighter weight. Stone Glacier’s Sky 5900 balances this dichotomy with poise. Both Jordan Budd and Tony Peterson have dubbed this bag their go-to option for a variety of hunts.

“I’m a gear junkie, so I’m always changing things up when it comes to hunting packs, but last season I kept coming back to the Krux frame paired with a Sky 5900 bag from Stone Glacier,” Budd said.

“I used it to chase mule deer in August, archery elk in September, and October mule deer in Idaho. Nearly expanded, it was great for 2-3 night trips, and it compressed down great for a functional day pack.”

At just over five pounds, the Sky 5900 has plenty of storage (5,400 cu. in. main bag) but also compresses down to a handy day pack when you’re hunting out of a tent. The main front zipper and Sky Lid make gear access easy, so there’s no dumping your pack to find one item. Its storage capacity and access also appeal to Tony Peterson, who uses this hunting backpack for travel hunts or all-day sits for whitetails.

“A typical daypack is fine for an afternoon sit, but if I’m hunting somewhere where I might need to pack out a whole deer, I need something like the Sky 5900 from Stone Glacier,” Peterson said.

“I originally got this pack for elk hunting, but realized that it’s perfect for my traveling whitetail hunts where getting a deer back to the truck involves a butcher kit and a real hike. The 5900 has tons of room, rides super comfortably, and is ideal for carrying the makings of an all-day sit, or an entire boned-out whitetail. Plus, it’s super durable and lightweight.”

The Sky 5900 might seem like overkill for whitetails, but if you dabble in western hunting and travel hunt for whitetails, you’ll find this bag pulls double duty. For these reasons, the $695 price offers plenty of value.

Pros

• Lightweight combination at 5lbs 2oz.
• Intuitive strap placement
• Front panel entrance, along with the top load provides easy access
• User-friendly load shelf and comfortable even with a full load
• Snug lid fit
• Super durable

Cons

• No lumbar strap to the bag (delta strap) to prevent extra sway with heavy loads
• No option to add extra straps
• Overkill for most whitetail hunts
• Only available in solids