Saddle hunting is one of the most antic hunting techniques that has been practiced by hunters all around the globe. The main goal of saddle hunting is to hand on a saddle rather than standing on a tree stand or a platform and without the best backpack for saddle hunting, this will be quite hard.
Because this is basically a quick and fast hunting technique you need comfort in a way that nothing goes in between you and your target. You have to be more aware of the fact that you have to carry less and yet get the most out of the backpack that you carry.
Here in this review, we will be reviewing a few of the best saddle hunting backpacks that you can have. The main goal would be to get the most out of the backpack rather than spending a whole lot of money just on a backpack.
Table could not be displayed.Reviews of the Best Backpack for Saddle Hunting
We have reviewed some of the most popular major brands and tested them first hand to see how they feel. We have checked the pockets, internal frames, fabric quality, design, and uses before making this shortlist.
Check out the reviews and their advantages with considering their pros to make a selection of what you want.
Badlands Superday Hunting Daypack
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Superday is one of the best huggers in this review. These tree saddle hunting packs are small and they hug you tightly while you are wearing thin on your back. This gives you the best stability and control while you are climbing or hiking through forests and hunting for the prey you want.
The top of the bag has a cameo look that keeps you melted in the forest and you go deep inside forests. The overall weight of this bag is pretty light and that makes it the best hunting pack for saddle hunting.
The saddle setup will not have to deal with a lot of things. You can not only carry a lot of things inside seven giant pockets, but you can also use the strap over the outside of the bag. What makes this the best saddle hunting setup is the comfort it provides when you are standing still, looking at the target. Nothing will bother you in your aim-in moments.
These side compression straps are also reinforced to perform like a champ. You can even carry your climbing sticks if it is necessary. You will not have to worry about comfort at all. It has a sealed foam suspension that keeps the bag stable and does not give you soreness on your back.
While you are hanging on the saddle, there is not a lot of things that hang out of the bag and dangles to draw attention.
Pros
- A comfortable bag that has foam pads and it hugs pretty tightly to your body
- Overall weight is considerable for lightweight hiking and hunting
- Comfortable to wear it for a long time
- You can take small gear options, standing sticks, beast sticks, super day snacks
- A lot of side pockets and small storage for carrying a lot of things
Cons
- The reinforced straps are not that long for thicker gears
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Horn Hunter G3 Treestand Pack
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Here comes a compact saddle hunting pack to keep your stuff with safety and security. The main chamber is small. You can not carry a lot of things inside the main storage, But the reason you should buy this is that it has more slots and side pockets that most of the bags do not have.
One of the major reasons for considering this saddle platform pack as the best for treestand is the useful pockets and comfort in using for long terms. You can stand for a long time with this item, without hurting your back.
On both sides, it has large oversized pockets to keep your necessities closer. On the back of this pack, you will see two gear grippers to keep your weapons like bows and guns properly. these slots are the best for bow holsters. It is easy to clip on and while you are hanging, you can easily reach the bows whenever you need.
You will find this rucksack pretty comfortable to wear as the shoulder straps have good padding for long hanging journeys. To make the item hug together, there are buckled straps on the front of the item as well.
As this is a small and compact backpack, this is the best saddle hunting pack. Along with all the things inside, it does not weigh that much.
Pros
A compact backpack for hauling alone and lightweight hunting
Has weapon holders to hold weapons and loaded gears, attach metal equipment
Has a lot of pockets and holders to keep everything closer to your reach
You can hang this on trees when while you are hunting on a saddle
Cons
The zipper runners do not have good holders as the straps get loose after use
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TENZING Hangtime Packs
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If you are planning to shove all the accessories in your backpack for a hunting session, the TENZING Hangtime backpack is the one you should buy. This saddle hunting pack setup is able to carry a lot of things in the main chamber and in the small pockets as well.
The most attractive feature of these tree saddle hunting packs is that they have a hard shell on the outside. This hardshell is going to keep everything safe inside. If you carry any deer calls or duck calls, the device will be safe inside from any kind of impact or falls. The top shell has small pockets that extend inside of the bag.
You can keep everything organized inside of these pockets. For organizing all the gear options with you, there are small mesh pockets in this pack as well. To hand more stuff on the sides, there are straps and elastic bands. The most special thing about this rucksack is that it has a small pouch built on the back where you can carry your bow if necessary.
The fitting, comfort, and convenience make this bag the best backpack to carry on any kind of hunting.
Pros
Hardshell protects everything inside of the backpack
It Will help you to hang on trees quietly
Has a lot of pockets and compartments for small gear-Ammos, Superday snacks, stick, etc
You can carry a bow and arrows by attaching straps around the side and the back
Cons
The overall weight is a bit bulky
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ALPS OutdoorZ Pursuit
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ALPS OutdoorZ is known to be one of the best accessory makers around the globe. Pursuit is a saddle platform pack that has been made of super soft material that does make you feel good while it is on your back. This is small, compact and most importantly it is pretty soft to touch. The most important thing you will get from this small backpack is that comfort. This has the most comfortable cushioning on the strap and the backside among all the backpacks here.
The main compartment has different mesh layering to keep everything organized. Just so that you can get all the necessities closer, you have two pockets on the waistbelt here. On this small and lightweight saddle platform pack, you will also get a dropdown rifle pocket so that you can carry your weapon of choice conveniently.
For your hydration, there are both bottle holders and hydration compartments for long hunting sessions. The overall padding is good enough to keep those nimble electronic gadgets safe while you are on hectic hikes. The sewing it has is super tough and they are good for long-term usage as well.
In the box, you will find a rain cover that will keep everything inside your backpack safe from rainwater.
Pros
A very comfortable backpack to have on a hunting journey
The compression straps are great for carrying necessary weapons and weapon holsters
You can carry climbing sticks, gears, shooting ammo’s in the storage
Lots of straps and clips for adjustability
Cons
Velcro on the side straps is not good at carrying heavy stuff
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Eberlestock X2 Pack
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Here we have the most ultimate backpack for traveling and hiking. Eberlestock X2 has the most extreme strap configuration. Based on the straps and compartments it has, this is the Best backpack for mobile hunting. You can carry a lot of things with you whenever it is about a whole day hunting session.
Eberlestock X2 is made like a tank. You can shove a lot of things inside the pack and the straps all around the pockets are going to save it from tearing apart. The most extreme pocket has the twp side pockets. With a strong frame, it is the best saddle hunting setup for carrying lots of items, sticks, and heavy gears.
They are adjustable and expandable as well. These two pockets expand around the size and expose several straps and hooks inside. You can carry a lot of things inside the package as your wish. Carrying a gun or a bow is nothing to this as it can accommodate them easily. Every design feature has a purpose to serve. There are enough elastic bands to keep the whole thing tight together.
You can also use this as a general hiking backpack as it can carry a tent inside the top compartment. The top-loading system is great for accommodating more stuff inside.
Pros
Made of high-quality fabrics that are able to stand high pressure and compression
Will provide service in the rough area, public land area for years
There are a lot of pockets and straps for carrying small gadgets, wild edge steps, gear ties, Kill Kit, etc
The main compartment along with two big pockets can accommodate a lot of things inside
Cons
This is a big backpack that should be stuffed to avoid noises while walking
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Buying Guide for Choosing the Best Pack for Saddle Hunting
Going to buy a saddle platform pack for your next journey, there will be a ton of things that will matter when it is about getting the best saddle platform pack for you. Just like purchasing your backpack for hiking and camping, you have to figure out a lot of things that matter.
Here we have a guide so that you can choose the best badlands pack for saddle hunting meeting your criteria.
What Type of Fabric is That?
The main ingredient of a saddle hunting pack is the fabric. The choice of fabric will make a whole lot of differences. Although you will find a wider variation in the fabric, quality is the important thing to consider here. While you are looking for a storage option, you always have to look for the roughest and toughest fabric. The better the fabric will be, the lifespan of that backpack will be longer.
Along with the fabrics, you should also check how is the sewing. The sewing has the extra layers and good quality webbing will last forever. You definitely don’t want things to fall apart while you are highly ambitious about the shooting you are currently on.
There are many items like Exo Pack, Mystery ranch, Predator platform, Kuiu Venture, and other companies that are making the best hunting pack for quality. But they might cost a bit more than many of us would like to spend. So, comparing the quality with price in mind would be the best idea for a small tree saddle hunting pack.
How well it is made?
This is the part where you should inspect further about the built quality. look closer to the joints of that fabrics. The overall built quality should be on point. The straps should be sewed to the pouches properly. In some cases, those straps can have to be sets of sewings to ensure maximum strength. Eberlestock x2 saddle hunting is one of the honorable mentions that has been in the market for many years.
Does it have enough compartments?
This is the part where you count pockets. Give it a cunt of how many pockets the actual bag has. The higher the better.
As you are purchasing the backpack for saddle hunting, you will need a lot of snacks, sling items, pictures, climbing sticks to accommodate yourself on the higher ground. Most of those accessories will be like nails, ammunitions, small devices, and many more. A lot of small pockets will help you organize the whole thing in your way.
How big the backpack is?
The term “The bigger the better” does not apply here. For saddle hunting, you will need a more compact backpack. It should be compact enough to let you climb on the tree itself. The size will always depend on what thing you need and how much you can carry. If you are a big person and you can bring a lot of things with you, a bigger saddle platform pack will definitely be helpful. Look for a compact package for saddle hunting.
Color does matter
The choice of color should never be vibrant. This is why the lineup of cameo and hunting backpacks has been around for a long time. It will be the best choice if you have a backpack with cameo prints on it. Green or other jungle colors would also be great for saddle hunting as well.
How comfortable is that backpack?
This is an important part of choosing the best hunting backpack for treestand hunting. The overall comfort will never upset your trust from buying the best pack. Most of the comfort feature of a backpack is from the shoulder strap. The shoulder strap has to have good cushioning while you are carrying a lot of loads.
As the backpack will also be a part of your hike through the jungle and woods, it should be hugging you from behind. This kind of setup will give you stability while exploring and walking long distances.
Is it Weapon Carryable? Or Can You Carry Climbing Sticks?
This might be the most important part of your bag choice. The backpack you are getting should have straps or other facilities so that you can carry your gun on it. All of the items we mentioned in this review have some kind of weapon carriage system that allows you to take guns or bows with you. Most of the pack allows attaching climbing sticks, or wood sticks for better day performance.
How do you pack a Saddle for Hunting?
Unlike other hunting techniques, hunting backpacking will be a little bit different. You have to pack smart to pack a small backpack and take it with you through the forests.
The first priority of your getting ready with the backpack would be to go lightweight and compact. You should not take heavy clothing with you in the backpack rather wear them as you start your journey. You can take clothes in between those accessories as well. This way you can utilize the space in between those compartments.
Do not carry excess things with you while you are going hunting. Only take things that matter the most.
The last but not least, you should always remind yourself to take food and liquid supplies with you while hunting. It is best to avoid beverages and take water with you. You will surely get exhausted and water will be the lifesaver here.
Can you saddle hunt without a platform?
It is totally not impossible to hunt without a platform. But no, you can not hunt without a platform under your feet. It is almost impossible to stay put without resting your feet on any surface. The support surface while saddle hunting is the platform.
You can still get spiked shoes and rely on the spikes to improvise the situation. But this situation is impractical. You should always rely on a platform to take a rest and have the best support 20 to 50 feet above the ground.
What should I put in my deer hunting backpack?
If you are going hunting for deer, there are a lot of things that will be necessary to make the situation in your favor. There will be a lot of gadgets, supplies, and food as well.
The first thing you carry is a weapon. This can be a gun or a bow. The best pack for saddle hunting must have a compartment for weapons. While you are packing makes sure that it is safe and it is not dangling around. Check your ammunition and weapon holster that you are taking with you.
License and necessary papers will be necessary if you are hunting on public ground. You should carry legal papers before you make the discission to go on a hunt.
We have already mentioned that hunting sessions can be long and hectic. You should always bring water and some food to keep your energy level up.
last but not the least, you should counterbalance your scent. There are many solutions for smelling neutral in a deer hunting journey. Buy any smell neutralizer to keep the human smell low. Many beginner hunters make this mistake and often complain about not seeing a deer around.
Tree Saddle Tips
Just so that your saddle hunting goes trouble-free and we have a bunch of hunting tips and tricks to share among everyone. These tips are applicable for both beginners and professional hunters.
The first thing you should always keep in mind that is you have to always stay against gravity. For swinging against gravity, you have to tie the tether on the spot where the tree has the most aggressive bend. In this place, you will get the highest tension. The most advantageous part of this setup is that you won’t have to adjust your position often for the most optimal positioning.
Always lean against the strong side of yours. In this way drop shots will be very easy to perform. Leaning at any side will give you the most stable positioning possible. You will not dangle a lot while you are on the platform.
You have to determine what kind of platform is going to be the best choice for you. It is better to not purchase a nailing platform on trees. These platforms are not good for trees. They damage trees that might not be good for the environment. The best type of platform is the strapped ones.
The last and the most important thing is that you have to work with geometry. While you are on trees or climbing trees, make sure that you are not leaned to higher ground and you have the right angle to work with. Wear knee pads if necessary. In case of accidents or slippage, your knee is the most sensitive part of your body that might get damaged very easily. A good pair of knee guards is going to help a lot in this situation.
Conclusion
Packing your bag for saddle hunting will need calculation and attention to space and accommodation as well. There are two types of backpacking techniques people prefer. Lifting heavy and lifting lightweight backpacks. Whatever you are taking with you, you have to make sure that the backpack is at its most compact size and shape possible.
You can have any of these five backpacks we mentioned in this review. All of them serve a great value for the money. You should also keep in mind that the backpack itself has a weight that adds up with things that you carry with you. Choose wisely, hunt well.
Hello there! I am Justine. I love traveling to different places, mountains, and rivers. Here are some of the tips about my all in one guide.
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