Best Hunting Backpacks Picked by Hunters Best Hunting Backpacks

ALPS OutdoorZ Commander

The ALPS Commander has one of the largest capacities I’ve seen in any hunting backpack I reviewed. With more than 5,000 cubic inches of space, the bag can fit anything you throw at it! With all that space you’d expect the bag to be heavy, but its total dry-weight is only 7 lbs. 5 oz.

The Commander backpack has an external frame to which you can lash heavy items. ALPS designed the lashing system with carrying meat in mind. All you need to do is take the bag off the frame and you can strap meat to the bare frame. The freighter shelf located on the bottom part of the bag helps support the meat, taking weight off of your back.

The Commander uses Ripstop fabric, a waterproof fabric. The bag includes a clip-style holster and a drop-down rifle holder. The backpack even has space for a water bladder.

• Spacious
• Adjustable straps for comfort
• Unique lashing system
• Water-proof
• Two weapon holders
• Multiple exterior pockets

• You have to set the bag up upon arrival
• Stitching frays easily

TIDEWE Hunting Backpack 5500cu

The TIDEWE backpack, with 5,500 cubic inches, is another large hunting backpack. It has an external frame that incorporates TIDEWE’s unique frame design. Instead of a flat piece behind your head, TIDEWE designed their frame to keep away from your head. The curved section stays away from your head, allowing full mobility.

The TIDEWE backpack has two weapon holders, a handgun holster, and a drop-down rifle holder. The backpack also includes a rain cover that extends over the entirety of the backpack. Even if the bag’s material is water-resistant, the rain cover makes sure all your gear stays bone dry.

The TIDEWE can even hold a bow if that’s the type of hunting you enjoy. You can remove the bad from the frame, revealing a lashing apparatus you can use for your meat. The foldable freighter shelf helps take the weight off your back on long treks.

• Spacious
• Rain cover
• Bow holder
• Two weapon holders
• Double-zipper system
• Curved frame for head comfort

• Bulky
• Small exterior pockets

Badlands Sacrifice LS

Badlands designed their Sacrifice bag for comfort. The bag is large, with a capacity of 3,400 cubic inches, but not too large to feel bulky. The bag is light, with a total dry weight of 3 lbs. 13 oz.

Badlands built the interior frame with airflow in mind. To achieve that, they designed their Hypervent Suspension, which keeps the bag off of your back. By doing that, the bag doesn’t trap heat on your back, creating a cool, dry environment for ultimate comfort.

The Sacrifice includes a detachable bow/rifle holder. The bag has straps to hold your weapon in place when you put it in the holder. Badlands has a fix-it guarantee for the bag’s entire lifetime. If you purchased a backpack from them and something broke, you can always send it back to them to fix. They offer this service to their customers for free.

• Ultralight
• Designed for maximum airflow
• Fix-it guarantee 
• 100 lbs. capacity
• Water repellent fabric

• No bottom zipper
• Side pockets don’t feel strong

Eberlestock Mainframe Pack

The Eberlestock Mainframe is a minimalist’s dream. It’s a modular backpack, meaning you can attach the pieces you need while leaving the rest behind. The base of the modular structure is the Mainframe exterior frame. From there, you can add any Eberlestock pieces, although you’ll have to purchase them for an extra fee.

The Mainframe pack by itself is capable of carrying a rifle and the freighter shelf can fold out so you can carry your meat. You can lash your meat to the frame and use the straps to secure your load for long treks.

The Mainframe has an adjustable ladder harness to increase comfort. The harness means the Mainframe is comfortable for any size wearer, even if you’re on the smaller side. Eberlestock went for the highest quality materials in their bag, meaning it’s durable. With a lifetime warranty, you can’t go wrong with this backpack.

• Available in “Tall” size
• Lifetime warranty
• Ultra-strong aluminum frame
• Designed for meat hauling
• An adjustable ladder harness system
• The modular structure allows for greater customization

• Modules cost more and aren’t included
• Short straps for lashing system

ALPS OutdoorZ Extreme Hybrid X

ALPS Hybrid X is a user-friendly bag that gives you plenty of options for capacity and fit. The abundant straps are adjustable so you’ll always feel comfortable while using the backpack. The bag is on the smaller side, with only 2750 cubic inches of volume, but ALPS’ unique lashing apparatus gives you more options for space.

The Hybrid X has an external frame you can detach from the carrying sack. By detaching the frame, you reveal the canvas freighter shelf and lashing system. After you strap in your meat, you can reattach the carrying sack to the frame. The lashing structure essentially doubles your carrying capacity.

The Hybrid X comes with a rain cover for adverse weather conditions. It also has a drop-down rifle/bow holder and an abundance of pockets to store equipment. The bag’s total dry weight is only 6 lbs. 3 oz., meaning it’ll be comfortable for people of any size.

• Lashing system doubles capacity
• Adjustable straps and padded waist belt for comfort
• Durable nylon stitching
• Dual aluminum frame

• Smaller carrying capacity
• Rain cover doesn’t fit if you’re carrying a gun

Badlands Diablo Dos

The Badlands Diablo Dos is on the smaller side, but they designed it that way! The Diablo Dos allows hunters full mobility while providing a decent amount of carrying capacity. The Diablo Dos has 2100 cubic inches of carrying capacity, and with the internal aluminum frame, it’s strong enough to carry moderately heavy loads, like deer.

Badlands includes their Hypervent setup on all of their hunting backpacks. Their unique system helps keep your back cool by keeping the bag away from your back. This allows cool air to circulate, keeping you cool and dry on long treks.

The Diablo Dos has a detachable bow/rifle boot and straps to keep your weapon secure. Although the bag doesn’t have a lashing system, the bag has 7 pockets you can utilize for gear storage while you use the main carrying sack for meat.

• Lightweight
• Hypervent system to prevent sweat
• Great for smaller builds
• Quality stitching and zippers
• Water repellent layer

• No freighter shelf/lashing apparatus
• Small carrying capacity

Slumberjack Bounty 2.0 Highlander

The Slumberjack Bounty 2.0 Highlander is perfect for long outdoor excursions, making it perfect for hunting trips. The bag has an internal frame for support, but no lashing system. The Highlander makes up for its lack of a lashing system by having 4932 cubic inches of capacity in the carrying sack.

The Highlander has a detachable outer bag that straps onto the outside of the main bag. If you’re only heading out for a day hunt, you can remove this bag. Doing so will increase your mobility while decreasing the total weight of the bag. With everything strapped on, the dry weight of the bag is 6 lbs. 14 oz.

The Highlander has a drop-down boot you can use for storing your rifle or bow while hiking. The bag has large side pockets that can store gear like scopes, ammo, or other essentials. Slumberjack built their bag with multi-day hunts in mind, so the bag has space for camping equipment, too.

• Large carrying capacity
• Lightweight
• Detachable bag for extra space
• Large side pockets

• No lashing system
• Only one weapon holder

TIDEWE Hunting Pack 3400cu

The TIDEWE hunting pack has 3400 cubic inches of storage capacity, making it perfect for a weekend hunting trip. Not only can you fit all your hunting gear, but you can load it full of camping gear as well. The internal frame provides support for your back, but its lightweight design doesn’t impede mobility.

The TIDEWE bag has space for either a rifle or a bow on the rear of the bag, while also providing space for a pistol on the waist strap. The bag has plenty of pockets, so you won’t need to worry about where to store your equipment.

The fabric and padding on both the shoulder straps and back are durable and promote airflow, which will help you stay cool when out hiking. The TIDEWE backpack also has a detachable day bag for short trips or you can use it for extra storage capacity.

• Large carrying capacity
• Steel carbon frame
• Lightweight
• Abundance of pockets

• No rain cover
• Zippers feel weak