Sitka Bivy 30

Sitka Gear Bivy 30

I was also luck enough to be able to hunt with Sitka's Bivy 30. For my trial run I was going to be on a 4 day Bivy hunt for mule deer in the Colorado high country.

My first impression of the Bivy 30 was that it was a well-built straight forward pack that was designed for the backcountry hunter. The pack includes a sleeping pad built into the back of the frame and a built in rainfly. I sleep on my side so the thin built in pad would do me little good except in case of emergency. So I did take the pad out and insert my Big Agnes Dual Core pad which fit in great deflated.

Also on an extend period hunt in the backcountry I have learned never to go without a rainfly for my pack and unluckily for me I was able to give the build in rainfly on this pack an extended test on my hike in, during the 3 hour hike in the pack and everything inside stayed completely dry.

On the first morning of my hunt I was lucky enough to take a 3x3 buck in velvet. For the Story http://gannett-ridge.blogspot.com/

This is where the real test for the Bivy 30 begin on my hike in I would estimate my pack was around 45lbs. overall. But on the way out of the mountains I was able to really load the pack down; with my entire boned out buck, Big Agnes Zirkel SL sleeping bag, spotting scope, tripod, clothing, raingear, binoculars and my bow strapped on the back.

Bivy 30 Loaded Down

Over the next 5 hours the pack held up great even though I don't believe that the pack was designed to haul that much of a load.

Things I like about this pack: Quality construction, light weight, hip belt pockets are great, good compression straps, adjustable, built in rainfly and overall super comfortable.

Things that could be improved upon: My only complaint with this pack is that it doesn't quite have the frame to comfortably carry a super heavy load. But it this packs defense it wasn't built for that it would easily have carried out half of my deer and half of my gear and been very comfortable.

Overall I believe that this is a great backpack and one of the most comfortable that I have ever used great in between backpack for hunting the backcountry without stepping up to a 4500 cubic in. backpack or above. My new 3-5 day trips “go to pack".