Tested True: A Badlands Gear Hunting System

My first-ever hunting backpack was a Badlands 2200. I loved that pack. It was comfortable, roomy, and built like a tank. I wore the pack so long, hauled so much meat with it, and took it into so many hellish places that I finally had to retire it. Badlands produces excellent, built-to-last gear that withstands harsh terrain and brutal weather.

Since my OG 2200, I've tested and used many Badlands pack models and have worn several of the manufacturer's hunting apparel items. From early-season elk to frigid late-season whitetail adventures, Badlands' apparel has kept me on the hunt.

For 2025, Badlands offers a litany of new clothing, backpacks, and other gear designed to enhance on-the-hunt performance, allowing you to endure longer and punch more tags.

For me, September means elk. I spend as much time in the elk woods as possible during this magical month, allowing me to test and review lots and lots of gear. Here are five items from Badlands that have been a significant part of my September elk arsenal, along with intel about their performance in the woods.

Badlands Scree Pants

Available in GT and OG Badlands camo patterns, as well as four solid color options, Badlands' Scree Pants are constructed from 92 percent nylon and 8 percent spandex. I've worn the pants while traversing Colorado's rugged cedar-canyon terrain in temperature ranges between 100 and 52 degrees Fahrenheit. The pants are remarkably breathable, provide an ultra-athletic fit, and are tough as nails. Better yet, I wore the Olive pants in my backyard to accomplish multiple fall chores. If you opt for a solid Scree option, the pants make excellent everyday wear pants.

The right-side thigh pocket is plenty deep, and the flap closure keeps internal items inside without the need for a zipper or magnets. I do prefer dual thigh pockets, but the comfort and breathability these pants provide push them to the top of my list of to-wear bottoms. Other notable features of the pants include articulated knees and crotch, a covered back pocket, reinforced cuffs, and a vented crotch to boost breathability further.

The lower reinforced cuffs also help add a touch of weight to the bottom of the pants, which keeps the pants in place over your boots. I despise pant legs that continually rise up and over the uppers of my boots. These pants stay down.

Badlands Draw Hoodie

I'm a hoody guy; always have been and always will be. Hoodies are multi-functional. You can use them as a layering device or an outer layer, depending on the time of year you're hunting. Hoodies are also uber-comfortable, and that's the big story with Badlands's Draw Hoodie. The 4-way stretch fabric allows the garment to move with your body, and the outer fabric is church-mouse quiet.

Badlands also went to great lengths to ensure this moisture-wicking and quick-drying hoodie provided complete concealment. I love the addition of the hood, the internal face mask, and the extra-long cuffs with thumbholes to cover more of your hands and provide additional warmth on a chilly morning. This garment is bulletproof, and even when the temperatures are hot, the Draw has a way of releasing heat via its fabric and 1/4-length zipper. I'm also a fan of the single top zippered vertical pocket and bottom kangaroo pouch pocket. I have lots of hunting hoodies, but this one quickly made its way into the starting lineup, and it will stay there.

Badlands Bino XR Pro

A few of the things that I love about Badlands are that they are committed to innovatively evolving and work hard to make improvements upon the existing. The all-new Bino XR Pro outperforms all previous Badlands bino harnesses in every way. It's not that previous Badlands bino harnesses weren't good—it's more that this version is great and has popularly demanded features included, such as a whisper-quiet yet durable fabric both inside and out and a magnetic-lid binocular holder that protects your optics while enhancing the overall comfort.

Available in multiple solids and GT and OG camo options, the Bino XR Pro features fully adjustable shoulder and side straps, and I appreciate the Cordura bottom with accessory attachment points. I wore this harness across miles of rugged terrain. The magnetic lid stays closed but pulls away easily when you need to access your binoculars, and the magnetic bottom compartment is the perfect place for your rangefinder. Badlands includes a rangefinder attachment system within the XR Pro via a nylon cord and ring attachment.

Without creating something bulky and cumbersome, Badlands has designed a top-end bino harness that accommodates a rangefinder in the same compartment as the binoculars, eliminating the need for additional accessory pouches. I love that!

The dual nylon pockets on each side of the harness are ideal for wind checker powder, a handheld release, bullets, etc. The pockets hold items tightly, and I also appreciate that Badlands added side wing accessory attachment points. If you want to add more pockets or other features to your XR Pro, the design allows for them. The Badlands Bino XR Pro met and exceeded my expectations, and it has become part of my everyday hunting gear.

Badlands MRK 4 Pack

New to the Badlands backpack lineup and an addition to the already popular MRK family is the MRK 4. A 6-pound, 4-ounce, 4,000 cubic-inch backpack, the MRK 4 comes in large and medium torso frame sizes to ensure a custom fit.

I mentioned at the beginning of this article that I've been using Badlands' packs for over two decades. There's a reason for this, and that reason is that Badlands makes exceptional backpacks, and its new MRK 4 is one of my favorites. Comfortable and offering plenty of room, this backpack is an excellent choice for day hunting or a multi-day trip into the backcountry. I like the top-loading design, which features a single main compartment that is also accessible via the side zipper. The top-loading compartment is covered by an adjustable lid, allowing you to store items such as a sleeping bag or clothing between the main compartment and the lid.

The top-loading main compartment comes with an expandable top liner with a push-and-pull drawstring cord. The design is excellent, and aside from a small, zippered mesh internal pocket and a slot for a 3L hydration bladder, this pack has zero useless, non-purposeful pockets. Thank God!

The padded waist belt is ultra comfortable, and the side webbing allows for accessory attachment. The load lifters are adjustable and easy to use, and the shoulder straps provide superior comfort. That may sound like a commercial, but it's tough to beat the comfort of Badlands backpacks. The Strata Comfort Suspension System promises a fantastic ride, and once you've adjusted all your straps and settings to your liking, the pack won't sway or tilt, even when loaded down.

The dual side pockets are durable and ideal for holding a tripod, spotting scope, Nalgene bottle, and more. I also appreciate the long tubular front face pocket and the multiple nylon attachment points that run the full length of the pocket. The pack also features a rifle/bow holder and two nylon straps across the front face to further secure your weapon of choice.

Though I've yet to haul meat with the pack, I'm confident the Allite Super Magnesium Frame will hold up wonderfully. The pack easily disconnects from the frame, allowing the user to add quarters of meat without getting the main inside compartment bloody. With the MRK 4, you can tote quarters and all your gear at the same time.

Pecora Heavyweight Merino 1/4 Zip

Concerning base layers, I believe merino wool trumps synthetic blends every day and twice on Sunday. The moisture-wicking, odor-preventing, and comfort of merino is fantastic, and Badlands provides an excellent piece of gear in its Pecora Heavyweight Merino 1/4 Zip.

September in southeast Colorado is still warm, and during many hunts, I wore the Heavyweight Merino 1/4 Zip throughout the day. The 1/4-length zipper, combined with Merino wool, allows for heat regulation, and I appreciate that Badlands added thumbholes to the sleeves. This keeps the garment down and tight around the wrists.

A great next-to-skin piece or one you can use as a mid-layer, the Pecora Heavyweight Merino 1/4 Zip is an excellent addition to any clothing arsenal, and I look forward to using it more during whitetail season.

Final Thoughts

Consumers demand a pro/con list when it comes to gear-related articles. I get it. I also prefer a solid pro/con list. The problem with the gear I've reviewed is that a single strand of fabric pulled up on my Scree Pants, and that was after four days of hiking in hellish terrain. That's it! Aside from that tiny bit of cloth, I have no cons. To list them would be a lie.

I will pen that I've yet to use Badlands' Pecora Heavy Weight Merino Leggings, TOR Pro Jacket, and Rise Pro Pant. September temperatures didn't require their use, but I plan to add to this article later in October after I've had the opportunity to put these three additional Badlands garments to the test.