Before you head out on your bow hunting expedition, apart from the bow itself, one of the most essential bits of gear you’ll need is a great bow hunting backpack.
Without one, there’s only so much equipment you can take with you, and if you rely too heavily on pockets, no amount of camouflage will prevent the prey from clocking you as you jangle your way through the habitat.
The question you have to ask yourself is how do you like to hunt? Most hunting backpacks are quite dissimilar, so you need to be very specific about what you’re looking for.
It can make finding the right one a little tricky, but not to worry, we’ve rated and reviewed five of the best bowhunting backpacks you can buy, to give you a kickstart.
Losing Daylight?
No problem, sharpshooter, here’s our top pick before we get into anything else.
In this post, we'll cover:
1. Badlands Sacrifice LS Camouflage Hunting Pack
Our number one bow hunting pack is designed to be your ultimate assistant when you’re out in the wilderness.
Crafted around a durable skeleton of load-distributing flex rods, the Sacrifice LS (Lighter, Stronger) offers massive amounts of support, so don’t hesitate to really load it up before a hunt.
The support frame redistributes weight evenly between the shoulders and hips, reducing fatigue on those long stints through wild terrain.
Made with a lightweight nylon ripstop material that is both fiercely strong and water treated with a proprietary DWP, it’s designed to handle the rigors of the most challenging terrain.
As well as featuring ventilated foam and breathable mesh contact points, the Hypervent Suspension leaves a small gap between the pack and your back, facilitating constant airflow.
There are 7 compartments in total with 3400 cubic inches of space. It has an integrated bow boot, batwing straps, and multiple lash points, enabling some hands-free stalking.
It also features a hydration reservoir pouch and hip-belt pistol holsters for staving off danger and thirst when you’re in the thick of it.
Pros:
- Lifetime warranty
- Ventilated foam and breathable mesh contact points keep you comfortable
- Hypervent Suspension enables airflow to the back
- Lightweight, strong nylon ripstop fabric
- Waterproof treatment prevents rain or blood from penetrating
- Integrated bow boot for hands-free stalking
- Structure spreads burden between shoulders and hips, keeping you on the top of your game
- Pouch for hydration reservoir, so you never go thirsty
- Can be used for rifle hunting too.
- Tons of space separated into 7 sections
Cons:
- Very expensive for a backpack
- VENTILATED FOR COMFORT - Even in cooler weather, carrying a pack builds up a sweat. Badlands' Hypervent suspension actually pulls your pack away from your back, for a constant flow of cooling air. Where your body does come in contact with the pack, ventilated foam and a tough mesh fabric help continue the flow of air, keeping you cooler, dryer, and more comfortable. Load-distributing flex rods help you manage heavy loads.
- STRONG & LIGHT - Ultralight Ripstop fabric is Badlands' go-to choice when reducing weight is your foremost concern, but you still need durability. Made from tough nylon fibers, it has an incredible strength-to-weight ratio. But we didn't stop there with the Sacrifice LS. Badlands' C6 Durable Water Repellent (DWR) treatment doesn't allow moisture to seep into fabrics. Water beads and rolls off, keeping your gear dry, longer.
- CARRIES RIFLE OR BOW & PISTOL - Why risk damaging your rifle or bow? Use the built-in Rifle/Bow Boot and the batwing straps on the back of your Badlands pack to securely carry your rifle or bow, hands-free. This pack also has an integrated hip-belt pistol holster.
Last update on 2024-05-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
2. Timber Hawk Killshot Backpack
The 56.2-liter Killshot has the capacity for all the essentials that help you stay out in the elements for longer durations.
It doesn’t have as much weight distribution technology as the Badlands pack, and could even be considered pretty heavy when empty, but it’s one of the strongest backpacks on the market.
Coming with a separate rain cover, the polyester twill fabric of the Killshot isn’t waterproof in itself, but it’s no less ingenious in other ways. For instance, it’s incredibly impact resistant and quiet on surfaces, allowing you to stalk through dense landscapes without causing a scene.
What the Killshot lacks in weight and water treatment, it makes up in practical features, our favorite being the silent-stalk quick-ditch system, an easy disconnect point on the shoulder straps that instantly and silently sheds the pack.
You’ll find this incredibly helpful when those spur-of-the-moment, time-sensitive opportunities strike. The straps also provide easy access to any small tech you carry with you including cell phones, GPS, or radios.
What truly makes the Killshot a no-brainer for bow hunting is how many different ways you can store your bow using straps situated around the exterior, helping you move through your environment without catching on surrounding flora.
Pros:
- Awesome price
- Allows you to mount your bow in a way that suits the terrain you’re navigating
- Rain cover protects cargo from saturation
- Quick-release system allows a snappy shot
- Soft twill fabric is both durable and silent, allowing you to move without alerting nearby prey.
- Strap pockets keep essential communications equipment to hand
- Immerse yourself in nature for days thanks to the huge capacity
Cons:
- It’s quite heavy, so it can be a struggle to carry a while
- Not water treated
- Storage Capacity: 27.5L/ 3,429 cubic in. | Weight 7.6 pounds
- Features multiple ways to carry a rifle, bow or tripod.
- Top and bottom lashing points for external storage
Last update on 2024-05-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
3. Badlands 2200 Hunting Backpack
We’re back to Badlands for our third pick, and looking at the 2200, who could blame us? Making a detour from the traditional aircraft aluminum, Badlands has opted for a magnesium alloy frame.
It’s lighter and twice as strong, making it the perfect choice for long stints in treacherous terrain.
The KXO-50 fabric used for the 2200 is the pinnacle of hunting textiles technology. It’s just as quiet and durable as its predecessor KXO-32, but it’s even lighter, keeping your load weight down, so you can pack in even more essentials and trek for longer! It’s also completely waterproof, keeping the elements from holding you back.
Much like the BL Sacrifice, the 2200 comes with an integrated bow and rifle boot so you can free your hands up for open hiking or for quick access to other gear such as radios, cell phones, or a spotting scope – for which there is a dedicated pocket.
What really helps the 2200 stand out in the deftly camouflaged crowd is the built-in meat shelf, allowing you to hitch an extra load up and carry it with you separate from your other gear. Packing for a long hunt is an art, and this Badlands design is nothing short of a masterpiece waiting to happen.
Pros:
- Meat shelf allows you to stay out in the wild for longer
- 2750 cubic inches storage space (not including meat shelf)
- Durable and lightweight magnesium alloy frame can handle any environment
- Hip-belt pistol holder keeps extra firearms close at hand in an emergency
- Integrated bow and rifle boot allows more articulate traversing of terrain
- Dedicated finder scope pocket for ultra-fast horizon glassing
- KXO-50 fabric will travel through hell and back without dropping a stitch
- Vented memory foam contact points keep you comfortable
- Room for hydration reservoir
Cons:
- Still expensive
- Internal capacity not quite as large as some of our other picks
- PREMIUM ULTRALIGHT - The exclusive Realtree Edge 2200 is 10 oz lighter and features a redesigned carry boot adapted for both bow and rifle carry; Like the classic, it includes a built-in meat shelf, internal scope and tripod pockets, and zippered rear entry panel; DWR-treated, waterproof fabric offers scent suppression and resists moisture, dirt, and blood
- COMFORTABLE CARRY - ThermoMold Suspension utilizes molded foam so ergonomically advanced that it virtually matches every contour of the human form; T-6 Aircraft Aluminum internal frame and load lifter straps transfer weight to your hips to reduce fatigue
- REALTREE EDGE CAMO - Prized for its ability to confuse the eye at both close and long ranges, Realtree Edge features an abstract background with hyperrealistic leaves and branches in the foreground; Highlights and shadows disrupt the vertical silhouette of the human shape
Last update on 2024-05-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
4. Badlands Diablo Dos Hunting Backpack
In our penultimate spot, we have our final Badlands pack. If you like the sound of the other two but you’re after something a little more minimal and easy on the wallet, the Diablo will hit the spot.
Featuring the same Hypervent Suspension as our number one pick, you can wear this thing for days without even breaking a sweat.
It comes with a quick-use bow or rifle boot that helps you keep your finely tuned hunting apparatus safe as you take the necessary measures to navigate your surroundings and reach your vantage points.
Supported by a T6 aluminum frame, the weight of all your cargo is distributed evenly, keeping you sharp for your next shot.
The Diablo doesn’t offer anything as expansive as a meat shelf for extra haulage, but the three carrying and hanging straps make a great holding point for arrows in lieu of a quiver or as a brace for holding excess layers of clothing. What’s more, rear compressions straps provide extra haulage potential across your front as well.
Sewn up with water-treated, extra durable, super-silent KXO-32 fabric reinforced with Aramid fibers, no longer will the limits of your adventure be defined by your gear. You set your own limits, and the Diablo has your back no matter what.
Pros:
- Great price for a Badlands backpack
- Detachable bow/rifle boot keeps you bow safe while trekking
- 3 compressions straps offer extra haulage and easy access to essentials
- T6 aluminum frame evens pack weight across body and saves your shoulders
- KXO-32 fabric is waterproof and reliable in even the toughest environments
- Aramid bartacks keep weight-bearing points insanely strong
- Space for hydration reservoir so you don’t have to waste space on solid canteens
- 3 exterior carrying and hanging straps enhance haulage options
- Hypervent Suspension maintains airflow to your back keeping you cool and focused
- 2100 cubic inches of internal storage space
Cons:
- Not quite as expansive as our other top picks
- Taller hunters around the 6.5 mark might not be able to adjust it for maximum comfortability
- ULTRALIGHT - At just 4 lbs 4 oz, the Diablo Dos has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any hunting pack; With lots of cargo room, plus DWR-treated fabric that resists moisture, dirt, and blood, we won’t blame you if you never use any other backpack
- COMFORTABLE - With a Hypervent Suspension that allows cool air to pass freely between you and your pack and a load-transferring internal frame, the Diablo Dos eliminates shoulder fatigue and overheating so you can hike to hell and back
- STEALTHY - Badlands’ tactical 'Approach' camo is engineered to blend seamlessly into a wide range of habitats; This stealthy pattern teams up with whisper-quiet KXO-32 fabric to make you practically undetectable to your prey
Last update on 2024-05-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
5. Insights Hunting The Vision Bow Pack
Our final pick is a bow-specific pack ready to take your archery to new levels of precision and practicality.
The Vision Bow Pack features an extra-wide and elongated main pocket that can accommodate 90% of most bows, so you don’t need to worry about the reliability of a boot. It’s padded to perfection and keeps any scopes and D-rings completely safe.
It’s also one of the most comfortable backpacks you’ll ever wear, and that’s with a full load or the sometimes irritating half or quarter load. The straps are well cushioned and all contact points are vented to maintain breathability, stopping you from overheating.
The bag itself is made from a micro-brushed tricot material with poly-backer water treatment, making it almost completely weatherproof.
It’s a little louder than the other fabrics on our list, so you may have to be extra careful to avoid audible scraping and shifting as you make your way through the wilderness. That said, the buckles and zips are very quiet.
The Vision Pack holds a premium on pockets with 9 in total. They’re literally all over the place, giving you easy access to any essential gear even when you’re stationed on a tree stand and your movement is restricted.
Pros:
- Fits bow inside pack keeping it well out of harm’s way
- Weatherproof construction stops the elements from ruining your plans
- Quiet buckles and zips
- Tons of pockets
- Breathable mesh fabrics reduce the chance of overheating
- Modular front panel can be used as a shelf, basket, or classic storage
- Awesome price
- Can be strapped around tree to free your shoulders without taking up stand space
- Integrated quiver pocket and straps
Cons:
- Not quite as roomy as our top picks
- Fabric can be a little noisy on contact
- VERSATILE BOWHUNTING BACKPACK: Versatile, all-around hunting backpack ensures you're always ready to hunt with easy access to gear
- EXTRA LARGE MAIN COMPARTMENT: Wider main compartment conveniently fits long, parallel limb bows, quivers, arrow, optics, and electronics while protecting your sight, arrow rest, and d-loop
- TREE STAND SHELF: Features TS3 front panel system that allows for 3 different ways to use your front pocket: storage, shelf, and basket
Last update on 2024-05-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Buyer’s Guide
Let’s quickly run over a few things you should consider before settling on a new bow hunting backpack.
Bow Storage
Bow storage varies from pack to pack, but the most common type is a bow boot. This is a fast access way to free up your hands and keep your bow safe as you engage with the environment.
Some other pack designs have boot storage as well as a multitude of straps that allow you to mount your bow at different angles.
You’ll find the most secure storage in packs that have the capacity to hold your bow in their main compartment; however, this limits overall pack space.
Not all hunting packs come with onboard storage for your bow, and some will have room for a bow boot that’s sold separately, so it’s best to check before purchasing anything.
Capacity
How much stuff do you like to take with you on a hunt? How long do you like to hunt for? These are the questions you should ask yourself to ascertain how much storage you need.
Generally speaking, a multi-day pack needs upwards of 3000 cubic inches of storage space. For lighter expeditions, upwards of 1500 cubic inches should suffice.
Weight
The best hunting backpacks weigh hardly anything when empty and distribute a full load evenly over your shoulders, back, and hips.
Of course, the larger the pack, the heavier it will be when loaded.
Noise
If your bow is your primary weapon, then silence is your secondary.
You need the fabric, zips, and buckles to be as quiet as possible on your backpack to reduce the chances of alerting possible targets of your whereabouts
Hydration Pocket
A hydration bladder is essential to effective hunt packing. They’re the most space-friendly and quiet option, especially if your pack has a hydration pocket to accommodate it.
That’s why we highly recommend shopping around for one that either comes with a reservoir or has the space to carry one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Badlands packs made in the USA?
Not entirely. Badlands employ some workers in Salt Lake City, USA, but most pack construction is done in Vietnam.
What gear should you take with you on a hunt?
It depends on where you’re going and how long you plan to be there.
Generally speaking, you’ll need clothing, water, food, a sleeping bag, a survival blanket, shelter, a first aid kit, torches or lamps, a hunting knife, rubber gloves, game bags, a fire starter, your hunting license, and some baby wipes.
After these essentials are accounted for, use the remaining space for specialty items such as scents and game calls.
Who makes the best bow hunting backpack?
In our opinion, Badlands offers the best quality bow hunting backpacks at the minute.
They’re expensive, but they’re quiet, lightweight, weatherproof, and incredibly durable.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, archers, five of the best bow hunting packs in the business. If you’re still unsure which would be right for you, have a think about your hunting habits.
Don’t just buy one because we said it’s the best, buy one because it enables you to hunt how you like to hunt.
