Badlands Rise vs Badlands Monster
Quick take: The Badlands Monster costs $10 less; the Badlands Monster carries more (18 vs 15 liters); the Badlands Rise is lighter (2.3 vs 2.75 lbs).
Which one to buy
Fifteen liters against eighteen, $200 against $190, one lifetime defects warranty covering both: on paper these Badlands packs are near twins. The real difference is where the weight sits and what happens at the tree. The Rise is a stand pack: a semi-rigid 15 L bag that hangs from a reinforced loop with its magnetic door held open, behind a zipperless Fidlock opening that owners single out as the quietest they've used. The Monster carries 18 L on your hips on a Delron frame, with a removable shoulder harness when you want backpack carry, and one owner says it rides well loaded to 18 lb.
For the walk in, the Monster is the better carrier. The Rise has no waistbelt, and an owner specifically wished for one. The Monster is also cooler in hot weather, takes a 1 L bladder where the Rise has no hydration routing at all, and has a durability record the Rise can't match yet: elk guides report 10-12 years of hard use with zippers that never failed. Its seven pockets, including fold-down workstation pockets, keep calls and a rangefinder organized; Rise owners ask for smaller interior pockets.
At the tree, the Rise pulls ahead. The Monster has no hanging loop, its zippers are louder than the Rise's magnetic closures, and reviewers say it can't swallow bulky cold-weather layers, though the Rise is smaller still. The Rise's catches are cost and capacity: a bow or gun boot and extra pouches are separate SWAP accessories that take it past $200, and a reviewer says it "will not hold very much." The Rise trades the walk for the sit: nothing on your hips on the way in, and nothing making noise once you're up.
Badlands Rise
For treestand and saddle hunters who sit all day, carry a lean kit and want silent, one-handed access once they're hung.
Badlands Monster
The better fit for mobile whitetail and turkey hunters who walk a lot, hunt warm weather and want their gear organized on their hips.
| Spec | Badlands Rise | Badlands Monster |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $200 | $190 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Hunting Pack | Hunting Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 15 L (900 ci) | 18 L (1,100 ci) |
| Weight | 2.3 lb | 2 lb 12 oz |
| Max Load | Not published by the manufacturer | Not published by the manufacturer |
| Torso Fit | One size | One size (adjustable harness length) |
| Material | Ultra-quiet, burr-resistant cold-weather outer with suede fabric liner | KXO-32 fabric with aramid bartacking on stress points |
| Back Panel | Padded back panel | Molded foam lumbar suspension |
| Adjustable torso | No | No |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | No | No |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | No | Yes |
| 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 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 Monster
- ✓Hybrid design: run it as a lumbar pack or clip on the adjustable shoulder harness for backpack-style carry - owners love having both
- ✓Seven-pocket layout is repeatedly praised for organizing calls, rangefinder, thermos, and field-dressing kit for a full day
- ✓Delron Flex Frame puts weight on the hips; one owner reports it rides well even loaded with 18 lb
- ✓Exceptional durability record - multiple elk guides report 10-12 years of hard use ('bombproof'), with zippers that never failed
- ✓Works with a treestand or saddle setup on your back, and can be strapped around the tree for in-stand access
- ✓Fold-down workstation pockets keep small gear visible and contained
- ✓Hydration compatible (1L bladder) with all-day water per longtime owners
- ✓Cooler than a full backpack in hot weather, backed by Badlands' unconditional lifetime warranty
- ✗1L hydration capacity is small, and reviewers say the mesh bladder pocket is a liability in freezing weather
- ✗No water bottle holder you can reach while wearing it - a repeated request across reviews
- ✗Zippered access is louder than Badlands' zipperless packs; one reviewer wants magnetic pouch flaps instead
- ✗Current version dropped the small 'secret' pockets some longtime owners depended on
- ✗No Bino Connect compatibility and fewer strap attachment points than owners of older Badlands hip packs expect
- ✗No hanging loop for hoisting or hanging it in the tree
- ✗Several 3-star reviews call it smaller and less versatile than expected - it can't swallow bulky cold-weather layers
- ✗Occasional QC gripes: a zipper ripped out after five seasons for one owner, and another reports uneven tension between shoulder straps and hip pad
Badlands Rise vs Badlands Monster: common questions
Which one is quieter in the stand?▾
The Rise. Its main opening has no zipper, just Fidlock magnetic fasteners, and owners call it the quietest pack they've used. The Monster's zippers are louder, and one reviewer asks for magnetic pouch flaps instead.
Can I carry water in the Rise like the Monster?▾
Not in a bladder. The Rise has no hydration sleeve or routing, so water goes in a bottle or an added pouch. The Monster takes a 1 L bladder, though reviewers say its mesh bladder pocket is a liability in freezing weather.
Is the Monster as durable as its reputation?▾
Owners say yes: elk guides report 10-12 years of hard use with zippers that never failed. There are occasional complaints, such as one zipper ripped out after five seasons, but Badlands covers defects on both packs for life and promises a best-effort repair of field rips and tears.