It’s a long road finding the perfect pack. The Hunters Element Boundary Pack is certainly close. But does it tick all the boxes?

Hunters Element Pack Range

I now have three of the Hunters Element Packs, the 25 litre Contour, the 45 litre Peak and now, the 35 litre Boundary.

While the Contour has become my go-too day pack, it was going to be a little small for a one or two day overnighter. However, I wanted something smaller than my Mystery Ranch (and quieter) – initially the Peak seemed perfect – but after using for a couple of trips and constantly pairing down everything I was carrying around, I realised I didn’t need a pack that big! A pack is often one of the heavier pieces of equipment you can carry, so in my quest for a lightweight hunting system, a smaller pack was on the cards.

As it turned out, speaking to the guys at Hunters Element they mentioned they were bringing out a new pack sized in-between the Contour and Peak. Would I be interested in checking it out? Hell yes!

It has now been on several adventures with me. Roaming around the Kaimanawas, carrying course essentials for our Processing Courses and as a day pack for the Tarata Medium Range shoot. It has quickly become my go-to pack for outdoors adventures.

Also makes a great rifle rest.

Hunters Element Boundary Pack

The Boundary Pack is an obvious evolution of the Hunters Element Pack Range. First – the company blurb:

A fully featured pack designed to take the knocks. This is made to last and has a long list of features designed to carry your gear and all hunting accessories you need to get the job done.

• 35L Capacity
• Height adjustable Foam Flow™ harness
• Top loading
• Side compression straps
• 5 accessory pockets
• YKK zippers
• YNS Buckle hardware
• 2 x ice axe / walking pole attachment points
• Quick Click™ rifle scabbard
• Blaze orange rain cover
• Available in Desolve® Veil Camouflage

Breaking it down

The Frame

One thing I immediately noticed that was different to Hunters Element’s existing range was the frame – the Boundary has a different system to the Contour and Peaks Air Flow – which I view as a good thing. While both the other packs certainly provide a pile of ventilation around the back, the frame itself does tend to push into the bags internal storage space. In contrast, the Boundary Pack has what I would call a more ‘traditional’ frame system – it certainly seems more padded and certainly there are no complaints about how it carried the load. Overload the pack and it is going to be a heavy, slightly uncomfortable carry – no internal framed pack, short of my external framed Mystery Ranch is going to be overly comfortable with the weight gets over 40kg (i.e. carrying out an animal) – but then, most the time, you should have no-where near that weight in it. The waist belt and shoulder straps have a good amount of adjustment in them, with what I think some would call the ‘load-lifter’ straps, well, not lifting the load, but ensuring you can get the weight in close to your shoulders. The two straps that can pull the pack into the waist belt seemed to be a bit lost on me – unlike one of my older Macpacs, the waistbelt isn’t moving that much in relation to the pack anyhow – so I am not 100% sure of their function. I have never needed to adjust them.

The Foamflow does it’s job – if I am getting warm, the pack doesn’t end up being a sweat pit on my back – enough hill climbs and it will heat up – but not like other packs I have used.

The shoulder straps are fairly bulky – enough that you are aware of it when you shoulder a rifle – but not enough to stop you getting a shot off.

The Material

The material is a mixture of brushed tricot, and nylon panels – the majority being the silent tricot. This is the primary reason I have switched to the Hunters Element Packs for hunting – I wanted to be able to stalk with the packs on (i.e. carrying camp on my back) the this pack lets me work my way through bush without that sound that a pack made of only cordura would give me. It’s ‘water resistant’ – mean that there isn’t a waterproof layer built into it – but it will happy deal with a shower or two. If the sky fully opens up, then the pack has a waterproof cover that smartly stows away in the base. This cover is blaze – so it’s also perfect to drag out once you have your animal and are on your way out of a hunting spot.

I have had a puncture in the pack – but this is a puncture from a sharp object impacting on the pack – not wear issues.

The pack is built well, with quality materials – the straps, the zips, all feel solid and likely to last for a long time. I am going to put a patch over the small nick to stop it enlarging and call it good.

The Storage

The pack is advertised at 35 litres. In practical terms – this means I can pack enough for a couple of days out as well as having some space to pack any meat back with me. Because of it’s nifty design – the lid of the pack can extend out quite a way – so boned out meat in packs can happily sit on top of the pack and be cinched down tight for the walk out.

If you don’t need the extra space, the lid and sides can be compressed down – making this pack great for use as a day pack as well as a multi-dayer.

On the lid itself you will find two pouches – one on top – ideal for carrying those things you need to quickly access – in my case, the tarp and snacks and a mesh pocket underneath – where I store my kill kit (knives, bags and hanging rig), essential documents (spare map, permit, personal details) and other items like the phone, keys and so on.

The front of the pack has two zippered pouches – one large one – the ideal spot for the insulation/rain layer, on one smaller one – which, to be honest, I could live without. It’s kinda too small for most things, long and well, not really needed. I store the small tripod I carry for the camera in here – but that’s really because I feel I should use it for something. Ultimately, it is more material, more weight.

On the hip, you will find another pocket – and I really wish it was a little bigger and had one on both sides. As you may know, I normally use a RIBZ pack as well – which I love – but with another front pouch (so I didn’t have to take the pack of to get certain items) – I could nearly get away without the front pack – less weight again. I don’t use the rifle holder – so a pocket would be more useful.

Inside the pack you are going to find a water bladder pocket – which has the corresponding outlet up at the top of the pack. Another little design feature I have never quite understood is the dual hooks at the top – I assume I am missing the point – but for hanging a hydration bladder – surely a single central loop/hook would be better?

Ultimately, the pack offers a variety of storage options – from the less used to the on hand. Not too the point where you start losing stuff in the pack (I have other packs where that is definitely a problem).

The Rest

The pack is obviously aimed as a bit of a multi-purpose pack – evident by the compression straps, ice-axe/walking stick holders, rifle holster and so on. Features that I am unlikely to ever use – and features that have, on occasion, ended up catching on bush as I try to sneakily push through it.

For me, when hunting – it’s likely to be bush bashing – so I could happily cut/remove most of these bells and whistles. But, I can see if you had a use for them, they would be a welcome addition.

The rifle scabbard in particular, has always been a funny one for me. Sure, I have seen the video, it looks cool – but I am left handed for a start, so useless and besides, I was taught to either have a rifle in my hands or, well, in my hands.

In summary

Firstly – let me make this clear – this is currently my favourite, go to pack for the hunting I do. For my purpose, this is the best bag I have. Is it ideal for the type of hunting I want to do with it? No. But then, nothing I have tried is better.

Some of the extra’s on the pack I could live without – and enjoy the weight and snag savings. Realistically, if I was going to carry a walking stick – then I could just use the compression straps for that. A tripod would be more likely and the straps are ideal for that.

The rifle scabbard – cool idea – but of no use to me. Will look to cut it off to reduce another snag point and save a little weight.

Remember though – will all these comments – I am basically looking for the perfect bush pack – something more modern than the pikau, but silent, and streamlined.

The original and a very good copy.Maybe only second to their rifles, knives are one of the most discussed items when a bunch of hunter gear-nerds get together¹. Of course they should be. A knife is an invaluable tool for processing what you kill, a good one makes the job so much easier, a bad knife, well, don’t do it.

Not long after I got into hunting, I was told that I should just get a Mercator. For a long, long time, it’s been the knife of choice. So, obviously, it interested me to find out why.

I have a few knives these days and have a few more on their way to me² and I love being able to compare them.

I was told that I should just get a Mercator.

Like I would pick many guys do, I initially went out and purchased a massive knife – in my case the SVORD 370B. It’s a phenomenal knife. For Bushcraft/all around work, it’s great – but I quickly realised it’s really too big for processing an animal. What’s been interesting, as I have learnt more about the dressing of animals, that smaller is often better – provided it is small, and razor sharp. Which describes the Mercator perfectly. Though, I also have a 270B under test… 😉

The Mercator as we know it is around 150 years old in it’s design. It’s a simple lockback blade, generally with a flat grind carbon steel blade³.

The Carbon Steel is easily my pick – it’s much easier to sharpen and easier to keep sharp.

What is interesting – is as you start looking – you start noticing that there seems to multiple versions available – some with and some without the unique K55K stamp on the side. There is certainly a price difference. I would be interested to know if there are any differences in the blade itself.

Enter, the copycat. I am sure it’s not the only one either.

Sheffield Knives is a UK knife company. Though I would be interested to know if the knife I have (from Bunnings) was actually made in the UK, or by that Sheffield at all. Richard at Balnagown Hunting swears by this version. Having watched him dress more than one animal with them, they certainly perform very well. Though I have a feeling Richard could probably skin an animal faster than me with a blunt spoon.

The Sheffield is a stainless blade. It’s going to be a bit more work in the sharpening front – but as Richard will point out – at the price – you can just have a couple of them floating around – and – if you drop one – it’s only $8!

Is the price difference between the two worth it? Hard call. Really hard call. I prefer the carbon steel blade – as much because of the way it patina’s as the blade itself.

Either way, the design and form factor of the knife makes it ideal for field dressing deer. It is small and manoeuvrable, but has enough strength in it to sever tendons and split a rib cage (with a bit of muscle behind it).

1. headlamp/torches are right up there as well ↩

2. it’s an addiction, I admit it. ↩

3. you can also get stainless ↩

Those that read this blog will already be familiar with my Mystery Ranch NICE Frame and my Crew Cab and Mountain Ruck Packs.

While I really like the NICE frame – I always had one major bugbear. The pack, once it had a decent amount of weight in it, would pull back and down. This was mainly I figured, the result of the frame being lower than my shoulders. This design is intentional and the result of MR’s military leanings (for these packs) – but it’s not ideal for majorly heavy loads. It places the strain on the shoulders and the neck as you end up leaning forward to counterbalance the load.

Enter OV Innovations

[fvplayer src=”https://vimeo.com/124058621″ splash=”https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/513638008_1280x720.jpg?r=pad” caption=”OV Innovations”]

I had read about OV Innovations previously – and figured, since I was getting more and more weight on my pack due to training, that it was time to relook into optimising the pack.

OV have a range of products that directly address some ‘shortcomings’ of the MR NICE Frame.

It’s probably best to check out the embedded video to get the jist of things.

I picked up the Gen II Load Lifter Panel (actually, I ended up getting a slightly modified prototype that wasn’t released – I love dealing with smaller companies!) the MEAN Pad and the Belt Guide.

The Belt Guide – simply brilliant!

The MEAN PAD – working on it. Basically, it allows you to modify the fit of the lumbar pad. Yes, it’s helping – but will reserve long-term use before too much comment.

The Load Lifter Panel – it works! To be fair – heavy is heavy – and nothing makes a 42kg+ pack any lighter – but the strain is shifted off the shoulders and neck and onto and across the front of the chest. My legs are still jelly at the end of training, but now I can still turn my head at the end of the day.

I haven’t had these items for long – and I am sure it will take a little bit of tweaking to really dial them in. But I do already wish I had picked them up a long time ago.

Yes. I’m a Lumberjack and I’m OK.

You wouldn’t believe how hard it was to find decent photo’s for this article. Search ‘outdoors braces’ and you are bound to get a pile of Lumberjack Costumes pop up. The image of the Lumberjack/Logger/Woodman is synonymous with flannel and braces¹.

I recently picked up a pair of Hunters Element XTR Trousers. I wanted some good waterproof pants – and there were a couple of features on the XTR’s the interested me. I already have a pile of Hunters Element, so it meant matching Camo, but also the full length zips and finally – they came with Braces.

I have been interested in trying out a pair of braces in the bush for a while now. As we head into wetter seasons – I figured this would be a good time to try them out.

However, as is in my nature, I was also interested in the traditional use of braces.

Looking online however, there doesn’t seem to actually be a whole lot of information as to why the brace became so synonymous with the outdoorsman, nor why it has all but disappeared in modern use.  However, this is what my research has found so far.

Load Bearing

Trousers originally would have weighed a lot more – made out of wool or duck canvas (heavy cotton), later replace by denim, the trouser for an outdoorsman would have been hard wearing, warm, and heavy. A multi point suspension system simply makes more sense. It stops all the weight being put onto a tight belt on your hips and stops the trousers being constantly dragged down. While you certainly could just put a belt on and draw it tight, it’s constricting – leading to binding and lose of movement.

But even as trousers got lighter, people were still wanting to carry a bit of weight on their hips. The belt isn’t only just there to hold the pants up – in many cases, it’s also carrying tools – be that a firearm, knife, or other gear. There is a benefit of a belt and braces system here – really just emulating the modern battle belt and harness system.

Also – in regards to load bearing – we have all probably had some form of gear interference between our belt and our pack waist belt while carrying a backpack. Often it means a belt being pushed even further into the hips, or, the belt and pants slip out under the pack and you are now lowriding. I am interested in seeing how braces fare in comparison.

Heat Management

Part of the reason I haven’t tried this system earlier (the XTR Pants) is because I know that any waterproof pant, no matter how ‘breathable’ is going to be too hot to wear during summer. Heading now into cooler times, an ‘overtrouser’, which is essentially what these pants are, becomes a more feasible option. For weight reasons, I am not going these as an additional item. They will be my main pants while out hunter – either with shorts, or more likely, just some leggings underneath.

Still – I can imagine they are going to be hot at some points – and this is where another potential benefit of braces pops up.

With your shirt tucked into the pants and no (or loose) belt on – there is plenty of space for heat to escape out of the top of them. With a belt on, pants will trap heat. I am picking the leg zips, in combination with the open top is going to mean heat management will be easy.

On the flip side – once it gets cold – a pair of braces also makes it easier to harness the power of your biggest heat generating muscle group. Through a jacket on, clamber up a ridge and now all that heat is traveling straight up to be caught under the jacket around your core.

Antiquity?

Researching this article showed up how little use/discussion there is regarding using braces in the outdoors. Is it something that has just dropped into antiquity? I guess my experimentation will help me make up my mind to their usefulness. Failing that, at least I can clip them onto my jeans and pretend to be a Lumberjack. Cause I’m OK.

1. also known as suspenders, depending where in the world you are ↩