HMK back pack, like or dislike??

[wildcard28]

Hello, I just received the HMK Backpack I ordered from Firstplaceparts.com
good deal I got the Snowcamo one to match my Black and Snowcamo Arctiva Jacket, seems light and comfortable, comparred to my older skidoo backpack with all my gear in it seems to the wideth and height of the pack is good, centers the pack more on my back and don`t seem to have that to wide or hanging to low feeling. I beleive I might be happy with it.

Would be nice if the shoulder straps were padded more but this might not be a problem, but my older skidoo pack had more padding there.

still beleive I`m goin to buy the HMK or KLIM water or hydration pack for it,

How much water or liquid does the HMK hydration pack hold??

What is everyones experience good or bad with this pack, any thoughts or suggestion of experience would be appreciated.

http://www.firstplaceparts.com/hmk-backcountry-backpacks.html

Thanks, Wildcard

 

[JSMooge]

I like mine. Low profile. Plenty of room inside. Never had a problem with water or wet gear. And the external shovel pouch works good. Have the hydration system but haven't used it yet. Not sure how much it holds tho.

 

[bdoe22]

SHOVEL HOLDER

Dont trust the shovel handle holder (velcro). You will be buying a new handle(s). We have lots of customers unhappy with the velcro holding the handle. all is great when it is dry and warm, but when **** hits the fan and u are digging in the fluff, the velcro doesn't stick very well if at all and you will lose the handle. other than that, great pack for the money.

 

[Tree Boss]

As mentioned don't trust the velcro straps I tied a rope to the handle after I lost one handle and had it come out 3 or 4 times before the rope

 

[rmscustom]

as mentioned one ride through some tight trees you'll be looking for your shovel handle or probe

 

[i'llDooit]

the hmk is spacious, with lots of zippers and compartments. compared to my camelpak which has 3 storage areas and the hydration,,,,, the hmk was heavy. noticably heavier,

 

[Idcatman3]

http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=196666

 

[boone]

I have never had a problem with my handle staying in(yet) but maybe I am just lucky.

The hydro pack is nice and holds somewhere in or around a quart. Anything colder than mid 20's or so and the hose freezes up. I got used to it and learned if you blow back into the bite valve a bit to push the liquid back into the pack after each drink you can help prevent this. Below zero and you are SOL! I do suppose a little vodka might work as an antifreeze though Last year I got my pack out for the year and discovered that I had forgotten to clean it out before storing it for the summer. The hose was moldy so I pitched the whole thing and went bach to the good old water bottles! I upgraded to a BCA float 30 this year now...hmk pack is retired for the time being.

Boone

 

[FatDogX]

I've looked at the HMK pack, never owned one but have you checked out the Klim Krew Pack or Nac pack???

http://www.klim.com/en-us/shop/bags

 

[wildcard28]

Hello, well I got all of my gear switched over from the older skidoo pack to the HMK snowcamo pak I was saying I got, I keep in mind the velcro ideas for the handles, only thing that really concerns me it the pocket for the shovel, Im going to have some velcro sewed on right about where the handle part of the shovel scoop sticks out to hold it from coming out of the pocket, I lost a shovel scoop on my other pack cause of the same problem when I went over the handle bars once after wheelying across a road and nose dived into a ditch, did`t notice it until about an hour later when I needed to dig the sled out that the scoop was gone.

I actually keep a smaller lightweight shovel in my pack and the bigger Voile shovel and handle on my tunnel bag so I don`t have to remove my pack to get to the shovel to get the sled unstuck, the one in my pack will be for survival situation Hopefully I wont need it. this way i can keep my pak on when diggin the sled out.

Thanks, Wildcard
keep the replies coming all are interesting to read..

 

[TheBreeze]

Make sure they throw in a box full of shovel handles if is it the old style pack. They seem to have improved the handle hold system on their new version of the pack.

 

[wildcard28]

Hello thanks guys for the replies, keep them comin

What are the old style handle straps like and how are they made??

The Backpack I have I beleive is the new type I Hope I received it from Firstplaceparts.com! Very Happy with all the stuff I have ordered from them, The straps that would go around the shovel handle or what ever you have on each side are alastic with velcro pads on each end and they do seem pretty grippy cause when you have the shovel handle tied in its hard to twist or move around, but maybe this could be different when they get cold or snow on them.

I do have an advantage, My Step Sons wife is a seamstress and she could to sewing modification to it and inprove things for me like putting the velcro strap above the back pocket where the shovel scoop goes actually above it and right below the HMK Logo on the upper pocket so it will wrap around the top of the shovel where the handle slides in to keep it from coming out if I happen to go Azz over teakettle over the Handle bars like I have done many times,Lol and loose another shovel scoop.

Thanks, Wildcard

 

[jfox1995]

Ditto on the shovel handle holder. I lost mine 3 times in the last 2 years and was able to find it everytime until my last ride last year. My shovel handle is somewhere on the north side of the snowys if anyone finds it. It has a BCA sticker on it...haha. Anyone want to buy a shovel bucket or sell me a new handle for the HMK shovel?

 

[i'llDooit]

I'll sell A HMK PACK