As a hunter and outdoorsman, I am always looking for
backpacks that can do specific jobs. For instance, a bag for hiking does not
necessarily work as a hunting backpack, and conversely, a hunting backpack will
likely not work for an extensive hiking campaign.
Hunter to Hunter offered me the opportunity to test a couple
of bags. One bag I chose was something I did not have in my stockpile so to
speak. It was unique and I immediately saw the usefulness in the design.
The Markhor Hunting Wapiti Evo II backpack is a single strap
design. For a day trip, this would make an ideal hunting companion.
The backpack is designed so the strap can go over either
shoulder. The strap is heavily padded for comfort. On the outside of the strap
are two loop tags designed to slide the tube from a hydration bladder through
to keep the tube from dangling.
Obviously, if the strap is designed as such to hold the tube
for a hydration bladder, that means the bag is designed to hold a hydration
bladder. Inside the back portion of the bag is an elastic waterproof nylon
pouch where the bladder sets. At the peak of the bag is the H2O Velcro port
where the tube exits the bag.
The main compartment of the bag is large enough to carry
items for a day trip, roughly 25 litres of space. It is accessible from a full
length heavy duty zipper that runs along the side of the triangular backpack.
This makes it extremely easy to get to what you are looking for. The zipper is
super strong and has a nice spot to grab and pull. There are no flaps to worry
with when zipping or unzipping. Also located in the main compartment is a small
pouch at the top good for holding a wallet, identification and of course your
hunting license.
The exterior of the bag has a grab handle located to the
side of the peak, making it easy to grab hold of for picking up or sitting
down. The handle is solid material and solidly sewn to handle all weight inside
the bag.
Located on either side of the bag are two mesh pockets ideal
for sliding items that you would like quick access to such as a rangefinder.
There is an adjustable strap above each pocket to assist in holding items such
as a shooting stick.
A larger pouch is mounted square at the bottom. One entrance
has another heavy duty zipper with two smaller compartments inside. A second entrance is fastened by magnets.
Along the waist belt are two other zippered pockets, one on each side.
The back and waist belt support areas are heavily padded and
designed to wick away moisture. The fabric of the entire bag is waterproof and
has a felt touch to it which reduces noise effectively making it silent when
hiking or brushing against trees and bushes.
What advantages do these things offer? For a single day hunt
which is what most of our adventures consist of, the bag suits the purpose
well. It is large enough to hold the items you need for the one hunt, but small
enough where you do not feel awkward bringing it along.
Because of the size, it can also double as a single day
hiking bag as well and is extremely comfortable with the single strap design.
As with any backpack, it is important to adjust it properly
to your frame and clothing. With the main compartment zipper running the full
length of the backpack, it is easy to adjust the items inside in order to
balance the bag properly since you do not have to worry about digging through
the pack for what you are looking for, something many top entrance backpacks
have issues with.
You can see the Wapiti EVO II at HunterToHunter.com.
