by Kristian Gerathy
I was out testing the new Arete Pack System for the first time. As a bowhunter, chasing deer is always a tough gig, but I was keen to stretch the legs, hike deep into a block that doesn’t see much action and get the feel for what the area was doing with the rut approaching in a few months, and hopefully get a nice freezer filler if I was lucky.
I left in the dark and pushed through to the back ridgeline. It’s steep, rocky country with dense shrubbery that eventually opens up into some beautiful woodland. The plan was to be set up there right on sun-up. As the birds started to fire up, and the first rays of light pierced the sky, I hit the summit, flicked my head torch off, and got on to checking the wind.
Summer makes things tricky – you don’t get long before the land heats up and the deer bed down, plus the thermals kick in really fast, so time is limited! I’d barely crept 50 metres, moving slow, when I spotted a nice doe feeding through the trees. The sun was still below the horizon, and she was happily browsing parallel to me. It was perfect bow country – just enough gaps between for shooting lanes and great cover to slide in on her!
After a careful five-minute stalk, using trees to block her line of sight, I managed to close the distance to 18 metres. My camo was doing its job, and with the Vantage Hoodie pulled up and the face mask on, she had no idea I was there. For the last 10m, I had no choice but to stand almost completely in the open... but my camo did the job and blended me into the backdrop.
Just as I went to draw, a bloody kangaroo wandered through on the same game trail! The doe pulled her head up, scanning for danger. I froze, she stood looking in my direction. I knew I had not moved and was in a good position to hold still with both feet planted, and after a few minutes, she whipped her head the other way to scan behind her and I instantly took the opportunity and came to full draw.
She turned back just as I settled the pin on her vitals. One calm breath, I pulled through the shot and sent an arrow straight through the vitals – and within metres it was done. A complete pass-through, quick and clean. I was stoked. First outing with the new pack, and before the sun was even up, I had a deer down, glowing in the soft morning light.
After taking a moment and a few photos (I treat every deer with the bow as if it’s my last – it’s never easy), I got stuck into testing the meat shelf system on the pack. I’ll admit, even though I’d seen the new system on one video on the website, I hadn’t mucked around with it at home. This was no dramas – the clips and strap system were straightforward and made sense straight away.
I took all four quarters and backstraps, bagged it up, and dropped it into the meat shelf. Fastened it securely with the tension straps, and honestly, what a brilliant bit of kit. The meat sat separate from my clothes, jacket, cameras, GPS, and other gear and because it was ventilated, it kept cooling on the carry out which in itself is great to improve the quality of the meat.
This system is clever. I do a fair bit of backpack hunting, so being able to carry a 75L pack with a small daypack rolled inside is a game changer. Hike in heavy, set up camp, then strip it down and clip on a 25L pack for day missions. Meanwhile, the rest of my gear stays tidy, away from mice and sun, organised in the larger bag without the frame.
The 75L has multiple entry points – a lifesaver compared to most big packs that are top-loader only. There's nothing worse than digging to the bottom every time. This one peels open fully, has plenty of compartments, and tough webbing for knives, torches, batteries, food and safety gear.
Plus, the blaze-orange rain cover is genius – I use it every time I drop my pack for a stalk. Clip it to a tree, and I’ve not only marked my spot, but also means I won't lose my pack and water (done this before... not fun).
Another huge win is how the 45L and 75L mirror each other. Same pocket layout, just different capacities. Swapping gear between the two is seamless – no wasted time hunting for items or re-learning a new system. With most other big packs I’d lose half a day trying to find stuff buried at random.
The new Arete frame paired with the Vantage Hoodie was unreal in the summer heat. Great airflow, no sticky back, and the hoodie breathes brilliantly. Instead of trudging out soaked in sweat, it was actually a comfortable carry.
Here’s the best bit: when you get home, unclip the harness and straps that carried the meat, then just hose it off. The main bag stays clean. My old pack was always stinking from sweat and blood, but this system keeps things fresh and simple. By the time I hit the ute with clean meat, a cool back and an empty ridge behind me, I reckoned I’d earned myself a cold beer – and it was only 9am.
