I've been on a quest for quite some time now, searching for the perfect do-everything backpack. Something that's able to take my adventure motorcycle gear and camping equipment with me when I want to disappear into the woods with my bike for a few days, while seamlessly ready to get bloody and gross on a backpack hunt. And I've tried quite a few.
In recent months, I've spent a lot of time with a USWE pack, but I've constantly had to switch to my Sitka for my hunting exploits. And while the USWE is good for motorcycling, it ain't good for hunting. The vice-versa is true about the Sitka, unfortunately. They're good tools at what they do, but they're not great when you stretch them into unknown territory.
Last week, however, I might've found something that could do both.
At Utah's Western Hunt Expo, I tried on a pack I've seen on social media quite a bit lately. And it's one I've been dying to try out for a while now. The company is Initial Ascent, and while it's marketed as the best hunting pack ever, I had my suspicions that the design could be what I've been searching for—a comfortable, do-everything backpack. And after tossing 150 pounds onto my back with the Initial Ascent system, color me beyond impressed.
Initial Ascent's backpack system is based on a carbon-fiber backpack frame that's contoured to your spine. It's not a custom contour, but based on spinal curvature and set to two different sizes so that you can pick which is right for your body size.
According to the brand, "The triaxial weave carbon fiber/composite structure provides the greatest strength-to-weight ratio on the market. We’ve tested every possible combination of materials. We’ve worked with two engineering firms. We are confident in delivering a frame that is not only comfortable, but provides the ability to haul extremely heavy loads."
To do so, the "key" is the carbon frame's shape, as it "allows the heaviest load to be positioned in the center of your back by spreading the weight over your hips, minimizing muscle fatigue and shoulder strain. To stay cooler in hot conditions, the shape maintains air flow around your back. The frame also follows the natural curvature of your spine, providing extreme comfort in all conditions." Basically, it centers all the weight of the pack where it'll naturally be absorbed by your body's built-in suspension system, i.e., your hips and legs. And that's perfect for both riders and hunters alike, as that's exactly where you want the weight when it's on your back.
But that's also marketing speak. And while testimonials and ads on social media are great, they're just that. It's not first-hand experience. And that's what I got at Western Hunt.
Initial Ascent had the frame loaded from the get-go with a 50-pound weight, and while you could feel it while heaving it onto your shoulders, it disappeared as soon as you cinched your waist belts, shoulder straps, and the pack's load lifters. Honestly, it went from, "Oh, that's a good amount," to, "Did you guys remove the 50 pounds?" Hand on heart, it felt like 10-15 pounds once all the belts and buckles were locked in. Then they dropped another 100 pounds onto my shoulders.
During my elk hunt, I carried two rear quarters a handful of times. They're about 70-90 pounds each, and folks, I felt every single ounce of it. This was about the same weight, and it felt like a single quarter. It just disappeared off my shoulders and waist. It was a wild feeling, one that caused me to do a few squats on the show floor. And I couldn't help but daydream about how my normal loadout for a long motorcycle trip into the woods, or my season's upcoming hunts, would likely disappear, too. Weight, as you might know, is always the killer of adventures. It just saps your energy.
I need to try this out and properly test it.
Initial Ascent offers a few different varieties in its IAK series of backpacks, which include the IA Day Pack, the IA3K (3,475 cubic inches), the IA5K (5,200 cubic inches), and the IA8K (8,225 cubic inches). All, however, come with the frame that makes my initial experience possible. The system, and indeed the frame, does come at a price, though one that isn't out of the norm for a good motorcycle or hunting pack. With a starting price of $561.95, the packs rise to $795.95 for the biggest and baddest IA8K pack. And there are a host of accessories, too, to make yours that much more your own thing.
The bow and rifle holders intrigue me.
But after the limited test on the floor, and me walking around the company's booth, as well as seeing what it's done in the field, man, do I want to try it out on a motorcycle. Gonna have to start saving my pennies here real soon, as riding and hunting seasons are just around the corner.
