The Tenzing TC 1500: The Perfect Daypack for the Treestand Hunter
Bernie Barringer 10.01.14
I’ve been searching for the right pack for a while now. Lately it seems like pack manufacturers want to build a pack that will reach a wide range of potential users, so they make compromises in order to sell more packs. I’ve been looking for a pack that is specifically designed for the guy who mostly hunts from a treestand, and carries with him the typical assortment of gear that a treestand hunter takes along. This includes things like a rangefinder, SD cards, a windicator bottle, a camera, a phone and/or a tablet, a jacket or rain gear, and so on—you get the idea.
I may have finally found exactly the pack I was looking for. I received the Tenzing TC 1500 The Choice Treestand Pack in the mail a little while ago for review and immediately started looking it over to see whether it had the right compartments in the right places, and the right components for the treestand hunter.
The Tenzing pack offers the user the option to add a water bladder for hydration (or you can carry water bottles in the side pockets). One of the coolest parts is the fully-enclosed rain cover that comes out of a zipper and protects the pack from the elements. In the past I have been carrying a garbage bag in my pack to cover it with.
Another neat feature is the boot at the bottom of the Tenzing pack that comes out of a zippered compartment to hold a bow or gun attached to the pack. There have been many times when I needed a third hand to carry all my stuff to the stand, and this pack offers me that “third hand” for the bow.
Quality
A close examination of this pack reveals that extra care has been taken to ensure that seams, pressure points, and areas that may be stressed by someone like me who might overload the pack are solid. Stitching shows that the makers care about this issue.
The Dyneema bottom is sturdy and helps keep the Tenzingpack dry when you set it down on a dew-covered, early morning ground. It features an aluminum stay and mesh backing that seem to be sturdy enough to last a long time. The compression straps and waist belt are reinforced without adding much weight. Overall the quality shows through in all areas of construction.
Reliability
I plan to use this Tenzing pack a long time. Most of what can be said about reliability is found in the previous section on quality. They go hand in hand and the quality construction means I can expect this pack to offer years of service.
Price/Value
The price point of $189 is not for everyone, but it’s a case of “you get what you pay for.” I considered giving the pack only four stars because of the high price point, but because I think the durability is going to make this pack work harder for longer, I gave it the full five stars. You see, I hunt hard and hunt a lot of days each year in several states. It’s been rare in the past for a backpack to last me more than two years of hard labor. I cannot see the future, but I think this pack is going to outlast more than two of the $99 packs I have been using so the price is a wash.
Referability
This pack is designed perfectly for the guy who hauls himself and his gear out to a treestand to hunt. It might not be perfect for the spot and stalk hunter or the backpack hunter, but it is excellent for the tree-huggers and I would recommend the pack to that crowd without reservation. I believe I will reach for this pack first anytime I am hunting whitetails or bears from a treestand and I think you will too.
For more information on do-it-yourself road trip hunting, check out the author’s new book, The Freelance Bowhunter. Follow Bernie’s bowhunting adventures on his blog, bowhuntingroad.com.
