Field Test: Badlands Rise Pack

Although Badlands has been building hunting packs for many years, for some reason I never had the chance to field test one. That changed last fall when I carried the company’s Rise Pack ($189.99) while bowhunting whitetails in South Dakota.

The design goal with the Rise Pack was straightforward, as stated on the company’s website: “We knew it had to be simple to use, extremely quiet and not be a burden in a treestand.”

Fact: It is precisely for those reasons that I almost always choose NOT to take a daypack into the whitetail woods when hunting from a tree — most daypacks are NOT simple to use, they are NOT extremely quiet, and they ARE a burden in a treestand.

Would the Rise Pack be different? Well, I liked it when first checking it out at an Archery Trade Association (ATA) Show in January 2024, so I decided to give it a try that fall. For treestand hunting, I normally carry a 30-year-old seven-pocket fanny pack given to me by Jim Crumley (founder of Trebark Camo), but there are times when I need more storage for an extra jacket, food for a day-long sit, etc. I’ve been looking for a daypack that would check all the boxes for me; perhaps the Rise would qualify.

First Impressions

When I unboxed the Rise Pack, I was reminded why I liked seeing it at the ATA Show. Its exterior fabric is as quiet as I’ve ever seen on a pack, and it uses no zippers or Velcro to open or close it. And this was a pleasant surprise — I didn’t notice it at the ATA Show — the pack’s interior is lined with ultra-quiet suede. Noise wouldn’t be a problem.

For maximum simplicity, the Rise Pack has what’s called the Swiftlatch Opening System; it uses quiet (and secure) Fidlock fasteners on the main compartment (see photo below). More on that later.

I also should mention that I loved the way the pack lid opened and closed. Badlands calls it a Metal Tension Hook, which nails it. The hook is on an adjustable strap, and it slips behind one of three molle loops. If you carry so much in the pack that gear is bulging from the top of the pack, you simply loosen the adjustable strap holding the Metal Tension Hook. It’s smart, simple and 100 percent quiet.

Thoughts From the Field

No two whitetail hunters carry the same gear in the field. When compared to most of my hunting buddies, I’m a minimalist. Many times I’ll leave the truck with a friend heading out for our hunt, and I’m carrying my seven-pocket fanny pack and they have a decent-sized daypack stuffed with only God knows what.

I mention this simply to explain that I didn’t utilize the Rise’s many options for attaching pouches to the pack’s exterior, but I’m sure many hunters would benefit from this versatility. The Rise features the Badlands Swap System, and includes one Swap System Grid (the black panel you see in the photo). The Grid can be used to securely attach various pouches. The Rise has room to add two more Grids, for a total of three.

I watched some reviews of this pack on YouTube, and other whitetail hunters really liked attaching the optional Treestand Basket accessory (below) to the Swiftlatch Opening after it is lowered. Again, the pack has plenty of interior storage to satisfy my needs, so I didn’t order the Basket.

My use was straightforward: I’d climb into my treestand, remove the pack from my shoulders and then hang it on a tree hook/hanger. For the Rise to function as designed, you hang it with the backpack straps toward the tree. Next, you slip out the Metal Tension Hook from the molle loop to open the pack’s lid. To keep the lip opened, I attach the Tension Hook to the hanging loop (photo below). Finally, you pull up on the magnetic Swiftlatch Opening (it literally says “Pull Up” on the top of the panel) and then lower it. Doing so makes it easy to access the pack’s large interior.

Favorite Features

• As I said previously, the pack is ultra-quiet, and that includes carrying it through the woods on the way to a stand, and also when hanging it in the tree.
• The Fidlock fasteners are quiet to use and keep the pack securely closed. Because these fasteners are magnetic, it’s easy to reattach them after the hunt, even in the dark. This smart design eliminates the need for noisy zippers or Velcro, which can alert nearby whitetails and ruin a hunt. After the front panel is opened and lowered, magnets in the panel hold the door open.
• The Rise Pack has large pockets/pouches on each side that work great for carrying a water bottle and anything else that you want to access quickly.
• The backstrap straps are cut right and easy to adjust, and there’s a lot of padding where the pack touches your back. It’s crazy-comfortable.
• In addition to the large main compartment, there are six interior sleeves (various sizes) for easy access to anything you wish to carry. These sleeves keep smaller items organized so you aren’t fishing for them in the main compartment.
• I liked using the adjustable strap on the pack’s one side and the two bedroll straps under the pack to attach a raincoat or warmer jacket. In South Dakota, I often must hike a half-mile to a treestand, and it works better to carry a warmer jacket with the pack instead of wearing it on my hike.
• I chose Approach GT camo and it disappeared against a tree. This is the darkest of the Approach camo patterns (tans, black and dark green), and it has a vertical orientation. It basically mimics tree bark. There’s no chance a whitetail will spot it.
• Last but not least, I admire and appreciate the fact that Badlands has a simple and unconditional lifetime warranty on its gear. Here’s the company statement: “We’re not into fine print, so our Unconditional Lifetime Warranty is simple: If you’re not satisfied with a piece of gear, we’ll refund or exchange it. If you break it, we’ll fix or replace it. Doesn’t matter what it is, how it happened, or whether or not your brother-in-law was involved. You’re covered for life.”

Rise Pack Specs

• Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Volume: 900 cubic inches
• Dimensions: 20 x 11 x 7 inches
• MSRP: $189.99 Contact: badlandsgear.com