Badlands 3D vs Badlands Rise
Quick take: The Badlands Rise costs $50 less; the Badlands 3D carries more (23 vs 15 liters); the Badlands Rise is lighter (2.3 vs 3.2 lbs).
Which one to buy
Where you shoot from settles this. The Rise is a treestand and saddle pack, and silence is what owners praise most: the main opening has no zipper, just Fidlock magnetic fasteners, behind a burr-resistant outer with a suede liner that several owners call the quietest they've used. The 3D comes from 3D archery competition. It has quivers on both sides, an included bow boot, and shoulder straps contoured to stay out of your draw, which shooters say lets you shoot all day with it on. One is built to hang in a tree, the other to walk a course.
The 3D is the more complete pack out of the box, for $50 more. It holds 23 L to the Rise's 15 L, has a removable waistbelt and hydration ports, and its bow carry is included. On the Rise, the gun boot, bow boot and extra pouches are separate SWAP accessories, so the real cost climbs past $200. It has no waistbelt for the walk in and no hydration sleeve, and a reviewer says it simply "will not hold very much."
The 3D's catch is getting one. It sold out on the maker's site as of July 2026 with seasonal restocks, and it has only six reviews behind it. Its quiver sleeves are also wasted bulk if you aren't carrying arrows. The Rise's trade runs the other way: the quietest access in the tree, paid for with a bag that is small for an all-day sit and nothing on your hips for the walk in.
Badlands 3D
Made for 3D archers and bowhunters who walk and shoot with the pack on and want arrow quivers, a bow boot and water built in.
Badlands Rise
For a treestand or saddle hunter with a disciplined kit, where silent one-handed access at height matters more than volume or a waistbelt.
| Spec | Badlands 3D | Badlands Rise |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $250 | $200 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Hunting Pack | Hunting Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 23 L (1,400 ci) | 15 L (900 ci) |
| Weight | 3.2 lb | 2.3 lb |
| Max Load | Not published by the manufacturer | Not published by the manufacturer |
| Torso Fit | One size | One size |
| Material | Not specified by manufacturer | Ultra-quiet, burr-resistant cold-weather outer with suede fabric liner |
| Back Panel | AirTrack padded suspension | Padded back panel |
| Adjustable torso | No | No |
| Ventilated back | Yes | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | No | No |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | No |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | No |
| Warranty | Badlands Unconditional Lifetime Warranty: defects in materials or workmanship for the life of the product; field rips and tears repaired on a best-effort basis | Badlands Unconditional Lifetime Warranty: defects in materials or workmanship for the life of the product; field rips and tears repaired on a best-effort basis |
Pros & cons
Badlands 3D
- ✓Dual side quivers give rapid access to spare arrows - one TAC shooter carried 18 arrows plus tools for a 3-day, 27-mile event
- ✓Contoured, extra-padded shoulder straps are shaped so drawing a bow all day is unhindered - the pack's signature design goal
- ✓Big open main compartment with structured sides that stay open when the bag isn't full, making gear easy to grab
- ✓Included bow boot and external straps give a solid hands-free bow carry option
- ✓Padded AirTrack back suspension praised as comfortable over long courses ('eats up the added weight')
- ✓Removable reverse-tightening waistbelt with MOLLE webbing for attachments
- ✓Hydration compatible with dual side exit ports, plus a microsuede pocket that protects sunglasses
- ✓Backed by Badlands' unconditional lifetime warranty; all 6 manufacturer-site reviews are 5-star
- ✗Sold out on badlandsgear.com as of July 2026 - restocks appear seasonal, so buying can mean waiting
- ✗Only 6 reviews on the manufacturer site and very little independent forum discussion yet, so the 5.0 rating is a small sample
- ✗At 1,400 ci (~23 L) it's a day pack only - no capacity for overnight gear
- ✗3.2 lb is heavy for a 23 L pack; the archery-specific structure adds weight
- ✗Quiver sleeves and archery-specific layout add bulk that's wasted if you're not carrying arrows
- ✗No rain cover included
- ✗No hipbelt pockets, and no meat-hauling capability for western hunts
- ✗Badlands doesn't publish the fabric spec for this pack, making material comparisons hard
Badlands Rise
- ✓Zipperless Swiftlatch main opening with Fidlock magnetic fasteners is genuinely silent - the single most praised feature in owner reviews
- ✓Semi-rigid bag keeps its shape, so reviewers say digging gear out of the bottom while in the tree is easy and quiet
- ✓Ultra-quiet, burr-resistant outer fabric with soft suede liner - multiple owners call it the quietest pack they've used
- ✓Reinforced hanging loop and magnetic front panel hold the main access door open while the pack hangs at height
- ✓SWAP modular grid system (one grid included) lets you add pouches, tree buckets, and organizers where you want them
- ✓Bedroll/compression straps carry climbing sticks and a saddle platform well - saddle hunters repeatedly recommend it
- ✓Owners rate fit and finish well above big-box store packs; 35 of 38 manufacturer-site reviews are 5-star
- ✓Backed by Badlands' unconditional lifetime warranty
- ✗Only 900 ci (~15 L) - noticeably smaller than most whitetail day packs; a 3-star reviewer notes it 'will not hold very much'
- ✗No waistbelt - an owner specifically wished for a stowable belt strap for hiking in
- ✗No hydration sleeve or dedicated bladder routing
- ✗Gun boot, bow boot, and extra pouches are all separate SWAP accessories, so the real cost climbs past $200
- ✗Interior has only large pockets - reviewers ask for small organizer pockets to divide gear
- ✗Limited external MOLLE/attachment real estate; one reviewer returned it because his accessory setup wouldn't transfer
- ✗The Fidlock slide clip on the lid takes practice - one owner fumbles it with cold hands
- ✗Treestand-specific design: no meat shelf, load shelf, or frame for western pack-out duty
Badlands 3D vs Badlands Rise: common questions
Is the Rise quieter than the 3D?▾
Owners say the Rise's zipperless magnetic opening and burr-resistant outer with suede liner make it the quietest pack they've used. The 3D is built around arrow access and a clean draw on a walking course, not silent entry at height, so for a stand the Rise is the quieter tool.
Will the Rise cost more than $200 once I add a bow boot?▾
Yes: the gun boot, bow boot and extra pouches are separate SWAP accessories, so a built-out Rise climbs past $200. The 3D includes a bow boot at $250.
Can I carry water in either one?▾
The 3D is hydration compatible with dual side exit ports. The Rise has no hydration sleeve or bladder routing, so water goes in a bottle in the main compartment or an added pouch.