Packing for a multi-day hunt in the mountains is a balancing act. You need enough gear to stay comfortable, dry, fed, and prepared for whatever the mountains throw at you, without carrying a pack so heavy that it becomes a problem of its own.
For Nolan, who spends plenty of time hunting the mountains of British Columbia, the goal isn't necessarily to build the lightest possible pack. It's about bringing the gear that works, organizing it properly, and knowing what is worth carrying when you're several days from the truck.
Here's a look at what Nolan brings for a typical 3–5 day backpack hunt in BC.
Start With the Right Hunting Pack
The best hunting pack isn't necessarily the one everyone else is using. It comes down to finding a pack that fits you properly and works for the way you hunt.
Nolan runs a Kifaru pack and has found that the fit works well for his build. For a 3–5 day hunt, he uses the Absaroka and organizes his gear based on how often he'll need to access it.
The general rule is simple: things you won't need until camp goes toward the bottom, while things you'll want throughout the day stay closer to the top.
That keeps your pack organized and saves you from digging through everything every time you need something.
Build Your Camp System
The bottom of the pack is a good place for things you won't need during the hike in, like extra underwear and socks. Nolan keeps these items organized in packable pouches to keep everything together and make finding gear easier.
From there, camp essentials start going in.
For his shelter, Nolan carries a RingCon 2P tent and pole. He prefers having the tent ready to set up rather than relying entirely on trekking poles. He also keeps his tent toward the bottom of the pack so that if it gets wet on the way in, it isn't sitting directly against his sleeping bag.
Sleep System
A good night's sleep can make a big difference on a backcountry hunt.
Nolan runs the Argali Alpine 0° sleeping bag along with a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir sleeping pad. While there are always ways to save weight and space, he doesn't believe in going too light with his sleep system.
The reasoning is pretty straightforward: if you're better rested, you're going to be in a better position to hunt hard the following day.
For Nolan, a little extra weight is worth it when it means a more comfortable night in the mountains.
Don't Forget the Comfort Items
Not everything in a hunting pack has to be about survival or saving weight.
One example is a small packable camp chair.
It's heavier and takes up more room than sitting on the ground, but Nolan finds that being comfortable allows him to sit and glass for longer periods of time. When you're spending hours behind the glass, that can be worth the extra weight.
Sometimes the little things make the biggest difference.
Pack Your Kill Kit
A kill kit is one of the pieces of gear that needs to be ready before the hunt starts.
Nolan carries game bags, a knife sharpener, and his Frontiersman Gear knife. These are kept together so they're ready to go when they're needed.
The idea is to keep your essential field gear organized and accessible rather than searching through your entire pack after a successful hunt.
Food and Cooking Gear
Food is another area where pack organization matters.
Nolan keeps his Jetboil around the middle of his pack rather than burying it at the bottom. That gives him easier access if he wants something hot while hiking or once he reaches camp.
For meals, he packs enough food for the length of the hunt, including Peak Refuel meals and snacks.
And, of course, coffee.
Nolan has been bringing This Is Coffee into the backcountry for years and considers it a worthwhile addition to the morning routine.
Pack for the Weather, Not the Forecast
Weather in the mountains can change quickly, which is why Nolan packs layers even when the forecast looks reasonable.
For a September hunt, his layering system includes a vest, merino layers, and a down jacket.
The vest provides warmth around the core while leaving the arms free, making it useful when temperatures aren't quite cold enough for a full insulating layer. The merino layers can work as both base layers and standalone tops.
A down jacket is another staple because it provides a lot of warmth without taking up much room in the pack.
If you're expecting consistently wet conditions, Nolan recommends considering a synthetic insulating layer instead, since down doesn't perform as well when it gets wet.
Always Have Reliable Rain Gear
Rain gear is one area where durability matters.
Nolan runs the Omen Storm Shelter jacket and has used it for years. It's a heavier rain jacket, but he prefers the durability because he's willing to put it through brush and rough terrain.
For rain pants, he goes lighter with the First Lite Bora Storm Shelter pant.
The goal isn't necessarily to have the lightest rain gear possible. It's to have a system you trust when the weather turns.
Water Storage
For hunts where water sources are available along the route, Nolan doesn't carry all of his water from the trailhead.
Instead, he brings a couple of Nalgene-style bottles that can be filled along the way.
Your water strategy will depend heavily on the specific hunt, but knowing where your water sources are before heading in can save significant pack weight.
First Aid and Emergency Gear
A first aid kit is one of the pieces of gear that can be easy to overlook when you're trying to cut weight.
Nolan keeps his first aid kit near the top of his pack so it's easy to access. His kit includes bandages, an emergency blanket, medications, lighters, and other small pieces of safety gear.
The exact contents of a first aid kit will vary from hunter to hunter, but the important part is actually carrying one and knowing what's inside it.
When you're hunting in the BC backcountry, getting yourself home safely matters more than saving a few ounces.
Gloves and Gaiters
Nolan carries two pairs of gloves: a merino pair for everyday use and a thicker pair for colder conditions.
He also carries a pair of Gore-Tex gaiters from Outdoor Research.
Gaiters can be especially useful depending on the terrain and weather, but Nolan recommends trying them before the hunt. A new pair might look great on paper, but if they're constantly slipping or uncomfortable, you'll spend the entire hunt fighting with them.
Small Things That Matter
Some of the smallest items in the pack can be the easiest to forget.
Toilet paper is an obvious one.
Nolan also carries two headlamps and spare batteries. One headlamp might be enough until it isn't, and once the sun goes down in the backcountry, having a backup can make a big difference.
These are the kinds of items that don't take up much room but can quickly become essential.
Optics and Glassing Gear
When it comes to hunting the mountains, optics are obviously a major part of the setup.
Nolan keeps his spotting scope at the top of his pack for easy access while hiking between glassing points. For this setup, he's running an 80mm Sig Sauer Oscar 8 spotting scope paired with an Aziak Backcountry Light tripod and Vantage pan head.
He prefers a pan head for glassing and likes the combination of stability and relatively low weight.
His binoculars and rangefinder stay on his chest in a bino harness rather than buried inside the pack. For this hunt, he's carrying Sig Sauer Zulu 6 binoculars and a Kilo 8K rangefinder in an FHF bino harness.
Keeping your primary optics immediately accessible means less time digging through your pack and more time behind the glass.
Trekking Poles
Trekking poles are another piece of gear that Nolan always brings along.
They get strapped to the outside of his pack and might not always come out during the hunt, but they're worth having when the terrain gets steep or the pack gets heavy.
And if the hunt goes well and you're packing meat back down the mountain, having trekking poles can be especially useful for taking some of the pressure off your knees.
Don't Forget the Essentials on Your Chest
Not everything needs to live inside the main compartment of your pack.
Along with his binoculars and rangefinder, Nolan carries bear spray and a wind indicator where they're easy to access.
For an archery hunt in particular, having bear spray immediately available is an important part of his setup.
There Isn't One Perfect Backcountry Hunting Pack
The biggest takeaway from Nolan's setup is that there isn't one perfect way to pack for a backcountry hunt.
Everyone has different priorities, different bodies, different hunting styles, and different terrain to deal with.
Some hunters will want to cut every possible ounce. Others are willing to carry a little more weight for a better night's sleep, a comfortable chair, or more durable gear.
For Nolan, the ideal 3–5 day BC hunting pack is built around organization, durability, comfort, and being prepared for the unexpected.
The best setup is ultimately the one you've tested, trusted, and figured out before you're several days into the mountains.
So take what works, leave what doesn't, and build a pack that works for you.
Heading into the backcountry this season? Check out Nolan's full pack dump for a closer look at everything he carries on a 3–5 day hunt in British Columbia.
