NPO GEAR REVIEW: Multi-Weapon Pack

NPO GEAR REVIEW: Multi-Weapon Pack (MWP) by In Sights Hunting

By Tyler Frantz

            First up in our new NPO Gear Review series is the Multi-Weapon Pack (MWP) by In Sights Hunting. This pack initially caught my eye in the Archery Hall of the NRA’s Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, PA.

            At first glance, it appeared a pretty sweet concept, but not wanting to get sucked into spending more money than I had already spent (easy to do at an outdoor show), I tried to avoid tempting myself by forcefully steering clear of the In Sights Booth.

            But the night after shooting the Indoor 3-D Bowhunter’s Challenge at the show, my shooting buddy (NPO Field Staffer B.G. Ehrgood) texted me to say he had stopped by the very same booth that caught my eye earlier that week.

            In his own words, the text read: “Ended up in the archery hall picking up a legit bow/rifle pack from insights hunting. Called the multi weapon pack. Has everything you can think of as a bow hunter! They are freaking sweet!! They thought of everything.”

            Later that week, when I saw two of the MWP’s were generously donated to our Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association Youth Benefit Auction, which raises money for youth outdoors programs and scholarships, I knew I had to spring for one of them.

            I got into a pretty heated bidding war, which quickly ran the price all the way up to full retail value, but I got to pick my camo pattern of choice, and the back-up bidder snagged the other one for an equivalent value, with all money going straight to our youth grant program.

            Before heading home, I stopped by the In Sights booth to thank the man who had thoughtfully donated the two packs to our worthy cause and told him I was really looking forward to trying out the MWP and possibly even reviewing it.

            Though a few follow-up attempts to the sales team proved unsuccessful due to their busy show season, I still genuinely wanted to review this product and do it justice- mostly because it is such a cool concept, but also because, as an officer of POWA, I really appreciate In Sights’ generous support of our organization.

            So let’s get into the details:

            The MWP is basically a fully enclosed bow/rifle sling that has been converted into a daypack for long-distance hunting excursions. Some immediate instances where I can see this pack being most useful would be deep mountain hike-in hunts on public lands, spring turkey hunting where you need hands free accessibility for run-and-gun style outings, horseback/ATV/mountain biking access hunts and for dragging out a successful harvest, when you need to bring your bow along out without smashing up your accessories.

            The pack folds open like a pocket folder, and a bow can safely be slid down into a mesh pocket and strapped in for stabilization, then folded closed again and snapped in place like a soft bow-case with an armored back panel to protect against bumps and abrasions. There are side accessory pockets/straps to secure a quiver and camera tripod, blind chair, or even a rifle as well.

            Then there is an actual backpack compartment just large enough to stow some mid-layer garments, grunt tubes, snacks and other miscellaneous items, but there are a number of external tie-down straps perfect for heavier outerwear during long walks to the stand.

            The padded back and wrap-around lumbar strap system features enlarged, vented grid work that helps with breathability and comfort, plus there is a really nifty zippered cell phone/GPS compartment located along the right-hand waist strap for convenient access.

            I field-tested the pack during a nasty Pennsylvania snowstorm this winter, when I strapped in one of my compound bows, added some accessories for weight, and trudged through knee-deep snow on a lengthy field hike to check trail cameras.

            I was impressed with the functionality and comfort of such a large pack. While I probably won’t use it for my local farm hunts, simply for the bulk and the relatively short distance required to walk to my stand, I absolutely plan to give it plenty of use when I’m hunting the mountain. Heck, I may even see how it holds up to packing in climbing sticks when hanging stands this fall.

            If you cover some distance to get to your hunting destination, I definitely recommend the Multi-Weapon Pack by In Sights hunting. It evenly distributes the weight, protects your hunting equipment, and frees up your hands for other things.

            In Sights is also reportedly working on a smaller backpack for more localized field use to be released at a later date. For more information, visit www.insightshunting.com.

*If you or someone you know is interested in having Natural Pursuit Outdoors review your product, click here for more information.  

For more great writing, photography and video work by outdoors freelancer, Tyler Frantz, visit www.naturalpursuitoutdoors.com. Also, please LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!

Share this post