Sitka Bivy 45 Pack

RosinBag · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 6:34 pm Post subject: Sitka Bivy 45 Pack

Does anyone have any personal experience with this pack. It seems to have all the needed extras and comes in at 4 1/2 pounds. I wanted to know if anyone has packed any 60 pound plus weight with it and if it actually weighed 4 1/2 pounds. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Arrowslinger · Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 12:37 pm Post subject:

Doug, head over to Wilderness Archery, when i was there a few weeks ago, they had one. Pretty sure my finger prints are still all over it. I saw it at the ATA show earlier this year, but they've made alot of improvements on it since then.

RosinBag · Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 3:09 pm Post subject:

You read my mind. I just returned from there and took it all apart and did a thorough examination of it. It looks pretty well made and has many features on it I like. I need something a little more than my 2200 and this just might do it. I was just hoping that someone might have used one and could give me the low down review on them.

Arrowslinger · Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 3:23 pm Post subject:

I've got a brand new 2800 if you'd like to borrow it......i'll be taking my 4500 next month and won't be needing the 2800 till October.

I've got a few buddies on Sitka ProStaff, i'll see if they've had a chance to use the packs yet.....stay tuned!

RosinBag · Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 5:32 pm Post subject:

Hey Kirk, like every other pack company I know, the weight of the pack is more than the 72 ounces they list. The complete pack with the 2 extra straps weighs 6# 2 oz., the two extra straps weigh 2.6 oz. and the top lid weighs 8.0 oz. So even with the top lid and extra straps removed it is still 5# 7.4 oz. It still looks like a good pack though. Let me know what your buddies think of it.

Also, thanks for the offer on the 2800, but I am not a big fan of that pack design. I have a Mystery Ranch Crew Cab and a 2200 I can use. Although I am probably going to sell my Mystery Ranch set up. I have had it for about a year and have yet to use it.

Talk to you later.

Oregon Archer · 6 point Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 609 Location: Eugene,OR

are there a lot of internal storage pockets or is it just one big main compartment?

RosinBag · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:59 pm Post subject:

I broke down and bought it. On its face it is the best pack I have owned, but I have not packed with it yet. It has numerous pockets for organization, which is what I wanted along with the large main compartment. I will have it in the wilderness for five days in the last part of September and will let people know how well it performed.

Arrowslinger · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:35 pm Post subject:

Right on!! I was hoping someone i know would buy one and test it out, let me know how well it packs out that B&C blacktail at the end of the month.

RosinBag · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:01 am Post subject:

I would love to right that story and post those pictures..........

oldlogger · Spike Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Western Wash.

Hi guys new to this site thought I would give a little report on this pack. First impression this baby is awesome, weighs about the same as my Badlands 2200 except you can carry twice as much gear. Take the top pack off and it compress's down to the size of the 2200. I have went on several short hikes of around 3 miles with about 40 pounds first thing I noticed was how your back does not sweat hardly at all compared to the 2200 great venilation and comfort with this suspension system, I'm usually soaked within about 10 minutes with the badlands but not with the Bivy pack. Seemed to carry the weight much better also. There is also an orange meat shelf that folds out and a rifle holder, the rifle carrier is pretty slick it holds your rifle really tight and you know how when you attach your rifle to a pack it always seems to unbalance your pack and you can really notice its there but with this system you can tell there's extra weight but it does not feel unbalanced at all. The pack material I believe will be completly water proof also it seems to be made out of the same material as the nimbus rain gear. First impressions I really like it time will tell. Should be a great back for you sheep,goat,mule deer and caribou hunters. Try to attach some photo's in compact mode showing rifle carrier, and meatshelf

Oldlogger

RosinBag · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 12:41 am Post subject:

thanks for the information and pictures....I will be test driving mine in about two and half weeks.

Oregon Archer · 6 point Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 609 Location: Eugene,OR

i think i may have to drop some coin on one of those in the near future. looks like the perfect backcountry pack.

COarcher · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 5:00 pm Post subject:

Thinking about getting one for next year!

Anyone want to buy a Badlands 4500!!!

TrevonStoltzfus · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 5:44 pm Post subject: wow

Talk about fickle and wishy washy!!!

I am suprised!! Badlands Hands down!!

RosinBag · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 8:48 pm Post subject:

I have ow use the Sitka pack on two back pack hunts. It is working great so far. Only complaint is the hydration sleeve is to small and in a poor location, so I am just throwing it into the main compartment.

Oregon Archer · 6 point Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 609 Location: Eugene,OR

Rosin how big of a hydration bladder are you using?

RosinBag · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 11:50 am Post subject:

I have used the Camelbak 72 ounce and 100 ounce bladders. I have gone to putting it into the outside sleeve along the left side now. I can get both sizes into the pocket.

Oregon Archer · 6 point Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 609 Location: Eugene,OR

Do you feel this pack is big enough for 5-7 day hunts at 3900ci?

Arrowslinger · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 12:10 pm Post subject:

OA...the bivy45 is only 3900ci's? Hmmmmmm

Oregon Archer · 6 point Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 609 Location: Eugene,OR

thats the size of it if you take off that little bag they have attached to it which is another 600ci to make it 4500ci altogether.

RosinBag · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:09 pm Post subject:

I know I could get 5 to 7 days out of it, because 2 days worth of food isn't much. It is smaller than the 4500 cubic inches they advertise due to all the different pockets, so I would guess the main compartment is about 3000 cubic inches at the most.

Oregon Archer · 6 point Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 609 Location: Eugene,OR

just looking at those pics it looks like its a lot smaller than a Badlands 4500. I could use one of those things for a freaking bivy lol.

Right now im kinda torn between this pack and the Janssens Hardcore hunt pack. Both have great features and are about the right size for a 5-7 day hunt. Decisions decisions.

RosinBag · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:52 pm Post subject:

The Hard Core pack weighs in about 10 pounds, which took it off my list. FYI...

Oregon Archer · 6 point Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 609 Location: Eugene,OR

10#? yeah not going to go that route if it weights that much.

Oregon Archer · 6 point Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 609 Location: Eugene,OR

is there enough straps to allow you to attached a tent or a sleeping bag to the outside of the pack in a reasonable position so that the load is stable? just looking at some of the pics on the website it doesn't look like there are that many compression straps.