Hunters Element Arete Bag 45 Litre
The 45L is designed for the heavy day-hunt load or light overnighters. The primary focus for this pack is for those hunters who carry spotting scopes, camera gear, crampons and ice axes, or lots of extra clothing layers. This “guide” pack cinches down to a low-profile shape when not packed out so it looks and functions like a smaller day bag when the extra space isn’t required.
The pack has been shaped to be tall and shallow, so the weight is shared more evenly along the length of your back, and so when scrambling underbrush and branches there is less bulk sticking up to snag and catch.
It’s been designed for heavy spotting scope and camera use. An internal zippered sleeve on the front allows you to quickly pull out or put away optics attached to a tripod when you are in an area where these are needed every few minutes. When you’re moving long distances and don’t need access to these as quickly, two large front pockets can accommodate the tripods and optics in a fully covered position. These front pockets cover the front of the pack, and the outside of these is lined with a hard foam, meaning no matter how you are carrying these valuables, there is a grunty protection layer for them when you place your pack down on its front or rub it up against branches and scrub. In addition, two Auto-lock buckles and straps allow you to quickly lock the gear in place.
The main body pocket has ¾ length zips that allow you to access top-to-bottom gear easily without having to fish through everything from the top down. This main compartment includes 3 zippered accessory pockets for gear organization and a water bladder pocket. There are also an additional 6 accessory pockets in the two front compartments and an upper pocket for fast access to any other necessities. Finally, two water bottle pockets are equipped on the lower sides. If you’re into organising all your gear into its own area, this is the dream pack!
The pack body has an integrated rifle scabbard that can accommodate almost all hunting rifle lengths sizes and barrel widths up to that of a standard magnum suppressor. The scabbard is located at the back of the pack (closest to the frame / your back) in order to keep the weight closest to your spine and minimize sway. The benefit of having two free hands in steep and challenging country can make a massive difference and should not be underestimated, particularly in open country when shots are less likely to be close-quarter surprises, and when overhanging branches are less of a hassle. When not in use the scabbard foot can be neatly tucked away back up inside the pack body.
It's available in two fabric options. First, the Desolve® Veil™ camouflage option is made from Hydrafuse™ StealthSHELL™ fabric which is softer and quieter for more close-quarters hunting scenarios where noise and stealth are priorities. Second, the Stone Green option is made from an extra-durable Cordura® fabric which is 2x more durable, and suited to a rugged open country where stealth is not as important but the ground it will be dumped on is harder and more abrasive.
A hidden, blaze orange, rain-cover is tucked away in a pocket at the bottom of the pack for when the weather sets in or when you want to be seen.
The 45L Arete Pack body is part of the Arete Pack System. It fits the interchangeable Arete Pack System Frame, this frame is required for use.
- 45-litre capacity
- Available in Desolve® Veil™, Hydrafuse™ StealthSHELL™ fabric, or Stone Green Cordura® fabric
- Designed for fast and easy access to spotting scopes and cameras and rifle
- Hard-foam covered front to protect optics and tripods
- 17 pockets for complete gear organisation
- Integrated rifle scabbard
- Water bladder compatible
- Duraflex® Hardware
- YKK® Zips
- Blaze orange rain cover included
- Weight: 2.87kg (total weight of bag and frame)
THE ARETE INTERCHANGEABLE PACK SYSTEM
The Arete Pack System is a different concept that changes how hunting packs are viewed. The Arete is a modular system that allows you to change between packs with one single frame/harness. There are two major advantages to this.
The first is that it allows you to significantly reduce the amount of bulk and weight you have to carry. This makes carrying multiple packs into camp a much more viable option. You can now pack in all your gear in your big pack, set up camp, pull out your day bag, and swap this onto the harness for hunting. Because the majority of weight and bulk in any pack is in the frame/harness, the pack body itself can squash down very small in the bottom of your main bag.
The second main advantage is the ability to expand any of the packs. Because the pack body can come away from the frame/harness, it is possible to fit extra gear between the two. Most importantly this has been designed this way to carry heavy meat from a successful hunt. The ‘Meat Shelf’ is built into the frame/harness, so every Arete setup allows you to pack meat out in this manner. This meat shelf is far more effective and comfortable than carrying meat stuffed into the bottom of your pack or over your shoulders. It allows you to strap the meat tight to the frame with an even distribution of bulk and weight that won’t sway or move, and it means that this weight is kept closest to your spine where strength and balance are dramatically optimized. It also means that you don’t have to ditch gear out or your pack to make room for the meat. 
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